A Last-Minute Change Sets This Riverstone Toy Hauler Apart

Riverstone’s high-end toy hauler, the Legacy 4513DST, has drawn rave reviews since it debuted last fall. The 45-foot-long unit, with a 13-foot-long garage, is at the upper end of toy haulers produced by Forest River.

A relatively last-minute construction tweak in the unit helps ensure its uniqueness. A motorized window was added to the wall separating the garage from the rest of the unit. That addition has added to the unit’s appeal in a major way, says Nick Simeri, product manager.

“When we first built it, there was no window in the wall,” Simeri says. “It wasn’t until August that we decided to change it. We had a cabinet on that wall and decided to add a window. So we went from an idea to tearing the wall apart and having a motorized window in two weeks.”

Simeri says the Riverstone Legacy 4513DST probably appeals most to customers who have a toy or two, but it doesn’t check every box for “real hard-core” toy hauler buyers.

“Riverstone is a luxury fifth-wheel brand, and obviously there is a need in the market for a luxury fifth wheel with an actual garage in it. Our target customers are not necessarily your side-by-side desert guys, but more of a Can-Am Spyder or two motorcycles people.”

The 4513DST has been available at dealers since late 2023. Their feedback has been positive so far, and they have been pleased with customer reaction.

“Guys who have been stocking it have been turning it quickly,” Simeri says. “It is something unique in the market, and people like the floorplan. There really is not a floorplan like it in the market, especially when you add all that with our core construction. Very few people are building a 3-inch wall.”

Eye-Catching Features

One popular option Riverstone offers is a MORryde independent suspension installed at Riverstone’s factory. MORryde comes to the factory and aligns each unit with a mobile alignment machine. “That’s something very few are doing from the factory,” Simeri says.

Standard features include a generator with a 30-gallon tank and a 30-gallon fuel station. Forest River will build about 75 to 100 of the new model this year, according to Simeri. The Legacy package has an MRSP of $219,453.

The model comes with a king bed in the front and a drop-down queen bed in the garage. Also standard are four slideouts and two awnings.

The model drew considerable attention at the Hershey RV Show last September and at the Florida RV Supershow in Tampa in January, plus several smaller shows. “Consumers were excited about it,” Simeri says. “It was something they hadn’t seen before. I believe we sold them at every show we had them at.”

The model was also on display at the Open House in Elkhart last year, and Simeri hopes to show it there again this year. It has also drawn accolades, including RV PRO’s Model of the Year for 2024.

An Evolving Market

Overall, the toy hauler market is evolving. Toy preferences change with some regularity. This keeps this segment of the RV industry highly competitive. Simeri says the tough RV market of the past year or so has pushed manufacturers across the spectrum to be better and more creative to accommodate buyers with specific needs.

“The toy hauler market is an area that is especially being pushed,” he says. “Toy hauler buyers may be looking for some bells and whistles, but they are also looking at the utility of the vehicle. There are only so many options. Toy hauler buyers have more specific needs than a lot of campers. It’s causing the toy hauler guys to step back and take a look at their products.”

Usability continues to be a big selling point. Customers like the various possibilities of how to use the garage.

“Ultimately, if a customer is putting a side-by-side or two Harleys in the back, they have a specific need to be met while still trying to have comfort. When you get to the upper price point, more than ever the buyer is looking for a luxury unit.”

Listening to Feedback

Upgrades and changes will be the result of meticulous research. Riverstone collects feedback on its units in a variety of ways. For instance, Simeri attended an owners rally in May held by one of its dealers. He conducted a roundtable with owners to listen to their experiences with their units. Simeri also is responsible for a full sales territory and regularly works consumer shows, another valuable way to gauge customer experience.

“That hands-on experience with consumers provides immediate feedback. You can’t go back to the drawing board, but if something continually is mentioned, then it’s time to go look at what we are doing and figure out how to do it better and meet expectations of our customers. It’s important to take all of that knowledge into consideration.”

Two wood color options are available. In the 2025 model year, a dark brown will be available for cabinet colors. Riverstone stays on top of color trends by consulting suppliers and keeping a close watch on the housing market. Simeri says he also pays attention to people posting on social media about buying used units, refitting them and reselling them.

What People Are Hauling

What toys are popular these days? Simeri says motorcycles remain high on the list, as do Can-Am Spyders and golf carts. Side-by-sides are common out West.

“Your traditional toys are still the toys we see,” he says. “Some customers are buying it because they spend six to eight months in it and want to have space for a grill, bikes or a kayak. There are more people who are using it as a garage as opposed to hauling a single toy than people realize.”

In somewhat of a surprise, a significant number of extended stay customers who can work remotely prefer to retrofit the garage space into an office by installing desks.

So, what type of vehicle does it take to pull this large unit? Simeri says the core buyers use a one-ton dually pickup. There are some that even buy semis to pull it, with some rigging the semi to carry a smart car on the semi in front of the fifth wheel, he says.

The combination of unique features has helped propel the model’s early success. Simeri cites the 3-inch wall, along with more insulation, which has great appeal for extended-stay customers.

“At the end of the day, it’s a floorplan no one else is building,” Simeri says. “We are keeping the same construction and quality components that people have come to know from Riverstone, which also helps us stand out in the toy hauler world.”