The Weight of RVs, 5th Wheels and Trailers

With the rise in sales of hatchbacks and compact electric cars, anyone looking to buy a camper could find themselves roadblocked when it comes to what their vehicle can handle weight-wise, and the camper or other RV of their dreams

And let’s face it, no one wants to be stuck with a camper their car can’t pull uphill

If you are reading this to discover what are the best camper weights for your vehicle before buying that awesome trailer you’ve had your eye on, well done

Campers can get super-heavy – especially once they are kitted out with an adequate water supply and all your gear

That said, we also have some helpful tips on how to reduce the weight inside your camper if you want to lighten the load as much as possible

If the idea of buying a camper with the perfect weight to match your vehicle seems too much like hard work, you can skip the matching process entirely and get a van!

[ image by Lance Anderson via Unsplash ]

Camper Weight vs

A friend told me that one of their earliest memories was when the family loaded up the station wagon, hitched up their new camper, and headed for the mountains

It’s not the size of the vehicle so much when it comes to towing competently, but the engine power

Campers and trailers can push a car’s thermistor into the red very quickly if the weight to power ratio is off-kilter

The problem with buying a camper online, or looking in display windows at your nearest strip mall, is that the suggested weight you see on the available information relating to the model doesn’t take onboard water, full gas tanks, and supplies into account

That’s why it’s a really good idea to turn to the internet for some more info about the make and model’s weight before buying your camper

What Do All the Load Capacity and Vehicle Weights Mean?

It’s important to know what all the acronyms and weight indications mean as they refer to the maximum load your vehicle can carry or tow

Knowing this is crucial to the efficient and safe operation of both camper and car (or truck)

The word mass can be interchanged with the word “weight,” and gross means an item’s entire weight

If you still have your doubts about whether your car can haul your new camper uphill and down dale, take it to the nearest weighbridge or weigh station (nearest one to you can be found online, on the side of a highway, or at the local drivers licensing and testing department)

For a small fee, an accurate weight of your vehicle and camper can be determined before you set out on your journey, and save you many headaches!

Weight Terminology for Loaded Vehicles and Trailers

Tare Mass/Weight: The weight of your vehicle as it stands empty

Curb Mass/Weight: The same as Tare Mass/Weight, but includes a full gas tank

Excludes accessories fitted to the vehicle such as roof racks, bike racks, tow bars, and bull bars

This is the standard weight of a car or truck used for everyday transport

Gross Mass/Gross Vehicle Mass/GVM/Gross Vehicle Weight/GVW: Remembering that gross means total vehicle weight when it’s fully loaded, you will find your vehicle’s optimum gross weight in the owner’s manual or the sticker on the inside of the door opening on the driver’s side

Basically, it’s the Curb Mass plus all your accessories and extra load

Payload: Payloads are the maximum load (including towing) that your vehicle can carry

Gross Vehicle Axle Weight/Mass: The maximum load your vehicle’s front axle and rear axle can bear according to the specified recommendation by the manufacturer

Combined total axle weight (gross) exceeds the Gross Vehicle Mass because there is a safety margin

The most important feature of Gross Vehicle Axle Weight is to ensure it’s been evenly distributed across both axles

[ image by Benjamin Zanatta via Unsplash ]

Campers and Travel Trailers Weight Ratings Terminology

Tare Mass/Weight: The weight of an empty trailer or camper

Also called the Dry Weight

Here, the term “trailer” or “camper” signifies any attachment you can trail or tow with your vehicle

Unlike a car or other vehicle, the Tare Mass/Weight of a travel trailer or camper doesn’t include fluids such as toilet systems, water tanks, and LPGs This is why it’s also known as the trailer’s Dry Weight

Average campers weigh approximately 5,200lbs / 2,350kgs as a Dry Weight

The average additional weight once loaded is 1,500lbs / 680kgs – this includes all your gear and water

The general rule of thumb when it comes to trailer weights is for every one foot of trailer, around 250lbs of Payload weight can be calculated (not including the hitch)

The maximum axle load the manufacturers have specified your travel trailer or camper has been designed to carry

It includes the combined weight of whatever your camper or trailer is carrying (payload) and the trailer itself

Gross Trailer or Camper Weight limits can be found in the owner’s travel trailer manual, online specs, or displayed on the trailer itself

