Realistic cargo weight for full time living

[iwanttoretireea]

Anyone have some realistic numbers on how much your cargo weight is for full time living? For 2 people.

Truck Camper magazine says 725 in their buyer guide and they went over how to get that number: eg.

100 pounds of food
15 pounds kitchen equipment
15 pounds of bedding
25 pounds of clothes
400 pounds for 2 people
15 pounds of linen
camera gear
electronics
Tools
etc. etc.

The pics they used of the stuff they were carrying seemed quite sparse.

What have you guys experienced? Please separate cargo weight with camping gear/outdoor toys (eg. sleeping bags, skis, kayaks, etc.). I just want to know for full-time living first.

[Kayteg1]

Well... living next to desert, we see full timers who manage to fit everything they need into shopping cart.
So it is personal thing. Rule of thumbs say that no matter of capacity, if you don't pay attention sooner or later you will always exceed it.
I was kind of surprised when we went in summer to Alaska and even we pack "lightly" -Oregon scales show the we, dogs (40 lb for 3 of them), beer, food and rock collection add 2000 lb. Amazing how fast the stuff can add.

[jaycocreek]

Anyone have some realistic numbers on how much your cargo weight is for full time living? For 2 people.

I have full timed in a Class A/Class C/Travel trailer and a Fifth wheel..Your weight for full timing will be atleast double of others..I have never full timed in a truck camper but my guess would be somewhere between 1500# and 2000# above the camper sticker..Close to double what a weekend camper would use..

I ran into a guy from Alaska last year that was full timing in a 9-10 foot truck camper by himself in a remote Idaho getaway, with a super cab Ford..The back seat was full of clothes/water/fishing stuff and extra food etc..I imagine the Lance truck camper was full also..He definitely was over the GVWR of his older SRW Ford 4X4,but he could have cared less..

Most of those who never have full timed in an RV don't realize how much extra stuff a guy needs and with two people,it's worse..If you don't have it,you will be spending all your time going to get it..Oh,I forgot........LOL

[specta]

I weighted my truck and camper dry and completely empty of any food, clothing, bedding or anything else the day I bought it.

Going camping for four days with the FW tank full, LP tanks full, food, kitchen utensils, and everything I thought I might need I only gained 700 pounds.

[cptqueeg]

FYI in the payload of the Ford trucks they deduct 150lbs per seating position. Check the brochure on the page where payloads are posted.

[jimh406]

The rule of thumb has always been to add 1000-1500 to TC weight to fully outfit and camp. Fulltiming would be even more.

I'd say 725 would be really light. There’s a reason that many fulltimers also have a trailer. Obviously, you could get by with less, but that would be all up to you.