please explain GVWR

[boatless]

Hi - I'm confused about GVWR weight. How do you figure out how much 'stuff' you will carry? If we know we do not want to go over 13K total weight in the fiver, why shouldn't we pay attention to the 'dry weight' of the specs of a fiver?

Thank you!

[TURBS]

dry specs are almost always wrong and low . ITS a pretty loose number .
Besides you have to figure on ALL the add ons from the dealer after the DRY weight .

battery/batteries
propane tanks full
jacks
spare
etc etc

[Triguy]

Hi Boatless,

As Turbo said, dry weights are loose (at best).

The brochure weight does not include manufacturer options.

The yellow sticker dry weight does not include propane, batteries, water or any dealer options.

We haven't even gotten to your cargo, yet, and already your 5er may be well over the brochure "dry weight".

I'm guessing here, but I think when you refer to people stating on the forum "do not pay attention to the dry ship weight of a trailer", we are saying don't use that weight to decide how much you can pull. It has little to do with deciding if the trailer is too much for the truck.

You will see this occasionally. Someone will say "Can I pull this Humongous trailer that lists a dry weight of 9,000lbs? My vehicle has a tow capacity of 9,500lbs".

[Herk7769]

Everything you need to know is here.

Understanding RV Weights

[donn]

Basically if you look at GVWR numbers it is the max your RV can weigh. If you consider that your trailer weigh something less than the GVWR you eill be OK. As for tow ratings using GVWR you should always be safe. As an example my fiver has a GVWR of 13,750 and routinely scales 13,500.

[boatless]

Thank you!

Originally Posted by herk7769

everything you need to know is here.

understanding rv weights

[MilCop4523]

Ok so if my 2012 Salem 27RKSS says:

Dry Weight lbs 6355
Payload lbs 1327
for a total weight of 7682 lbs

If my axles are rated for 3500 each (7,000 lbs total) I'd be 682 lbs overweight for the axles for a start.
My tires currently on the trailer would also be underrated for hauling.

[jtstromsburg]

There will also be weight on the in or tongue. That'd how they use 3000lb axles and stay legal.

[Triguy]

It seems that way, Milcop, but part of the trailer's weight is carried by the truck.

[Earth Station]

numbers/weights will drive you off the edge very quickly!!!

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by MilCop4523

Ok so if my 2012 Salem 27RKSS says:

Dry Weight lbs 6355
Payload lbs 1327
for a total weight of 7682 lbs

If my axles are rated for 3500 each (7,000 lbs total) I'd be 682 lbs overweight for the axles for a start.
My tires currently on the trailer would also be underrated for hauling.

as stated 15 to 20 % of your numbers are carried by tv !

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by MilCop4523

Ok so if my 2012 Salem 27RKSS says:

Dry Weight lbs 6355
Payload lbs 1327
for a total weight of 7682 lbs

If my axles are rated for 3500 each (7,000 lbs total) I'd be 682 lbs overweight for the axles for a start.
My tires currently on the trailer would also be underrated for hauling.

So, lets say your camper was loaded to its max weight of 7682 pounds.

To safely tow it (to avoid some very bad handling issues like sway and dynamic instability - fishtailing) the percentage of the trailer that MUST be located on the truck's frame is between 10% and 14% (some say 15%)

So loaded to a CG (center of gravity) "more AFT" yet still be safe to tow (10% tongue load) the tongue weight would be 768.2 pounds as the absolute minimum weight.

At that loading your campers axles (2) would have to support 6914 pounds (3457 on each axle just slightly under their max rating).

Loaded at the "Optimum" loading of 12% of the maximum weight, the tongue would be 921 pounds. That would leave 6760 pounds left on the axles. or 3380 pounds on each axle (well under their max).

[MilCop4523]

Originally Posted by Earth Station

numbers/weights will drive you off the edge very quickly!!!

I fell off that edge a long time ago.. had my midlife crisis at 15
This forum is a great site to behold. Especially for herk's links - enough information stored now for light reading while its raining out.
And I know exactly where I put it (thanks again herk).

My wife says I suffer from AAADD - Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder. look it up and have a laugh. Maybe you will find you have it as well.

[Earth Station]

Originally Posted by MilCop4523

I fell off that edge a long time ago.. had my midlife crisis at 15
This forum is a great site to behold. Especially for herk's links - enough information stored now for light reading while its raining out.
And I know exactly where I put it (thanks again herk).

My wife says I suffer from AAADD - Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder. look it up and have a laugh. Maybe you will find you have it as well.

OMGosh............... why do i follow links on this page............ I was posting pictures to Facebook and just popped in...... now I realize I have yet another DISORDEr!!!!! thank you oh so much!!!!

[Herk7769]

Definition of AAADD moved to Humor.