Travel Trailer & RV Weight Calculator

The weight in an RV brochure is the trailer empty. On the road you also carry water, food, gear and any equipment added since it left the factory. This calculator adds it all up so you can compare your loaded travel trailer weight with its GVWR and your tow vehicle’s limits.

Estimates only. Always follow your vehicle's owner's manual, door-jamb label and hitch ratings. Weigh your actual setup at a public scale.

The formula

Loaded weight = UVW + water + cargo + added options (+ propane, if not included in UVW)

Water (fresh, gray and black): about 8.34 lb per US gallon
Propane: about 4.2 lb per gallon of liquid (a full 20-lb cylinder holds about 20 lb of propane)

The result is compared with the trailer’s GVWR. The difference between GVWR and UVW is the cargo carrying capacity (CCC).

RV weight terms

UVW (Unloaded Vehicle Weight): The weight of the trailer as built at the factory. For towables, manufacturers such as Forest River include the weight on the axles and the tongue or pin plus LP gas, but not cargo, fresh water, optional equipment or dealer-installed accessories. Definitions can differ between brands.
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating): The maximum the trailer may weigh, loaded, including the weight on the hitch.
CCC (Cargo Carrying Capacity): GVWR minus UVW: what is left for water, gear and added equipment.

Worked example

A travel trailer has a GVWR of 7,600 lb and a UVW of 5,900 lb, so its CCC is 1,700 lb. The owners carry 20 gallons of fresh water, 600 lb of gear and 120 lb of added batteries and solar.

Water: 20 × 8.34 = 167 lb
Loaded weight: 5,900 + 167 + 600 + 120 = 6,787 lb (89% of GVWR)
Expected tongue weight at 10–15%: about 680–1,020 lb

Filling a 40-gallon fresh tank and leaving with full gray and black tanks could easily add another 500 lb or more.

Tips to keep weight down

Travel with only as much fresh water as you need on the way, and fill up near the campsite.
Dump gray and black tanks before you leave.
Weigh the loaded trailer at a public truck scale once, so you know the real number instead of a guess.
Remember that weight on the hitch also counts against the tow vehicle’s payload.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between dry weight and GVWR?

Dry weight, or UVW (Unloaded Vehicle Weight), is the trailer as it left the factory. GVWR is the maximum the trailer may weigh when fully loaded. The difference is the cargo carrying capacity (CCC) available for water, gear and added equipment.

How much does water add to a camper?

Water weighs about 8.34 lb per US gallon. A 40-gallon fresh tank adds roughly 334 lb when full, and full gray and black tanks add even more. Many RVers travel with little fresh water and empty waste tanks to save weight.

Is propane included in the dry weight?

For many towable RVs the manufacturer's UVW includes the LP gas, but definitions differ between brands. Check your trailer's weight label or owner's manual; if propane is not included, add it in the calculator (about 4.2 lb per gallon).

How accurate is a calculated trailer weight?

It is an estimate. Owners often underestimate cargo. The only way to know your real weight is to weigh the loaded trailer at a public scale.

What should I do with the loaded weight?

Use it to check your tow vehicle: the loaded trailer weight must be within the tow rating and GCWR, and roughly 10–15% of it will sit on the hitch and count against payload.

Related calculators

Sources

Forest River, RV Definitions (UVW, CCC and GVWR definitions)
Propane 101, About Propane (4.24 lb per gallon of liquid propane at 60°F)

This calculator gives estimates for planning. Your trailer’s weight label and owner’s manual take precedence. Weigh your loaded RV to know its true weight, and never exceed GVWR, axle or tire ratings.