For the newbies who are TT hunting this may be of some use.The dry weight on my 25 ft. Dutchman is listed at 5004 lbs. Tongue weight is said to be 462 lbs. (about 9%)Twice I weighed my rig with and without the TT before a trip. The first trip was local and the TT weighted 6040 lbs. of which 500 lbs. was the tongue weight, as measured by the increase in the TV axel weights.(about 8%) The second trip was an extended jaunt and we seem to have taken everything except the front door knob. The TT weighted 6420 lbs. of which the tongue weight was 840 lbs. (about 13%)Our family consists of two adults and a dog so there are not a lot of toys etc.So the message is, the dry weight is only a rough guide for comparing TT models, adding 1000 or 1200 lbs. to the dry weight and figuring 12% for tongue weight is a pretty good rule of thumb.Good Luck

Trailer GVWR times 12% for wet tongueIF tow vehicle can not handle GVWR of trailer than tow vehicle is too small or trailer is too bigThis way you will never have too much or not enough.

rbpru wrote:For the newbies who are TT hunting this may be of some use.The dry weight on my 25 ft. Dutchman is listed at 5004 lbs. Tongue weight is said to be 462 lbs. (about 9%)Listed where? Unfortunately many prospective newbie owners looking for a TT will look at brochure specs for the trailer they may be interested in and actually believe that it's listed dry weight reflects what that trailer will actually weigh as it leaves the factory, which is completely false as those weight ratings are based on a bone stock model with no options or accessories, in fact a version the manufacturer doesn't even build. Factory listed sticker dry weight is an entirely different thing and is the only dry weight rating that should be given any credence at all. If you're going to offer advice to newbies you need to be more specific. ;)

So true about the "brochure dry weights" vs the as built empty weight vs the loaded weight!As an example of our '16 Jayco 32 BHDS:Brochure weights:Trailer 7,600lbsTW ~920lbs (can't remember exactly at the moment.Yellow sticker weight w/ est battery weight added:8,000lbs (close enough to round off!)As loaded ready to camp. When I weighed we didn't have the boys clothes, few toys, tv, or dvd player in the bunk room, or the rear cargo hitch mounted with the bike rack and bikes. Or the shelves in the wardrobes or fence post sleeves mounted yet.Trailer 8,660lbsTW 1400lbsEstimated weight now since changes:Trailer ~9,200lbsTW - not sure if there was a change or not. Only a trip to the scale will tell. Possible a little lower due to the bike rack and bikes.

My dry weight was listed in the factory info. The only thing I thought the dry weight info useful for, was comparing it to other models. It is the same for towing capacity vs. max cargo. Two other important features rarely mentioned out side of this forum.

When shopping for an RV, I assume that it will weigh the GVWR when traveling. I totally ignore the dry weight.

Dry weight vs. ready to go weight. | Good Sam Community

Need-A-Vacation
Explorer
Nov 03, 2015
So true about the "brochure dry weights" vs the as built empty weight vs the loaded weight!

As an example of our '16 Jayco 32 BHDS:

Brochure weights:
Trailer 7,600lbs
TW ~920lbs (can't remember exactly at the moment.

Yellow sticker weight w/ est battery weight added:
8,000lbs (close enough to round off!)

As loaded ready to camp. When I weighed we didn't have the boys clothes, few toys, tv, or dvd player in the bunk room, or the rear cargo hitch mounted with the bike rack and bikes. Or the shelves in the wardrobes or fence post sleeves mounted yet.

Trailer 8,660lbs
TW 1400lbs

Estimated weight now since changes:
Trailer ~9,200lbs
TW - not sure if there was a change or not. Only a trip to the scale will tell. Possible a little lower due to the bike rack and bikes.
SoundGuy
Explorer
Nov 03, 2015
rbpru wrote:
For the newbies who are TT hunting this may be of some use.

The dry weight on my 25 ft. Dutchman is listed at 5004 lbs. Tongue weight is said to be 462 lbs. (about 9%)

Listed where? Unfortunately many prospective newbie owners looking for a TT will look at brochure specs for the trailer they may be interested in and actually believe that it's listed dry weight reflects what that trailer will actually weigh as it leaves the factory, which is completely false as those weight ratings are based on a bone stock model with no options or accessories, in fact a version the manufacturer doesn't even build. Factory listed sticker dry weight is an entirely different thing and is the only dry weight rating that should be given any credence at all. If you're going to offer advice to newbies you need to be more specific. ;)
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Nov 03, 2015
Trailer GVWR times 12% for wet tongue

IF tow vehicle can not handle GVWR of trailer than tow vehicle is too small or trailer is too big

This way you will never have too much or not enough.

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