So you want to go RVing. Perfect. Yet you feel the need to not only hike every nature trail you possibly can but on occasion ride some trails. Are you that kind of outdoor adventurist?
You’ve got the gearr—mountain bikes, ATVs, even a motorcycle to do some serious road touring in the wide-open country. Well, in order to take all of those toys with you, you may need to utilize a toy hauler to move your toys in a safe, effective manner by strapping them down using D-rings set into the frame commonly found in most toy haulers.
What Kind of Toy Hauler?
A key question. Naturally, if you are to choose a towable toy hauler… wait there are motorhomes that haul toys? Yes. A few of them are out there, notably the Thor Outlaw Class A and Class C. If you are a full-time RVer and can’t bear to leave your toys garaged at home, then these may very well be worth a look.
However, most of us action-oriented campers will opt for a towable toy hauler, either a travel trailer or fifth-wheel. Both of them effectively have two types of toy hauler: open garage or enclosed garage.
Open simply means the garage area doubles as another function, most likely the living space and/or additional sleeping space. Enclosed can certainly be used as additional sleeping space for chances are the garage will have at least a pair of flip-fold sofas if not a drop-down queen bunk. But for the enclosed garages, the main living area is sealed off from the garage space via a wall and a swinging or sliding door.
Are You Taking Gas-Powered Toys?
Enclosed garages can be more important if the toys you plan on hauling around the country are dirt bikes, motorcycles or anything else that has an engine and therefore has gasoline and oil involved. While you certainly can move gas-loving toys around in an open garage, it’s always nice to keep the fumes away from the rest of your RV’s interior.
Adding on to gas-powered toys, one option to consider is to acquire a toy hauler having a fuel tank as standard equipment. For instance, every Heartland Fuel fifth wheel (where did they come up with that name? Duh.) comes with a 30-gallon fuel tank.
How Nice are These Toy Haulers?
Aside from some of them being downright luxurious like a home, the beauty of toy haulers doesn’t end with the ability to haul your fun-seeking self and your goodies across the country. Most toy haulers, especially the fifth wheels with enclosed garages, have non-skid flooring that is easily washable and oil/gas resistant.
This is important as with frequent camping you’ll want to keep the RV interior as clean as possible. Plus, if you do have guests who will be sleeping in the garage area, they’ll thank you too.
How Versatile are Toy Haulers?
As far as toy hauler styles, some unique toy haulers have side ramps that are super convenient but can only carry a single motorcycle or a fleet of mountain bikes.
Others have garage space reaching up to 20 feet so you can take pretty much whatever you want – provided you don’t go over the RV’s carrying capacity.
Are Toy Haulers Just for Toys?
Absolutely not. The point of a toy hauler is the available open space and what you as the outdoor enthusiast want to with it. If you’re an avid hunter or fisher, it can be very convenient to haul your gear, and game, in the garage area of your RV.
If you work on the road, you can convert the garage space into a workspace. Potter, painter, playwright, whatever work you do, you’ll have the space to set everything up in your mobile office. Hey, if you want to paint, what a better idea than to open up that back ramp, see the gorgeous sight, and immediately set your brush to canvas.
Can You Do Anything Else With a Toy Hauler?
Party time! A lot of toy haulers have a rear ramp with fold-out railings. The ramp can be propped up, railings slide into position and suddenly you have a party deck or an outdoor platform. With the garage area, you have plenty of space to take along some nice folding chairs and party or play in the open air.
So, depending upon your activity, there is a toy hauler out there for you. Interested in a Toy Hauler? Check out Camping World’s selection.
Cast iron skillets are one of the most useful pieces of camp cooking equipment you can own. You can use them on the grill, over the campfire, in an oven, or on a stove. Once they’re properly seasoned they become nonstick and are easily cleaned. This set gives you three sizes so you can make delicious meals for breakfast, lunch, or dinner all while enjoying the outdoors.
These collapsible bowls are great for preparing, storing, and serving food. They’re portable and don’t take up much space, which is always important when you’re packing to go camping. Once you arrive at the campsite, simply pop the bowls out and start mixing up your tasty meal! Leak-resistant lids make it easy to store liquids without worrying about the mess. When you’re done using them, just collapse the bowls and slip them back into storage. You may find yourself using them at home as well as at the campground!
Have a portable grill but are missing a convenient prep area? This Folding Aluminum Grill Table has everything you need to prepare a feast at the campsite. The heat resistant aluminum top can hold a portable grill, while the fold-out sides are great prepping or serving spaces. It even has a bottom storage rack, a paper towel rack, and hooks to hang all your utensils so you can keep your prep area organized.
This Stromberg Carlson Open Fire Stake & Grill lets you cook right over the fire while you’re camping. Drive the stake into the ground next to the fire and attach the grate with the locking handle to keep it in place at the desired height. It’s perfect for grilling burgers and hot dogs, making coffee, or using with cast iron skillets. It’s a simple tool, but it makes cooking over a fire a breeze.
Every good cook needs a great chef knife. The Comfort Grip Chef Knife is the perfect knife to take with you while camping. The protective blade cover keeps the edge from getting dull in storage, and the seven-inch blade makes this knife incredibly versatile and a great tool for chopping, mincing, and dicing all your ingredients. It’s a great all-purpose knife that is the perfect addition to your camp cooking supplies.
It looks simple, but this tub is so versatile and helpful when cooking at a campsite. It’s the perfect way to wash dishes and clean up after cooking your camping feast. If you’re trying to conserve water, this size of tub makes a great makeshift sink. Or you can use it to hold food or supplies. The raised feet allow for water to flow underneath it, and it easily collapses for compact storage which makes it great for camping whether you’re in a tent or RV.
A dutch oven is another one of those must-have camp cooking tools. It’s perfect for slow cooking and baking outdoors. You can use it over a wood fire, or with charcoal briquettes on the top and bottom to create an oven-like cooking atmosphere for baking. It’s great for making cinnamon buns for breakfast or stews for dinner after enjoying the day outdoors.
This portable grill is perfect when you don’t have a ton of space but still want to grill over charcoal while camping. The grill folds flat and comes with a carrying case for easy portability while traveling. It quickly pops out to a 14” tall charcoal grill. Simply unfold, add the charcoal holder and charcoal, and light. You’ll be grilling delicious meals at your campsite in no time.
