Why should fifth-wheels have all the fun? These conventional travel trailers haul your toys with the best of ’em.
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Toy haulers are a great way to enhance the RVing experience, allowing owners to bring along their beloved recreational toys and combine their passion for adventure with the usual benefits of the RV lifestyle. These haulers, or sport-utility recreational vehicles (SURVs), are available in many RV types, from elegant Class A coaches to well-appointed Class C motorhomes to luxurious fifth-wheels. But toy haulers are also available in a handful of smaller vehicles, such as nimble Class B motorhomes, the occasional truck camper and, perhaps the most underappreciated members of the SURV sect, conventional travel trailers.
Sure, some motorhomes are more spacious, and some fivers may offer a more stable towing platform, but overall, travel-trailer toy haulers allow for some of the easiest, most convenient and certainly most versatile off-grid RVing solutions. These trailers and their respective tow vehicles are generally more easily navigable to off-road-friendly locations, which may require stouter suspensions, higher road clearances and lighter weights to get to than typical commercial RV parks and public campground sites.
While many travel-trailer toy haulers can take RVers to more out-of-the-way destinations, they still contain all the comforts of home, from pillow-top mattresses to flat-screen HDTVs to residential kitchens and baths. Plus, when not in use, their garage areas afford additional space, so the whole family can join in the fun. Most are built for the long haul and should stand up to the beating they will take from the journey to the campsite, and the grease, grime and hours of use they will receive on a typical adventurous getaway.
What follows is a selection of toy-hauling travel trailers that are on the market. A simple Internet search or an afternoon spent at a dealership like Camping World may reveal even more options for you and your off-pavement pals.
CrossRoads
C
rossRoads offers the ZT278RR toy hauler, part of the popular Z-1 trailer lineup. At around 5,000 pounds dry weight, the Z-1 is towable by most half-ton trucks, and, with a properly equipped tow vehicle, owners have the luxury of bringing along more than 2,500 pounds of outdoor toys and cargo. A large 69- x 74-inch ramp door allows for easy loading of quads, motorbikes or a variety of other popular toys. Six D-ring tie-downs keep the vehicles in place. After the toys have been off-loaded, the two rear sofas can be converted to make additional sleeping positions (they fold against the wall for a wide-open floorplan when not in use). Up front, a walk-around queen bed makes bedroom duties a snap, while a handy floor-to-ceiling pantry amidships enhances storage space, which also includes two shirt closets and a good amount of overhead storage. Notable standards range from wood-grain linoleum to an AM/FM/CD stereo with auxiliary (iPod) jacks and two exterior speakers, diamond-plate front stone guards and raised-panel cabinet doors.
CrossRoads RV
855-226-7496
www.crossroadsrv.com
Dutchmen
The Rubicon 2900 features a wide 8-foot 6-inch body for the extra space needed to haul outdoor toys. High-gloss exterior walls and an aggressive graphics package will let other RVers know you have arrived. Once in camp, the electric awning, overhead cargo netting for storage and 30-gallon fuel station are big plusses for off-roaders, and the tub/shower combination inside is a benefit for those who like to easily wash off the day’s dirt after a long ride. The dual-basin sink, three-burner stove and microwave all help with preparing family meals, while a sizable refrigerator and separate pantry hold plenty of food. An optional rear-ramp patio setup takes the entertainment outside.
Dutchmen | 866-425-4369 | www.dutchmen.com
EverGreen
The Amped 32KS may be a travel trailer, but it definitely feels more like a fifth-wheel in terms of livability. The Amped’s unique Z-Frame technology provides RVers with more than three times the amount of storage found in typical travel-trailer toy haulers, according to the company. This configuration also affords owners the ultimate in RV entertaining space. “No other toy-hauler travel trailer offers an upper-deck kitchen-slide floorplan,” said Will Gonyon, Amped’s product manager. “The Amped 32KS has a breakfast bar with vast countertop space, allowing you to prepare a meal in your kitchen while having family and friends at the bar.” Other impressive features of the 32KS include an 8-cubic-foot refrigerator, solid-surface countertops, a shower with a tri-sliding door and bench seat, and a porcelain foot-flush toilet. Utility standards include a 4,000-watt Onan generator, E-Z Lube axles, a 40-gallon fuel tank for your toys and an 8-foot, 3,000-pound-rated ramp door. Plus, the ramp can be converted into a patio (optional), allowing the entertainment-friendly trailer to live up to its name when it comes to party time.