Gross Trailer Weight Ratings includes the absolute maximum towing weight for your camper or trailer as specified by the manufacturers and should never be exceeded

It stands for the maximum fully loaded travel trailer weight the vehicle can handle without endangering the tow vehicle’s structure or the inhibiting the safe operation of the car towing it

Any additional weight has been deemed detrimental by the manufacturers

GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) is different from GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight)

GVW refers to a scale that is used to gauge the actual travel trailer weight when it’s carrying the full Payload

GVWR: The weight you should never exceedGVW (also called Gross Trailer Weight/GTW): The travel trailer weight with its maximum payload

For example, if your travel trailer has a Dry Weight of 6,000lbs and the GVWR is listed as 8,000lbs, this means you cannot exceed the additional weight of 2,000lbs without endangering the structure of the travel trailer and the safety of the tow vehicle

Each GVWR is calculated specifically for each vehicle

The testers take every permutation of structural integrity and travel safety into account in order to gauge the correct collective maximum weights

This means that even if your car can handle an overweight travel trailer if the GVWR has been exceeded, you can never take it out on the road without risk

The transmission on your tow vehicle will be considerably shortenedThe engine can dangerously overheatFront tire traction is compromisedSteering difficultiesChance of tipping over is greatly increasedDamaging the tow vehicle, towed vehicle, and tow barSuspension straining and breakingTire blowoutBrakes failingBrakes inadequate for stopping, slowing down, or traveling downhillJackknifing

When you follow the GVWR guidelines, you increase the longevity of your vehicle and trailer, not to mention keeping your own life safe!

With this in mind, if your car or truck has a GVW of 7,500lbs, you should only be looking at travel trailers and campers with a GVWR of 7,500lbs

It’s required by federal law to have the GVWR of every vehicle listed, so look for it in the specs, owner’s manual, or on the VIN number

How Camper Construction Affects Its Weight

Travel trailers and campers can be constructed out of fiberglass with aluminum exterior sidings

Airstream trailers and campers are instantly recognizable by their iconic shape and metallic coloring

What Weights Should You Watch Out For When Loading Your Trailer or Camper?

Water weighs around an incredible 8lbs per gallon!

You need to find out how much water your camper or travel trailer tanks hold and then multiply that by 83 – that’s how much your full water tank will weigh

A large camper water tank will take up about 350lbs to 500lbs of your total weight allowance

Clean water is a necessity during travel and camping, so don’t scrimp on this weight obligation, especially if you’re heading out into unchartered areas

As you place the food item onto the shelf, add its weight onto the calculator and only hit the equal symbol when all your food has been packed

Ask everyone who’s accompanying you in the tow vehicle to step on the scales and calculate this weight into the GVWR as well

If you don’t have a scale, drive your companions or family to the nearest weigh station and weigh the tow vehicle with everyone inside it

Also add their fully packed tote bags, backpacks, or suitcases together and find out how much their gear weighs

Next up, weigh all of the cooking utensils, dishes, tech gear, bedding, and any other extra cargo

If you bought your travel trailer already fully kitted out with a lot of this stuff, find out how much it weighed at purchase and this will save you having to weigh each individual item

[ image by Fabien Bazanegue via Unsplash ]

How to Equip Your Travel Trailer, Camper, or RV to Haul Less Weight

If all this worrying about weight has gotten you thinking about how to haul less weight around, then you’ll be happy to know that many other folks have discovered some great ways to do it

It doesn’t matter how you use your RV, travel trailer, or camper:

Cutting back on rig weight will not only give you peace of mind knowing you have some leeway if you want to add weight throughout your travels, but also save your gas consumption

The aim is to drop weight without necessitating you having to cut back on essential gear

Sure, you need something over the window in your travel trailer because blocking out the sun doesn’t just make sitting inside more comfortable, but saves the interior from fading as well

Many black tank camper toilets carry around a hefty volume of chemicals inside them

If you replace a chemical black tank toilet with a compost toilet, you will save on all the additional water and chemical weight a black tank toilet requires for use

Compost toilets are dry and use a variety of lighter materials to aid the decomposition of any organic matter

If the idea of a compost toilet doesn’t appeal to you, you’ll be pleased to know that basic portable toilets are also lighter than black tank chemical toilets

While we’re on the subject of lightweight materials, you might want to think about removing all the heavy and unnecessary shelves, cabinets, and drawers in your camper

