Summer is here and we’re all ready to get out and have some fun, right? Whether you’re an ATV enthusiast, insatiable cyclist, whitewater kayaker or just about anything else that requires gear, you need a place to rest your head and store your equipment.
Thankfully, the RVing community came up with a solution: toy hauler travel trailers!
Before we dive into which toy hauler travel trailers make the Best of 2020 list, here are a few things to consider before buying your first toy hauler.
(Oh, and just in case you’re open to exploring other types of travel trailers as well, you can check out our post about bunkhouse travel trailers . And to start the process of gathering the essential RV accessories you’ll need, you can take a look at our post about sewer, water and electric accessories we recommend and also look at our post about our favorite travel trailer accessory recommendations. Yeah, that ought to keep you busy for a while!)
What to Consider Before Buying a Toy Hauler Travel Trailer
Before you head to your nearest RV dealership, there are a few things to think about when you decide you want a toy hauler.
- What vehicles or equipment do you want to carry in your toy hauler?
- Do you have a tow vehicle? If so, what are your vehicle ratings (stopping power, towing capacity, payload, etc.,)?
- What terrain will you be driving on?
- Is there a certain length of trailer that best serves the places you visit frequently (Think state and national parks, as well as trailheads, etc.)?
Towing Capacity and Cargo Carrying Capacity
Obviously there are other things to consider including the price of the rig you decide to buy, but it’s important to nail down exactly what you want to carry inside your toy hauler to avoid carrying more cargo than your trailer or towing vehicle is capable of.
If you don’t have a tow vehicle, and even if you do have one, it’s important to double-check which vehicles are in your price range and also if it’s capable of towing a toy hauler. Not only will you be carrying people and a trailer, but you’ll also be adding the weight of another vehicle (like an ATV) or other outdoor equipment.
Where Will You Take Your Toys?
Last but not least, you should think about where you want to take your toys. Will you be off in the backcountry unloading motorbikes or dropping your kayaks and paddleboards at the marina? You’ll want a toy hauler that makes it easy to adventure, while also considering the size limitations of the places you visit.
State and national parks have limitations on the size of vehicles entering and camping inside their boundaries, so it’s important to know the length and size of your toy hauler to avoid any issues.
5 Best Toy Hauler Travel Trailers in 2021
Now that you have a few questions in mind for when you head to the dealer, let’s take a look at the best toy hauler travel trailers of the year to get you revved up and ready to take on the summer and fall months locked, loaded, and ready to roll.
Heartland Torque 281 Toy Hauler Travel Trailer
Meet the impressive Heartland Torque 281. At over 32 feet in length, it’s the largest of the toy haulers we will cover. Yes, there’s plenty of room for the family and all of your toys! 
Here are the important specs on this toy hauler:
- Unloaded Vehicle Weight: 8,255 lbs.
- Cargo Carrying Capacity: 4,497 lbs.
- Length: 32 feet 8 inches
- Width: 8 feet 6 inches
- Fresh Water: 98 gallons
- Gray Water: 57 gallons
- Black Water: 30 gallons
- Garage Storage Space: 16 feet 4 inches
What Makes This Toy Hauler Great?
This trailer has everything you need for a long weekend of road tripping, off-roading, and definitely some relaxing. With a 2-seat couch and also two additional arm chairs in the living area, it is made for comfort. In the garage, you’ll find the second bed, an electric queen size bed, which is situated above a second sofa with dinette. And just outside? A fueling station for your toys on the go!
Other Trailer Features
There are several extra trailer features that make the Torque 281 a real winner. These include: a 10-gallon water heater, two 30-lb (7 gallon) propane tanks, a 3-burner stove in the kitchen as well as an 8 cu. ft. refrigerator that operates on 110V power or on propane. All in all, you can’t go wrong taking a much closer look at this Torque option by Heartland RV.
