If you love outdoor adventure, need an RV with multiple sleeping spaces, or want to convert a space into a home office, a toy hauler is an excellent option. There are many unique benefits to this RV type. They offer industry-leading storage space, unique floor plans for families and couples, and a versatility you won’t find with other RVs.
If you’re unfamiliar with toy haulers, you’re in luck. Today, we’ll discuss travel trailer toy haulers vs fifth wheel toy haulers, the benefits of owning a toy hauler, where you can compare the most popular toy hauler floor plans, if this type of hybrid camper is right for you, and more.
What Is a Toy Hauler?
Toy haulers have the signature ramp door in the rear of the camper. Sometimes, these ramp doors convert into outdoor patio spaces. This particular feature is one way to identify toy haulers from the exterior when comparing them to other types of RVs.
However, the real defining feature of toy haulers is what lies behind that rear ramp door—a spacious garage. This space can be anywhere from roughly eight to 18 feet long, depending on the size of the camper. It’s designed for owners to safely transport outdoor toys like kayaks, golf carts, ATVs, dirt bikes, and more.
In many toy haulers, the garage also converts to a sleeping or dining area when everything is unloaded. But with modern trends like remote work and homeschooling, toy haulers stand out as the most versatile RVs out there. There are so many toy hauler garage ideas employed to customize this space, such as mobile offices, home gyms, kid play rooms, second bedrooms, and more.
Toy Hauler Benefits
While not everyone needs a toy hauler, everyone should consider this type of RV (especially if you’re an active camper). Regardless of your lifestyle and the places you want to visit, toy haulers check nearly every box on that long list of RV must-haves and nice-to-haves.
Here are some of the main advantages of toy haulers:
Large Garage Space
Do you have a dirt bike, motorcycle, ATV, or golf cart? Then, a toy hauler is the only way to go. Toy hauler garages are designed specifically for these recreation toys, with tie-down points on the floor and/or walls for maximum convenience and security during transport.
This lets you travel worry-free, knowing your expensive bikes or ATVs are safe and secure in transit. When you arrive, simply unload your gear using the rear ramp. When it’s time to head home, storage is as simple as driving them back into their hiding spot.
Even if you don’t have powersports equipment, a toy hauler garage is perfect for other cargo like bicycles, kayaks, snowboards, and paddleboards. You’ll be surprised how nice it is to keep dirty equipment away from your living space in a separate room. Toyhaulers have limitless uses and accommodate whatever gear you want to bring along.
Integrated Fueling Station
Toy hauler RVs also make it easy to refuel gas-powered toys. Some are equipped with integrated fueling stations that often carry upwards of 30 gallons. They also feature vents that allow you to store gasoline or propane onboard safely.
Some are even built with an onboard generator, making it easier to camp off-grid without campground hookups. If not, a portable generator can be stored in the garage, allowing you to set up your outdoor adventure RV basecamp in more remote locations and enjoy better access to wilderness areas.
Patio Deck
The coveted toy hauler garage ramp can pull double duty. It might be the singular feature that makes every other RV pale in comparison. Why? It can extend to create an elevated outdoor deck, which ultimately feels like an additional indoor/outdoor room. There are even toy haulers with a side patio in addition to the rear deck!
The “party deck,” as it’s known among RVers, sometimes comes with sidewalls (depending upon the floorplan and model). The sidewalls provide added safety and are great for enjoying the outdoors or RV tailgating at a big game.
This patio deck is also a safe place for younger kids to play outside or for pets to take an afternoon nap in the sun while remaining enclosed. Imagine working your remote job at a desk in the garage while the kids happily play in the beautiful sunshine. It’s the perfect setup! While not all toy hauler ramp doors convert to an outdoor patio, this is a unique feature of this RV type.
Versatility
Once unloaded, toy hauler garages double as versatile, multi-use spaces. This area can be used for practically anything! Most have foldaway tables, seating, and manual or power lift beds that can be raised or lowered as needed. Luxury toy haulers might even have a second bathroom or washer and dryer hookups in the garage.
Toy haulers are ideal for families because the kids have their hangout area while the adults have theirs. If you’re meeting another family at a campsite, these dual spaces give you dedicated places for kids to gather while adults enjoy charcuterie and cocktails in the main living area. Being apart but still together is one of the best things about RVing, and toy haulers are amazing in that aspect.
