Understanding the weight of a toy hauler is important primarily to ensure safe towing and that your vehicle can handle the load. On average, the weight range of toy haulers is between 1,700 kg and 3,200 kg, with a maximum load weight of about 2,500 kg to 5,000 kg. Toy haulers are significantly heavier than standard caravans or RVs as they are designed to carry heavier loads. Because toy haulers are designed to carry heavy equipment like motorcycles or cars in their rear garage, their weight can change significantly, which is why it is critical to understand the empty toy hauler weight (tare) compared to the loaded weight (ATM).
Different Weight Varieties of Toy Haulers
Toy haulers are available in all different sizes, which means they will range from ultra-light models to heavy-duty fifth wheels. Ultra-light models are often towable by SUVs, while heavy-duty models typically require large trucks or specialised 4WD vehicles. It is important to look at the Aggregate Trailer Mass (ATM) because toy haulers are designed for carrying heavy equipment, and this is the maximum potential weight it can handle. The three main toy hauler categories are:
Ultra Lightweight/Small Toy Haulers
- Tare weight: 700 kg – 1,500 kg
- ATM: 1,300 kg – 2,300 kg
- Description: These are compact, aerodynamic trailers with a rear garage and fold-down ramp. Unlike large toy haulers, ultra-light toy haulers use aluminium framing and composite materials to keep the weight down.
- Used for: Transporting motorcycles, dirt bikes, mountain bikes or kayaks.
Medium Weight/Mid-Sized Toy Haulers
- Tare weight: 2,200 kg – 2,800 kg
- ATM: 3,000 kg – 3,500 kg
- Description: Mid-sized toy haulers such as the Tomcat bridge the gap between the compact models and massive, luxury units. These toy haulers typically feature a separate, enclosed garage area and are equipped with home-like comforts including a full kitchen, dedicated bathroom or shower and off-grid power systems.
- Used for: Transporting larger equipment like quad bikes or up to three motorcycles.
Heavyweight/Large Travel Trailer Toy Haulers
- Tare weight: 3,400 kg – 5,000 kg
- ATM: 4,530–6,350 kg
- Description: Large travel trailer toy haulers are characterised by a massive rear garage with a large ramp door. This garage is designed for heavy loads, while the front resembles a high-end recreational vehicle with a kitchen, bedroom amenities, washing and bathroom facilities. The Tomcat toy hauler is also available in an extra-large version with a tare of 3,600 kg and ATM of 4,500 kg.
- Used for: Motorised toys like motorcycles, golf carts, jet skis, snowmobiles, kayaks, small cars or jeeps.
Toy Hauler Weight Definitions
Toy hauler weight falls under different categories and measurements. Understanding toy hauler weight definitions is critical for safe towing. The weight of the toy hauler directly impacts a vehicle’s braking efficiency, stability and handling. Exceeding limits can cause dangerous trailer sway, invalidate insurance, and damage the vehicle. The toy hauler weights are:
- Tare weight: This is the weight of an empty toy hauler with no cargo as it leaves the factory with standard equipment fitted. This weight usually includes the essential fluids required for operation but excludes water tanks, gas bottles, personal gear and aftermarket accessories.
- Aggregate Trailer Mass (ATM): This is the maximum allowable weight the toy hauler can be when fully loaded and unhitched from the towing vehicle.
- Payload capacity: This is the difference between the tare weight and ATM.
- Tow Ball Weight (TBW): This is the downward force your toy hauler exerts on the tow ball of a vehicle. This is a critical figure to monitor and should generally sit around 10% of your ATM.
Toy Hauler Weight Comparison
Toy haulers are significantly heavier than standard caravans or RVs. They are engineered with reinforced chassis and flooring to support the significant weight of recreational vehicles and toys stored in the rear garage.
Recreational vehicle type |
Average tare weight |
Average ATM |
| Toy Hauler | 1,700 kg – 3,200 kg | 2,500 kg-5,000 kg |
| Caravan | 900 kg -2,500 kg | 1,300 kg-3,500 kg |
| RV | 900 kg-1,200 kg | 2,000 kg-2,500 kg |
| Pop top caravan | 900 kg – 2,300 kg | 1,300 kg – 3,000 kg |
| Family caravan | 1,950 kg – 3,000 kg | 2,500 kg – 4,000 kg |
| Pod/Teardrop | 300 kg – 1,100 kg | 600 kg – 1,400 kg |
Key Factors that Influence Toy Hauler Weight
There are numerous factors that influence toy hauler weight, from its core construction and materials to cargo added by the user. Key characteristics that impact how heavy the toy hauler is include:
- Construction materials: The materials the toy hauler is made from impact its weight. Toy haulers are constructed from materials like steel, aluminium or fibreglass. A toy hauler with an aluminium frame is typically about 10% lighter than a steel-framed unit. Fibreglass is a light material that is often used for the walls to manage the weight. Flooring, on the other hand, is often heavy-duty to support cargo like motorcycles or small all-terrain vehicles.