By replacing them with wicker baskets and plastic trays or bins, you will also be removing a huge chunk of weight off and out of your travel trailer

If you’re not that keen to change any of the built-in designs the manufacturers installed, check that there is no additional weight in the shelving itself

Wood does look lovely, but it weighs a ton and can easily be replaced by a lighter material such as melamine

Don’t be too draconian when it comes to clearing out your camper though

The sliding doors and partitions in campers and the larger size travel trailers are often never used, especially when they are in places that can just as easily have curtains there, such as clothing closets

A shower curtain does the job of providing privacy just as well and weighs much less than glass or wood

Even when you camp off the grid, you probably won’t want to use your propane or power to heat your water, especially in summer

This will lose you a hefty 7 gallons of water weight

Has your camper or RV got an exterior ladder or canopy extension that you have never used or had plans to use in the future?

Then get rid of it, and anything else superfluous that’s inside or on the outside of your travel trailer

Only use your camper during spring or fall?

[ image by Airstream inc via Unsplash ]

Calculating the weight of your camper or travel trailer is simple to do and makes it so much more reassuring when you hit the road

But before my family and I can enjoy our adventure, we need to know if our travel trailer is safe for travel

Knowing the weight of our rig is part of that safety measure

Where, how, and why should RVers weigh their motorhomes, travel trailers, or fifth wheels?

There are various places where you can get your camper weighed

You can have it weighed at a truck stop using CAT scales, or it can be weighed by individual tire position by the RV Safety and Education Foundation (RVSEF)

Weighing your RV is important for many reasons—from avoiding tire blowouts to knowing the appropriate tow vehicle to use to traveling over bridges safely

Let’s discuss in detail why it is important to have your RV weighed

Exceeding Bridge or Road Weight Limits 3

Tow Vehicle Damage Understanding RV Weight Ratings Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) Cargo Carrying Capacity (CCC) Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) Before You Weigh Your RV… Where to Weigh Your RV How To Weigh Your RV Using CAT Scales Weighing a Class A, B, or C motorhome or truck camper using CAT Scales: Weighing a fifth wheel or travel trailer using CAT Scales: RVSEF Wheel Position Weighing How Much Does It Cost to Weigh an RV?

Whether you drive or tow your rig, traveling with it overloaded places you, your passengers, and everyone on the road with you in danger

Here are some hazardous situations weighing your RV may help you to avoid: 1

Tire failure Having an overloaded RV can cause your tires to exceed the weight rating

2 Exceeding Bridge or Road Weight Limits You may need to travel across a bridge or road with a maximum weight limit

If you don’t know your weight, you could end up with a ticket or in very serious danger

3 Axel and Suspension Strain Overloading your RV axles can cause extra wear and strain on the suspension components of your RV or tow vehicle

Axel or suspension failure can lead you to lose control of the vehicle(s) and perhaps cause an accident

4 Tow Vehicle Damage Overloading a travel trailer or fifth-wheel can damage your tow vehicle

Your RV’s weight could exceed tow capacity without you knowing it

This can overwork the vehicle and cause damage to the engine, transmission, and other components over time

Gradually, this could result in significant failure of the tow vehicle and require major repairs or worse

Understanding RV Weight Ratings Now that we see how important it is to ensure your RV is not over its weight limits, we need to understand the weight ratings

This will help us to know what to look for when the RV is weighed

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) One of your RV’s most important safety considerations is the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)

The GVWR is the vehicle’s maximum weight capacity when fully loaded with passengers, cargo, fluids, and fuel

Knowing your GVWR lets you know if you are safely within the vehicle manufacturer’s weight limits and highway regulations

When you get your RV weighed, you will learn the actual Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) so that you can be sure it doesn’t exceed the GVWR

Cargo Carrying Capacity (CCC) The cargo carrying capacity (CCC) determines how much weight you can add to your unloaded RV without exceeding the weight limit

Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) The maximum weight each axle on the RV can safely carry is called the gross axle weight rating (GAWR)

If the actual weight on the axles exceeds this number, the suspension components can become overloaded and cause failure, possibly leading to an accident

This rating is important when vehicle towing is involved—whether you have a truck or SUV towing a travel trailer or fifth wheel or if your motorhome is towing a car

Before You Weigh Your RV… Load it up!