But if you don’t have kids and need the garage space to double as an office, that’s an option, too! Instead of working at the dinette or on the sofa, you can create a dedicated workspace.
Toy hauler garages make them arguably the most versatile RV type. Turn it into whatever suits your travel needs. We’ve seen RVers with a home gym, craft room, hunting lounge, and more! The best toy hauler will provide the space for whatever you need, which is different for every RVer.
Toy Hauler Travel Trailers vs Fifth Wheel Toy Haulers
A toy hauler can be a travel trailer or a fifth wheel, but these RV types also exist in non-toy hauler floor plans. Toy hauler travel trailers are towed with a ball and hitch, just like every other type of travel trailer. Fifth wheel toy haulers are towed by a king pin connected to a fifth wheel hitch in your truck bed.
Let’s compare the benefits of these toy hauler types:
Benefits of Toy Hauler Travel Trailers
- Lightweight Towing Options. Toy hauler travel trailers are usually shorter and lighter than toy hauler fifth wheels. This is where you’ll find the smallest toy haulers that can be towed with a smaller vehicle.
- More Affordable. Many travel trailer toy hauler campers are more affordable than a fifth wheel toy hauler.
- Easier Remote Access. Because they’re often lighter, you’ll find more toy hauler travel trailers built for off-road travel. If you want an off-road toy hauler, this type offers some enticing options.
Benefits of Fifth Wheel Toy Haulers
- More Space. Fifth wheels, in general, are more roomy than travel trailers. They’re often longer, but even shorter fifth wheel toy haulers have more headroom because of the higher ceilings. The interior living area feels more like a small apartment than a camper.
- More Storage. Fifth wheel toy haulers offer more storage across the board. From outdoor storage bays to indoor cabinetry, you’ll have more nooks, crannies, drawers, and shelves to organize your camping gear.
- Easier Towing. Most fifth wheel owners who have also owned a travel trailer rave about the better towing experience that fifth wheels offer. Because fifth wheels are attached to the truck bed rather than the bumper, drivers have more control over towing. There’s less sway, and the turning radius is often smaller.
If you don’t need an RV garage, other travel trailer or fifth wheel floor plans may better suit your camping needs.
- If you have kids, check out bunkhouse travel trailers.
- If you love cooking, check out rear kitchen travel trailers.
- Mid bunk fifth wheels are excellent for those looking for a bonus room for kids.
- A front living fifth wheel floor plan offers the kind of entertaining space you need for hosting sports watch parties or luxurious movie nights.
How Much Does a Toy Hauler Weigh?
Toy haulers are some of the largest and heaviest travel trailers and fifth wheel campers. When shopping, find your vehicle’s towing capacity and compare it to the camper’s gross vehicle weight. For a toy hauler fifth wheel, you’ll also want to note the pin weight and compare it to your payload capacity.
Toy haulers range in size just like every other RV type. For example, the 45-foot Grand Design Momentum 410TH fifth wheel toy hauler has a dry weight of 16,800 pounds, a GVWR of 22,500 pounds, and a pin weight of 3,600 pounds. In contrast, the 26-foot Forest River XLR Micro Boost 2017M travel trailer toy hauler has a dry weight of 5,813 pounds, a GVWR of 9,990, and a hitch weight of 770 pounds.
Cargo carrying capacity is the biggest point of emphasis for toy haulers – whether a travel trailer or a fifth wheel. This is where toy haulers beat all other RVs. While some travel trailers can’t handle 1,000 pounds of cargo, a toy hauler travel trailer will triple or even quadruple that capacity. The XLR Micro Boost 2017M may only weigh 5,813 pounds empty, but it has the capacity to haul over 4,000 pounds of gear.
The same is true for toy hauler fifth wheels. Fifth wheels generally have a cargo carrying capacity between 1,500-2,500 pounds, depending on the overall size. But the Momentum 410TH has a cargo carrying capacity of 5,700 pounds, which leads us to the next question.
Can a Toy Hauler Carry a Car?
