Gear: State-of-the-Art Toy Haulers

With ATV and motorcycle sales at all-time highs, the RV industry is responding with new and innovative toy haulers that marry the world of creature comforts with the utility of transporting toys to the backcountry.

In addition to carrying trail cargo and providing a luxurious habitat, toy haulers make excellent docking stations. Options can include fueling stations (gas cans are no longer required), auxiliary generators that can power equipment like arc welders (for field repairs), air compressors, power-wash stations, electric winches for loading toys, and removable work benches.

Once you know what equipment you want, choosing the right toy hauler also means checking the specifications. These include the GVWR, cargo capacity, and dry hitch weight of the towable unit. You'll need to know what your truck, SUV, or full-size van is capable of towing and how much hitch weight it's designed to handle.

Aluminum frame, laminated fiberglass walls; ducted air-conditioning; seven-foot-two-inch nonskid ramp/door; seamless roof; cambered chassis with structural-steel, 4-8 people.

Welded aluminum-frame laminated walls, roof, and floor; fiberglass exterior, Aqualon-7 fabric; I-beam steel powder-coated frame; tandem E-Z Lube axles; aluminum wheels; stabilizing jacks

Galley; bath; convertible dinette; sofa/sleeper; foldout double beds; furnace; water heater

Air-conditioner; auxiliary generator with 30-gallon tank; fuel station with 30-gallon tank; oven; carryout gas grill

I-beam frame; laminated walls; one-piece roof membrane; 2500-pound door/ramp with nonskid ramp flooring; stabilizer jacks; tandem Nev-R-Lube axles with electric brakes; 15 inch radial tires

AlumaFrame wall construction; 2500-pound ramp/door with nonskid surface; one-piece seamless decking; seamless roof; tandem Nev-R-Lube Axles; I-beam frame; nine flush-mounted cargo bay tiedowns

Galley; bath; oak cabinetry with brushed-nickel hardware; pantry; wardrobe closet; diamond-plated galley and lavvy backsplash; bedroom carpet; queen front bed with manual queen strut cargo-area bed with ladder; AM/FM/CD/DVD player with exterior speakers; side docking lights; air-conditioner; furnace

Enclosed underbelly; shocks; 19-inch TV; air compressor; outdoor barbecue grill; removable cargo-area carpet; Electro-Majic queen or bunk beds in cargo area; 50-amp shore power; second A/C; auxiliary generator with 40-gallon gas tank; fueling station with 40-gallon tank

Construction

Aluminum tubular frame construction with insulation; painted aluminum skin; low floor height and improved ramp angle for ease of loading/off-loading; tandem 7000-pound axles with rubber torsion suspension

Bath; galley; folding sofa/sleeper seat; forced-air furnace; power converter; water heater; air-conditioner with chill chaser; TV antenna with jack; CD/stereo

Auxiliary generator; refueling station; larger A/C; larger furnace; exterior grill; folding dinette (in lieu of folding sofa); LCD TV; pull-down or electric queen bed(s); ramp room with awning; solid wall (separates garage from living quarters); interior color options; awning; electric jack or hydraulic landing gear tongue lift

R-7 wall and roof insulation; spring-assist ramp (1000 pounds per axle); second axle; single-piece vinyl roof; one-piece OSB floor with metal floor mounts

Galley; bath; pull-down queen bed above cargo area; air-conditioner

AM/FM/CD (external/internal speakers); bay window with swivel rocker; dual electric beds

E-Coat finished frame; TorFlex independent axle; shocks; leaf springs; electric brakes; enclosed roof lifter system; double-laminated wall construction with tinted plastic windows; aluminum ceiling; off-road tires; dentproof rubber fenders

Cooktop and galley sink; bunk end fan/lights; hardwood cabinetry; prep for A/C; window shades and valances; 12-volt lighting; bunk cushions; carryout two-burner oven; stabilizer jacks

Furnace; heated bed mats; water-purification system; screen room; front storage box; standup shower

Laminated walls, roof, and floor; aluminum wall framing; fiberglass exterior; Aqualon-7 fabric; front diamond-plating; tandem axles; leveling jacks

Galley; bath; maple cabinetry with antique brass hardware and mirror inserts (cabinet doors); mini-blinds; furnace and water heater

Air-conditioner; aluminum wheels; oven and carryout gas grill