A toy hauler is a type of caravan featuring a large, multi-purpose storage space in the rear and a living area in the front. Designed to transport large equipment, toy haulers offer all the comforts of a traditional caravan with the benefit of an additional garage space.
They get their name because they are commonly used to carry “toys” such as motorbikes, kayaks and bicycles. Featuring a large rear ramp door that folds down to create a loading ramp for roll-in access, along with reinforced flooring and multiple tie-down points, they are designed for easy and secure storage.
Many adventurers choose a toy hauler because of their versatility. You don’t have to utilise your extra storage just to house toys; you could turn it into a home office setup, workshop or even an extra living space. You can still enjoy all the amenities of a traditional caravan, with a kitchen, bathroom, sleeping area and shower often included. If a toy hauler seems like the perfect option for you, it’s important to consider its storage size, layout and extra features, to ensure you choose the right caravan for your next adventure.
Main Features of a Toy Hauler
Toy haulers are incredibly versatile vehicles, offering a range of unique features that make them a standout choice for travellers. These features typically include:
- Rear garage space: The defining feature of a toy hauler is the large storage space in the rear. Depending on the size of your toy hauler, you should expect this space to be around 2 metres in width, and approximately 2 metres in length. However, larger toy haulers may be around 3 metres long and capable of carrying jet-skis and quad bikes. Sizes can vary significantly depending on your choice of toy hauler, so it’s always best to consult your caravan provider to find the right one for you.
- Ramp door: Another key feature of a toy hauler is the addition of a ramp door in the rear, allowing you to easily drive or roll equipment directly into the garage space. This can make loading and unloading motorcycles, bicycles, ATVs and any other gear simple and convenient. These ramps are reinforced to handle the weight of heavy toys, such as motorbikes or small vehicles. They are also constructed from durable materials, such as high-grade aluminium and steel reinforcement for long-term use. When closed, the ramp door can seal tightly to protect your toys from external weather and any debris during travel.
- Integrated amenities: Toy haulers are commonly fitted with all the amenities you should expect from a caravan. These include a bathroom area with an internal shower and toilet, kitchen and comfortable sleeping spaces. It’s important to note that only caravan-style toy haulers have full living quarters, while other types, such as trailer-style models, typically focus entirely on a garage for storage.
- Tough construction: Unlike other caravan types, a toy hauler is designed specifically to transport larger items in its rear storage. Therefore, they are constructed with a stronger, reinforced steel chassis and frame to handle the tough Australian conditions. Their axles also have a higher weight rating, with durable bodywork for long-lasting performance.
Toy Hauler Types
Toy haulers are available in a variety of types, each with its own unique features to suit different travellers. These include the following:
- Full-size toy hauler caravans: The standard toy hauler is a caravan-style model that uses a simple pull-behind design, towed by a vehicle via a towbar. These caravans usually feature a fully integrated rear garage, with an accommodation area at the front. Most full-size toy haulers will include an internal kitchen, full shower and toilet facilities, along with comfortable living space for multiple people.
- Hybrid toy hauler: This offers a smaller alternative to a full-size toy hauler. They are designed to be lighter than a standard caravan, so they can be towed by a wider range of vehicles. Their lightweight, compact design also makes them better suited to any off-road adventures, with easier manoeuvrability. While they don’t usually offer the same storage capacity as a full-size toy hauler, they may include a basic living space such as kitchen and sleeping quarters. This toy hauler is perfect for those who want to have enough room to transport their toys, without committing to a full-size caravan.
- Custom toy hauler: Many manufacturers may also specialise in building toy haulers tailored to a customer’s specifications, allowing them to create a customised layout. Brands such as Dreamseeker Caravans can design a toy hauler completely from scratch, allowing you to adjust the garage size, living quarters, cabinetry and even the chassis or suspension to suit your requirements. They ensure your customised layout complies with all Australian Design Rules (ADRs), to keep you safe on the road.
This provides a general overview of the major toy hauler types available. However, manufacturers and caravan providers may classify their toy haulers in different ways, with their own terminology or layouts. Contacting them directly can help you understand the toy hauler types they offer and which option suits you best.
Who Are Toy Haulers Best For?
Because of the added storage space, toy haulers can accommodate a wide range of different people. If you are one of the following, a toy hauler could be perfect for you:
- Outdoor enthusiasts: The built-in storage of a toy hauler makes it the perfect option for outdoor enthusiasts and adventure seekers. Particularly for those who want to adventure with gear, needing enough room to house your jet-skis, dirt bikes, kayaks and other outdoor equipment.
- Families: If you’re thinking about embarking on a family road trip, a toy hauler can allow your kids to bring their own bicycles and play with toys, while having enough living space to accommodate everyone comfortably.
- Event transportation: Toy haulers can also be used by those looking to transport goods or gear from one event to another. Musicians are a great example, as toy haulers give them enough space to store their instruments and gear while still providing a place to sleep.