You’ll want to know the weight of your rig when it is packed up for travel

The only way to know how much the RV weighs when fully loaded is to weigh it with genuine, realistic loads

So make sure you have all the passengers, fuel, water, supplies, clothing, and bedding you would normally bring for a trip

Now you’ll be able to tell if your normal load is under or over your weight limits when you weigh your rig

Here is a basic overview of the options: CAT scales Farm co-ops or feed mills Sand and gravel yards Moving and storage companies RVSEF (for wheel position weighing) Let’s look at the details about using 2 of the popular options listed here: CAT scales and RVSEF wheel position weighing

How To Weigh Your RV Using CAT Scales Many truck stops have certified CAT scales, and they also allow RVs to be weighed there

CAT scales line up three scales in one, allowing them to record total vehicle weight and the weights on the axles at once

You have to be sure to line up your vehicle with the axles on the right scales

You can conveniently get your weighing results electronically through their “Weigh My Truck” app or by email

Here’s how to use CAT scales to weigh your camper: Weighing a Class A, B, or C motorhome or truck camper using CAT Scales: Pull up to the scale and make sure your window aligns with the call box

If you have a vehicle you are towing, it should be on the third scale

When you get your results (either on the app or by getting the printed report), make sure the gross (total) weight doesn’t exceed your RV’s GVWR and that the steer axle and drive axle weights don’t exceed the GAWR

Weighing a fifth wheel or travel trailer using CAT Scales: If you are weighing a fifth wheel or travel trailer, you will have a little bit more to consider

You need to consider the weights of the vehicles and the contents, but also the weight of the hitch

“Tongue weight” is the weight that the trailer is applying to the back of the tow vehicle

It’s important that there’s not too little tongue weight, or it will create potentially dangerous sway in the trailer

If there is too much tongue weight, on the other hand, the towing vehicle’s rear tires will be overloaded, causing the vehicle’s rear end to be pushed down

For a hitched travel trailer, tongue weight should be no less than 10% of the trailer weight, and for a fifth wheel, it should be no less than 20%

When you take your travel trailer/fifth wheel to the scales, you want to find these weights: Weight of tow vehicle and trailer togetherWeight of the tow vehicle by itselfWeight of the trailer/fifth wheel by itselfThe trailer tongue or pin weight (carried by the tow vehicle)The trailer axle weightFor a fifth wheel, you should also get separate weights for each axle on the tow vehicle If you are weighing a travel trailer, you want to make sure your tongue weight is less than the maximum tongue weight allowed by the tow vehicle hitch and that the tongue weight percentage is greater than 10%

If you have a fifth wheel, make sure the pin weight is less than the maximum pin weight for your fifth wheel hitch

The front wheels of the truck or SUV you’re towing with should be on the first scale, the rear wheels of your towing vehicle should be on the second scale, and the fifth wheel or travel trailer tires should be on the third scale

Say that you have an RV trailer and need a second weigh-in of the tow vehicle after this weigh-in

That way, they’ll be expecting you to come back around and may only charge you for a re-weigh (about $3 more) Tell the attendant to record the weights from the 3 scales for you

You should then drive off the scale, unhitch the trailer, and return to the scale with only the tow vehicle

This is so you can calculate the tongue or pin weight

The axles of the tow vehicle can be split between the two scales

Add those 2 weights, and we’ll refer to that total as T

You’re going to need to have available the weight rating information for your tow vehicle

You can find this information online from the vehicle manufacturer’s website or the owner’s manual

When you get the weight results, you’ll be making comparisons to be sure that not only do none of the weights of the trailer/fifth wheel exceed the ratings, but that the weights of the tow vehicle are also within the specified ratings

So here’s what you’ll be checking for when you get your results: Compare Weight 1 to tow vehicle front axle GAWRCompare Weight 2 to the tow vehicle rear axle GAWRCompare Weight 3 to the combined trailer axle GAWRs Ensure that none of these 3 weights exceed the GAWR of the tow vehicle or trailer

Weight is the axle weight of the tow vehicle without the trailer that you received in the report) Next, make these calculations: Weight 1 + Weight 2 = Tow vehicle weight with trailer tongue or pin weight(Weight 1+Weight 2) – T

Weight = gross trailer weight

Compare this to trailer GVWR and be sure it does not exceed it

If you find that any of these weights exceed gross weight ratings, make adjustments to your load and re-weigh