Forest River No Boundaries 19.1 Toy Hauler Travel Trailer
Here’s a Forest River rig for hauling gear and equipment: the No Boundaries 19.1. The No Boundaries line is a more rugged, outdoorsy version of Forest River trailers. The goal of these trailers is to offer storage that’s adaptable for almost any sport or hobby from kayaking to bikes to fishing equipment.
Besides offering adaptive storage, here’s everything else you need to know about the No Boundaries 19.1:
- Unloaded Vehicle Weight: 4,264 lbs.
- Cargo Carrying Capacity: 3,456 lbs.
- Length: 24 feet 11 inches
- Width: 7 feet 4 inches
- Fresh Water: 30 gallons
- Gray Water: 30 gallons
- Black Water: 30 gallons
- Garage Storage Space: 10 feet 6 inches
What Makes This a Great Travel Trailer?
Forest River claims that “Your RZR 1000 has met its match,” and for good reason. The No Boundaries 19.1 allows you to mix home and play. With 65 inches of width, you can easily fit most toys and equipment inside without having a separate storage compartment.
This trailer is particularly light for a toy hauler. It can easily be towed by a 4 or 6 cylinder towing vehicle and carry over 3,000 lbs in extra cargo, which is ideal for an ATV or several motorbikes.
Other Trailer Features
Inside, the trailer offers plenty of space for living, even if your ATV or kayaks are inside. A full bathroom, queen size bed, fold-up sofa, and full kitchen make it easy to feel at home even on the road or in the back country.
Jayco Octane Super Lite 222 Toy Hauler Travel Trailer
The Jayco Octane Super Lite 222 is, indeed, super lightweight. It also offers everything you need for a weekend getaway, too. Though this trailer is smaller, it’s mighty to say the least.
*Note: Model shown above is larger than 222 model we are discussing*
Here’s everything you need to know about it:
- Unloaded Vehicle Weight: 5,560 lbs.
- Cargo Carrying Capacity: 2,440 lbs.
- Length: 26 feet 5 inches
- Width: 8 feet 6 inches
- Fresh Water: 53 gallons
- Gray Water: 45 gallons
- Black Water: 45 gallons
- Garage Storage Space: 8 feet 6 inches
What Makes this Toy Hauler Great?
This trailer is the perfect size for a couple or small family. It has everything you need from a microwave to a queen-size bed to make your tiny home on wheels feel just like home. No matter where you are, there’s plenty of space to store and relax.
Other Trailer Features
The interior storage area is over 11.5 feet and is also the bedroom and living area, too. The interior table is actually an indoor/outdoor table while the bed area converts to a couch when you need it to entertain or share a meal.
Coachmen Freedom Express Blast 271BL Toy Hauler Travel Trailer
The Freedom Express Blast 271BL is very lightweight for the storage space and living space it offers. Despite its manageable weight, you can still stow away pretty hefty equipment or vehicles inside the garage.
*Note: Model shown above is larger than 271BL model we are discussing.*
Let’s take a deeper look at the specifications of the Freedom Express Blast to see what makes it a great toy hauler.
- Unloaded Vehicle Weight: 5,804 lbs.
- Cargo Carrying Capacity: 3,196 lbs.
- Length: 30 feet 11 inches
- Width: 8 feet
- Fresh Water: 98 gallons
- Gray Water: 33 gallons
- Black Water: 33 gallons
- Garage Storage Space: 10 feet
What Makes This a Great Toy Hauler?
This trailer is great for hauling because it not only gives you space to store your vehicle or equipment, but it also has room to sprawl out and relax, too. With two queen-sized beds, one being a convertible sofa bed in the garage (electric lift optional), there’s plenty of room for two couples or a small family to curl up when a long day of adventuring is done.
Full bath and kitchen areas make it easy to wash up and cook after spending a day on the lake or out on the trail. There are two pass-through storage bins at the front of the trailer, too, to stow away any extra equipment.
