Camping is a great way for families to enjoy nature together. It’s also a good way to get away from your everyday life for a while. But if you’re planning to camp, make sure you pack everything you need!
So how much does a camper weigh? The average camper weight ranges from 5,200 – 5,500 pounds in the dry state. But when you factor in the weight of your passengers, cargo, etc., it’s best to add an additional 1,500 pounds (680 kg) to your vehicle’s total weight.
Table of Contents
How Much Do Campers Weigh
1. RV trailer weight depending on the types and sizes of campers
Several factors contribute to the weight of RV trailer, including the type of vehicle you drive, the number of people traveling, and the amount of cargo you plan on carrying.
For a small towable vehicle such as the pop-up trailer with a weight of around 1000 – 1500 pounds (450 – 680 kg), making them easily attachable to most SUVs.
If you’re considering a Teardrop Trailer for your getaway, remember that the average trailer weighs 2500 lbs (1134 kg). You might need an SUV or a pickup truck to tow this vehicle.
Large travel trailers over 20 ft in length typically weigh 6300 pounds (2858 kg). For a smaller one, which is under 24 ft in length, the average weight of a camper is 15000 lbs (6804 kg).
However, if you’re looking for something bigger, like a Fifth Wheel trailer under 30-foot long, the trailer camper weight would be around 9,000 lbs when fully loaded.
A larger Fifth Wheel trailer over 40-foot, then you need to opt for a heavy-duty 3/4 or 1-ton truck to tow it, as the average weight of a travel trailer is around 12000 pounds (5443 kg).
Car campers come in various sizes and weights. Some are designed specifically for pickup trucks, others for SUVs, and others for passenger vehicles.
However, regardless of the type of vehicle you decide to tow behind your car, you should always try to keep the total weight of the camper trailer under 8,500 lbs. This is the maximum allowable weight limit for most states.
2. Dry Weight
The camper’s dry RV weight is the total weight of the vehicle minus the weight of everything inside it.
The dry camper trailers weigh widely, based on how much stuff you’re carrying. Still, generally speaking, the camper dry weight is around 5,200 pounds.
However, heavy campers may carry up to 10,000 pounds, while lightweight trailers might only hold 2,500 pounds.
Indeed, heavier trailers will cost more money to purchase and tow.
3. Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)
GVW is the total weight of a vehicle, including the payload. Typical payloads include passenger seats, luggage, fuel, water, food, and people.
For example, how heavy are campers? If you’re driving an RV, the GVW includes the weight of the RV itself plus the weight of whatever you’ve loaded into it.
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating is the maximum weight a vehicle can safely haul without exceeding the manufacturer’s recommended capacity. For example, most manufacturers recommend adding 1,500 pounds to your vehicle’s gross weight if you carry heavy loads.
Unloaded Vehicle Weight
Unloaded Vehicle Weight (UVW) is the weight of a camper trailer before you add your stuff. This includes the camper’s frame, exterior walls, windows, roofing, interior fixtures, and furniture. Typically, manufacturers list this information on the invoice or in an online brochure.
4. Dry Hitch Weight
When towing a trailer, the dry hitch weight is an essential metric. This number represents the weight on your vehicle’s trailer ball while your trailer is not carrying any water or supplies; typically, it hovers around 10% of its total weight.
So, paying attention to this number helps you make every trip safely and with ease and confidence!
Weight Chart for Campers
| Camper Type | GVWR (lbs.) | Average Empty Weight (lbs.) | Average Load Capacity (lbs.) | Empty Weight Range (lbs.) |
| Teardrop Camper | 2,000 to 4,000 | 1,700 | 700 | 500 to 3,200 |
| Large Travel Trailer | 6,300 to 10,500 | 6,700 | 1,600 | 4,500 to 8,700 |
| Toy Hauler | 14,700 to 22,500 | 7,600 | 10,300 | 3,600 to 11,400 |
| A-Frame Camper | 2,500 to 3,600 | 1,700 | 1,200 | 1,200 to 2,300 |
| Pop Up Camper | 2,700 to 4,000 | 2,300 | 1,100 | 1,400 to 3,000 |
| Small Travel Trailer | 1,900 to 4,500 | 2,800 | 800 | 1,200 to 3,900 |
| 5th Wheel Camper | 17,000 to 20,000 | 12,700 | 6,000 | 5,000 to 16,000 |
Why is Trailer Weight Important
The weight of the camper trailer is important because it affects several factors related to towing. First, heavier trailers require more power to tow, putting more wear and tear on the towing vehicle and the trailer itself.
Additionally, heavier trailers are more difficult to stop and more likely to cause accidents if something goes wrong. For all these reasons, it is important to ensure that your trailer is not overweight.
For example, if your small camper weight 16ft – 18ft, it is important to make sure that your trailer does not exceed the maximum weight of 2,000 pounds. On the other hand, if you tow a larger camper exceeding 18 feet, the maximum weight should not exceed 3,500 pounds.
How to Read the Weight Numbers of Trailers
Reading the weight numbers of trailers is an important step in ensuring safety while towing. Weight numbers can be found on a plate or sticker near the trailer’s tongue.
- The GVWR is the maximum weight the trailer can safely carry, including the importance of the trailer itself, the cargo, and any passengers. The CC is the weight the trailer can safely assume minus the weight of the trailer itself.
- Unloaded Vehicle Weight – This is the weight of just the camper without anything else. That means if you’re planning on carrying your stuff on top of the trailer, you’ll also need to add the weight of the things to this figure.
- CCC – Cargo carrying capacity – Maximum weight limit for the load carried by trailer.
- Dry Hitch Weight – The dry hitch weight is how much weight is placed on the trailer ball of the tow vehicle when the trailer is empty. This number is typically around 10% of the total trailer weight.
Conclusion
How much do campers weigh? You figured out the answer in this article. We hope you enjoyed our blog post. Remember that if you have any questions about campers or trailer weight specifications, you should contact a qualified retailer to help answer your questions.
Please keep in mind that safety is the most important factor in camping equipment and that it’s always better to fix an issue before it becomes more serious.
Hi, I am Paul, a full-time RV, and digital producer. I am currently the chief editor of Riverside Trailer, aspiring to bring my experience on the move into creating high-quality content for beginner and seasoned RVers.