RVSEF Wheel Position Weighing The RV Safety and Education Foundation (RVSEF) is a non-profit organization that provides the RV world education that focuses on safety

The RVSEF says that wheel position weighing, specific to RVs, is the only way to know the proper inflation rate for your tires

As discussed earlier, an RV that exceeds its weight rating can cause tires to exceed their weight rating

During wheel position weighing, each of your RV’s tires will be weighed individually so you can know how much weight each tire is supporting

One tire may be supporting an appropriate load due to its position, whereas the tire across from it may be overloaded due to where it sits on the rig

Here’s the process to weigh your RV the right way: 1

2 Arrive at the designated weighing site (preselected for levelness and convenience) with your RV loaded as you would for a trip

3 If you have a motorhome, they will put the vehicle on their specialized scales, take the readings, and provide you with a report

The process is the same if you have a towable travel trailer or fifth wheel, except they will weigh the tow vehicle separately to find the pin or tongue weight

When you get the results, you’ll know which areas of your RV need weight adjustments for tire safety

You‘ll also know how best to inflate or even remove air from the tires based on the specific weights they are supporting

How much you pay to have your camper weighed depends on where you go for this service

Wheel position weighing with RVSEF currently costs $60 for motorhomes and truck/trailer combos

Weighing any other tow vehicles will cost an additional $40

Weighing your RV is definitely not the most exciting aspect of RV travel

But it can provide peace of mind knowing that your rig is not exceeding any weight ratings or compromising safety standards

Every camper has a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating that should never be exceeded

Therefore, having an understanding of your camper weight is critical

It is not just the gross vehicle weight that you should know but also the dry weight and the hitch weight

You should know the weight before you finally purchase the camper to make sure the tow rating matches that of your tow vehicle

It can be frustrating to buy a camper, only to realize later that it is too heavy for your vehicle

When it comes to understanding the weight of your camper, the first thing you should know is the dry weight

Dry weight of a camper is weight without any cargo, supplies, fuel, passengers or water

It is also known as the shipped weight which means weight of the RV when shipped by the manufacturer

The dry weight of a camper varies based on various factors

Campers with high dry weight usually have more amenities and space, but those with less dry weight have limited space and few amenities

Dry weight of most popular campers range from 2,000 to 9,000 lbs

and the average dry weight of campers is about 5,200 lbs

Having said this, larger motorhomes and fifth wheel can weigh much more

Similarly, you also get pop up campers, small travel trailers and teardrop trailers that weigh way less than average

Towed campers weigh much less and will require a vehicle with the recommended towing capacity for towing

But, for mobile campers that are self-driven have a much higher dry weight since they do not depend on a towing vehicle

Most camper manufacturers usually indicate the dry weight of the recreational vehicle

Others come with brochures that state the dry weight of your camper

If the camper is new, you can easily know the dry weight

However, this is not the case with second-hand campers since most of them have additions that may increase the dry weight

How to Find the Dry Weight of my Camper

For safe towing and handling of your camper, it is essential to know how to calculate the dry weight of your camper

The weight not only affects the tires and the hitch but also your own safety when traveling with the camper

Here are different ways that you can use to find out the dry weight of your camper

1 Weigh at local weight station

To find the dry weight of your camper, take it to the local weigh station

You can easily find these stations online or at the truck stops

Then weigh the trailer

Detach the trailer from your tow vehicle and get the weight of your vehicle

Then get the difference between the two, which is the dry weight of your camper

While most manufacturers will not indicate the dry weight of the camper, they can provide you with this information when you request them

Other manufacturers will have online systems that calculate the dry weight of your camper for you

If the online weighing option is not available on the manufacturer’s website, you can call or email them to get the dry weight

For them to give you the accurate dry weight of your camper, ensure you provide the correct details on the manufacturer year, model, specifications, and options list for your camper

3 Use the Information Sticker on your Camper

Another way to find out the dry weight of your camper is through the sticker that is usually provided by the manufacturer for new campers

For most campers, the sticker is located either on the exterior or interior part of the door

The sticker usually indicates the dry weight or the actual weight of the camper with factory installed options

The weight information provided on the sticker is more accurate than weighing the camper

However, if the camper does not have this information, you can use other ways

How to Weigh My Camper

There are several options when it comes to weighing a camper

Below are the different approaches that you can weigh your camper

The first option to weigh your camper is by using CAT scales

But first, you will need an appointment so that you can be assigned a weighing master

