Forum Discussion

William15's avatar
William15
Explorer
Jan 06, 2025

Newbie Safety Guidance Requested

Hello Good Sam Community,

 

I am a new RV'er and am looking to take my first extended stay trip (About 2 months total). I am looking for guidance on how to best calculate the maximum amount of cargo I can carry between my truck and my travel trailer. My truck has a tow capacity of 11,200 pounds and my trailer dry weight is 5,829 pounds. I am somewhat confused as to what I can safely carry in the bed of the truck and what I can store in the camper itself. Safety is my top concern and I don't want to create a problem for myself by not planning smart. Thanks for any help!

 

  • opnspaces's avatar
    opnspaces
    Navigator II
    Jan 06, 2025

    For the trailer there should also be a maximum vehicle weight sticker. Subtract the empty trailer weight of 5829 from that number and that is how much weight you can load in the trailer. Making sure that the heavier weight stuff is in front of the axle(s) to help prevent swaying.

    • William15's avatar
      William15
      Explorer
      Jan 06, 2025

      Thanks for the quick reply. My trailer's sticker shows a GVWR of 7,592. So, if I understand you correctly, I should subtract the 5,829 from this number and the result would be 1,763 pounds. Is this the total amount of cargo that I can take? Also, should this number be divided up between the camper and the bed of my truck or is this all for the camper?

       

      • MORSNOW's avatar
        MORSNOW
        Navigator II
        Jan 07, 2025

        Be careful with the manufacturers dry weight numbers, many times that is before adding accessories like Air Conditioner, Microwave, Spare Tire, etc.  The best way to really know is to take your trailer to a scale (truck stops, moving companies, etc) and see for yourself that it probably weighs much more than the sticker says.  

  • opnspaces's avatar
    opnspaces
    Navigator II
    Jan 06, 2025

    That 7,952  is for the camper alone. You are lucky in that many trailers are built with vary little cargo carrying capacity. But you're seems to have quite a bit available. And yes 1,763 is the total weight of cargo left available to put in the trailer. Of course the dry weight means no water and probably no batteries or Propane.
    Water is 8.33 lbs per gallon. So a 40 gallon tank will weigh 333.2

    Don't forget the 6 gallons in the water heater 49.98.

    Two 40 lb propane tanks 72 lbs each

    batteries 40 - 60 lbs each

    So it you had 40 gallons water, a 6 gallon water heater, two full propane tanks and two 6v batteries you're looking at around 650 lbs. 1763-650=1,113 lbs available for your stuff. That is pretty respectable for a travel trailer.

    Last thing. the best thing to do is to load the trailer up fr camping and go find a truck scale in your area to weigh the truck and trailer and see what your true weights are.
    You could also do what the other millions of people do and just load up with what you want to take and if it moves when you step on the accelerator you are good to go. 

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