RV Ratings  Independent Nonprofit
Rating RVs for over 20 years
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Introduction to Toy Haulers
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Designed specifically for families and sports enthusiasts, the toy hauler is exactly what the name implies. The large cargo room in the rear has a ramp that also serves as a door and wall - enabling you to take your bicycles, motorcycles or ATVs into the desert, forest, or boondocks. Although toy haulers are available in motor homes (SURV), they are most common as trailer coaches and fifth wheels (SUT).
CAUTION: Because toy haulers are designed to have variable loads, the manufacturers do a number of things that makes balance — thus, highway control — difficult to maintain. The hitch weight needs to be carefully studied in relationship to the configuration of the hitch and the tow vehicle. Thus, the model ratings as detailed in the RV Ratings Guide CD individual report will give you some good insights into how to select a toy hauler that will fit your tow vehicle. |
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An excerpt from "How to Select, Inspect, and Buy an RV" book.
Design factors that make a
trailer coach / toy hauler
safe to tow are:
1. A constant hitch weight between 10% and 12% of the total weight.
2. Axle placement at a back-of-ball-to-length ratio of at least 70%.
3. A minimum of 15% of the GVWR available for personal payload.
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Fifth Wheels:
What are the Advantages?
We have generally found that the happiest RVers are those pulling fifth wheels with pickup trucks. Fifth wheels provide lots of living space, while being practical and forgiving to tow. They reduce or eliminate the dangerous problem of sway to which trailer coaches are subject because the hitch pin attachment is located directly over the bed of the truck, allowing the trailer to follow well. A well balanced and loaded fifth wheel that's correctly matched to its towing vehicle can be the safest combination on the road.
That doesn't mean, however, that fifth-wheel towing is completely trouble-free. Problems can arise because of inferior design, overloading, and poor vehicle matching.
RV Consumer Group has a formula developed specifically for towables that considers hitch weight as well as total weight to give you a good idea of how the fifth wheel or trailer will handle under normal highway conditions. Read more about fifth wheels.
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Motorhomes:
Models Tell the Story.
If you're in the market for a new motorhome or a used motorhome, you've probably already built a collection of colorful brochures filled with photos of beautiful interiors and exterior graphics along with interesting diagrams that extol the virtues of the company's unique construction techniques. But to get an accurate picture of a motorhome's behavior pattern, you need to know about the specific brands and models. Particularly for highway control and safety, you will need to know how a motorhome model is expected to handle under normal road conditions. Years ago, RV Consumer Group developed the technique of measuring wheelbase-to-length ratios
RV Consumer Group has a formula developed specifically for motorhome highway control. Knowing how motorhomes — often referred to as motor homes — can differ in handling characteristics is very important to a motorhome owner. Read more about motorhomes. |
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