When making an appointment, you will need to provide details such as the type of camper you have and manufacture details

Once you get to your nearest gas station, the weighing master will direct you to place your camper at the right spot for weighing

This process takes a short time, and you will even get a document that shows the weight of your camper if you need it

2 Weight Your Camper at RVSEF

Another option to weigh your camper is at RVSEF

It involves weighing your camper by wheel position, which is the most recommended way

This is because it does not only provide the weight of your camper but gives you the accurate weight on each wheel

With this information, you will know if you need to redistribute the weight and whether the tires need any inflation

Additionally, understanding the amount of weight on each wheel will help you know how much pressure is needed on the tires

Weighing your camper by position offers RVers essential information on maintaining their campers

The best thing about weighing at RVSEF is that it provides you with the exact weight of each wheel

This helps you to keep and maintain safety with the camper

Additionally, you get a detailed report that includes all the weight parameters of your camper

The RVSEF is known for affordable and modern weighing techniques; hence, it is recommended by most RV manufacturers

Weighing your camper at the truck stops is the easiest option to know the weight of your RV

Whenever you are traveling with your camper, make sure you stop at the truck stop and make use of the weighing scales

Most of the truck stops provide certified weighing scales that include CAT scales

The good thing about weighing at the truck stops is that you do not need to make appointments

You can weigh your camper anytime you find a truck stop

Weighing with CAT scales can give you a lot of insights about your RV, such as the gross vehicle weight rating or the overall weight of your camper

But, weighing at truck stop CAT scales will cost you around $10 to $15 if you want to weigh your camper for the first time

Considering the safety advantages that come with knowing the weight of your camper, the cost is not much

At the truck stops, you will not be able to get the weight by wheel position, which gives the individual wheel and corner weights

However, you will find multiple scales that will measure the steer axle weight, trailer axle weight, drive axle weight, and the overall weight

4 Local Weighing Points

There are various local weighing points that you can get the weight of your camper

One thing a lot of RVers want to know is:

When moving on highways if you see a weighing station, should you stop with your RV?

You don’t have to stop at a weighing station, those are meant only for freight hauling

Dry Weight vs

Gross Weight

When it comes to purchasing a camper, you need to understand the difference between gross weight and dry weight

The gross weight is the actual weight of a camper that is fully loaded with all the gear

It refers to the current combined weight of a camper with passengers, fuel, tanks, and water

On the other hand, dry weight refers to the weight of a camper without any loads

The Gross vehicle weight rating also referred to as GVWR, is the maximum loaded weight of your camper

It includes the weight of the camper itself, the passengers, and the load

The gross vehicle rating is determined by the manufacturer

The gross vehicle weight rating is very crucial for safety

It states the maximum weight that your camper can handle when you have loaded everything

Exceeding the gross vehicle weight rating can lead to damages and risks such as overheating the engine, overworking the brakes, wearing out tires, and damaging the tow vehicle

The GVWR is indicated on each camper or the manufacturer’s manual

By using the GVWR and the dry weight, you will be able to know how much load you should put on the trailer

Other Important Weight Ratings to Know

If you own a camper or planning to buy one soon, you should know these ratings to help with the safety and maintain your camper and the tow vehicle

Keeping your RV under specified weight limit rating is utmost critical

In case of travel trailer or fifth wheel even slight difference can cause serious issues like swaying or turning over of the trailer

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating is the weight limit set by the manufacturer which should never be exceeded

This rating is not an actual weight but a limit set for safety purposes

Never load your travel trailer beyond this weight

GVWR of an RV is not same as the dry weight

GVWR is the limit set by manufacturer for safety, dry weight on the other hand is weight of the camper without any additional equipment, cargo or fluid

Gross vehicle weight (GVW)

Gross vehicle weight is the actual weight of the travel trailer when it is fully loaded with water, food, optional equipment and everything you need for camping

At all given times this weight should always be less than the GVWR

Gross vehicle weight is also referred to as GTW (Gross Trailer Weight)

Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR)

Gross Combined Weight Rating refers to the maximum weight of your tow vehicle and the camper together

It also includes supplies and cargo loaded in either of the vehicles

Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR)

Gross Axle Weight Rating refers to the maximum weight that you should place on the rear axles of a camper