- Remote workers: As more and more people choose to work remotely, a toy hauler allows you to create a secure working environment. The extra storage space afforded could easily double as an office space, in which you could add everything you need to work productively, from tables, chairs and computer equipment.
- People who want to bring an extra passenger: A caravan can only fit so many people within its living space, so if you’re looking for ways to transport extra people, you could use its rear storage space as a living area. There is plenty of space to set up a blow-up air mattress or spare bed.
Toy Hauler Benefits
Toy haulers are tough, versatile vehicles that offer a wide range of benefits. These include:
- Easily transport cargo: The primary reason to consider a toy hauler over other caravan variants is the additional storage in the rear and the opportunities this can create. If you’ve always wanted to travel with your favourite bicycle, or quad bike, and use these when adventuring, the extra space can provide you with extra freedom.
- Versatile: Toy haulers can be used for more than just a camping trip, with the ability to transform the extra rear space into a multi-purpose zone, such as a makeshift home office or outdoor patio. The only limitation of a toy hauler is your imagination, with the potential to enhance your next journey.
- Cost-savings: A toy hauler combines both a garage space and accommodation into one unit, meaning you won’t have to worry about spending extra on accommodation, hiring a separate trailer or renting equipment at your destination. This means you can save money by having a place to sleep, without sacrificing on storage.
- Durable and easy to clean: Because they need to support the extra storage weight, toy haulers are constructed with a tougher, reinforced chassis, high ground clearance and off-road suspension, key factors for handling the tough Australian conditions.
- Higher resale value: Because of their versatility and ability to be used for more than just camping, toy haulers typically have a higher resale value than other caravan types, as they appeal to a broader range of buyers.
Toy Hauler Disadvantages
- Their size: Although their larger size allows for more storage space, this can be an inconvenience when travelling. For example, if you are planning on going off the beaten track, their larger size results in a bigger turning circle that makes it difficult to manoeuvre.
- Can be more expensive upfront: Because they are built to carry a heavier weight with a sturdier frame, toy haulers are generally costlier than other caravans. Furthermore, being heavier, you may also spend more on fuel costs, and you may need to invest in a heavy-duty vehicle that’s powerful enough to tow.
How Much Does a Toy Hauler Weigh?
With added components needed to support the extra storage area and heavy-duty materials required to support the extra cargo, toy haulers are naturally heavier than other caravan types. However, this weight can vary significantly depending on their size and type.
For example, at Dreamseeker Caravans our 14 ‘6” TOMCAT has a tare weight of 2000 kg, which can increase to more than 3200 kg for a 22 ‘6” TOMCAT. This is without any of the toys you may want to haul throughout your journey, which will add more weight.
It’s also important to check the ATM (Aggregate Trailer Mass). This is the maximum weight of your caravan when fully loaded and uncoupled from your towing vehicle. This includes both the tare weight and any cargo stored, and can be found within your manufacturer’s handbook.
Finding the weight measurement should be an important step for any potential buyers, allowing you to compare the towing capacity of your vehicle against the weight of the toy hauler. If you’re looking for a specific weight measurement for a particular type of toy hauler, please contact the specialists at Dreamseeker Caravans.
What To Look For When Buying a Toy Hauler
To ensure you find the best toy hauler to suit your needs, it’s important to consider the following factors:
- Garage size and capacity: The toy hauler size you choose should be large enough to accommodate any equipment you plan on carrying. Before you start shopping, measure the exact dimensions of the larger toys you’re looking to store, and compare these with the dimensions of the toy hauler’s garage space. It’s also important to examine the interior and ramp weight carrying capacity, which should be enough to take the combined weight of your equipment and gear. Always discuss these points with your caravan provider, to ensure it’s the right size for your needs.
- Towing vehicle/weight: We recommend verifying that your vehicle has the necessary towing capacity and torque to operate your toy hauler. This is a critical step to remain safe on the roads, as attempting to drive with a toy hauler that is beyond your vehicle’s safe towing capacity can be dangerous and severely compromise your braking ability, steering and control. This information can be found within your manufacturers handbook, or asking your caravan provider.
- Living arrangements: Your toy hauler should be a home away from home, with enough living space to comfortably fit multiple people. Assess the living space provided by your caravan provider, and verify that there are enough sleeping areas for everyone. An assessment of a toy hauler’s living arrangements should also extend to its showers, kitchens, interior storage and entertainment systems.
- Extra features: To maximise everything out of your new toy hauler, you may want to consider its extra features. Some toy haulers may offer portable fueling stations, solar panels, outdoor showers, outdoor kitchens and outdoor patios. Discuss these additional features with your caravan provider to check if they’re available to you.
If you’re looking for a caravan that has the extra room needed to transport all of your gear, a toy hauler could be the perfect choice for you. They are specially designed with extra storage space in the rear, so you can fit any motorbikes, bicycles or kayaks that you’re looking to transport. Dreamseeker Caravans has been specialising in custom designed toy haulers since 2016. Working with each customer to understand their travel requirements, each toy hauler is designed from scratch to ensure suitability including layout, features and most importantly weight management.