Looking for an off-road toy hauler in Australia? Getting the quad, bikes or a tinny to camp is one thing. Finding somewhere to sleep and room for the rest of the gear is another.
Off-road toy haulers range from open-deck trailers with rooftop tents to full-size caravans with a garage, bunks and an ensuite. In between are hard-sided campers where the space that holds your gear on the road becomes the dining or sleeping area at camp. Already got a tent and kitchen on the ute? A bare-bones hauler might be all you need.
Here are 12 brands to put on your shortlist, in alphabetical order. The comparison is based on manufacturer specs, with an eye on how each setup works once youโve loaded up and headed bush.
Models: Hobby Lobby, Playzone, 3 Style and Toy Commander
Pricing: Starts at $26,900 for the compact Hobby Lobby and tops out at $165,000 for the Toy Commander
Type: Caravan
Austar 15ft Playzone ยฉ Austar
Austarโs eight-model range starts with the 12ft Hobby Lobby and Hobby Lobby Rider, steps up to the 15ft Playzone R, X, T and RXT, then goes to the 19ft 3 Style and 24ft Toy Commander. Not all of the range is suitable for heading off-road, so make sure to double check what suspension and coupling comes on the exact model you’re looking at. Especially if your weekends involve more than a graded dirt road.
The Playzone RXT packs in sleeping for four, an internal kitchen, a toilet and shower, and an off-road pack. The bigger Toy Commander lists an off-road suspension pack with a DO45 coupling, while the 3 Style spec lists leaf springs and a 50mm ball coupling. For those looking to keep the size and weight down, the Hobby Lobby and Hobby Lobby Rider might be right up your alley.
Pricing: Starts at $37,990 for the XO14 to $94,990 for the X19
Type: Both caravan and trailer/rooftop tent
Gunbarrel XO14 ยฉ Austrack
Gunbarrel X19 ยฉ Austrack
Both the XO14 and XO16 are trailer/rooftop tent style toy haulers and sleep two with a king bed and an external pull-out kitchen. The XO14 is about 5m long overall and has an advertised payload of about 770kg. The XO16 is about 6.5m overall, with a substantially higher advertised payload of about 1,420kg. That puts the XO16 on the shortlist if carrying more gear matters more to you than keeping the trailer short.
The X19 is the caravan style option, with a queen bed, convertible bunk seating, an internal ensuite and room for up to six. Its advertised payload is about 710kg, lower than either of the rooftop tent style models but of course, for that payoff, you get a lot more comfort.
The CADFL flips the usual garage layout by putting it up front. Inside, thereโs a choice of double or triple bunks and a whole lot of luxury. Cadillac lists off-road suspension as available, so check whatโs fitted to the van youโre pricing.
The sticking point is the 400kg advertised payload. Cadillac lists a 3,100kg tare and a 3,500kg ATM, so that 400kg is the allowance for the entire van, including toys, water, food, tools and gear. If youโre bringing bikes or heavy toys, do the weight sums before getting too attached to the floorplan.
Pricing: Starts at $81,490 for the smallest Tomcat through to $117,500 for the largest.
Type: Caravan
Tomcat ยฉ Dreamseeker Caravans
With the Tomcat, you can work with Dreamseeker on the size of the garage and the layout of the main cabin. The electric tailgate doubles as a deck at camp, and the garage can be configured with up to four bunks. Thatโs handy if the kids need their own sleeping space once the bikes are out.
Dreamseeker lists independent coil suspension and an ATM of up to 4,500kg on tandem-axle builds. If youโre eyeing one of the larger layouts, get the expected weight early so you know what youโll actually have left for the toys.
Pricing: Starts at $194,990 for the Octane ECX 21 to $252,990 for the Octane ECX-R 24
Type: Caravan
Octane ECX-R 24 ยฉ Elross Caravans
The Octane is a full-size off-road caravan for people who want to build the garage around what they actually carry. Elross can tailor the rear load area, storage and loading arrangement. It also lists an in-house chassis and Cruisemaster XTF or ATX airbag suspension.
The custom layout comes with a hefty price tag but ensures it’s built to what you need. Bring the dimensions and weights of what you usually carry when you talk layouts, and think about what youโll want to get to without unloading everything.
The Xplorer is a bike trailer and rooftop-tent camper in one. Hardkorr says it can carry up to three bikes or a quad, depending on what youโre loading. The tent platform lifts on gas struts to give you more room to load, and there are foldaway ramps, a 6,500lb winch and recessed tie-downs.
The standout bit is the built-in staircase to the tent. After a full day on the tracks, that sounds a whole lot more appealing than climbing a ladder. If youโre shopping for three bikes, check how your bars and footpegs line up on the deck. Three kidsโ bikes take up a very different amount of space to three full-size enduros.
The Gibb has a 2.8m ร 1.6m open rear deck on the same platform as Hitchโs Canning camper. The Australian-made trailer comes with Cruisemaster independent coil suspension, a 69L fridge and 115L of onboard water. Thereโs an optional frame for a rooftop tent or boat.
The fridge and water supply take care of a couple of camp jobs, and the open deck gives you room to change what you carry from trip to trip.
Pricing: From $75,000 for the Grunge and $79,000 for the Grunge X
Type: Caravan
JAWA Grunge Series ยฉ JAWA Off Road
Both the Grunge and Grunge X are 15ft hard-sided toy haulers. The Grunge has a queen bed and drop-down bunks. The Grunge X adds an electric lift bed and keeps the drop-down bunks, so you can move the main bed out of the way when you want the floor space back.