EverGreen also offers the Reactor 29FS, a rugged, lighter-weight trailer featuring a double-welded aluminum structure for enhanced durability. A high-gloss exterior, aggressive graphics and frameless windows make for an attractive exterior, while the 8-foot 5-inch-high barreled ceiling inside provides an open concept similar to a fifth-wheel. The L-shape counter in the galley makes for easy meal prep, and dual 72-inch sofa beds in the living area and a pair of sofa beds in the garage area provide an abundance of sleeping space. The master offers a comfy queen bed with walk-around space and dual wardrobes, and the large bathroom features an enormous 48 x 30-inch residential shower that is ideal for cleaning off the grime after a day on the dunes. The 7½-foot ramp door is larger than most, while the full 8-foot 6-inch width makes hauling those toys easy.
EverGreen Recreational Vehicles | 574-825-4298 | www.goevergreenrv.com
Highland Ridge
Highland Ridge recently joined the toy-hauling travel fray with the introduction of the Highlander HT31RGR. The four-season Highlander features a heated and enclosed underbelly and R38 insulation in the ceiling and floors for snow-goers, and the garage area can be sealed off from the living area to help combat the fuel/oil smells that often permeate an SURV, especially when traveling with snowmobiles. Opposing slides result in an uncluttered, wide-open floorplan, and the kitchen island is a great touch to add more real estate to the countertops. The amidships lavatory extends the width of the trailer and contains a 30- x 48-inch shower. Dual nightstands flank the queen bed in the master. The garage area is available with a HappiJac bed-lift system with a pass-through (removable) dinette and television. The trailer runs on 50-amp electrical, which allows you to enjoy all the comforts of home while plugged in.
Highland Ridge RV
260-768-7771
www.highlandridgerv.com
Jayco
Built by the family-owned manufacturer with nearly 50 years in the RV industry, Jayco’s half-ton-towable Octane Super Lite 222 toy hauler weighs in at a svelte 4,795 pounds (uvw), offering more than 3,000 pounds of toy- and cargo-carrying capacity. The robust trailer is constructed using screws rather than staples, and Jayco’s Magnum Truss Roof System (which the company claims is 50 percent stronger than other roofs), laminated floor with block-foam insulation and additional heavier-duty assembly techniques lead to a longer lasting, more durable trailer. Aluminum wheels, a fiberglass radius front wall, diamond-plate aluminum and LED taillights give the Octane a distinctive look outside, while Espresso wood cabinetry, stainless-steel appliances, a deep double-bowl sink and vinyl flooring throughout keep things looking good inside. The garage offers a 2,500-pound-capacity ramp door, bar-lock latches, keyed door locks and flush-floor mounted tie-down rings with a stout 2,500-pound capacity. All Jayco products come with what the company calls an industry-leading two-year limited warranty.
Jayco Inc. | 574-825-5861 | www.jayco.com
Keystone
The Carbon 33 is one of five floorplans in the Carbon toy-hauler line. Standard features of the 33 (which ships at 8,985 pounds, leaving plenty of room for all your toys) include a 10-foot garage, welded-to-the-frame tie-downs (each rated at 5,000 pounds pull-strength), an oil- and gas-resistant composite rubber floor in the garage and AC-generator prep. The 33 features a heated and enclosed underbelly, a 30-gallon fueling station and a vapor door to keep fuel fumes out of the living area. Inside, livability features include a full galley with a gas/electric refrigerator, range, oven and microwave; an entertainment center with a 40-inch LED TV; and ducted 15,000-Btu air conditioning. Popular options include an Onan 4,000-watt generator, dual-pane frameless windows, a rear screen enclosure and electrically operated single or stacked queen beds in the garage that convert to opposing sofas with a dinette.
Keystone RV | 866-425-4369 | www.keystonerv.com/carbon
Lance
Known primarily for its upscale truck campers and its top-quality lightweight trailers, Lance Camper has entered the toy-hauler market with two models: the 2212 and the 2612. The 2612 shown here offers more than 12 feet of unencumbered cargo space, which should be plenty of room for any type of toy owners can send its way. The floorplan does a great job at creating five distinctive areas: the master bedroom, the bathroom, the kitchen/dining area, the living room and the garage. This layout allows for a more residential feel while inside, and when the toys are away, the garage offers a queen bed and optional dual jackknife sofas and dinette, which expands the homey feel even further. Standard features include electric side and rear awnings with LED lighting, designer interior decors, blue LED accent lighting, an air conditioner, microwave and more. Options include keyless entry, a 4,000-watt Onan generator, a central-vacuum system, an automatic-tracking satellite dish, a solar panel, a roof rack and a ramp-door patio-railing system.
