Toy haulers are a fantastic camper for those who wish to transport their motorcycle, ATV, or other recreational toys to enjoy while traveling. Before you set out to purchase a toy hauler, several questions will need to be answered to ensure you choose the best RV for your needs.
Here is what to look for when buying a toy hauler:
You will need to consider the garage size, the number of people that can sleep in the toy haulers, and the number of bathrooms. You will also want to consider the weight of the rig to make sure you have the right truck.
Continue reading to learn the answers to all of your questions about toy haulers.
What Is the Main Purpose of a Toy Hauler?
Toy haulers are designed to provide campers with a living quarter and sleeping quarter area along with a space to haul their extras. The back of the toy hauler features a ramp that allows for easy loading and unloading of a motorcycle or ATV. After these items have been unloaded, any furniture that is attached to the walls of the toy hauler can be lowered, providing you with extra living space.
Toy haulers feature an open floor plan that often includes a kitchen, living room, and dining area. At the front end of the toy hauler, you will find a bedroom and a bathroom. The ramp, located at the rear of the toy hauler, can be lowered to level with the ground on many toy haulers, creating a porch (My wife wants one of those). If you will be using the ramp as a porch, you may want to get a magnetic screen door to prevent insects from getting into your camper.
What Kind of Camping Will You Do? Where Will You Be Camping?
A toy hauler is a larger camper, which means you will need a powerful truck to tow your toy hauler. A large vehicle will have the necessary horsepower required to handle the load. Although a toy hauler is larger than many other campers, it will not cost any more to tow a toy hauler than it does to tow a fifth wheel or another type of camper. You can check out the average weight of a camper here, or if you need help finding the best truck for towing a fifth wheel, we can help with that too.
Toy haulers limit where you will be able to camp. Toy haulers are perfect for campgrounds located on well marked, paved roads; however, due to the size of this camper, you will not be able to wilderness camp or travel off the beaten path in some areas.
Furthermore, when you make a reservation at a campground, make sure the campsite is large enough for your toy hauler. The campsite should be long enough to allow you to lower the ramp on your camper and use it as a porch.
Understanding Toy Hauler Measurements and Weights
Toy haulers can vary in weight. To help you understand how much a toy hauler weighs as well as how much weight the toy hauler can handle, you will need to look at the unloaded vehicle weight and gross vehicle weight ratings on the manufacturer’s specs.
The unloaded vehicle rating, also known as dry weight, refers to how much the toy hauler weighs. Conversely, the gross vehicle weight rating refers to how much weight the trailer can handle. These two numbers can help you determine how much cargo and passengers the RV can handle. Simply subtract the unloaded vehicle weight rating from the gross vehicle weight rating to determine how much weight you can pack into the toy hauler.
The average width of a toy hauler garage is seven and a half to eight feet wide. The length of the camper’s garage can be as long as twenty feet. However, most toy haulers have a garage that is between ten and fourteen feet long.
Toy haulers are designed to carry a number of recreational vehicles in the garage. Examples of items commonly carried in a toy hauler include ATVs, kayaks, motorcycles, golf carts, snowmobiles, and dune buggies. In order to determine how much cargo you can carry, you will need to know the weight of any toys you will be carrying as well as the weight of your luggage, groceries, and passengers.
When you are shopping for a toy hauler, you want to ensure that there is enough room to haul all of your equipment. Not only will you need to ensure the garage area of the toy hauler is large enough to fit your gear, but you will also need to ensure that the toy hauler can handle the weight of your equipment.
“Understanding gross vehicle weight ratings supplied by the manufacturer can help you determine if your vehicle can tow the toy hauler.”
Understanding the Difference Between a Toy Hauler and a Fifth Wheel
A travel trailer is towed using a bumper hitch. These campers are typically cheaper than fifth wheels and toy haulers and are great for those who have never owned a camper. Travel trailers will have many of the features you desire, including slide outs. Travel trailers can vary in length from 19 feet to 36 feet long. The average price range for new travel trailers ranges from $22,000 to $38,000.
Fifth wheel campers are different from travel trailers in the way that they are towed. These campers connect to a hitch located inside the bed to improve maneuverability and increased space. Individuals with families enjoy fifth wheel campers because of additional storage space and spacious interiors. Fifth wheel campers can vary in length from 27 feet long to 33 feet long. The average price for a new fifth wheel camper starts at $35,000.
A toy hauler can be either a fifth wheel or a travel trailer. Unlike the other two types of campers, toy haulers feature an opening at the back of the camper with a ramp. The end of the toy hauler contains a garage area where you can haul motorcycles and other small vehicles. Toy haulers can range in size from 30 feet to 38 feet long. The average starting price of a toy hauler is under $50,000.
What Should You Look for in an All Season Toy Hauler?
Most campers only use their campers in the warmer weather months. If you plan on living full time in your RV, or you will be using your toy hauler in the colder months, you need a toy hauler that is well insulated. In addition to this, the central heating should be powerful enough to keep your toy hauler warm and comfortable on even the coldest nights. Furthermore, the tank area of the toy hauler should be heated to prevent damage to the tanks or the plumbing throughout your toy hauler.
The extra insulation and heating necessary for four season camping mean that a four season toy hauler will weigh more than a toy hauler not designed for all weather camping. Heated holding tanks, reflective foil insulation, and high density foam insulation add to the weight of the camper, which means you need a truck that has the towing capabilities necessary to handle the excess weight.
Can I Tow a Toy Hauler with My Vehicle or Do I Need to Upgrade My Vehicle?
When it comes to towing a toy hauler or any other type of travel trailer, you need a truck that can safely tow the travel trailer. Understanding gross vehicle weight ratings supplied by the manufacturer can help you determine if your vehicle can tow the toy hauler. Furthermore, the tow rating of the vehicle shows the total amount of weight your vehicle can tow.
Many people wonder whether they should choose a gasoline or diesel engine. Both types of vehicles have a list of pros and cons that should be considered. The one you should choose should be determined on how you will be using your truck. If you will frequently be towing your RV for long distances, a diesel engine is the better choice; however, if you will only be towing infrequently or over small distances, a gasoline engine is the better choice.
The Best Brand of Toy Haulers
Several manufacturers produce high-quality toy haulers. Each brand offers budget friendly as well as luxury toy haulers. Some of the top names in the toy hauler industry include:
- Newmar Canyon Star 3927– Class A Diesel Toy Hauler!
- Jayco Seismic – A long history with great toy haulers
- Forest River Vengence -2021 Toy Hauler Fifth Wheel of the Year
- Dutchman Voltage Triton 3615 with an 11 foot garage
- Grand Design Momentum 350G with a 14 foot garage
- Lance Camper TH 2612 with a 12 foot garage
- Evergreen RV Tesla T3950 with a 12 foot garage
- Winnebago Spyder 24FQ with a 14 foot garage
- Keystone Raptor 355TS with an 11 foot garage
- KZ-RV Venom 4114 with a 14 foot garage
- Thor Motor Coach Outlaw 37RB with a 10 foot garage
A toy hauler is perfect for those who want to explore the outdoors on a motorcycle, ATV, kayak, jet ski, or golf cart. A toy hauler is an ideal answer for families who require plenty of sleeping room and storage space. Toy haulers ensure you and your family are always ready for their next adventure.
Frank Foley
Frank is the Head Hubby, Daddy, and Fix-It Guy of the Roving Foleys clan. He ia an avid traveler and has spent over 5 years traveling full time with his family. he loves helping others learn about the RV life. He has also traveled in Europe, Asia, and Australia with his wife Grainne.