Grand Design Momentum G-Class 25G Toy Hauler Travel Trailer
The Grand Design Momentum G-Class 25G is one of the bigger toy hauler travel trailers on our list at nearly 31 feet in length. While it may look like many toy haulers on the outside, the inside of this trailer is one-of-a-kind with a more contemporary look.
*Note: Model shown is smaller than 25G model we are discussing.*
But before we talk about the inside of this trailer, let’s take a look at the specifications:
- Unloaded Vehicle Weight: 7,900 lbs.
- Cargo Carrying Capacity: 3,600 lbs.
- Length: 30 feet 11 inches
- Width: 8 feet 3 inches
- Fresh Water: 100 gallons
- Gray Water: 78 gallons
- Black Water: 39 gallons
- Garage Storage Space: 13 feet 6 inches
What Makes This a Great Toy Hauler?
There’s plenty of room inside this toy hauler to carry any gear while still having the luxuries of home. With two queen-sized beds, two Euro chairs, a full kitchen, and a separate bedroom, you can bring your friends and family without sacrificing privacy and comfort. There are two sliders to extend the garage and bedroom for extra room as well.
Oh, and don’t ignore the 30-gallon fuel tank included with this toy hauler that allows you to easily refuel your toys while you’re out adventuring. The ultimate in convenience!
Other Trailer Features
Inside the Momentum, you’ll find plenty of space to store clothes and other necessities as there are almost endless overhead cabinets. In the bedroom, you’ll get your own dresser and closet. This trailer also comes with an exterior grill/kitchen area as well as a 1.6 cu. ft. refrigerator.
Which Toy Hauler Travel Trailer Will Fit Your Lifestyle Best?
At the end of the day, whatever toy hauler you choose should fit your needs and no one else’s. There are tons of toy haulers out there to choose from, but only a handful will fit your particular flavor of adventure.
Whether you want to haul ATVs out to the backcountry or paddle your way through the weekend at the lake, you can find a toy hauler to combine your living and storage spaces into one.
Erin Maxson is rooted in South Dakota, but wanders every chance she gets to see the beauty that nature holds. From hiking to climbing, there’s not an adventure she’ll turn down.
After renovating her 1976 Airstream Argosy, Erin knows the ins and outs of living life on the road and trailer maintenance.
Whether she’s on the road with her dog and partner or at home curled up with a good book, Erin is always planning her next adventure because life is meant to be lived outdoors.
Bob beadling
Friday 9th of July 2021
Hv a dodge 3500 (2005) all after market front end and suspension. Lance 1181 (2006). Looking for a toy hauler to accommodate my dogs and myself for RV travel, winter and summer. The Lance has never frozen up 1 time. Been in -30 degrees. Looking for a hauler that will follow us, with Camper and have no issues with weather. There is no mention of durability in true winter conditions. Might you think of this issue. Also, the axels, most on the market will crash over being totally loaded rig and rough roads.
Todd
Wednesday 21st of July 2021
Hi Bob, that's great to hear about your experience with your Lance camper, and I really appreciate your feedback. Lance is on my short list for our next RV if we go the towable route again. But to be honest, there is really no way I could accurately address "durability in true winter conditions" because I would only know that from first-hand experience. Regardless of what the "specs" are, we all know experience is the true test. And I do agree with the axles issue as well...many towables out there would not survive a full load on rough terrain. No doubt about it. But again, that is a "real world" observation that I can't adequately address without first-hand experience. I really hope that all makes sense to you. I just don't have the ability to address every factor related to each RV that we discuss or highlight, that's the reality of it. But I still hope you found the post helpful as you continue your search for the right toy hauler! Good luck!
Vickie Young
Sunday 1st of November 2020
What about Northwoods Desert Fox, ATC, etc. this article looks like an add for THOR
Todd
Sunday 8th of November 2020
Hi Vickie,
I appreciate your input. Those may very well be great options as well, just not the ones we happened to land on in our research. I can assure you there is no sponsorship of this post; Thor has plenty of rigs out there so they were bound to come up repeatedly. :)
We wish you the best in your RVing adventures!