actual weights

Appreciate the responses. Unfortunately the TT we're looking at is a 2008, so the published weights are suspect. I'm well aware that even when weighed at the factory, a trailer is really unloaded and is lite as it's ever going to get.

However, if it's actually run across a scale, the weight of all the add-ons are known and can be calculated with some accuracy.

As for the published weights in the brochures and listed on the chart behind a cabinet door, they can easily be 500 pounds off. that's what happened to me when buying a '98 Wilderness "lite". All the printed literature showed about 3500 UVW. After being able to barely tow it home, I headed to a scale and found it weighed 4170. Can't believe I was so stupid to accept the manufacturers estimates, I've only been towing for 25 years and shoulda known better. Will I ever learn? (we did make $500 by cleaning it up before selling it four months after buying it. so all was not lost).

My 2000 Nomad has a sticker in one of the upper cabinets.

"As Built" all the weights are there UVW & GVWR & includes a listing of the options/ upgrades to the base model.

PawPaw_n_Gram wrote:

Terryallan wrote:
In 2009 it became a lawful requirement for the manufacturer to weigh each unit at the end of the line will ALL options it was to be shipped with..

Fully agree that every trailer/ motorhome - is individually weighed when it leaves the factory floor. I've seen identical units sitting on a dealer lot - with weight differences of 50-150 lbs. Just as I've seen identical cars sitting on a dealer lot with weight variances of up to 50 lbs.

Terryallan wrote:
Also. IF the dealer added anything that would increase the weight. It would be added to the totally. All this would be prominently displayed on a YELLOW sticker, on or near the door, and above the GVWR sticker on the drivers side of the unit.

A handy bit of info to have. Takes the guess work out. To know how much the unit sitting on the lot in front of you weighs as it sits.

I disagree about the weight of stuff added after it leaves the factory. Every new trailer I have weighed, and have helped friends weigh - actually weighs 200-500 lbs more than the yellow sticker when driven off the dealer lot.

I've been told by several dealers that the sticker is the weights from the factory. Dealers have to add spare tires, battery and often propane tanks. Some add vent covers and even a second AC. It depends upon the dealer and the market.

Yes, the yellow sticker gives you a good estimate of available weight.

But, I would strongly recommend that the very first think a person do after picking up any trailer is stop at the nearest certified scale and weigh the empty trailer.

Only then will you know for certain the actual weights of your trailer.

My yellow sticker included the weight of the battery, and EMPTY propane tanks. Stated it on the sticker.

Terryallan wrote:
In 2009 it became a lawful requirement for the manufacturer to weigh each unit at the end of the line will ALL options it was to be shipped with..

Fully agree that every trailer/ motorhome - is individually weighed when it leaves the factory floor. I've seen identical units sitting on a dealer lot - with weight differences of 50-150 lbs. Just as I've seen identical cars sitting on a dealer lot with weight variances of up to 50 lbs.

Terryallan wrote:
Also. IF the dealer added anything that would increase the weight. It would be added to the totally. All this would be prominently displayed on a YELLOW sticker, on or near the door, and above the GVWR sticker on the drivers side of the unit.

A handy bit of info to have. Takes the guess work out. To know how much the unit sitting on the lot in front of you weighs as it sits.

I disagree about the weight of stuff added after it leaves the factory. Every new trailer I have weighed, and have helped friends weigh - actually weighs 200-500 lbs more than the yellow sticker when driven off the dealer lot.

I've been told by several dealers that the sticker is the weights from the factory. Dealers have to add spare tires, battery and often propane tanks. Some add vent covers and even a second AC. It depends upon the dealer and the market.

Yes, the yellow sticker gives you a good estimate of available weight.

But, I would strongly recommend that the very first think a person do after picking up any trailer is stop at the nearest certified scale and weigh the empty trailer.

Only then will you know for certain the actual weights of your trailer.

LVJJJ wrote:
Anybody know what year trailer manufacturers began weighing their units before they left the factory?

In 2009 it became a lawful requirement for the manufacturer to weigh each unit at the end of the line will ALL options it was to be shipped with. Also. IF the dealer added anything that would increase the weight. It would be added to the totally. All this would be prominently displayed on a YELLOW sticker, on or near the door, and above the GVWR sticker on the drivers side of the unit.

A handy bit of info to have. Takes the guess work out. To know how much the unit sitting on the lot in front of you weighs as it sits.

I can only put a window on it. When shopping in 2004, TTs still had a RVIA weight sticker. By 2007 they had a NHTSA weight sticker that used different definitions for some of the terms and accuracy requirements for what was on the label.

I'm not sure this means every trailer is now weighed at the factory. Most manufacturers can produce an accurate NHTSA label based on engineering standards, just as automobile manufacturers do.