Base Weight & Tongue Weight

[Old Bill]

When the manufacturer's brochure states the "Base Weight" is 3865, and the "Tongue Weight" is 468. . . is the tongue weight included in the base weight, or is it in addition thereto?

[KyDan]

I -believe- that base weight and "dry weight" are the same thing and they are supposed to be total weight. IE they include weight on the wheels and tongue combined.

[SuicideSaints]

Base weight is like dry weight, meaning weight of the trailer with standard equipment. When you add in optional equipment installed by the manufacturer that weight is added to the base weight. Tongue weight in the brochure is the weight of the tongue derived from the base weight.

[goduc]

Included. Some brands will also show dry axle weight as well as tongue weight. Add the two together and that's the UVW.

[itat]

Don't rely on the brochure weights. The base weight does not include the "standard options" nor does it include the weight of propane and battery(ies). If you have a particular model in mind, try to see what the yellow sticker says on one that a dealer has in stock.

If you're asking in order to try to determine if your TV can handle a particular camper, look at the GVWR rather than trying to figure out what the loaded weight will be.

[dustman_stx]

Originally Posted by itat

Don't rely on the brochure weights. The base weight does not include the "standard options" nor does it include the weight of propane and battery(ies). If you have a particular model in mind, try to see what the yellow sticker says on one that a dealer has in stock.

If you're asking in order to try to determine if your TV can handle a particular camper, look at the GVWR rather than trying to figure out what the loaded weight will be.

I second the first part, but disagree with the second. Many TTs have 3000lbs or more CCC. You'll likely never use that much. My first bunkhouse fully loaded and ready to camp still had 2000lbs of cargo carrying capacity. By going with this, I'd have been thrown into an entirely different category of vehicle- 3/4 ton+ as opposed to 1/2 ton. I recommend finding one you like on a lot, like itat said, and then add ~1000 pounds to the yellow sticker weight for a good idea of your total weight you'll be carrying.

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by itat

Don't rely on the brochure weights. The base weight does not include the "standard options"

What?
What std. Items are not included in the dry weight / ie "brochure" weight.

[dustman_stx]

I think he meant what is basically "forced options", but what is included in the weights varies. I know some manufacturers include some things in that brochure weight that are commonly installed, such as A/C, but others supposedly don't. There isn't an industry standard AFAIK, so you need to take the brochure weights with a grain of salt. Finding one and looking at the yellow sticker is the best police.

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by dustman_stx

I think he meant what is basically "forced options", but what is included in the weights varies. I know some manufacturers include some things in that brochure weight that are commonly installed, such as A/C, but others supposedly don't. There isn't an industry standard AFAIK, so you need to take the brochure weights with a grain of salt. Finding one and looking at the yellow sticker is the best police.

Agreed

[itat]

dustman_stx, the OP has a Nisan Frontier and is asking about a TT with a "base weight" of under 4000# so it probably won't have a CCC of more than 2000#. I've never seen a unit with a CCC of 3000# but then I've never seriously looked at anything but lightweights under 30'. I recommend using the GVWR for a small lightweight camper because you'll get close when you're fully loaded for camping and have weight in your tanks.

Turbs, all I know is that the weight on the yellow sticker on a base model (no optional equipment) is always significantly more than the "base/dry unit weight" listed in the brochure. If they account for the "standard options" in the brochure weight then the yellow sticker shouldn't be 500-600# more than that, but it frequently is on a lightweight like the OP has. That's my experience. I'm obviously guessing here but what else could add that much over the brochure weight on a unit that isn't loaded up with options?

[dustman_stx]

Originally Posted by itat

dustman_stx, the OP has a Nisan Frontier and is asking about a TT with a "base weight" of under 4000# so it probably won't have a CCC of more than 2000#. I've never seen a unit with a CCC of 3000# but then I've never seriously looked at anything but lightweights under 30'. I recommend using the GVWR for a small lightweight camper because you'll get close when you're fully loaded for camping and have weight in your tanks.

Turbs, all I know is that the weight on the yellow sticker on a base model (no optional equipment) is always significantly more than the "base/dry unit weight" listed in the brochure. If they account for the "standard options" in the brochure weight then the yellow sticker shouldn't be 500-600# more than that, but it frequently is on a lightweight like the OP has. That's my experience. I'm obviously guessing here but what else could add that much over the brochure weight on a unit that isn't loaded up with options?

Good point about such a light weight unit. Typically something that light will have at MOST 1K CCC. This brings up another good point- make sure the camper has enough CCC for you to carry what you need. I've seen lightweight campers like this with less than 500lbs CCC before. That goes away quickly when you start loading up to camp. I never carry water, either- that eats up a significant portion of CCC in some lightweight campers like you point out.

[TURBS]

A brochure that is for the current model year and camper is a year old? Or a camper that's current model year and brochure is one or two models older?
Seen that deal happen once! Lol

[veraken]

Base weight is the unloaded vehicle weight of your trailer. If you take the GWVR (gross vehicle weight) minus the base weight minus the weight of water, etc. you get the CCC (cargo carrying capacity) of the trailer. The CCC is how much extra weight you can add to the trailer. The tongue weight is a measure of the downward force your trailer will put on your trailer hitch. One is a measure of horizontal force (base weight) and the other is a measure of vertical force. Look to your tow vehicle manual to see what is the maximum you can tow.

[rockfordroo]

Brochures are pretty poor on telling you what year models they're for. Went to an RV show last month. Got 2 brochures for the same company/models. No year provided on the brochures, except in very very tiny print on the back cover. One was 2013 and one was 2014. So they weren't even giving out brochures for the most recent (2015) models.

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

Brochures are pretty poor on telling you what year models they're for. Went to an RV show last month. Got 2 brochures for the same company/models. No year provided on the brochures, except in very very tiny print on the back cover. One was 2013 and one was 2014. So they weren't even giving out brochures for the most recent (2015) models.

That's my point.