Loading Tips For Toy Haulers

A lot of us like to use our toy haulers to take our  powersports vehicles from one place to another as we chase adrenaline-pumping trails. It's easy to load the vehicles inside and hit the road. You can chase thrills during the day and then come back to relax in the comfort of your toy hauler. Before you head out, there are some things to keep in mind to have a safe and fulfilling trip.

At Howdy RV, we always prioritize your safety; that’s why we’ve created this guide about properly loading your toy hauler. If you still haven’t found the perfect toy hauler for you, visit us at our location in Mathis, Texas for a tour of our inventory. We’re also the preferred toy hauler dealer of our patrons from Corpus Christi and San Antonio. 

Prepare Your Toy Hauler

When you’re about to load vehicles into your large toy hauler, you want to make sure that everything is in proper order before you get to it. Take a few minutes to prep your toy hauler so you have a safe trip.

The first thing to do is check the tire pressure. Fifth wheel tires have to be properly inflated to reduce the chance of a blowout and reduce the wear on your tread. Look in your owner’s manual to find the ideal amount of pressure. Then use a tire gauge to check their levels.

You want to be able to view what’s going on the road around you as you drive. With your toy hauler hitched, hop into your tow vehicle. Check your mirrors and make sure you can see the whole length of the trailer. Finally, make sure others can see you. Test your brake lights and turn signal lights. Make sure they are all bright and visible.

Distribute the Weight

When you hitch a toy hauler, it affects the weight balance of your tow vehicle. This in turn affects how it performs while driving. You have to distribute the weight evenly to keep things manageable. Too much weight too far back creates a large imbalance at high speeds. 

The ideal ratio is 60% of your cargo in front of the front axle, 40% behind it, and 10% of the total weight on the trailer hitch. Put as much weight shifted forward as possible to balance out the weight of the toys you are hauling. Distribute weight evenly from left to right so you put equal pressure on the tires. This method will give you more control when you drive.

Loading Properly

Once you’ve figured out how you’ll distribute the load, it’s time to actually load your toy hauler. Start with your tow vehicle in park and chock the wheels. This keeps things as steady as possible. Lower your gate to convert it to a loading ramp. Aim for level ground and using the ramp at a low angle. This will make it easier to load. Drive up slowly. As soon as you get inside the bay, turn off the engine. Fumes in a small space can be a threat for carbon monoxide poisoning. 

Secure the Vehicle

Once you’ve loaded your powersports vehicle, you have to secure it. Otherwise you risk it jolting around when you drive. This could mess up your weight distribution and lead to your vehicle getting dinged up.

Tie down your vehicle securely. You can use ratchet straps to secure the suspension. Or you can use D-ring tie-downs to secure it to the garage’s interior. Whatever you use, make sure you test it by giving your vehicle tugs and shakes from all angles. Once your vehicle is secure, you are done loading!

We hope this information will be helpful! For more information, you can visit Howdy RV and have a chat with our expert staff. If you’re looking for toy haulers for sale in Mathis, Texas, we’ll show you what we have in stock. We’re here for the toy hauler needs of all our friends from Corpus Christi and San Antonio.