Not that long ago, when somebody spoke about RVers, they were usually referring to seniors who were enjoying their retirement years. That’s not to say that families didn’t also enjoy the benefits of the RV lifestyle, but the demographics of the industry heavily favored those folks who had already passed their 55th birthday.

Times change, and RVs have changed with them in order to meet the demands of an entirely new group of buyers: RVers that want to do more than top off a day at the campground by sitting around the campfire eating s’mores. This new group of RVers favors a more exciting, active lifestyle. RV manufacturers quickly recognized the trend and added toy hauler motor homes to their lineups of toy hauler towables. Now, Class A and C motor homes are both available with gas or diesel engines, to meet the demands of the fastest growing segment of the RV market.

In a movement that started out West but quickly spread across the country, manufacturers recognized that there were a lot of individuals who might enjoy the RV lifestyle if they could just combine it with the activities that they enjoy in their free time. These active generations, comprised of all sizes, shapes and ages, began to realize that they could enhance everything they like about exercise, recreation and the great outdoors by traveling in the comfort of an RV. It sure beats an uncomfortable car or airplane trip and the hassle of finding hotel and restaurant accommodations.

The industry’s tremendously successful “Go RVing” market expansion campaign delivered a powerful message to outdoor enthusiasts and families that truly enjoy being active. In turn, the RV industry has responded with an incredible selection of new toy haulers (a/k/a sport utility RVs).

The types of toy haulers available are as varied as the ways that their owners enjoy them. And toy haulers are a terrific way for families to bond, since they are sure to draw kids away from the TV and video games and into the great outdoors with their parents, friends, neighbors and other like-minded enthusiasts, turning their free time into fond memories.

The ability to provide storage for toys—while providing all the comforts of home—can be found in traditional lightweight travel trailers, fifth wheels and gas or diesel motor homes. Determining the critical elements of your vacationing style is the first step to making your dreams a reality. Some prefer to drive a toy hauler motor home while others prefer to hook up to a travel trailer or fifth wheel. You will also want to consider the type, size and weight of RV you’ll need, which is based on the vehicle that you want to tow (or do the towing) and the types of “toys” that you want to bring along with you.

The profile of the toy hauler buyer is as diverse as the selection of products and options one can choose to outfit their RV. Some want to take their four-wheelers along when vacationing, while others opt for boats, tackle boxes and fishing poles. Fans of motocross and supercross load up their high-powered two-wheelers and all of the related equipment needed for an active weekend in the dirt. Motorcycle devotees load their bikes up and travel in comfort to Sturgis, Daytona, Laconia or their rally destination.
They arrive fully relaxed and ready for a weekend of socializing with their riding friends. Tailgaters at their kids’ soccer games or the Super Bowl might elect to use their toy hauler garage to house their portable kitchens, sophisticated stainless steel grill setups, folding tents and all the chairs and tables necessary to have a mini family reunion at a maxi event that leaves nobody hungry at the end of the day.

One feature that draws active people just discovering RVing to the toy hauler is its  familiar garage area. The garage is an integral part of their hobbies and lifestyle, and that  experience is only enhanced by an investment in a toy hauler. Most models offer plenty of room for working on your toys and provide air compressors and auxiliary gas tanks that allow for fill-ups right next to your rig, so you won’t ever have to leave the outdoor playground you’ve selected for the weekend or your vacation.
Because it’s an RV, it comes with all the features and comforts of home that until now you had to leave behind when you went on vacation. Most toy haulers come with multiple sleeping areas, full kitchens, complete baths and a living room that is quite welcoming after a full day of outdoor fun. Just like at home, you will have a radio, CD/DVD player and flat-screen television. Some models also include more entertainment options in the outside compartments, so you won’t miss a movie scene or a big sports play while you grill up steaks and seafood for a family dinner that brings everyone together to share their stories about their newfound love of RVing.

You can tow lightweight toy haulers behind your half-ton pickup or smaller SUV. This maximizes your RV investment, since you will not have to purchase a new vehicle to tow it. Traditional travel trailer and fifth wheel toy haulers will need a more powerful tow vehicle, but they also offer the freedom to load them up with heavier toys—and more of them!

If you have been bitten by the toy hauler bug, you must first decide what you want to do with one. What toys are you going to take with you and where are you going to go? Do you have a tow vehicle and just need to decide what to hook it up to, or are you the kind of driver that wants to be up front and close to the highway with everything and everybody in your rearview mirror? Will you be using it for extended family weekends or heading for a national rally or sporting event with your buddies?

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Last but not least, bear in mind that this is no longer just a guy thing: That Harley that just passed you was driven by a 60-year-old grandmother of five looking for hog heaven. And the winner of the afternoon motocross event was the 14-year-old girl from next door.  

The toys are equal and the playing field is level. All you have to do now is decide what type of toy hauler is going to allow you to maximize the adventure as you build great relationships with family, friends and even competitors. RVing will never be the same, and that’s a great thing for the active generations! For a listing of available toy haulers, perform a “toy hauler” key word search on www.lazydays.com.


Powerful portable energy from Honda

If you purchase a toy hauler that does not come with auxiliary power, or if you need more power for outside activities, then look no further than Honda’s line of Super Quiet Inverter Generators. These easy-to-carry and easy-to-store power generators provide hours of trouble-free operation when land power is not available. Take your toy hauler wherever you want to go, just make sure you’ve got your Honda generator in one of your storage compartments.

The EU1000i, EU2000i, EU3000is and EU7000is models are lightweight, portable and extremely fuel-efficient devices that will power everything from a radio and computer to dual AC units and an entire kitchen’s worth of  appliances – and still have power left over for your air compressor and power tools.

The 29-pound EU1000i can provide more than eight hours of electricity on a single tank of gas. The generator is equipped with the Honda Eco-Throttle feature, which provides just enough power to meet the electricity demands at any given time. It does all this very quietly, producing only 59dB of sound at approximately 23 feet when running at full throttle. A loud conversation can be 75dB, so this unit is not going to cause any problems or present any inconveniences around the campfire or down by the stream. In fact, it’s probably a good bet that your toys are going to make more noise than your power generator.

Need something a little more powerful? Step up to the 48-pound EU2000i. It generates 2,000 watts of power that will provide electricity for your computer, printer, telephone and stereo and will still run a full-size microwave oven, coffeemaker, toaster and air conditioner.  

Honda’s Super Quiet Inverter Generators also provide the unique ability to connect two generators in tandem to provide even more power to your home away from home. For more information visit hondapowerequipment.com.