FAQs About Toy Hauler RVs

Toy haulers are a type of RV that has a large, rear garage space and a loading ramp. The back wall of the RV opens up and folds down into a ramp for easy loading, and the furniture or sleeping space in the back can easily be lifted or folded to make room. Toy haulers are most commonly found in travel trailers and fifth wheels, but some Class A and Class C motorhomes are also toy haulers. Toy haulers get their name because they are often used to load and transport “toys,” such as ATVs, side-by-sides, motorcycles, and dirt bikes. In the garage space, you will typically find useful features for hauling toys, including straps and tie-downs, extra gasoline, and waterproof flooring. However, you don’t have to haul toys in your toy hauler RV—many people use the rear garage for additional living and sleeping space, and the loading ramp can even double as an open-air patio in some models. Toy haulers are typically built on heavier chassis to help accommodate the extra, loaded weight, but this means they can also weigh more than other RV types.

Toy hauler RVs are ideal for anyone who wants some extra, versatile space while traveling. The rear garage space can be used to carry things like ATVs, dirt bikes, motorcycles, golf carts, kayaks, fishing equipment, and bikes. Additionally, the back hatch of a toy hauler lowers to the ground and doubles as a loading ramp. However, even if you don’t travel with any special motorized vehicles, toy hauler RVs are still a great option to consider. Here are a few reasons why any RVer should consider purchasing a toy hauler:

• High ceilings
• Extremely versatile layout
• Plenty of extra sleeping and storage space
• Option to convert the back door into an outdoor patio
• Great for boondocking or dry camping

One of the great things about toy haulers is that you can haul just about anything inside. The key is to pay attention to both the height and width of your garage space, as well as the cargo weight capacity. You need to ensure that your toys and gear can fit in the garage space and don’t exceed the maximum cargo weight. Toy haulers are typically used to haul small, motorized vehicles, such as ATVs, dirt bikes, side-by-sides, snow mobiles, and jet skis. However, you can also haul kayaks, surfboards, paddle boards, bicycles, snowboards, and scooters. Some people have even used their toy haulers to move furniture or transport large, bulky items.

Due to their on-board features and amenities, toy haulers are especially great for anyone interested in boondocking. When figuring out which toy hauler is best for your unique boondocking needs, be sure and ask yourself these two questions: How many days do I ideally want to boondock for? What types of places do I want to boondock in? Answering these questions will help you figure out things like the overall size, ground clearance and tank capacity.

Some other important features to consider for boondocking in a toy hauler include:

• Generator size and power
• Air conditioning
• Patio length and size
• Hot water tank size
• Solar power capabilities

Many of the same amenities and features found in travel trailers and fifth wheels are also found in toy haulers. Things like large holding tanks, an entertainment system, air conditioning, exterior storage, a full bathroom, a stove, and auto leveling systems are all common with a toy hauler. However, there are some additional features that are more unique to toy haulers. These include:

• An onboard generator
• An onboard gas tank
• Lofted beds
• Weatherproof interior (especially in the back garage space)
• Vinyl flooring
• High ground clearance
• Solar panels or solar power ready
• Tie-downs and clips for securing large items inside
• Rear exterior patio

Toy haulers come in a wide variety of sizes, but most fall broadly into either a large or small category based on layout and length. Inside a large toy hauler, when the garage is separate from the kitchen or main living area, the garage space can double as an extra room. There are plenty of options for utilizing the garage space inside a toy hauler, including:

• A guest bedroom
• An office
• A crafting space or art studio
• A classroom
• A tool shed
• An entertainment space

In smaller toy haulers, when the garage is directly connected to the main living space, there are still plenty of options to utilize the space. In this case, the garage is most commonly used for additional living space or entertaining. Many toy hauler garages come with retractable benches, reclining chairs and a loft, so you can easily adjust and customize your layout. 

To determine exactly how much weight your toy hauler can carry—known as cargo weight—subtract the toy hauler’s Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) from the dry weight. Both weights can typically be found in the owner’s manual or provided by the dealer. This final number will provide the total weight your toy hauler can carry, including all of your toys, liquids and cargo.

