RV REVIEW REVIEW AND PHOTOS BY HOWARD J. ELMER
2019 Sportsmen 240THLE A trailer that hauls toys & so much more Have you heard of the Four Corners? This label refers to the four geographic corners of the continental United States. Among motorcyclists, it’s an aspirational life goal to have ridden to all four. (For the curious these are: The southernmost point, Key West, Florida; the easternmost point, West Quoddy Head in Lubec, Maine; the westernmost point, Cape Alava, Washington; the northernmost point, Angle Inlet, Minnesota.) Looking at the new floorplan from Sportsmen 240THLE I see a way to accomplish this goal without having to acquire another motorcyclists’ badge of honor—the “Iron butt” award. This unit will house you and your bikes till you are within comfortable striking distance of each of these points on the map. As most recreational riders know, you trailer to Sturgis—unload and then ride down the main street looking as if you just pulled a 1,000-mile haul to reach this South Dakota destination. The label, toy hauler, speaks for itself—but, I like to think it’s so much more than just a mode of transportation. So, though I’ve chosen to illustrate my point with
motorcycles, this trailer will obviously accommodate whatever motorized hobby you are addicted to—OK, bicycles included. At almost 27 feet in length, this Sportsmen is ideal for two people and two bikes—though it will sleep four when needed. Its carrying capacity is 2,290 pounds (an important figure to consider if looking at this type of trailer), a number that needs to cover significant vehicle(s) weight plus the normal cargo items. The clear floor space inside, when configured for transport, is 17 feet, 3 11/16 inches. The key to any toy hauler is the rear entry door/ramp. On the Sportsmen—the full rear wall drops down (73 x 88 inches) at a reasonable angle. A flip-down checker plate covers the gap and hinges as well for easy entry. Inside the setup requires just one cargo carrying modification— folding up the 72-inch bench/sleeper to lie flat against the wall. A freestanding table is easily moved to wherever it’s needed. The flooring is an Armstrong Linoleum called “ToughGuard”—an important item for a trailer that’s going to have motorized traffic pulling in and out. To secure your toys there are heavy-duty D-rings in the floor. So, while transport is the primary function of the toy hauler, it’s worth mentioning that security is another
RV REVIEW
COAST TO COAST FALL MAGAZINE 2018
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