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There has all the time been confusion 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 covering of the trailer or fifth wheel and assume that they can't tow it. The data plate on the covering gives you the Gross vehicle 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 extremely dangerous, or fatal.

Any maker that is a member of the Recreation vehicle industry connection (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 contribute facts on the Gross vehicle Weight Rating (Gvwr), the Unloaded vehicle 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 artificial 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 tiny to, the roof air conditioner, awnings, stabilizer jacks, and a spare tire. You can see how swiftly weight can add up on the trailer.

Be meticulous 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 turn 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 inequity when your tow vehicle is on the border of its maximum tow rating.

Happy Camping,

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

Trailer Weights