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Cheeto
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#1 Posted: Wed May 13th, 2009 10:42 |
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Am looking to get into a toy hauler and I have pretty much narrowed it down to a Desert Fox. I have some questions and need honest, forthright answers please. here's my scenario. '04 Dodge Diesel QC SB 6" lift w/37s. Looking at 21,24 or 28 footers only.
1) Does anybody haul a Rhino in a 21,24 or 28?
2) Any sway problems due to Rhino not fitting in far enough to keep weight on hitch?*
The sway problem really concerns me because my folks bought a DF 28' new in 2002. They could NOT keep it from swaying without loading all their heavier gear in the bedroom and the ATV in the bed of the truck ('95 Dodge diesel SC LB). My folks have owned more trailers than I can count and my Dad has driven semis most of his life so there is zero chance that it was "operator error". Their "gear" cosisted of gold prospecting equipment (metal detectors, dry washers etc.) that was no where near excess weight versus the trailer rating. Basically, could there have been an axle issue with this year/model? They sold it to friends after only a couple months because the friends were fine with not towing over 55mph (which is when it got wiggly). Unfortunately a crosswind on an offramp caught them off guard last Fall and they lost control. The husband died from complications from the injuries. This is NOT an "I-blame-DF-and-want-to-sue" thread. I'm simply pointing out the gravity of my concerns. As mentioned above, I'm still leaning towards a DF of my own.
Thanks,
Cheeto
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Len Todd
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| Joined: | Sun Apr 2nd, 2006 |
| Location: | Baldwin, Michigan USA |
| Posts: | 559 |
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#2 Posted: Thu May 14th, 2009 03:30 |
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A Rhino weighs ~1200 pounds dry. My two sleds are over 1300 pounds combined, wet. To get two sleds in the 21SW, I have to have the second one basally kitty-cornered across the back-end of the TH. I run down the road 70 mph without any sway, even in high winds. Once, I was on ice and slush in 50 mph+ side winds off Lake Superior and the trailer never slid or swayed at 55 mph.
With our 70" of width between wheel wells you can load the Rhino way up on the axles (i.e. far from the back-end). You may be slightly off center length-ways because of the flipped up dinette causing a slight offset. But that is a minor trivia.
Last edited on Thu May 14th, 2009 03:31 by Len Todd
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06 Desert Fox 21SW, Two EU2000
09 Chev Duramax Z71 4x4 2500 HD, Allison
98 Honda XR 400
04 Yamaha RX-1
03 Arctic Cat 660 4 Stroke
53 Dutch Cranky Spouse
N8AGS
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mcgillagorilla
Member
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#3 Posted: Thu May 14th, 2009 07:01 |
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| we have a 28ks and once i traded pickups and did not change the set up on the equalizer hitch. we left fairbanks alaska and between colfax and pulman wash it got away and it was a very exciting ride. after we got the hitch reset have never had any trouble with it. part of the time i tow with finished furniture in the back and part of the time with unplaned hardwood usualy oak. have not seen any difference after the hitch was readjusted. we usualy snowbird from alaska to kentucky in the wintertime so we give it a good workout. hope this helps i think the most important thing is to have the hitch adjusted right.
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06 gmc duramax pulling 28 ks desert fox enjoylife
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Travis
Member
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#4 Posted: Thu May 14th, 2009 15:49 |
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I don't know what an 02 DF was like, so all I can comment on is mine!
My 06 28K always has a Rhino inside when we are heading for the desert...and never one sway issue. With just the Rhino inside there is no difference between towing it and when I carried four quads inside!
I don't do any special loading, and have never had any issues.
I would have to agree with the others that the swaying was probably a hitch problem! When I switched back from a 5th wheel to a bumper pull. I checked out every WD hitch system that was out there at that time. I knew from reading up on the DF 28 how heavy the tongue weight was, so I bought a Heavy Duty hitch, and I have not had any sway issues...even while towing it empty...and well over 55mph.
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2006 F350,PSD,4x4,Crew Cab,LB, Putnam XDR
2006 Desert Fox 28KS - Blue Ox 1500/15K
87 Suzuki Samurai 4x4...set-up to play.
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Ranger Kev
Member
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#5 Posted: Fri May 15th, 2009 04:32 |
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We haul RZR, King Quad, little quad and dirt bike in our 08 DF28. Towing w/ 08 Ford on 38's. Tows like a champ. Have only towed it empty once which was on the way home from the dealer.
They do have a lot of tongue weight even loaded with everything in the cargo. Good luck!
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bobnelson
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| Joined: | Fri Jan 21st, 2005 |
| Location: | Cove, Oregon USA |
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#6 Posted: Fri May 15th, 2009 04:41 |
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Maybe you need to rethink the Rhino to an RZR. Smaller, faster, more go... 
