Living quarter trailers
#1
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Living quarter trailers
There’s surprisingly little discussion here on goosenecks with living quarters up front. Maybe most go to the track to escape their significant others, but with my young family I can’t just dissapear for 3-4 nights at a time. Continuing my racing ‘career’ means bringing everyone along, which has lead me to checking out different options for staying at the track. I can’t swing a new InTech or ATC, but there’s a couple nice used ones for sale and SunDowners seem reasonable as well.
Does anyone one have any experience with these setups, and are there any manufacturers or options to consider other than ATC and InTech? I’d be hauling with a SRW F350, so 40’-ish is about all I could handle from a payload perspective as those are probably about 12k lbs empty.
Does anyone one have any experience with these setups, and are there any manufacturers or options to consider other than ATC and InTech? I’d be hauling with a SRW F350, so 40’-ish is about all I could handle from a payload perspective as those are probably about 12k lbs empty.
Last edited by PGas32; 04-29-2018 at 07:48 AM.
#2
Rennlist Member
I do.... somewhat..... I've averaged 10 race weekends a year for the past several years in a Forest River Work n Play 38RLS. But I race motorcycles. Thus, my garage is separate from the living quarters with a sliding glass door. I tow VERY comfortably with a SRW 2016 F350 SRW with air bags. Usually, 2 race bikes, a scooter, a tool cart, 4 spare wheels, full water tank, gear, food, blah blah blah - i really don't worry what i throw in there.
I have a small slide out for a couch / bed, and it gets tight with the wife and i and two dogs (or me and a couple of friends). Unless, it's really hot out, we're not in the trailer that much other than to sleep, rest and make food. More often we are outside the trailer grilling and socializing.
You could obviously do it with the open floor plan for a car, but you will have to consider your families desire for race smells - maybe a freezer type curtain? I would have at least 2 A/C units to help cool the entire trailer if not 3....... then you will need to consider the appropriate generator size or the option to plug in. Thankfully, all but one of the tracks we visit we can plug in and the one that doesn't, my wife won't goto.
In our motorcycle world, there are tons of families in similar set ups or even less so, so i think it's entirely do-able.
Don't know if i've helped or not............
I have a small slide out for a couch / bed, and it gets tight with the wife and i and two dogs (or me and a couple of friends). Unless, it's really hot out, we're not in the trailer that much other than to sleep, rest and make food. More often we are outside the trailer grilling and socializing.
You could obviously do it with the open floor plan for a car, but you will have to consider your families desire for race smells - maybe a freezer type curtain? I would have at least 2 A/C units to help cool the entire trailer if not 3....... then you will need to consider the appropriate generator size or the option to plug in. Thankfully, all but one of the tracks we visit we can plug in and the one that doesn't, my wife won't goto.
In our motorcycle world, there are tons of families in similar set ups or even less so, so i think it's entirely do-able.
Don't know if i've helped or not............
#3
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Definitely helpful, thank you. Most of the setups that I've seen have the living quarters area completely walled-off from the garage. My trailer now is only 20', and that seems to be pretty standard for a garage on LQ goosenecks. Like you mentioned, I wouldn't anticipate spending a ton of time in the trailer, but we're also still at the stage where a place to feed/nap/change diapers etc is incredibly helpful...figure we can use it for camping trips as well. The slippery slope continues...
#4
Instructor
When I was vintage racing there was a sizable group that would sleep in their enclosed trailers on a cot, leaving the race car outside. Eventually I plan on a gooseneck with a bathroom/shower and sleep in the over hang. Wasn't planning on a full size LQ. My plan was 36-38' trailer.
#5
Rennlist Member
Definitely helpful, thank you. Most of the setups that I've seen have the living quarters area completely walled-off from the garage. My trailer now is only 20', and that seems to be pretty standard for a garage on LQ goosenecks. Like you mentioned, I wouldn't anticipate spending a ton of time in the trailer, but we're also still at the stage where a place to feed/nap/change diapers etc is incredibly helpful...figure we can use it for camping trips as well. The slippery slope continues...
#6
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Just walked through a 46' Shadow - 24' garage, and a nice LQ with a slide out. Everything seemed nice, but they're more of a horse trailer company and don't have much of a reputation in the car world - anyone here know anything about them, or should I just stick with what we all know is a good product in ATC? BTW, new Shadow pricing is about equal to used ATC pricing, and I assume there's a reason for that
#7
Rennlist Member
Have also looked into Shadow 48-50 ft with a 26ft garage for race car and golf cart, price seemed descent. lately i have been considering a 44ft with just a bathroom package. If anyone knows of a nice used unit I am interested..
Interested in hearing others thoughts on this..
Interested in hearing others thoughts on this..
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#8
Burning Brakes
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Chicagoland
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Thought about living quarters when I bought my last trailer but being limited to a 36ft goose-neck to fit into the shop and budget I just put a queen mattress in the bunk area and have air conditioning, all the tracks I go to have bathrooms with showers if needed. Then again it's only me going to the track.
#9
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Just to close the loop here - brought this home today. 40’ Sundowner, 22’ LQ with a 18’ garage. If I were to have ordered, the garage would’ve been larger and the exterior color not so ugly, but this was local and I could make it happen by WGI next weekend. My wife is thrilled so far, and that’s what really counts!
#10
Rennlist Member
My 2 cents for those considering a goose and throwing a mattress in the attic to sleep on. Check out the trailer after it has been closed up in the hot sun, late in the day if possible. Walk in just after opening the side door and breath deep. Any smells? My goose was a year old demo trailer and for the first five years would burn my eyes when first opened. Something inside was out gassing bad stuff.
#13
Drifting
Just to close the loop here - brought this home today. 40’ Sundowner, 22’ LQ with a 18’ garage. If I were to have ordered, the garage would’ve been larger and the exterior color not so ugly, but this was local and I could make it happen by WGI next weekend. My wife is thrilled so far, and that’s what really counts!
Also build quality and towing that trailer with your rig?
#14
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
As for the truck, definitely go dually. The 350 did OK with the car in the back and water tanks empty, but I was bouncing off the bump stops with the headlights pointed toward the sky most of the time...which led me to this hoss