If the garage space is large enough and the cargo carrying capacity substantial enough, it’s possible for larger toy haulers to carry a car. But you’re more likely to see a Harley Davidson or a Can-Am roll out of a toy hauler than a Jeep Wrangler. But if the car is small enough to fit inside, and you’re not overloading your RV or tow vehicle’s weight ratings (i.e., cargo carrying capacity, gross vehicle weight rating, and towing capacity), it’s possible to haul a small vehicle in a toy hauler.
Generally, toy haulers are anywhere from 96” to 102” wide. They also come with tie-down points that have specific weight ratings. The requirements for fit, security, and towing safety must all be met with exceeding caution to carry a car in a toy hauler. This doesn’t mention the angle of many toy hauler ramps, which may be prohibitive for loading a smaller vehicle that’s closer to the ground. So, while possible, it’s much more common for toy haulers to carry all-terrain vehicles or recreation equipment. After all, you’ll have your tow vehicle, once disconnected, to get around your destination.
Find Your Perfect Toy Hauler
The right toy hauler will allow you to travel differently. All RVs are homes on the road, but few allow you to bring all your outdoor gear. If you’re having trouble downsizing your recreation gear to fit in a traditional trailer, toy haulers are a great option for outdoor adventurers.
If you’re not quite ready to buy, try renting a toy hauler to explore what doors this RV will open for you!
Check out these articles for even more options for toy haulers!
- Find Your Off Road Toy Hauler
- Find Your Toy Hauler with a Side Patio
- A Front Kitchen Toy Hauler?
- Pros and Cons of a Fifth Wheel vs Travel Trailer
Do you have any questions about whether a toy hauler is your ideal RV? Let us know in the comments below.
We purchased a Keystone Impact toyhauler because of the ability to haul a motorcycle or golf cart but mostly because of the second living area. We love parking oceanfront and sitting on the patio while listing to the waves. We added the upper bed which then makes it a double queen area and we added the second a/c for the hauling area. We love how wide and high the ceiling is. I don’t believe I will ever be any other type of RV because I enjoy the space.
The Green’s from Florida
The disadvantage of most toy haulers is that they can be quite heavy. Many of them are outside the towing range of a 1/2 ton truck. My toy hauler has a GVWR of 11k lbs and I use a 1 ton truck (F-350) to pull it. I tried pulling it with a 1/2 ton truck, even when completely empty around town, and it was a very uncomfortable towing experience.
The tongue weight of toy haulers can change significantly when the garage is occupied or empty. My tongue weight goes up by 500 lbs when the garage doesn’t have my side-by-side parked in it.
A disadvantage of a toy hauler without a dedicated garage is that to sit down and eat or to sleep the garage has to be empty.
Will my next trailer be a toy hauler? I’m leaning towards a plain fifth wheel instead and I’ll pull the ATV on a trailer behind the fifth wheel.
I would like to see the trailer companies build trailers that easily handle the new wider UTV’s that are on the market now. I have a New toyhauler and I can just bearly fit my Polaris General in it because of the wide wheel width.
can’t build it over 8’6″ wide.. that would require a special oversize permit issued from every state you go into.; with that comes extra insurance and bonds.
I put my 2013 Polaris Ranger 900XP in my toy hauler. There is plenty of room at the wheels. I can walk on all four sides of the Ranger when it’s parked in the garage. However, the clearance at the roll bar is a different matter. I have about 2″ to 3″ of clearance between the roll bar and the cabinets. I’ve already busted one of the cabinet handles off. I now use chains with a chain binder to put just enough tension on the suspension to keep the body from rolling.
My trailer is a 2006 Fleetwood Gearbox 220FB. I looked long and hard for a trailer that fit my budget and fit my ATV. There are a lot of toy haulers out there with insufficient height at the cargo door to fit my Ranger in.
Hey Howard, definitely something manufacturers will have to learn to accommodate in the future. Thanks for pointing that out.
Interesting. I thought the General was narrower than the Ranger but it looks like it is 2″ wider.
Mine is a 2017 Polaris General and my trailer is 2017 toyhauler and it bearly fits because of the wide wheel base for the newer UTV’s
Excellent points, Jim. You’re totally right. Definitely, have to pay attention to tongue weight both when the trailer is loaded up and empty. They are generally heavy trailers and a typical full-size pickup like an F-150 or Silverado 1500 probably won’t cut it. In some cases it may, depending on size, but yeah. That F-350 has to get the job done pretty well, though, right?