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"Dry Weight" Questions

ChristyFord
Explorer
Explorer
If "dealer installed options" are not counted in the dry weight of a travel trailer, is there a rule of thumb estimate to include when calculating potential GVW? And what would constitute those options? I can't see why the a/c unit and fridge would be "options," why would those ever be left out of a trailer, but what do I know.

Also, when looking at specs I see "hitch weight" listed, is that a separate weight or is that included in the dry weight? Or is that meaning what the tongue weight would be if you towed it as-is?

https://www.rvusa.com/rv-guide/2017-forest-river-grey-wolf-toy-hauler-floorplan-19rr-tr32338
37 REPLIES 37

Second_Chance
Explorer II
Explorer II
Desert Captain wrote:
Mortimer Brewster wrote:
I think a lot of dealers list or emphasize the dry weight in order to fool the customer into thinking their tow vehicle is capable of towing that trailer. As others have said, go with the GVWR.


x2

All dry weights are a joke and the joke is on you if you believe them. Only a salesman trying to get you into too much trailer will ever quote them. Go with the GVWR and you will probably be safely under that number.

:C


X3. "Dry" weights are absolutely useless. Use the GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) off the trailer's sticker. Use 12% (15% if you really want to be conservative) of the trailer's GVWR to estimate a loaded tongue weight. Don't forget to add 75 lbs. or so for a good weight distributing hitch, too. The most common mistake made is exceeding the payload capacity for the tow vehicle - not the maximum towing capacity.

Rob
U.S. Army retired
2020 Solitude 310GK-R
MORryde IS, disc brakes, solar, DP windows
(Previously in a Reflection 337RLS)
2012 F350 CC DRW Lariat 6.7
Full-time since 8/2015

Desert_Captain
Explorer III
Explorer III
Mortimer Brewster wrote:
I think a lot of dealers list or emphasize the dry weight in order to fool the customer into thinking their tow vehicle is capable of towing that trailer. As others have said, go with the GVWR.


x2

All dry weights are a joke and the joke is on you if you believe them. Only a salesman trying to get you into too much trailer will ever quote them. Go with the GVWR and you will probably be safely under that number.

:C

Mortimer_Brewst
Explorer II
Explorer II
I think a lot of dealers list or emphasize the dry weight in order to fool the customer into thinking their tow vehicle is capable of towing that trailer. As others have said, go with the GVWR.
If ethics are poor at the top, that behavior is copied down through the organization - Robert Noyce

2018 Chevy Silverado 3500 SRW Duramax
2019 Coachmen Chaparral 298RLS

ScottG
Nomad
Nomad
Wish I could help you but my recent experience is that the published weight, the delivered weight and the yellow sticker (which is off by 1000#) have no basis in reality.
I would simply go by the GVWR of the new trailer and make sure your rig is rated for that number.

Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Explorer III
Listed/published 'tongue/pin weight' is 'DRY' weight based on the 'Listed/published' DRY trailer weight.
(500# dry tongue for 5000# trailer equals a DRY 10% tongue weight etc)
Dry tongue/pin weight is for a basically empty trailer.....(lot of mfg. fine print will state 'Numbers are an Average' for such & such model


Look at data plate on trailer for the GVWR.
Use the dry tongue/pin weight percentage to figure WET tongue/pin weight based on GVWR

Can your TV handle that WET tongue/pin weight?
If so........good to go
IF 'marginal' might be OK if you do NOT load trailer up
Is it time for your medication or mine?


2007 DODGE 3500 QC SRW 5.9L CTD In-Bed 'quiet gen'
2007 HitchHiker II 32.5 UKTG 2000W Xantex Inverter
US NAVY------USS Decatur DDG31

SoundGuy
Explorer
Explorer
ktmrfs wrote:
for trailers built in the last 10 years, the yellow sticker on the trailer lists the weight as it LEFT the factory, so ALL factory installed accy are included.

what is NOT included is anything added by the dealer.

and in MOST cases the dry weight does NOT include batteries since they are usually dealer installed. it does include the weigh of full propane tanks.


Not necessarily ... with my own 2014 Freedom Express the weight of propane gas that would eventually be added to the tanks by the dealer is not included in the trailer's listed UVW, on current models it is.
2012 Silverado 1500 Crew Cab
2014 Coachmen Freedom Express 192RBS
2003 Fleetwood Yuma * 2008 K-Z Spree 240BH-LX
2007 TrailCruiser C21RBH * 2000 Fleetwood Santa Fe
1998 Jayco 10UD * 1969 Coleman CT380

Lwiddis
Explorer II
Explorer II
If your TV is rated to tow the TT's maximum recommended weight plus 20 per cent, you will be fine.
Winnebago 2101DS TT & 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTZ Z71, WindyNation 300 watt solar-Lossigy 200 AH Lithium battery. Prefer boondocking, USFS, COE, BLM, NPS, TVA, state camps. Bicyclist. 14 yr. Army -11B40 then 11A - (MOS 1542 & 1560) IOBC & IOAC grad

ktmrfs
Explorer II
Explorer II
for trailers built in the last 10 years, the yellow sticker on the trailer lists the weight as it LEFT the factory, so ALL factory installed accy are included.

what is NOT included is anything added by the dealer.

and in MOST cases the dry weight does NOT include batteries since they are usually dealer installed. it does include the weigh of full propane tanks.

Now hitch weight is again hitch weight as it left the factory it does NOT include a few items that translate almost directly to added hitch weight
1) battery(s) figure 70 lbs each
2) propane, figure 20 or 30 lbs each accordingly.

and all the stuff YOU add to the trailer that adds tongue weight.

For an example, my outback has a claimed and actually dry tongue weight it the mid 700's, I don't recall directly, but my measurements pretty much matched the factory claim.

ACTUAL tongue weight with propane and my 4 GC batteries full fresh water and trailer loaded as we travel....... 1450 lbs!!!!
2011 Keystone Outback 295RE
2004 14' bikehauler with full living quarters
2015.5 Denali 4x4 CC/SB Duramax/Allison
2004.5 Silverado 4x4 CC/SB Duramax/Allison passed on to our Son!