Used Tent Trailers- Trailer Weights
June 19th, 2008 | by admin |There are many weights you need to consider when buying used tent trailers. If you are not careful and don’t pay attention to trailer weights, you may purchase a tent trailer that is too heavy for your tow vehicle. Below is a summary of tent trailer weights and what they mean.
UVW- Dry or Unloaded Vehicle Weight
The weight of the tent trailer as built at the factory. The UVW does not include cargo, water, gas or any install accessories.
GAWR- Gross Axle Weight Rating
Weight carrying capacity of the axle while the trailer is in tow.
GVWR- Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
The maximum permissible weight of the tent trailer.
GCWR- Gross Combination Weight Rating
The value specified by the tow vehicle manufacturer as the maximum allowable loaded weight of the tow vehicle with the towed trailer.
NCC- Net Carrying Capacity
The weight of all additional goods placed in or on the tent trailer and trailer hitch while in tow.
When you are looking to purchase a used tent trailer, be absolutely sure that your tow vehicle can handle the GVWR of the tent trailer.
For instance, I have a 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The GVWR on that truck is 6,400 lbs. I also have a Coleman Westlake with a GVWR of 3,000 lbs. So, I’m way under the GVWR of my tow vehicle. Perfect, that will work.
However, let’s say I wanted to purchase a Fleetwood Evolution E4. The UVW is 3,995 lbs and is still in my range to tow with my Silverado 1500. It’s within my range as long as I do not load the trailer down with additional weight. The E4 also has a GVWR of 7,000 lbs. It has a neat storage area up front for ATV and such. Let’s say I loaded my ATV and I did hit the 7,000lbs GVWR limit. Now, I don’t have a tow vehicle that is rated for my tent trailer. i would have to step up to a Silverado 2500.
The trick is to know the weight limitations of your tow vehicle before you go shopping for used tent trailers.
