Listed base weight?

This sticker on driver's post lists the weight as it left the factory with will fluids. This is more accurate than brochure/web site/owners manual base curb weights as it includes specifi trim level and options your vehicle has.



You need two passes to determine TW. The TV does not need to have full fuel or full or empty passengers - just the same amount with TT and without. So get the two measurements back to back. No WD bars when attached.

Mine is listed on the door label.

That is pretty much my point at the end of the day. I only needed to know a close range of the actual vehicle weight given that there are always so many variables. Weight of people, gear, fuel, fluids, and so forth in the trailer or tow vehicle. Being exact here is overkill since I have plenty of range to my "do not exceed" figures. If I go back and reweigh trailer it would likely be 100 to 200 lbs different that previous weigh-in which would not help. Same with the van. The only way to do this with great accuracy is to completely unload van and trailer making sure minimal fuel and fluids are on board and weigh both separately. I would rather go camping.

I really do want to thank the folks for the links and excerpts provided. That was exactly what I was looking for. As you can see I have been a member here since 2003, although an infrequent poster but certainly no novice to towing.

Any published curb weights or even GVWR - tire and loading sticker weight is difficult to compare to measured camping weight with a trailer, especially if a WDH was used. There is extra travel gear inside, maybe people. There is the WDH head. There is a not full fuel tank. Too many variables. $7 for second pass may suck, but it iwll cost more to drive to a scale and back with a TT! Or search for the bathroom scale TW method and perform at home.

Actually, I did research the links. I was having a difficult time initially trying to find the site with the curb weight calculator. It is very detailed offering the ability to input your exact build codes which is very specific to exact configuration. Thanks to all those who posted the links and excerpts.

I believe I was able to estimate the weight pretty accurately and also confirmed my estimate using the Payload less GVWR method. (interestingly, my van had a modification to it that added 45 lbs to it prior to my purchase and is reflected on the GVWR Sticker with amendment) It is not likely that I will be re-weighing the van soon but by estimating the weight of passengers in the van and other items including the added hitch when I weighed it as a combination. I believe that I am within 100 lbs of the actual weight of the unloaded van. Should be interesting to find out some time how close my estimate is. By my estimate, the tongue weight of the trailer is just under 10%which may help explain some handling issues that were occurring. I would like to see closer to 12%. Also interesting to note that I have owned this trailer for 8 years and had the estimated weight accurate to within a few hundred pounds all this time.

Guess the OP didn't go to the link provided...here it is...took a snap
shot.

Interested, as this another exercise in finding/confirming the OEM
metrics from which they derive the ratings and label data...OP...please
post back your weights when you re-weigh, thanks!

Note the 'curb' is what am assuming the OP's 'base weight' is asking for

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Weigh the van without trailer connected

great idea....

OPen the door and subtract the "do not load more than" figure from the GVWR number provided there. This is your empty weight.

Thanks, I knew I could go back and reweigh it but it was not a practical option at the time and was $7 a pop.

Knowing the base weights gives me the info I needed for now. I know I am within GVWR, GCWR, F and R axle rating so great detail was not needed, just a rough idea would be fine.

Take 3 passes at a scale to determine how much TW and how well a WDH is adjusted.

1) Van only
2) Van plus trailer without WD bars
3) Van plus trailer with WD bars

Van axles (F & R) in number 2 above minus number 1 above = TW.

While there are ways to determine curb weight of the van without the trailer, you may have added or removed equipment or people over any published data compared to your scaled weight. And there is no way to determine each axle weight if that is valuable to you.