The gross axle weight rating is provided by the manufacturer

Tongue weight is the actual weight on the hitch ball of the travel trailer

For safety, this weight should always be between 10 to 15%

Tongue weight is included in the GVW of the travel trailer

For fifth wheels, this weight is referred to as king pin weight and it should be between 15-25% for safety

Curb weight is weight of the travel trailer with all optional equipment’s, water tanks, propane tanks and all the equipment fluids but it does not take into account cargo and passengers

This weight is important to determine how much cargo you can add

Lets see the cargo weight definition below

Cargo Weight or Cargo Carrying Capacity:

Cargo weight is the additional weight of the items or cargo you can add to your travel trailer

This includes all cargo items like clothes, food, tongue weight, additional equipment’s and accessories

Knowing this number is important as you can plan on how much cargo you can add to your RV

You can use various other rating from the list to determine the cargo weight

How much weight can you add to your camper?

The next important and most practical thing a new RVers would want to know is “how much weight can i add to my RV“?

Cargo carrying capacity of the RV is the actual amount of weight one can add to the RV

Then, you also need to substract the sleeping capacity (170 lbs multiplied by number of sleeping positions)

This final number of pounds is the amount of additional weight you can add to your camper

As you load up the RV with your gear, that weight inevitably changes

Remember to account for this additional gear weight when figuring out the total weight of your RV

Of course, if you have a large RV, like a motorhome or fifth wheel, your weight is going to be higher than 10,000 pounds, and if you have a small RV, like a travel trailer or pop up camper, your weight will be less

It’s better to assume your RV is going to be on the heavier side of things if you don’t know the exact weight

What Do All The Weight Numbers Mean?

There are a lot of different numbers when it comes to the weight of an RV

Many companies promote the dry vehicle weight, but what does that mean, and how does that affect what you can carry?

Let’s clear up what the different weight listings mean when it comes to your RV weight

Unloaded or dry vehicle weight is the weight of the trailer with nothing in it

This means no gas, water, waste, or gear

Essentially this is the bare minimum that your RV is ever going to weigh when it rolls off the production line

On average, your RV will weigh 1,500 pounds more than its dry weight once filled with gear

Gross Vehicle Weight (GVWR) is how much the trailer weights when full

This is the max weight of the RV carrying all of your gear

If you surpass the GVWR, it can affect the performance of the RV and or the towing vehicle

It is never okay for you RV to weigh more than the listed GVWR

Dry Hitch Weight, also known as tongue weight, is the weight of the empty RV to the trailer hitch

This is important for determining how much weight your vehicle can tow

The dry hitch weight is only applicable if you have a pop-up camper or travel trailer

Remember that your hitch weight will increase as you load up your RV with gear

When pulling a trailer, it is essential not to exceed the weight your vehicle can tow

The Cargo Carrying Capacity (CCC) is the maximum amount of weight you can load onboard your RV

This includes all your gear, water, gas, waste, and you!

Generally, the larger and burlier your RV, the more weight and gear you can carry

This may seem like a tedious task, but it will help with knowing your weight in the long run

There are different RV classifications based on length, chassis type, and weight

Know what class your RV falls into before hitting the road to avoid getting stuck

Consider where you want to be taking your RV and what its primary purpose will be when choosing which class to buy

These RVs have bodies that are 30 to 40 feet long and weight anywhere from 13,000 to 30,000 pounds dry

Typically, class A RVs drive and look more like a bus

Class B RVs are more of a camper van style

They weigh much less than other RVs at 6,000 to 8,000 pounds, and they are only about 18 feet long

These camper van conversions often have lofted fiberglass roofs to allow passengers to stand up inside

Class C RVs have bodies built on a truck chassis

The truck chassis is specifically designed to carry the heavy load of an RV

Class C RVs have a dry weight of 10,000 to 12,000 pounds and are 20 to 30 feet long

Travel trailers, pop up campers and 5th wheels do not have the weight of an engine and therefore weigh much less than a motorhome RV

A trailer type of RV typically weighs anywhere from around 1,500 to 7,000 pounds dry

Travel trailers and pop-ups attach to a standard trailer hitch, and fifth-wheels attach to the bed of a truck

One benefit of the fifth-wheel trailer is you get maximum space for trailer length

If you choose a travel trailer, keep in mind how much weight your vehicle is able to tow and stay below that limit

When it comes to managing your RV weight, you must decide what things you need on your trip, and what you can live without

Do you need to pack for every possible scenario, or are you willing to go with the flow in order to sacrifice some weight?

