Toy haulers: What exactly are they, and what makes them different from other classes of motorhomes and travel trailers?
Like most other types of RVs, the toy camper comes in a wide variety of sizes, styles, and footprints. What knits them all together as a class is their unique garage feature. It allows campers to bring along large toys like ATVs, golf carts, motorcycles, and other types of adventure gear.
Not sure a toy hauler is for you? RVshare offers rental toy hauler RVs all across the country, so you can try before you buy!
Toy Hauler Camper Basics and Advantages
As mentioned above, the most basic difference between a toy hauler RV and other RVs is that it includes a garage area that keeps your toys like ATVs and motorcycles safe from weather and theft. In addition to garages, toy haulers are also unique because they have higher-than-average weight limits. This makes carrying toys and other gear a cinch.
Built-in cargo doors are also usually included, providing easy access to the garage. Those doors will often convert to a ramp for loading and unloading your toys. All you need to do is walk or wheel your cargo up the ramp and into your toy hauler.
On top of all that, you’ll also find tie-down bars and strap-in systems in the toy hauler camper garage so your gear won’t slip around while your rig’s in motion.
Towing a Toy Hauler
Obviously, carrying toys is going to add some weight to your rig. Toy hauler RV trailers do have more cargo carrying capacity, but what exactly can you expect in terms of weight limits?
To calculate a toy hauler’s carrying capacity, subtract the unloaded vehicle weight (UVW, also referred to as dry weight) from the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR). The UVW includes the weight of full propane and fuel tanks. The GVWR accounts for the maximum weight of the vehicle, fuel, propane, passengers, and cargo combined. The difference between the two is how much cargo and passenger weight you are allowed.
Although the carrying capacity depends on various factors, toy haulers tend to have an average maximum cargo limit of around 6,000 pounds. But a large 40-foot toy hauler could carry up to 12,000 pounds! To put it into perspective, most ATVs weigh less than 1,000 pounds, even when filled with fuel. Many are as low as 400-500 pounds. A capacity of that size means that some very small, lightweight cars, like the Mitsubishi Mirage or a Smart car, might even be permissible for towing in your toy hauler.
Of course, if you are towing a toy hauler trailer, you will need to make sure your truck can handle whatever you load into it as well. Generally speaking, it’s good to keep your total load as light as possible, as it’s safer as well as easier on the machinery in the long run. (If you overshoot the rated weight limit, you may also forfeit your insurance coverage… so always make sure to keep an eye on the scale!)
Average Size
Wondering how big you can expect a toy hauler camper to be? While there’s a broad range of toy haulers out there and some may lie outside of these metrics, here are some general toy hauler stats to give you a better understanding of these rigs:
- Length: 19′-39′
- Sleeping capacity: 2-8 adults
- Amenities: Large “garages” that enable you to bring along “toys” like ATVs, motorcycles, or golf carts; comfortable and well-stocked RV interiors including fully functional kitchens; on-board plumbing systems with toilets, showers, and fresh- and wastewater holding tanks; generators for off-grid camping, slide-outs to increase living space
- Cost: $20,000-$200,000+ (especially in the case of toy hauler motorhomes)
Parking
For the most part, parking a toy hauler RV is exactly like parking any other RV. You will need to practice backing into a campsite and make sure to have someone spot you. You can level the RV using leveling blocks under the tire and stabilize it using the included stabilizer jacks.
There are only two major differences you’ll want to keep in mind.
- Toy haulers are often bigger than other rigs. If you’ve always had small trailers or motorhomes, remember to keep the size of your RV in mind when choosing your spot.
- You’ll need to leave space to open the garage door in the back of the rig and get your toys down the ramp. This can be tricky in some campgrounds where the sites back up to one another or to a wall. For this reason, we recommend booking a site that is several feet longer than the RV itself, so you can have a nice spot to lower the garage door into. Just remember to leave that space behind you when backing in!
Advantages of a Toy Hauler
With a toy hauler, you gain the convenience of mobility along with all the advantages of having a garage on the go. So if you’ve ever had to tow a separate trailer just to bring your cargo or toys with you, a toy hauler RV can help you avoid that.
