anybody had a 2001 Sierra Lite 22ft. travel trailer? I'd like to find out how much this unit actually weighs, UVWI tow with a '65 Chevy Van so knowing the actual weight is very importantalso, when were TT manufacturers first required to weigh their trailers as they left the factory?

My 2003 Prowler 722F has a big sticker on the inside of the lower cabinet door under the sink with all the "weight" info..There should be a sticker on the drivers side of the trailer, up front, with the trailers GVWR and axle ratings.My Prowler is #5000 GVWR and the sticker says #3500 UVW.. But, it weighs it's full #5000 GVWR and a few extra pounds now .. ;)Good luck!Mitch

LVJJJ wrote:anybody had a 2001 Sierra Lite 22ft. travel trailer? I'd like to find out how much this unit actually weighs, UVWI tow with a '65 Chevy Van so knowing the actual weight is very importantalso, when were TT manufacturers first required to weigh their trailers as they left the factory?I don't think there is an answer to your question that will have any credibility and your 2001 did not fall into those weighed as they left the factory. Also, since you have absolutely no idea how much you will actually add weight wise knowing just the UVW is not really going to help you much. To be safe use the GVWR and then you know you have a very high probability of at least weighing less than that number. If you can't handle the GVWR then you're probably already too close weight wise anyway.Larry

What are your limits on the van? Myself, I don't like playing near the margins, makes the trip a little wiggy. For comparison I had a 19foot TT with dinette slideout. Double axle, all the fixins inside. She weighed in at just under 4K empty. Above the 3500lb capacity of most minivans, but well under the 8K capacity of my tow vehicle.

As the old van weighs about 3500 pounds, I don't want my TT to be much more than that. Our last TT, a pristine 85 Wilderness weighed that much and it was very nice towing combination. Both were weighed at a local scale. We stupidly sold it cause DW didn't like setting up the gaucho for bed everynite and wanted a made-up-bed TT. So, we bought a 98 Wilderness "Lite" based on the manufacturers estimated weight of 3600 lbs, I weighed it and it was 4170, just too much for the van. The 292 inline 6 would pull it, but it was like the tail wagging the dog, didn't feel safe. I do feel like an idiot. I've been towing for 25 years and have bought a lot of trailers and should have known better than to believe estimated weights. Finding a small TT with a front bedroom, center couch and a dinette has proven to be very difficult. Plus, I really need the front to slope back a lot for good aerodynamics. We've located a 22' Sierra 330 miles away from us (Blaine to Pasco in Washington state). I actually don't mind water damage or other broken things cause I enjoy fixing them up, its the weight and floor plan that's all important. So, I was hoping someone on the forum had had one and tell me what they towed it with, or had ever had it weighed. I hate to drive that far and find that it is too heavy.The lady selling the TT towed it over Snoqualmie pass with a 2013 Toyota 4-Runner with the 6 engine and said it did fine. Can anyone towing with one tell me what towing capacity it has? What size TT do you tow with it? Is it as big as a pick-up? I'm a Chevy only guy, I am not familiar with any Japanese vehicle.We have towed TT's all over the western US, over the Cascades and Rockies and down to the desert southwest a lot, so the van can do the job if the TT is not too heavy. In 1965, there were no tow ratings available, just carrying capacity. It's a half ton, but vehicles were built much stronger in those days, they used thick heavy duty steel. I'm curious how the van compares with a 4-Runner.One would think after 69 years of walking around on this earth, one should be done making mistakes. Guess not.

If you really want the information, look on the left front corner of the trailer. There will be a tag there with axle, tire, and gross weight numbers. UVW is pretty meaningless as you will never ever tow it without food,clothes, batteries, or propane.

trailer weight | Good Sam Community

13 Replies

heckufaguy
Explorer
Feb 21, 2015
What are your limits on the van? Myself, I don't like playing near the margins, makes the trip a little wiggy.

For comparison I had a 19foot TT with dinette slideout. Double axle, all the fixins inside. She weighed in at just under 4K empty.
Above the 3500lb capacity of most minivans, but well under the 8K capacity of my tow vehicle.
LarryJM
Explorer II
Feb 20, 2015
LVJJJ wrote:
anybody had a 2001 Sierra Lite 22ft. travel trailer? I'd like to find out how much this unit actually weighs, UVW

I tow with a '65 Chevy Van so knowing the actual weight is very important

also, when were TT manufacturers first required to weigh their trailers as they left the factory?

I don't think there is an answer to your question that will have any credibility and your 2001 did not fall into those weighed as they left the factory. Also, since you have absolutely no idea how much you will actually add weight wise knowing just the UVW is not really going to help you much. To be safe use the GVWR and then you know you have a very high probability of at least weighing less than that number. If you can't handle the GVWR then you're probably already too close weight wise anyway.

Larry
MitchF150
Nomad
Feb 20, 2015
My 2003 Prowler 722F has a big sticker on the inside of the lower cabinet door under the sink with all the "weight" info..

There should be a sticker on the drivers side of the trailer, up front, with the trailers GVWR and axle ratings.

My Prowler is #5000 GVWR and the sticker says #3500 UVW.. But, it weighs it's full #5000 GVWR and a few extra pounds now .. ;)

Good luck!

Mitch

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trailer weight

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