the weight of travel trailers

[mecamper]

Hello everyone, I've seen many helpful post from people who are looking to buy a travel trailer. I have a question about the weight of campers. Are the UVW's listed in brochures accurate? I'm looking at a Surveyor that is 30 feet long (sv 291) and it is listed as being only 4,427 lbs. Other "ultra lites" that I have looked at are smaller but still weigh more. Can a trailer really be that big, with a slide, and still weigh so little?

Right now we have a 22 ft Citation, which I love, but I would like to get something with bunks without going too heavy.

 

[HeatherPage]

I think most people will say that brochure weights aren't always necessarily accurate. There is usually a label on the inside of a cabinet somewhere that they put on as it's coming out of the factory that lists the accurate weight. That being said, our 28.5 ft. Maxsport TT (with double sized bunks) claimed in the brochure/website to weigh 4250 and the factory sticker is pretty close to that number. Sorry, edited to add that ours has a super slide (dining table and sofa) so yes, its doable.

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

Mine showed a dry weight of 4995# with a note that that did not include options. AC was an option, stabilizer jacks, TV antenna etc.
All told with supplies, bedding, ready to go to FW (no water on board) the unit weighs around 6400#. If I had to guesstimate the trailer all by itself, as we bought it, I think it would be around 5500#.
The weight adds up surprisingly fast.

Scott

 

[disfanRN]

With a 30 ft trailer you also have to be concerned with the wheelbase of your tow vehicle. If you have a short wheelbase vehicle a 30 ft travel trailer would be too long no matter what the weight.

 

[kmccain]

I think most people will say that brochure weights aren't always necessarily accurate. There is usually a label on the inside of a cabinet somewhere that they put on as it's coming out of the factory that lists the accurate weight. That being said, our 28.5 ft. Maxsport TT (with double sized bunks) claimed in the brochure/website to weigh 4250 and the factory sticker is pretty close to that number. Sorry, edited to add that ours has a super slide (dining table and sofa) so yes, its doable.

If you go by the sticker on the inside of the cabinet you won't go wrong. It is what the TT weighs loaded (MGVW) Maximum Gross Vehicle Weight.

 

[mecamper]

Thanks for all of the input. It sounds like it is possible that the uvw is pretty accurate. I will check the cabinet door also.
We will be hauling with a Ford F250 supercab-long bed so the wheel base should be fine. But I know that with five of us and all our belongings the weight will add up fast.

 

[disfanRN]

Yes, you will do quite well with that tow vehicle

 

[lawnspecialties]

You will be absolutely fine with an F-250. That's what I use for our's and if I'm not correct, the Surveyors are slightly lower at the roof line so the aerodynamics will be better. That's one thing people often overlook when shopping for a TT that they'll be pulling long distances.

We have a 30' Puma and although we really love it, it is very tall for a TT and pulls like a parachute.

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

If you go by the sticker on the inside of the cabinet you won't go wrong. It is what the TT weighs loaded (MGVW) Maximum Gross Vehicle Weight.

Are you trying to say that your tow vehicle should be able to pull the maximum trailer weight?
I agree with that however I would be careful loading a trailer to the max weight. The tires are what limits my trailers max weight and I would be uncomfortable maxing out a trailer tire. Uneven road surfaces can shift weight to one side or the other (construction zones are notorious for this) and load the tires on one side well over their rating. The same principle applies to keeping your trailer level (front to back) when connected, if it rides too high or too low it will load one axle more than the other.
I plan on upgrading my tires when I replace them next year (the 5yr time) to give myself some extra safety.

Scott

 

[kmccain]

Are you trying to say that your tow vehicle should be able to pull the maximum trailer weight?
I agree with that however I would be careful loading a trailer to the max weight. The tires are what limits my trailers max weight and I would be uncomfortable maxing out a trailer tire. Uneven road surfaces can shift weight to one side or the other (construction zones are notorious for this) and load the tires on one side well over their rating. The same principle applies to keeping your trailer level (front to back) when connected, if it rides too high or too low it will load one axle more than the other.
I plan on upgrading my tires when I replace them next year (the 5yr time) to give myself some extra safety.

Scott

Yes Scott, I am suggesting that if your tow vehicle should be able to pull that weight.

No, I am not suggesting that you try to make your trailer that weight, but I have done a heck of a time trying!

DH did upgrade our tires the last time he replaced them, good idea!

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

By the time I added the jacks, spare tire, bigger back bumper, bike rack, back up lights, side marker/turn signals, extra cupboard in bunks and all the misc camping junk I figured it was adding up fast.

Scott

 

[DisCamper]

We just got a new TV it is a F150 with 11,000 pound tow capasity. I feel our TT fully loaded when we travel weighs no more than 8500 pounds so are we Ok?

 

[disfanRN]

We just got a new TV it is a F150 with 11,000 pound tow capasity. I feel our TT fully loaded when we travel weighs no more than 8500 pounds so are we Ok?

The thing you have to watch is that you don't go over the GVW of the f-150 by the time you add passengers, stuff in the bed and hitch weight you could be over the GVW rating of the f-150 tow rating is only one part of the picture. remember every pound you add to the f-150 is subtracted from the tow rating. and that 11,000lb tow rating is based on a 150lb driver. A lot of people say tow to about 80%(8800lbs in your case) of the manufacturers rating and you should do fine. But again crunch the numbers and watch the GVW rating of the f-150

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

We just got a new TV it is a F150 with 11,000 pound tow capasity. I feel our TT fully loaded when we travel weighs no more than 8500 pounds so are we Ok?

I used to pull my trailer with a 1/2 ton Avalanche with the 5.3 V8, after subtracting tongue weight and passengers I had only 150 lbs left on the TV. I was well within my gross combined (TV and trailer) but I was tight on my GVWR on the truck. I stepped up in 2005 to a 2500HD with the diesel since we tow long distances and plan on getting a bigger trailer some day.


Scott

 

[Minnie's Mate]

Vehicle tow rating includes the trailer and ALL of its contents. The dry weight of the trailer does not include tank contents (black, gray, fresh, or LP). Most people forget the LP tanks. Don't forget your other supplies plus your table ware, linens, clothes, paper goods, etc. etc. Yes, it really adds up quickly.

I'm no expert tow-er, but I belong to an on-line forum of Airstream owners and they subscribe to the same 80% rule mentioned above. Some even go with 70%. That is hard to follow since so few vehicles have that high of a tow rating any more. Your GVR includes the passengers, cargo, fuel, and don't forget the weight of your hitch. That is no insignificant amount there either.

With your F-250, you won't have any problems, but an F-150 would have been borderline. I upgraded to an F-250 diesel Crew Cab before we bought our 30' Airstream last year. An F-150 was rated high enough, but I didn't want to be underpowered in hills or on the interstate. I have been delighted with my trucks performance. As a daily commuter it is a little cumbersome, though.

 

[Gatordad]

Disney Dad, it is the beer that put you over the edge. Perhaps if you were true to yourself, you'd understand. I did, and I decided, who needs dishes as long as we have beer.....

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

Disney Dad, it is the beer that put you over the edge. Perhaps if you were true to yourself, you'd understand. I did, and I decided, who needs dishes as long as we have beer.....

Here's my secret..... I know where they keep it at the Publix, all I have to do is trade some of those rectangular pictures of dead presidents and they let me take some.
BUT...... trust me when I say that I have enough truck to haul all the beer that you and I and a lot of other folks here could drink while at FW

 

[Gatordad]

Publix has beer? That's the only problem with a class A, you have to stock up before you leave, although we are close enough to Disney to take 2 vehicles.