1950s Home Does Not Accomodate Trailer Storage - Part 1

This is the first in a series of blogs summarizing the special needs of trailer purchasing, handling and maneuvering, and on-site private property storage in a neighborhood with enforced RV rules and regulations.

PART 1

PART 2

PART 3

PART 4

PART 5

PART 6

PART 7

Challenges-
* The house construction and property layout were complete before 1950; accommodating a trailer on the property was not a consideration by the original owner and architect. (We interviewed the original owner before his death in 2007).
* The garage is in back of the house at a lower elevation than the house.
* The storage area next to the garage requires two 90° turns, one after another to place the trailer next to the garage.
* The drive to the storage area contains a grade of 19% during the first 90° left hand turn.
* When wet, the 19% grade required metal grates to permit sufficient traction backing up the driveway by an empty half ton van.
* The drive past the house is 108 inches wide by 111 inches high for more than 40 feet.
* The asphalt driveway has broken sections from years of service.

The vintage 1990 Dico 5'x10' motorcycle trailer with overall dimensions of 78 inches width by 16 feet length was the largest trailer, easily maneuvered by hand, stored next to the garage.

Available production toyhauler trailers through the years had typically been made to classic 102 inch overall width dimension. These trailers also violated the 111 inch height (to the house eves) as well. Several years ago I considered several changes necessary to accommodate a typical toyhauler, e.g. Weekend Warrior, Thor, Baja, FunRunner, etc.  The assumption was that we would not own a trailer that required off-site storage, and we would not violate city ordinances in storing the trailer on-site. Those changes required were not inexpensive-

* Lowering the elevation of the driveway and shoring house foundation and opposite side block wall- cost $20K+
* Cut back house eves and roof line- unknown construction cost, plus city permits unlikely to be approved
* Move the garage to the other side of the property to enable a straight pull-in with no turns- cost $80K-100K complete

Enter the Carson Rebel line of toyhaulers. This production toyhauler now competes with custom made toyhauler fabricators that will make a trailer to your specifications at cost.  The 17 foot Rebel X toyhauler (21 feet overall) measures 94 inches wide by 105 inches high. This was determined to be the largest hauler that could haul three full size motorcycles and one full size quad ATV that had 'wiggle room' to turn, maneuver and park next to the garage. The tandem axle arrangement proved to be much less maneuverable than estimated as it turned out, however, the smaller Dico trailer was rigged to the Rebel width and used to confirm sensitivity of the 94 inch width along the driveway next to the house.

by: Glenn Thompson