- Number of axles: The number of axles will also affect the overall weight. The Dreamseeker single axle toy hauler typically weights between 1,700 kg and 2,400 kg, while tandem axle models weigh between 2,400 and 3,400 kg. Tandem axles can carry more weight because the load is distributed across two axles instead of one.
- Built-in amenities: The amount of and type of built-in amenities impacts the tare weight of a toy hauler. Features such as kitchen facilities, bathrooms, built-in beds and bunks all impact the weight.
- Cargo and ‘toys’: The weight of cargo and toys directly impacts the loaded weight of the toy hauler, and how close it is to its ATM. As toy haulers are designed to carry heavy cargo such as all-terrain vehicles, the weight can be increased by an average of 2,000 kg.
- Water and fuel: Liquid weight such as petrol and water tanks significantly affect the weight of the toy hauler. Water adds about 1 kg per litre, which means a 190-litre tank adds about 190 kg. A 20-litre jerry can of fuel adds about 20 kg of weight.
Importance of Toy Hauler Weight
It is critical to understand toy hauler weight for safety reasons, to prevent equipment failure, and ensure legal compliance. All toy haulers are capable of carrying significantly heavier loads than traditional caravans, so precise knowledge of loaded weight, tare weight and tow ball weight is imperative. Toy hauler weight is important to know because of these factors.
- Unique heavy loading dynamics: Toy haulers have a rear-heavy factor that severely impacts safety if not loaded properly.
- Prevention of overloading risks: Exceeding the manufacturer’s weight ratings poses significant risks for both the toy hauler and the towing vehicle. Excessive weight can cause tyre blowouts and component failure such as strains on brakes, suspension and bearings.
- Tow vehicle safety: Vehicles can become harder to steer when the toy hauler is too heavy, as the trailer causes the front end of the vehicle to lift. Overloaded toy haulers put extra strain on brakes, can reduce stopping power and cause premature wear and tear.
- Optimal handling: When the proper weight is adhered to for a toy hauler, the ride is smoother and safer. Swaying is reduced as the weight distribution is even and there is equal pressure on all trailer tyres.
- Run your own weight calculations: When shopping for a new toy hauler or travelling, it’s always worth running a quick calculation of your expected weight. Everything from your cargo, fuel, water tanks and gear can add up quickly, with many travellers only realising they’re overweight once they’ve had their toy hauler weighed.
Choosing the Right Toy Hauler Based on Weight
Toy haulers have more cargo carrying capacity than standard caravans. It is important to choose the right toy hauler based on weight to ensure safe towing, prevent damage to the tow vehicle and avoid exceeding legal limits. To choose the right toy hauler, take into account these factors.
- Tow vehicle capacity: One of the most important factors is the tow vehicle capacity. This is the maximum weight your vehicle can legally and safely tow. Ensure the toy hauler’s loaded weights are well within the limits of the tow vehicle to prevent mechanical failure and dangerous handling.
- Understand weight ratings: It is crucial to understand weight ratings when choosing a toy hauler. The most important weight rating to focus on is the aggregate trailer mass. This figure represents the maximum allowed weight of the toy hauler when fully loaded. It is important to ensure the tow vehicle can safely handle this weight rather than just the tare weight.
- Consider toy weight: Consider the weight of the toys and cargo that will be carried in the toy hauler. The cargo carrying capacity in the toy hauler is the maximum weight of all belongings, such as recreational vehicles, water or fuel, that the toy hauler can safely transport. It is determined by subtracting the tare weight from the aggregate trailer mass.
- Consider payload capacity: This is the key rating that determines how much weight you can fit in the toy hauler. It is the difference between the tare weight and the ATM.
The weight of toy haulers varies considerably depending on whether it is a small model or a large, fifth wheel unit. As these recreational vehicles are designed specifically to carry heavy cargo, they tend to be heavier than standard caravans. Understanding toy hauler weight is essential when purchasing a toy hauler to ensure a safe and enjoyable towing experience. When choosing a toy hauler, the team at Dreamseeker Caravans can help you find the right model to suit your needs.