What a fold-down rear deck and a matching annex add to a 13ft caravan.
Say “toy hauler” and most people picture a big trailer with a ramp at the back and a dirt bike strapped inside. That’s where the name comes from. But plenty of people who will never own a motorbike end up liking the layout, because once you’re parked, the rear opening becomes extra living space.
It also suits the way most Australians camp. The Caravan Industry Association of Australia counted around 17.9 million overnight caravan and camping trips in the year to June 2026, and the average trip was about 3.4 nights. Most trips are a long weekend at the coast or a few nights in the bush. The big lap is the exception.
Our 13 FLUIDE Toy Hauler is built for that kind of travel. It has a fold-down rear deck, a canvas annex sized to match, and a 13ft body that’s easy to tow and store. Here are seven ways to use it.
1. A Deck with a View
Pull into a site that looks over a lake or down a valley, lower the rear deck, and you have a raised platform facing the view.
The deck on the 13 FLUIDE measures 1,850mm × 1,850mm, which gives you about 3.42m² of floor once it’s down. On a 13ft van, that’s a noticeable amount of extra space. The deck is electrically operated, so there’s no heavy tailgate to wrestle at the end of a long drive.
Use it for the morning coffee, a book after lunch or a drink once the sun drops. When you head off, it folds up and locks, so it doesn’t add to your towing length.
If you spend most of the day outside anyway, an extra 3.42m² pointed at the view may be worth more to you than a longer van.
2. Put Up the Annex in About Ten Minutes
The open deck is great in good weather. When the sun is harsh, the wind picks up or the next site is a bit close, the annex closes it in.
The canvas annex sits on the same 1.85m × 1.85m footprint as the deck, giving you an enclosed area of about 3.42m².
In our own setup testing, one person put the annex up in roughly five to ten minutes. It goes on from the upper flip-up section while you stand on the deck, so you don’t need a ladder. Because it’s quick, you’ll actually use it on a two-night stay, not just on long trips.
Use it as a shaded reading spot, a change room or somewhere to sit out of the wind. Open it up when the weather is good and close it when you want some privacy.
It’s canvas, not an insulated room, and how well it performs depends on the weather and on setting it up correctly. For shade, wind protection and privacy, it does the job well.
3. Bring Your Adventure Gear Along
Some people want a quiet site and nothing more. Others want to ride, fish, hike or take photos, and those hobbies come with gear: bikes, rods, tripods, eskies.
A toy hauler’s rear opening makes that gear easier to load and get to than carrying it through a side door.
The 13 FLUIDE has a measured Tare of 2,000kg and an ATM of 2,500kg. That leaves a nominal payload of 500kg (ATM minus Tare).
That 500kg has to cover water, food, luggage, accessories and gear. It’s the payload for the whole van. It is not the load rating of the rear deck or of any single storage area.
Anything you carry has to fit the loading dimensions, be tied down properly and keep you inside every weight limit. Check the rear cargo dimensions with us before you plan around a particular bike or piece of kit.
4. Set Up a Comfortable Base Camp
On some trips you find a good spot and stay put. A walk in the morning, a drive into the nearest town after lunch, back to camp for dinner.
When you’re not packing up every day, the van becomes a base. You sleep and cook inside, and the rear deck and annex give you a second space during the day. The annex earns its keep here, when you’re on one site for several nights and want it a bit more sheltered and private.
A lot of caravan travel looks like this, and most of it happens away from the cities. Tourism Research Australia found that 87% of caravan and camping visitor nights in 2025 were spent in regional Australia.
5. Make Weekend Escapes Easier
You don’t need three months off to get good use out of a caravan. Leaving Friday afternoon and coming home Sunday counts.
For short trips, three things matter: whether the van suits your car, whether it fits where you keep it at home, and how quickly it sets up. A 13ft van makes all three easier than a big one does, particularly for solo travellers and couples who don’t need much fixed indoor space.
The 13 FLUIDE adds the fold-down deck to that small footprint. With the annex going up in about five to ten minutes in our testing, the extra covered space is worth setting up even for two nights.
A smaller van you take away every month can be worth more to you than a bigger one that sits in the driveway.
6. You Don’t Need a Motorbike
The name comes from carrying motorbikes and quads. That’s one way to use the layout, but it isn’t the only one.
You might ride push bikes or fish. You might want somewhere to keep outdoor gear. Or you might just like having a rear deck that turns into a covered annex.
A conventional small caravan has a fixed layout: the bed, dinette and kitchen stay where they are. A small toy hauler gives up some of that in exchange for space you can use in different ways.
If you want the most indoor comfort and a layout that’s always set up, a conventional caravan is probably the better choice. If you spend most of your trip outside and like space you can change around, a compact toy hauler is worth a look.
7. Downsize Your Caravan, Not Your Adventure
Plenty of experienced caravanners go smaller with their next van. After a few years on the road, many find they don’t need as much fixed indoor space as they once did.
The kids have left home, the trips have changed, or they’ve noticed they spend most of their time outside the van anyway.
If that sounds familiar, look at how a layout uses its space, not just at its length.
Think about whether a compact layout suits how you travel now, whether you’d use a deck to sit on, and whether an annex would help when you stay somewhere for several days.
The 13 FLUIDE pairs a small body with a 3.42m² rear deck and annex, so you get extra room without moving to a longer van.
It won’t replace a full-size lounge, and it won’t suit every family or travel style. If you like being outdoors and want a van that’s easy to tow and park, it’s worth considering.
Is a Small Toy Hauler Right for You?
A compact toy hauler suits solo travellers and couples who spend a lot of time outdoors and want more flexibility from a small van. It makes particular sense if you want a deck and a covered annex without stepping up to a bigger caravan.
Before you buy, work through a few questions. How much fixed indoor space do you need? What gear will you carry? Can your tow vehicle handle the van fully loaded? How often would you use the deck and annex? Does the layout work for your daily routine on the road?
If you travel with a large family, need a lot of fixed indoor space or plan to carry heavy motorbikes or quads, a 13ft toy hauler probably isn’t the right van. Pick the one that fits how you travel, not the one with the longest feature list.
Meet the PERIPLE 13 FLUIDE Toy Hauler
The 13 FLUIDE Toy Hauler is a 13ft caravan with an electrically operated rear deck and a matching canvas annex. On top of the fixed interior, you get a second space at the back of the van that you can use open or enclosed.
See the 13 FLUIDE at Our Pakenham Showroom
Specs only tell you so much. The deck and annex make more sense once you’ve stood on one. Come and see the 13 FLUIDE Toy Hauler at the PERIPLE RV showroom, 39 Commercial Drive, Pakenham VIC.
We’ll lower the deck, put the annex up while you watch, and go through whether the van suits your tow vehicle and the trips you have in mind.
Explore PERIPLE RV: https://www.periplerv.com.au
Industry references: Caravan Industry Association of Australia, domestic caravan and camping statistics for the year ending June 2026; Tourism Research Australia, caravan and camping data for 2025. These statistics describe the wider Australian caravan and camping market rather than toy hauler sales specifically.