Lance Camper
661-949-3322
www.lancecamper.com
Livin’ Lite
Livin’ Lite trailers live up to their name, available in models the company claims are up to 30 percent lighter than the competition. The Axxess 8.5x26FBR shown here features an aerodynamic radius front end for improved mileage, and the highly detailed graphics package and black trim give it the look RV buyers have come to expect. But perhaps what makes the Axxess stand out most is the large garage area. There is 12 feet 6 inches of space from the rear to the kitchen street side, plus an impressive 16 feet 6 inches of space along the curb side. When not storing vehicles, the garage area offers a convertible dinette and portable table, a fold-up sofa bed and an optional HappiJac power bed. The front of the trailer offers a private bedroom with a queen bed, while storage is plentiful throughout, thanks to an abundance of cabinetry. The L-shape galley is cleverly designed to offer the best use of space to help feed an army of off-roaders.
Livin’ Lite Recreational Vehicles | 574-862-2228 | www.livinlite.com
Northwood
Northwood hangs its hat on durable four-season construction, and the Desert Fox 27FS toy hauler is no exception. Like all Desert Fox trailers, the 27FS features a custom-built, third-party, structurally certified chassis under an 8-foot 6-inch wide-body floorplan. The thick walled, fully welded aluminum frame utilizes solid core anchor blocking and pressure-bonded, hot-polyurethane-laminated multi-layer walls. Cabinets are residential quality with face-frame construction, utilizing screws rather than staples. Standard features include a 5.5-kw Onan generator, a 30-gallon on-board fuel station, an LED TV, LED utility lighting inside and out, a power awning, a power A-frame jack and a power-lift queen bed (a second lift bed is optional). The 27FS also comes with a cable kit to convert the rear door into a patio deck and a rear screen wall for open-air use. Options include thermal-pane windows, a pressure washer, an air compressor, retractable cable toy lock, reversible rear lounge, solar panels and an exterior barbecue grill.
Northwood Manufacturing
800-766-6274
www.northwoodmfg.com
Weekend Warrior
Years ago, when you said “toy hauler,” any respectable RVer would immediately think Weekend Warrior. Well, after a few years on the shelf, Weekend Warrior is back. The WSA 28 has been designed specifically for recreational-toy owners, with a powder-coated chassis, all-steel-cage construction, an integrated toolbox, 10 tie-downs in the garage and an optional 40-gallon fueling station.
The WSA 28’s front fiberglass cap, 15-inch aluminum wheels and frameless windows make the trailer a head-turner. Four scissor jacks help with in-camp stability. But the WSA 28 has a softer side as well, with deluxe cabinetry, a porcelain toilet, pleated shades and marine-grade custom furniture, all sure to please the indoor adventurer. Popular options include solar panels, a 4,000-watt generator, a rear screen, a veranda and automatic leveling jacks.
Weekend Warrior
844-284-6678
www.weekendwarriortoyhauler.com
Winnebago
The company that’s virtually synonymous with motorhomes makes a pretty nice trailer as well. And, as of this model year, Winnebago offers a toy hauler: the Spyder. Available in four lengths (the 24FQ shown here is the only one beyond the prototype stage), the distinctive-looking trailer is immediately identifiable by its black gel-coat fiberglass exterior. The inside of the trailer has a wide-open design concept, combining the galley and living area into one unencumbered “great room.” The amidships bathroom is surprisingly roomy and contains everything needed for personal duties, including a spacious 60-inch shower, while the master bedroom houses a 60- x 80-inch walk- around queen bed, overhead storage and dual nightstands and wardrobes. A Rockford Fosgate sound-system upgrade is much appreciated, as is the Spyder’s ability to sleep up to six. Off-pavement enthusiasts should be pleased to discover an in-floor toolbox, pull-down rear screen wall and ramp-door patio option.
Winnebago Industries
641-585-3535
www.winnebagoind.com
