New to tt's help with weight....
I am completely new to travel trailers and I would love assistance understanding how to figure out the weight. If a trailer says dry weight is 5,600 and the dry hitch weight is 575, would I need to ad...
Forum Discussion
Dry weighs are what the trailer weighed as it left the factory. The hitch weight is part of the total trailer weight. It is measured separately because that part of the trailer weight is actually carried by the tow vehicle. It normally runs between 10 and 15 percent of the trailer weight. Average is about 12.5 percent. Below 10 percent, can cause handling problems.
Besides the towing capacity, you also need to be concerned with your tow vehicle's capacity to carry (payload). On your drivers door post (sometimes on door itself) there should be a sticker that shows tire and loading information. Look for a number for max occupant / cargo capacity (AKA payload). That number is the capacity you have for carrying aftermarket accessories, people, pets, cargo, weight distributing hitch (if needed), and trailer hitch weight.
The trailer will not stay at dry weight. It will gain weight with battery, dealer installed options, and propane, before it gets off the dealer lot. The average consumer will add 800 - 1000 lbs of dishes, pots and pand, camping gear, bedding, food, and water. Ten to fifteen percent of this weight, will also add to the hitch weight.
If you're looking at 5600 lbs dry weight, loaded for camping, you'll probably see 6600 lbs loaded weight, with about 825 lbs of hitch weight. With 100 lbs added for a weight distributing hitch, your tow vehicle would need enough payload to carry the weight of all the people, pets, cargo, aftermarket accessories, and 900 to 1000 lbs from the trailer.
Besides the towing capacity, you also need to be concerned with your tow vehicle's capacity to carry (payload). On your drivers door post (sometimes on door itself) there should be a sticker that shows tire and loading information. Look for a number for max occupant / cargo capacity (AKA payload). That number is the capacity you have for carrying aftermarket accessories, people, pets, cargo, weight distributing hitch (if needed), and trailer hitch weight.
The trailer will not stay at dry weight. It will gain weight with battery, dealer installed options, and propane, before it gets off the dealer lot. The average consumer will add 800 - 1000 lbs of dishes, pots and pand, camping gear, bedding, food, and water. Ten to fifteen percent of this weight, will also add to the hitch weight.
If you're looking at 5600 lbs dry weight, loaded for camping, you'll probably see 6600 lbs loaded weight, with about 825 lbs of hitch weight. With 100 lbs added for a weight distributing hitch, your tow vehicle would need enough payload to carry the weight of all the people, pets, cargo, aftermarket accessories, and 900 to 1000 lbs from the trailer.