Toy haulers are designed to carry extra weight, so they will typically have higher cargo weights and GVWRs than other towable RVs. On average, a large, 40-foot toy hauler can carry about 12,000 pounds, while a small, 20-foot toy hauler can carry about 2,000 pounds. As you can see, the cargo weight can vary greatly depending on size, but the average cargo weight for a toy hauler is about 6,000 pounds.

Most toy haulers can comfortably accommodate anywhere from two to ten people, depending on the size. Some common sleeping arrangements inside a toy hauler RV include one bedroom with a king or queen bed, a lofted sleeping space in the main living area, and benches in the rear garage space that convert to a bed(s).

One of the best things about toy haulers is their versatility—they are designed to be transformed for multiple different uses and layouts. For example, you can have the rear garage and the main living space combined to form one giant room, or you can section them off into individual spaces. You can also easily add or remove additional sleeping space by folding up or down benches, and raising or lowering lofts.

In order to properly tow a toy hauler, there are a few things you’ll need. The first is a vehicle and a hitch that can support the full weight of your toy hauler. Be sure to know how much your toy hauler weighs when it is fully loaded, including all of your toys, liquids and gear (often called the gross weight). You can typically find this number in your owner’s manual or your dealer can help you figure it out. It’s extra important to know the weight of any toys you plan to put into your toy hauler, as this additional weight can really add up. 

If you are new to towing a toy hauler, practice driving, turning, parking, and backing up in a large parking lot before you go on your first trip. If you plan to bring toys along with you, load them into your toy hauler before you start practicing so you can get a better feel for the total weight of your RV while driving.

When figuring out what type of vehicle can tow a toy hauler RV, you’ll need to make sure that the tow vehicle’s towing capacity can support the total weight of your toy hauler. Knowing your vehicle’s tow capacity is extremely important to ensure safety on the road. Most toy haulers are towed by full-sized trucks, but some can be towed by smaller trucks or SUVs depending on the gross weight. While you should always consult your dealer when figuring out tow capacity, here’s a quick guide to help you decide if you can tow a toy hauler with your existing vehicle.

First, make sure you know the following numbers:

1. Dry Weight—The weight of your RV without any toys, liquids or cargo. This is a good baseline number to have because if the dry weight exceeds your vehicle’s tow capacity, then you’ll know right away that you’ll need either a smaller toy hauler or a larger tow vehicle.
2. Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)—The maximum allowable weight of the RV, including all toys, liquids and cargo. You should never exceed this number.

Second, look up your tow vehicle’s maximum towing capacity and compare it to your toy hauler’s GVWR. For example, if your vehicle has a maximum towing capacity of 12,000 pounds and your toy hauler’s GVWR is 9,500 pounds, then you’re safe to tow.

A good rule of thumb is to make sure that the GVWR is about 20 percent less than your maximum towing capacity. This will not only give you some extra room for any additional weight but it will also help with the longevity of your tow vehicle.

The type of hitch needed for a toy hauler depends on the style of RV. For a toy hauler travel trailer, you’ll need a bumper-pull hitch. For a fifth wheel toy hauler, you’ll need a fifth wheel hitch that sits in the bed of a truck. Regardless of hitch type, you’ll need to ensure that your hitch can support the weight of your toy hauler and provide proper weight distribution. The weight placed on your hitch is called the tongue weight. If your tongue weight is too heavy, the back of your tow vehicle can sag and affect both driving and braking. To ensure safe towing, it’s best to have a dealer or professional help you install, calibrate and tailor your exact toy hauler hitch. 

COn average, toy hauler RVs cost anywhere from $20,000 to $100,000. Price depends on a few things, including the size of the toy hauler, the amenities offered and the features included. In general, toy haulers that are longer in length and have more axles are typically more expensive. Class A toy haulers (a motorhome with a rear garage space and loading ramp) are also more expensive than a standard travel trailer toy hauler.

Some other features that impact the price of a toy hauler are:

• Size of fresh water tanks
• Size of the garage space
• Number of on-board generators
• Entertainment systems
• Solid-surface countertops
• On-board washer and dryer