These sit between an open trailer and a full-size garage caravan. Theyโre worth a look if you want proper beds in a smaller rig.
Pricing: From $22,590 for the Crosstrail and $99,990 for the Basestation
Type: Both caravan and trailer/rooftop tent
Jayco Crosstrail toy hauler ยฉ Jayco
Jayco Basestation toy hauler ยฉ Jayco
Jaycoโs two options are aimed at quite different trips. The Basestation is a full caravan with a dedicated rear garage, integrated tie-downs and JTECH independent suspension. Jayco lists 19ft and 24ft floorplans.
The Crosstrail is a compact aluminium-bodied trailer with a hot-dipped galvanised chassis, independent coil suspension and loading ramps. You can start with the base trailer or add options like a rooftop tent, slide-out kitchen and fridge. Itโs a handy option if you want to start with the hauling side and add camp gear later.
Pricing: From $26,500 for the Ryder LT and $64,100 for the Ryder
Type: Trailer/rooftop tent
Ryder ยฉ Offline Campers
The Ryder handles a lot of the work at camp with a stainless-steel slide-out kitchen, integrated hot water and dedicated storage for riding gear. It comes standard with 180L water (across two tanks) and Offline lists a 1,100kg tare and 1,900kg ATM, which works out to a nominal 800kg payload.
If you’re in the market for a trailer style toy hauler, the Ryder is worth an extra look due to its great specs that will allow you to camp off-grid for longer and head further off-road.
The Ryder LT was designed for those who loved the off-road readiness of the original Ryder, but already have a bit of camping gear set up on their ute and mainly need something to get the bikes there. Offline lists a 760kg tare and a standard three-bike deck, with options including an extended deck and a drawbar bike mount. Depending on what options you choose for your build, you’re looking at a fantastic deck load of around 1,000kg – 1,500kg.
The TS1 is a big family caravan with a fibreglass rear garage separated from the living area by a sealed door. It comes in two layouts, a 23โ6 and 24โ8. Thereโs a separate loading ramp, cargo tracks for securing the bikes and four fold-up bunks. Titanium lists sleeping for up to six, along with Cruisemaster self-levelling airbag suspension.
The TS1 comes with a list of impressive specs and the price reflects this. This isn’t a caravan that just happens to have a garage. It’s a full blown touring rig designed for unsealed roads and carries enough power and water to keep you going off-grid when there’s nothing to plug into.
Ultimate builds its hard-sided haulers in Melbourne and lists independent off-road suspension as standard across the range. There are five models to compare. The Trail Boss Lite 15ft is the entry point, the Track Boss 16ft has a long list of options for tailoring the setup, and the Trail Boss GT 16ft squeezes in a queen bed, fold-up rear beds and an internal ensuite.
The Trail Boss GTR 20ft and 21ft are the larger family options. The 20-footer has a rear garage with two fold-up beds that double as couches once the bikes are out.
Keep an eye on payload as you move up the range. Ultimate lists the 15ft Lite at about 1,520kg tare and 2,700kg ATM, giving it roughly 1,180kg of nominal payload. The 21ft GTR lists about 2,750kg tare and 3,500kg ATM, leaving roughly 750kg. If youโre shopping for more space for the family and more capacity for the bikes, there’s nearly always a compromise.
What to check before you buy an off-road toy hauler
Will everything fit?
What is the payload of the configuration youโre buying?Is it enough?
Can your current vehicle legally tow the weight of this toy hauler?
What happens when you pull up late?Do the bikes or quad have to come out before you can drop the beds?
Start with what you want to carry and where you want to sleep. If the ute already has camp covered, an open deck may do the job. If you want bunks and somewhere dry to cook, look at a hard-sided camper or a caravan with a garage.
Austrack Gunbarrel X19 ยฉ Austrack
FAQs about toy haulers
What is a toy hauler?
A toy hauler is a caravan or trailer that combines space for carrying motorbike and/or recreational gear with a camping setup. Some have an enclosed garage and others use an open deck with a rooftop tent and outdoor kitchen.
What’s the difference between a toy hauler caravan and a toy hauler camper trailer?
A toy hauler caravan usually has an enclosed load area and more of the comforts of home, such as bunks, an internal kitchen and an ensuite. Camper trailer versions tend to use an open deck, an outdoor kitchen and a rooftop tent. Some trailers also work with the camping setup you already have on your ute.
Are all toy haules suitable for off-road use?
No, but many are. Capability varies between models and even between different packages on the same model. Check the suspension, coupling, ground clearance and the manufacturer’s guidance on where it can be used.
How much payload does a toy hauler need?
Enough for everything you plan to add to it. Start with the bikes, quad or other toys, then add water, fuel, tools, food, luggage and any accessories that aren’t already included in its tare weight. Check the garage or deck rating too. A trailer’s total payload doesn’t necessarily mean you can put all that weight in one spot.
Can you carry a quad or side-by-side in a toy hauler?
Potentially, if the hauler is designed and rated for it. You’ll simply need to check the vehicle’s weight and size limits. A side-by-side can need considerably more room than a couple of bikes.
Do you have to unload a toy hauler before using the beds?
It depends on the layout but usually, you’ll need to unload it before using the beds in the back. Many caravan style toy haulers use the garage as a bedroom or lounge once the toys are out.
Can my existing 4WD tow a toy hauler?
That depends on your vehicle and the toy hauler. Check the vehicle’s towing capacity, gross vehicle mass, gross combined mass and permitted towball load along with the toy hauler’s limits.