While a toy hauler RV can be advantageous for storing your toys, they also serve a variety of other purposes. In fact, an increasing number of people who opt for a toy hauler RV aren’t even hauling toys. If you’re planning an extended journey, the extra space in a toy hauler could come in handy for additional living space, a hobby room, a kids’ bedroom, or an office on the road. With this type of arrangement, you could easily create a traveling office that is separate from the rest of the RV, great for those who need to stay connected with their work while soaking up the benefits of the RV lifestyle.
Don’t want to add furniture to your RV in order to make the garage space usable? No problem! Queen-size beds that can be raised up to the ceiling and fold-up sofas are often found in toys hauler campers. These make it easy to maximize living space in a toy hauler while still maintaining the space you need for toys. You could even rig up the door and ramp to provide an outdoor deck and space for dining when the weather is nice!
Popular Toy Hauler Brands
While the ‘best’ toy hauler really depends on your personal travel needs and preferences, there are a few toy hauler brands consistently top-rated among campers that we feel are worth mentioning.
- Keystone offers some of the most reliable and high-quality toy haulers on the market, with models like the Keystone Fuzion fifth wheel we previously mentioned, and the Outback travel trailer stand out as top choices.
- Grand Design is another well-rated manufacturer, with the Grand Design Momentum fifth wheel being a top contender.
- Forest River has several top-notch toy haulers in their lineup, including the XLR Nitro which comes in travel trailer and fifth wheel models, and the Wildwood FSX max which comes in a variety of versatile travel trailer models.
- Heartland offers a handful of reliable toy haulers, from short travel trailers to 40-foot fifth wheels. If you’re looking for a premium toy hauler with tons of room for family and friends, Heartland’s Road Warrior is a top pick amongst RVers.
- Alliance RV manufactures a top-quality line of toy haulers known as the Valor series. These luxurious, multi-functional RVs are available in several floorplans including fifth wheel and travel trailer options with all the bells and whistles.
- Thor Motor Coach is a widely known and respected manufacturer. The Thor Outlaw is a popular choice for those looking to go with a spacious Class A or Class C drivable toy hauler.
Toy Hauler Rentals
Sometimes it’s best to try before you buy. If you aren’t 100% positive a toy hauler Rv is for you, why not check out a toy hauler rental first? We have plenty available, so you can take the trip of your dreams without purchasing an expensive RV that might not be for you.
This Heartland Lithium is located in Florida right outside of Ocala National Forest where you’ll find all kinds of awesome ATV trails. It is absolutely beautiful inside and rents for around $98 per night.
Located outside of Yellowstone National Park, this Cruiser Striker is smaller, making it easy to tow. It rents for an average of just $86 per night and is ideal for your adventure out west.
Another spot for excellent ATV trails? Black Hills National Forest. This Milo Team Lodge is located in the area. It’s teeny tiny, but perfect for carrying a single toy and keeping you comfortable while you camp out. It rents for around $154 a night.
How about a toy hauler rental in Utah? This Cruiser Stryker is located near all kinds of outdoor adventures and its large size ensures you have plenty of room to spread out. Cost is $135 a night on average.
Toy Hauler Maintenance
Like every other type of RV — or vehicle, for that matter — toy haulers do require regular maintenance to ensure they stay in proper, working condition as long as possible. Most of the required maintenance is pretty much identical to the maintenance required on any other RV.
These tasks include things like:
- The trailer’s tires need to be checked for rot and other issues, balanced, and occasionally replaced as necessary.
- Onboard appliances and amenities may require their own types of specific care and upkeep.
- The roof and seams must be checked and resealed a couple times a year. And you will need to keep an eye out for water damage.
Toy haulers do have some parts that other types of rigs don’t have, including moving parts that require attention and care to avoid damage.
- Your garage’s entry ramp will likely need to have its hinges oiled from time to time in order to keep it in good working order.
- You’ll also want to ensure that the systems in place for holding your auxiliary vehicle are in top-notch condition. (After all, you definitely don’t want a great big ATV or even a motorcycle sliding around back there while you’re en route to your next destination!)
