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rivertrails's avatar
rivertrails
Explorer
Jul 28, 2013

Weight of 14 foot trailer

First I would like to say I am thrilled at having found this wonderful site. This will be the first camper i have ever owned. I cant believe all the helpfull replys im getting.Im 57 and have tent campped alot my whole life.This will be my first trailer.I was looking for a older very light weight 12 foot trailer for around $1500 to $2000. I live in a very rural area of the ozarks and the pickings are few. After 2 months looking I came across this 14 Ft. camper( Just the trailer itself is 14 Ft. Thats not including the tongue.) The unladen( I guess that is dry weight. I don't even know if that includes the stove, refrigerator, cushions etc.)is 3000 pounds. Is that not on the very heavy side for that length of trailer. I was seeing a lot of trailers way too far away from me to go look at that weighed 1800 to 2200 pounds.I am thinking of passing it by because of the weight. I have a compact ford ranger truck. And also it seems like my gas mileage would be A LOT better with a lighter camper
  • skipnchar's avatar
    skipnchar
    Explorer
    Jul 28, 2013
    Fuel mileage is seldom very good with an RV in tow but a pop up will net the BEST MPG. The wind resistance alone will drop your mileage quite a bit regardless what you tow with but the DIFFERENCE between towing and non towing will be less with more capable tow vehicles (talking about the change NOT actual mileage).
    Good luck with the new trailer / Skip
  • 69_Avion's avatar
    69_Avion
    Explorer
    Jul 28, 2013
    If the body of the trailer is 14' long, then the overall length is in the range of 17' or 18'. The 3000# weight rating on a title is probably it's gross weight, which isn't bad for that length trailer.
  • JRS___B's avatar
    JRS___B
    Explorer
    Jul 28, 2013
    Mileage will likely suffer from wind resistance just as much, if not more than from the weight.

    I used a Pontiac Vibe to pull a 14 foot boat. The boat weighed 210 pounds. Add in the trailer and a 10 hp motor and you only come up with something around 450 pounds. My highway miles dropped a good 10 miles per gallon hen towing this little boat.

    When a skinny vehicle tows something wider than itself, it's like throwing out an anchor. And Ford rangers generally do not get that great of mileage in the first place.
  • rivertrails's avatar
    rivertrails
    Explorer
    Jul 28, 2013
    The 3000 pounds is on the trailer title. Yes I plan on having it weighed. I know my local mfa farm supply feed store has weigh scales .I bye hay bales by the ton. I have googled truck weigh scales. I'm going to call and see if I could have it weighed there. I am SO hoping it weighs less. I just found this trailer add last night.
  • bldrbuck's avatar
    bldrbuck
    Explorer
    Jul 28, 2013
    Your best bet is to get permission to take the trailer for a test run and while doing that go to a scale and weigh it. I would guess you will find the weight at about 1400.
  • popupcamping's avatar
    popupcamping
    Explorer
    Jul 28, 2013
    you fuel economy will suck no matter what you tow.

    It may suck a bit less with a lighter trailer but still sucks.

    it sounds like it is an older steel made trailer. Without some models and a year it would be hard to tell.

    BTW, where did you get the 3000lb figure from?

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