RV Weight Guide
Below is a list of RV camper weight definitions we have put together to help you better understand what they mean. Hopefully this will help you when picking out the new or used RV you've always wanted.Unloaded Vehicle Weight (U.V.W)
U.V.W, Sometimes called the Dry Weight, is the weight of the RV without adding fuel, water, propane, supplies and passengers. The manufacturers U.V.W also does not include any dealer-installed options. The U.V.W is the weight you should look for in order to help determine what you can or can't tow. For a safe towing weight add around a 1,000 lbs to the U.V.W.
Example: the U.V.W of the camper you are thinking about buying is 5,000 lbs, so you add 1,000 lbs for a buffered weight to work with. This means you will most likely be towing around 6,000 lbs. If your truck can tow at least 6,000 lbs you are in the safety guide lines of the truck and should be ok. Every person is different so you may or may not pack this much into your new camping trailer, you may be a person to pack more depending on your camping trip.
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Wet Weight
The weight of the RV with the fuel, freshwater and propane tanks full.
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Gross Axle Weight Rating (G.A.W.R)
(G.A.W.R) is the maximum distributed weight that may be supported by an axle of a road vehicle. If an axle has a 3500-lb. G.A.W.R and the RV has two axles (tandem axles), then the RV would have a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of a little more then 7000 lbs do to tongue weight. (see GVWR below)
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Gross Combined Weight Rating (G.C.W.R)
The manufacturers maximum load weight, in pounds, allowed for the trailer and tow vehicle. This rating includes the weight of the trailer, tow vehicle, fuel, water, propane, supplies and passengers.
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Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)
The manufacturers maximum load weight, in pounds, allowed for the vehicle. This rating includes the weight of the vehicle plus fuel, water, propane, supplies and passengers.
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Net Carrying Capacity (NCC)
Sometimes called the payload capacity, this is the maximum weight of fuel, water, propane, supplies and passengers that can be added to an RV without exceeding the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). (see GVWR above)
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Payload Capacity
The maximum allowable weight that can be in or on a vehicle, including all cargo and accessories, fuel, freshwater, propane, passengers and hitch loads.
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Important Weights to Know
Gasoline weighs 6.3 pounds per gallon
Diesel fuel weighs 6.6 pounds per gallon
Propane weighs 4.25 pounds per gallon
Water weighs 8.3 pounds per gallon
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To be 100% sure on how much you are towing you can always take your new camper to a truck scale after you've loaded up and have it checked out. Be safe and pull within your vehicles limitations to make sure you give your family many happy years of camping.