It’s hard to judge how much your RV is going to weigh when packing small one- or two-pound items

If you can, stop at a truck weigh station and see what your weight is

This way you’ll know if you have room to bring more along, or if you need to purge some weight

This can be a tedious and time-consuming task, but it will give you a good reference of how much your gear weighs

Knowing the weight of your gear can help you decide what gets to come along and what stays behind

Remember, under no circumstances can your weight be over the GVWR

How Does Weight Affect How Much My Vehicle Can Tow?

Travel Trailers and Pop Up Campers

If you are planning to tow a travel trailer or pop up camper you will need to know how much your vehicle can tow

Most vehicles have a sticker on the inside of the driver side door that lists the GVWR, which is maximum that the vehicle can tow

The GVWR, or Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, is calculated by adding the RV weight plus the passengers’ weight, plus all gear and supplies, plus any liquids

Camping World has an awesome tow weight calculator for every make and model of car and truck

RELATED READING: If you are considering hauling a Popup Camper check out our article Average Pop Up Camper Weight – All You Need to Know

If you are planning to tow a 5th wheel the calculation is much more involved

You will need much more info to determine the maximum weight your pick up truck can pull

Luckily, Changingearscom has a terrific 5th Wheel Weight Calculator to help you figure it out

When you visit their link it will walk you through all of the info you need to input into the calculator to determine the maximum weight fifth wheel your truck can tow

If you plan to tow a car (or anything else) behind your Class A B or C rig you have a lot to figure out

First of all, how much weight can your RV tow?

And second, can your vehicle be towed with all 4 wheels on the ground or do you need a dolly to tow your vehicle?

The first thing you need to know is the GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating) of your RV

The next thing you need to do is to figure out how much your RV weighs when fully loaded with passengers, supplies, groceries, camping gear, gas, propane, water, and wastewater

The easiest way to figure this out is to load up your RV and go weigh it

My RV is always loaded with gear and camping supplies so all I need to do is fill the water tank and gas tank to get a good idea of what my RV weighs

The tricky thing about this is that your RV will always have a different weight depending on the number of people on board plus groceries, water, wastewater, propane, etc

So, if you get your RV fully loaded with just yourself in the RV, remember to add for extra passengers when you will be towing a vehicle

They have a huge scale for commercial garbage trucks and they were nice enough to let me drive onto the scale to weigh my RV

Anyway, after you know how much your fully loaded RV weighs, which in my case is 12,657 lbs then you add the weight of your tow vehicle

This total needs to be less than the GCWR of 20,000 lbs in my case

I want to tow my 2015 Toyota Tacoma with my Class C RV

It weighs 5600 lbs

So, it looks like I can tow my pickup truck behind my RV

There is just one last thing to check and that is the maximum weight my hitch can handle on my RV

Unfortunately for me – the max weight my hitch will handle is 5,000 lbs

So even though the numbers say my RV can tow my truck, the RV hitch can not

When choosing your RV, you should consider how much it’s going to weigh

For example, some bridges roads have weight restrictions

Other factors include how much additional weight your RV is going to be able to carry

If you’re going to tow your RV, you should know how much your vehicle can tow safely

They eventually had to buy a much larger, more expensive SUV just to pull their travel trailer when fully loaded

Depending on where you want to go, some areas have vehicle length and weight restrictions

Since may National Parks have steep, winding roads going through them, vehicles are restricted to specified lengths and weights

Here you have two options; you can choose a smaller RV such as a class B or C, or tow your car along

If you’re adding on heavy appliances and features you’ll have less room for weight when it comes time to pack your gear

Or could you save that weight and use it elsewhere

If you’re the type of person who wants to bring a lot of gear with them (think climbing, boating, biking, etc) look for an RV with higher cargo carrying capacity

The greater cargo carrying capacity will sacrifice some of the luxury items, but you’ll be too busy using all the extra gear you brought to worry about that

It’s better to know your weight rather than guessing and assuming you’re under the GVWR

Commercial weigh stations at state lines or anywhere that weighs heavy loads can do this for you

If you do find yourself in a situation where you need to know you RVs weight, err on the heavier side when estimating