As an avid Motorcycle and ATV rider, I’ve experienced first hand the successes and pitfalls of hauling a Toy Hauler full of toys. With movable objects in your trailer, dangerous fumes from gasoline, along with added weight from toys and cargo, I thought I’d share my “Do’s & Don’ts of Hauling a Toy Hauler”. Enjoy and have a safe and happy towing adventure!
1. Using a Weight Distribution Hitch is mandatory. Combining a Sway Bar with the Hitch is also recommended, but not required depending on how much sway you have with your unit. A Weight Distribution Hitch will lift the front end of your trailer to level out the tongue weight.
2. Level your trailer with the Weight Distribution Hitch so your truck is level. Go up in chain lengths on your Hitch to balance it out more. This will level your truck. You want to measure the front and rear of your trailer along w/ the front and rear wheel wells of your truck. You do not want the front end of your truck higher than your rear. If it is, you will have unstable steering. This is very dangerous.
3. Your Hitch Ball should be ½-1” higher than the front of your trailer before hooking up. Should you need to adjust your ball make sure your trailer is level first.
4. Secure all ATV’s with proper tie-downs. Don’t assume rope and/or a parking brake will keep them in place just because they are in an enclosed trailer. This is an accident waiting to happen should you not tie them down properly. There are top grade Motorcycle Tie Downs available on the Net or from your local dealer or shop.
5. Drive Slower and leave plenty of room to stop. Too many people hauling large loads are in a hurry to get to the dunes or mountains. We’ve seen many accidents on the road. Leave the fast driving to when you’ve safely arrived to your destination and you’re on your quad.
6. Tighten your Lugs on your Trailer Wheels before leaving. These often come loose after trips or when sitting.
7. Install Airbags on your truck. A cheap pair that you can install yourself may run you $250. Airbags will ensure that your load is balanced correctly.
8. Pay attention to your Manufactures Weight Ratings for your trailer and truck. While you may not go over your Trailers Weight Ratings, you may have too much weight to tow or stop for your truck. Be aware and ask questions if you’re in the dark. Many towers think that their truck can tow a big trailer no problem-that is only half the battle. The Truck needs to be able to stop the Trailer as well. Granted most trailers come with their own brakes but the trucks suspension, shocks, brakes all come into play when pulling and stopping.
9. Never stack your ATV’s upright (on their ends) in your trailer or truck without proper support to save room. Many people do this and the quads end up falling over, damaging the truck or trailer, or damaging the quad itself. Our toys are too expensive to stack without a rack system.
10. Before Hauling: turn off your gas to your quads, put your quad in gear, pull the parking brake, tie down in 4 spots to your quad.
After Hauling: ventilate your trailer for 5 minutes before starting any stove, quad or appliance. If you are on a long haul and have to sleep in your trailer with your ATV’s overnight, make sure windows and vents are open and anything with a flame is not used while the quads are in your Toy Hauler.
* This post was
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edited 03/22/08 01:40pm by justduneit345 *
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Wow!! Thanks for the great info. We've been thinking of getting a toy hauler fiver, since our two sons and six grandkids would love it - their wives would enjoy it too. A toy hauler would provide lots of extra room to sleep kids. We pulled a trailer with two atvs behind a class c when our boys were young, now their kids love to "camp" with their grandparents.
A new member's first post and they are passing out questionable and possibly totally wrong information? I question the validity of this.
1. Good advice but not mandatory
2. Wrong, explanation is too simple making it incorrect
3. Maybe correct but not necessarily, it varies
4. Yes! agreed
5. Personal preference, slow does not necessarily mean safe
6. Lugs can come loose when sitting? what law of physics is this?
7. Airbags are not needed if adequate suspension is on tow vehicle
8. Yes! Agreed
9. good advice
10. good advice
Some good advise but sounds like they want to sell me something.
Tim
"Okay, I admit it, the only thing I'm really good at is being me."
I sounds like someone actually read the owners manual and thinks that the rest of didn't. Some of the hitch stuff agrees to some extent with the Reese setup instructions, but there are a few things missing. Other information is common sense for the most part, and we all have a lot of that, right?
Make sure tongue weight is about 13% of FULLY LOADED WEIGHT. Do this by using actual weights, not guesses.
Make sure tiedowns are bolted thru floor into frame, or added angle iron under floor. Wood screws will just pull out.
Make sure you do not exceed ANY TV or TT ratings.
Chuck
Wonderful Wife
Lovely German Shepherd.
1999 Mercedes ML320 TV
2003 Wanderer 187TB Toybox (3620# UVW, 4800# loaded) Not yet camped in Hawaii, 2 Canada Provinces, & 2 Territories. I can't be lost because I don't care where this lovely road is going
beemerphile1 wrote: A new member's first post and they are passing out questionable and possibly totally wrong information? I question the validity of this.
Some good advise but sounds like they want to sell me something.
You're right, it does sound like a sales pitch or a copy straight from an owners manual.
I wish I never clicked on this thread....
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No list is complete without that.
