Trailer weight vs. towing capacity

Terryallan wrote:

However. the yellow sticker weight is the actual weight of the TT as it sits in front of you on the dealer lot. As it was built, with everything you see on it.

The OP asked about dry weight. Dry weight is an empty trailer without options. That is always a lower weight than the "As Shipped" weight on the yellow sticker.

I agree that few people tow their trailer at it's GVWR, but that's a more realistic number than the yellow sticker. But here's the reason the yellow sticker is almost as bad to go by as the fictional dry weight, the only time you will tow the weight of the yellow sticker is the day you drive it off the lot. After that you will be a minimum of 500# over that, and most people are probably going to add 1000# to it.

In most instances what people put in their trailers is going to put them closer to GVWR than Shipped Weight. If you use the GVWR, then you will ALWAYS be right. If you use the "As Shipped" weight, you may be closer to your capacities than you think. In the OPs case, if they get a trailer with a 4500# yellow sticker and add 800# of stuff, now they are at 5300#. Sounds OK, except for the fact that they have an SUV that may only have an 1100# payload. If the tongue is 13% or more, more than half their payload is gone. If they stick with a 4500# GVWR trailer, they'll still have a fighting chance at not using up their payload, and they'll enjoy towing far more.

I can tell you from personal experience, the more margin you leave between your towing capacities and the true weight of your trailer, the more pleasant the towing experience.