For those just starting out in the RV lifestyle, people who are considering purchasing a travel trailer, a discussion about travel trailer weight is important. As you begin your search for travel trailers to purchase, you will see designations like GVWR, GCWR, UVW, HW, GAWR, and CCC, and it is all confusing as hell for newcomers, but it is crucial that you know what those abbreviations/designations mean so you will know what size trailer your vehicle can tow.
Without further ado, let’s dive into it all and hopefully, in the process, clarify it for you.
Three very important weights for you to know
If you remember nothing else from this article, remember this: there are three travel trailer weight numbers you must know, and they are the GVWR, the GCWR, and the towing capacity of your vehicle.
GVWR
This stands for gross vehicle weight rating, the maximum weight a trailer can weight, including cargo.
UVW, or Empty weight
This stands for “dry weight,” or the weight of a travel trailer straight out of the manufacturer
Load capacity
This tells you how much weight can be loaded into your trailer.
What does it all mean?
When you purchase a travel trailer, you will be told the dry weight of the trailer and the GVWR of the trailer. Subtract the dry weight from the GVWR and you will know how much weight can be loaded into your trailer (load capacity).
To exceed that weight is to risk angering the RV gods, and it could result in a broken trailer axle, something you definitely do not want to happen.
And then we must talk about your towing vehicle
Understanding the acceptable load of your travel trailer is just half of the necessary knowledge. The other half is related to your towing vehicle. You need to know the towing capacity of your truck or RV. If the GVWR of the trailer is under the towing capacity of your vehicle, everything is copacetic. If it exceeds your towing capacity, you could, at best, easily be looking at a new transmission in the very near future, and at worst you can be risking very unsafe driving conditions.
Finally, we need to discuss your hitch weight limit
One final thing to discuss, and that is the weight rating of the hitch you have on your towing vehicle. This could be anywhere in the 200-750 range, or more, and it refers to the direct weight pressing down on the hitch ball by the trailer coupler. To exceed that weight limit could mean the hitch breaking while you are pulling the trailer, and that could be disastrous.
Breathe deep and relax
Although this all sounds very ominous if you are new to RV living, it really is very simple. Purchase a travel trailer which can be safely pulled by your vehicle, and everything is fine, and that includes a great many travel trailers available for pickup trucks as well as SUVs. Start out with what you have, what you can afford, and you can grow from there into a larger RV when it is feasible. The important point is this: just get started, experience travel trailer RV life, and improve the quality of life.
I know, right? You aren’t alone with that appraisal, Bill.
It all makes perfect sense, Bill – I think?
Once you get used to the vernacular, it’s pretty basic stuff, my friend.
Thanks for commenting. I Hope you are doing well.
It sounds like you have figured this part out. I can’t wait to hear about your adventures!