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Bob & Betsy Nelson, Cove Oregon . . USN Retired . . . KE7ZRY
01 Chev 3500 DRW D/A, SuperHitch
2010 AF 25R, Yamaha Gen sets.
2008 Polaris RZR SXS on the Truck
http://nelsonstravels.blogspot.com/
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Robburns
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#7 Posted: Fri May 15th, 2009 16:03 |
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bobnelson wrote: Maybe you need to rethink the Rhino to an RZR. Smaller, faster, more go...
x2
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2003 AF 26z
2008 Dodge Ram 3500 Mega Cab, 4.10, factory exhaust brake, prodigy
--Smarty, DPF and EGR deletes
2007 Toyota Sequoia w/ tow package - still stock
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Cheeto
Member
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#8 Posted: Fri May 15th, 2009 17:39 |
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bobnelson wrote: Maybe you need to rethink the Rhino to an RZR. Smaller, faster, more go...
I'm a Polaris fan but...
Smaller: I needed something between a RZR and a Ranger (big dogs, small trails).
Faster: Trails I ride have little/no use for high speed and the roads have speed limits of 25-35mph.
There are a 21',24' and 28' all available for about the same price within a day's driving distance. The 21' is new but without generator. Len Todd, any complaints of having seperate gens? Any theft concerns? How about noise?
Thanks for all the info so far guys.
Last edited on Fri May 15th, 2009 17:42 by Cheeto
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Len Todd
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| Joined: | Sun Apr 2nd, 2006 |
| Location: | Baldwin, Michigan USA |
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#9 Posted: Sat May 16th, 2009 01:37 |
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Cheeto wrote: ... Len Todd, any complaints of having separate gens? Any theft concerns? How about noise?
No complaints about using the two Gens. You get 4KW for the price of 3. Also, you can't really haul around a 75# EU3000, and a EU3000 does not handle everything, when your charging in the A.M., etc. anyway. You can easily pick up one of the EU2000s or both, one at a time.
You do have to haul them out and put them back when you leave. Or, ... I have been leaving them in the truck lately, which has a topper. I suppose you could chain them to a tree or the TH, etc.
The EUs are the quietest you can get, and you only need one most of the time. They also do not vibrate the TH, because they are not in it. I set them up about 40' away from the TH or in the truck. We typically seldom even hear them, unless we are running them very hard (e.g. A/C on, four batteries charging and then wife hits the microwave.) Got to love the 4KW.
You may want to consider making up a home-brew cord and save $150+. Or, the new EU2000 Companions have the 30 AMP plug and use the standard parallel cables. But, ... the Companions are about $100 more expensive than the standard EU2000 and its 30 AMP plug is not even an RV style plug. So, I stuck with the old style EU, made up my own cord for ~$40 and saved myself $200.
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06 Desert Fox 21SW, Two EU2000
09 Chev Duramax Z71 4x4 2500 HD, Allison
98 Honda XR 400
04 Yamaha RX-1
03 Arctic Cat 660 4 Stroke
53 Dutch Cranky Spouse
N8AGS
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bobnelson
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| Joined: | Fri Jan 21st, 2005 |
| Location: | Cove, Oregon USA |
| Posts: | 782 |
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#10 Posted: Sat May 16th, 2009 16:06 |
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One of our nephews uses a Honda 2000 in his snowmobile trailer.. took off the muffler, attached some 1" electrical conduit flex and directs the exhaust through the floor and under the trailer. No noticeable increase in sound and the exhaust leaves the room. I will be at his place in a few weeks and will take some pics of the setup. Will post if there is interest.
We will most likely move from a camper to a TT next year, and will mount two 2k's on the rear bumper.. Hard to do that on a DF. Too bad they didn't build in a compartment to house a couple of them.
I understand the RZR issue. No place to have a dog ride a long, unless I leave the parole officer home.  I got the RZR so I could still get on the ATV trails.
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Bob & Betsy Nelson, Cove Oregon . . USN Retired . . . KE7ZRY
01 Chev 3500 DRW D/A, SuperHitch
2010 AF 25R, Yamaha Gen sets.
2008 Polaris RZR SXS on the Truck
http://nelsonstravels.blogspot.com/
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bonediggley
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| Location: | Houston, Texas USA |
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#11 Posted: Tue May 19th, 2009 21:05 |
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With the kind of weight and height of the DF you need a very good WD/sway control system. I switched from an EZ Lift and 2 sway controls, to the Equal-I-Zer and it made a world of difference in towing and sway.
Now with that being said, I'd have to say your dad probably had an issue with the trailer itself. One axle being off just a tad will cause that incontolable sway at highway speeds. I'd bet there was an axle alignment issue with your dad's DF.
I've towed my DF with toys and without, it doesn't sway at all up to and over 80mph. Of course, cross winds, 18-wheelers, etc, will cause it to move, but no "tail wagging the dog" syndrome as your dad probably had. My DF 28ks has a LOT of tongue weight and I try to load my quads/bikes as far back as possible just to pull some weight off the tongue. I now have my hitch set up where it really doesn't matter where I put the toys, it pulls fine all the time. 
____________________
94 Yamaha VMAX
99 Ducati 996s #5
05 Artic Cat 4x4 auto
88 Honda TRX350FW
05 Chev. K2500HD D/A-Transferflow and many extras
05 Desert Fox 28KS bad boy-combined weight 21,700#
Avitar- 06 Republic of Texas Biker Rally
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