Loading Up Your Toy Hauler

Are you passionate about blending the cozy charm of camping with the exhilarating rush of outdoor adventures? Imagine a camper that not only promises snug evenings under the stars but also serves as a trusty companion for your powersports escapades. Enter the world of toy haulers – the ultimate solution for adventure enthusiasts like you! While loading your gear might seem daunting, fear not. With the right approach, you can kickstart your journey smoothly, ensuring nothing but good vibes from the get-go.

We here at Camp Site RV want to help you get the most from your travels, so we’ve put together some tips for properly loading your toy hauler, below. To learn more, or to see the toy haulers we have for sale, contact our store in Cresco, IA, today!

Preparation

First, make sure the toy hauler is in good shape. You don’t want it to break down while hitched to your tow vehicle and carrying another vehicle of yours! Check the following things:

• Tire pressure: make sure it matches manufacturer recommendations, test it with a tire pressure gauge, and adjust as needed.
• Your mirrors: you’ll want to ensure you can see others on the road despite the toy hauler you’ll be towing.
• Your lights: you also need to ensure others can see you, so verify that headlights, tail lights, and brake lights are working and bright.

Weight Distribution

Before you get started with loading, you’ll also want to know where you’re parking your powersports vehicle. Generally speaking, you want about 60% of the cargo weight in front of the front axle, 30% behind it, and 10% of the total trailer’s weight on the hitch. Since your powersports vehicle will likely be at the rear of the camper, make sure you load as much other cargo as far forward as possible to balance that out.

The Loading Process

• Park your tow vehicle and the toy hauler on level ground and chock the wheels to keep them steady.
• Lower the toy hauler’s gate to make it into a ramp. Keep it at as low an angle as possible for easy loading.
• Drive the powersports vehicle up the ramp slowly. The second you get all wheels in the bay, turn off the engine to keep from filling the confined space with fumes.

Securing the Cargo

Once everything is where you want it, make sure to secure it in place to keep it from moving during transit. Shifting cargo in any circumstance means messing with weight distribution and risking a roll—add in that the cargo is an expensive vehicle and you get serious maintenance fees to boot.

Tie the vehicle down with ratchet straps or D-ring tie-downs to secure it to the garage/cargo bay’s interior. Whatever tie-downs you use, make sure to test them by tugging on the vehicle and shaking it from all sides and angles. If it shifts, you may need to re-secure it.

Ready to head out on your next adventure? Contact us at Camp Site RV for more information, or to see the toy haulers we have available. We proudly serve Cedar Falls, IA; Rochester, MN; and La Crosse, WI—let us serve you today!