What is the "real" GVWR?

Not sure I follow some of the previous answers. ALWAYS buy the MAX GVWR you can for a given size and weight of trailer. The bigger the better, the bigger the safer. I think what some may be confusing are the terms GVWR and GVW. GVWR is a rating (gross vehicle weight rating). GVW is the weight of the trailer after you have loaded it. Your GVW should never exceed what your truck is capable of and is rated to pull. This has nothing to do with the GVWR. EG, if your truck is capable of pulling safely a 6000 pound trailer then make sure your trailer GVW (not GVWR) doesn't exceed that number. Confirm the weight of your trailer after you load it at a scale. If the GVWR happens to be 7000 pounds, thats fine. If it is 8000 pounds that is even better. Rule of thumb, the bigger the number the better. If you have two X 6000 pound trailers side by side and one has a GVWR of 7000 ounds and the other has a GVWR of 10,000 pounds which one do you want. ALWAYS try and get the bigger number. It doesn't mean it weighs more, it will just have better axles, bigger brakes, stronger frame, better tires, all rated for 10,000 pounds, not 7000. Of course it will cost more as well. A good example is Arctic fox which puts hugely oversized axles on some of their 25 foot trailers.

Although you can use dry weight plus cargo to rouoghly calculate the GVW (not the GVWR) it is always better to weigh the trailer (and the tounge)

Good luck and Merry Christmas.