I am in the market for a travel trailer. I currently have an 8ft Jayco Popup that is way too small. I have a family of 7 (2 adults, children age 15, 13, 11, 3 and 1. The 1 year old will sleep in a pack-n-play) so I'm looking for something to accommodate them. I would really like a used trailer to keep costs down. I saw a 2003 Wildwood 25EX online and like the idea of having a queen bed and four bunks. I can't find the weight of it (both dry and GVWR) so I don't know if it will be too heavy.I have a 2003 Chevrolet Express Conversion van with a 5.3L V8 engine with a tow capacity of 6400lbs. Tongue weight can be up to 1500lbs.Here are my questions.-Can someone give me the weight, both dry and GVWR of a Wildwood 25EX?-Does anyone have any recommendations for other models to look at?Thanks in advance.

A quick google search shows trailer weights around 4800lbs dry and 680lbs tongue weight. Actual delivered weights will likely be higher. Once it is loaded I think it will be too much for your van. I'm assuming the van is a 1500 series? You need to consider the van weights before you decide. What is the vans' payload rating? Should be listed on the drivers door sticker. Subtract the weight of all the passengers and anything you may travel in the van with. What's left is available for the trailer tongue weight. Might not be enough.Also consider that the tow rating (before the new standards) was calculated with only 150lbs for a driver in the vehicle. Any weight added to the van above that decreases the tow rating pound for pound.

kevin79 wrote:The GVWR of the van?The payload rating. The drivers door should have a tire loading sticker that says "the combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed xxxx". That is your payload. It is the amount of weight of everything that can be added to the vehicle, including tongue weight, before you exceed the GVWR.If you don't have that sticker I would suggest loading the van up with everyone and going to a scale. Subtract the loaded weight from your GVWR and what you have left is the remaking payload for the tongue weight. Figure tongue weight to be around 13 percent of the loaded trailers weight.

We have a family of 6 and always take extra kids along. I have learned that as kids reach teen age years they want to tent it outside regardless of weather. for what it's worth

camp-n-family wrote:kevin79 wrote:The GVWR of the van?The payload rating. The drivers door should have a tire loading sticker that says "the combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed xxxx". That is your payload. It is the amount of weight of everything that can be added to the vehicle, including tongue weight, before you exceed the GVWR.If you don't have that sticker I would suggest loading the van up with everyone and going to a scale. Subtract the loaded weight from your GVWR and what you have left is the remaking payload for the tongue weight. Figure tongue weight to be around 13 percent of the loaded trailers weight.Thanks, I will do that. I don't remember seeing a sticker with the payload rating. I will bring it to a scale then.

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Oasisbob
Explorer
Nov 14, 2016
We have a family of 6 and always take extra kids along. I have learned that as kids reach teen age years they want to tent it outside regardless of weather. for what it's worth
camp-n-family
Explorer
Nov 14, 2016
kevin79 wrote:
The GVWR of the van?

The payload rating. The drivers door should have a tire loading sticker that says "the combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed xxxx". That is your payload. It is the amount of weight of everything that can be added to the vehicle, including tongue weight, before you exceed the GVWR.

If you don't have that sticker I would suggest loading the van up with everyone and going to a scale. Subtract the loaded weight from your GVWR and what you have left is the remaking payload for the tongue weight.

Figure tongue weight to be around 13 percent of the loaded trailers weight.
kevin79
Explorer
Nov 14, 2016
The GVWR of the van?
camp-n-family
Explorer
Nov 14, 2016
A quick google search shows trailer weights around 4800lbs dry and 680lbs tongue weight. Actual delivered weights will likely be higher. Once it is loaded I think it will be too much for your van.

I'm assuming the van is a 1500 series? You need to consider the van weights before you decide. What is the vans' payload rating? Should be listed on the drivers door sticker. Subtract the weight of all the passengers and anything you may travel in the van with. What's left is available for the trailer tongue weight. Might not be enough.

Also consider that the tow rating (before the new standards) was calculated with only 150lbs for a driver in the vehicle. Any weight added to the van above that decreases the tow rating pound for pound.

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