Trailer Weights

There has always been obscuring when it comes to trailer weights. I can't begin to tell you how many times I have seen population read the manufacturers weight label on the face of the trailer or fifth wheel and assume that they can't tow it. The data plate on the face gives you the Gross car Weight Rating (Gvwr). This is not the actual weight of the trailer; it is the maximum amount of weight that the trailers axles, brakes, tires and other components can support. The trailer might weigh 5,000 pounds, but the Gvwr may be 7,000 pounds. This means that you could add 2,000 pounds of weight to the trailer before you reach the Gvwr. You need to reconsider how much weight you will add to the trailer when you are calculating this number. You never want to tow a trailer that exceeds the Gvwr. The components on the trailer are not designed to exceed the Gvwr and it can be very dangerous, or fatal.

Any builder that is a member of the Recreation car business association (Rvia) is required to have a weight rating label inside the trailer that will give you more weight information. Look for it on the back of a cabinet or closet door. It will provide information on the Gross car Weight Rating (Gvwr), the Unloaded car Weight (Uvw) or Dry Weight (Dw), which it is generally referred to, the weight of the fresh water tank and Lp gas when full, and the Cargo Carrying Capacity (Ccc) for the trailer.

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The Uvw is the actual weight of the trailer as man-made at the factory. You also want to find out if this weight includes options on the trailer. When a dealer orders a trailer they list the options they want on it. These options include, but are not wee to, the roof air conditioner, awnings, stabilizer jacks, and a spare tire. You can see how speedily weight can add up on the trailer.

Be careful when you look at the weights in the manufacturers brochures. In most cases these weights are for the base model trailer without options, and depending on what they reconsider to be options the weight can change drastically. It is not uncommon to see a brochure weight of 5,000 pounds, but the actual weight of the trailer is 5,700 pounds or more. 700 pounds can make a big variation when your tow car is on the border of its maximum tow rating.

Happy Camping,

Copyright 2006 by Mark J. Polk owner of Rv education 101

Trailer Weights