How much weight do you carry?

[jdlong49]

I've been asking all the wrong questions for months running myself in circles trying to calculate tow ratings and GVWRs and UVWs and payload capacities, but it all really comes down to how much does my stuff actually weigh? How much cargo weight are you guys actually carrying in your travel trailers? I'm planning to full time for 6 months to a year, so what does my life weigh? I'm a minimalist, I don't have tons of clothes and stuff. I'm going to be solo traveling with just my dog. I've gotten a scale weight of my truck with me in it and a full tank of gas at 5250 and I have 1350lbs of payload left. I'm looking at a unit that has a UVW of 5250lbs and really want to stay at 6000lbs max. My tow capacity is 7900 and GCVWR is 13500. So unless I'm calculating the numbers wrong, I'm giving 900lbs for tongue weight on 6000lbs. So that's leaving 450lbs of payload in the truck and the 750lbs in the trailer to hit 6000lbs. So I have 1300lbs to work with. Does everything else weigh 1300lbs? I can't imagine I have 1300lbs of stuff, but I'm sure there are things I'm not even considering because I've never done it. How much weight are you guys actually carrying(without water, I don't really plan to boondock and wont be towing with full tanks)?

 

[TheLooks]

Most important weight is stuff on the tongue and in front of the trailer axles. Battery(s) and propane on the tongue, the hitch and weight distribution bars. Then things in the storage area in the front. Plus whatever is in the truck bed.

 

[Mrgunguy]

I’m about 240 lbs but I’m trying a new diet.

 

[jdlong49]

I’m about 240 lbs but I’m trying a new diet.

Not exactly the weight I was curious about!

 

[Gizmo]

When I had my 5th wheel we had about 1600 pounds over UVW. Now that includes batties and propane plus a full basement. If I tell my wife we going for 10 days and bringing 10 days' worth of clothes to her that means on the 10th day she still has a lot of choices. I think the amount stuff depends on the amount of storeage you have - curretly I have Class A and we have over 2500 pounds over UVW (7222 CC). I will say this, when we had our 5er and some told me that they I had 1600 and laught and said I would guess around 500 pounds but stuff adds up quick.

 

[Roadrunners22]

I've been asking all the wrong questions for months running myself in circles trying to calculate tow ratings and GVWRs and UVWs and payload capacities, but it all really comes down to how much does my stuff actually weigh? How much cargo weight are you guys actually carrying in your travel trailers? I'm planning to full time for 6 months to a year, so what does my life weigh? I'm a minimalist, I don't have tons of clothes and stuff. I'm going to be solo traveling with just my dog. I've gotten a scale weight of my truck with me in it and a full tank of gas at 5250 and I have 1350lbs of payload left. I'm looking at a unit that has a UVW of 5250lbs and really want to stay at 6000lbs max. My tow capacity is 7900 and GCVWR is 13500. So unless I'm calculating the numbers wrong, I'm giving 900lbs for tongue weight on 6000lbs. So that's leaving 450lbs of payload in the truck and the 750lbs in the trailer to hit 6000lbs. So I have 1300lbs to work with. Does everything else weigh 1300lbs? I can't imagine I have 1300lbs of stuff, but I'm sure there are things I'm not even considering because I've never done it. How much weight are you guys actually carrying(without water, I don't really plan to boondock and wont be towing with full tanks)?

 

[Roadrunners22]

All your weight is in the water. Black, gray and fresh. If you carry a lot of food, canned mostly. You should really not have to worry. Water weights 8.34 lbs per gallon, so if you can carry 100 gallons, that basically 838 lbs. And if you think about it, 16ozs of liquid, really weight very close to that in pounds. Hope this helps.

 

[Rich W.]

I just weighed my coach today (Oregon leaves the scales on even when they are closed) and I weighed 31,600. My approx unladen weight is 28,000 but as delivered the coach was more like 28,800. So today Im carrying around 2800lbs but about 600 of that is water (2/3 tank). So 2200lbs minis us and the dogs (gotta be careful here) and we are down to around 1800lbs. A little under 1/2 tank of fuel and 10 gal of propane, and we are now at around 1500lbs of just stuff. Food, cookware, tools, compressor, solar panels, extra DEF, camp chairs, extra camp chairs, folding table, bbq, spare parts and supplies, clothes, etc. I could easily leave 200lbs of unnecessary stuff at home for a net 1300lbs, and thats for two adults and two dogs, but Im so far under my GVWR and GCWR that it really doesnt matter. But you can see how it adds up and where you can shave some weight. Also my 3400lb Jeep weighs 3900 as is, with the rack, two boats and associated junk. But I have 10,000 towing capacity and another 3400 ccc available. If my specs were close to my actual weight I’d be much more careful about what I carry. I’d leave stuff I don’t routinely use behind. But I’ve found that when I do that I end up needing something I left at home, and as I said, I can afford to carry extra junk. I’d bet your load will be under 1,000lbs. That help?

 

[jdlong49]

I just weighed my coach today (Oregon leaves the scales on even when they are closed) and I weighed 31,600. My approx unladen weight is 28,000 but as delivered the coach was more like 28,800. So today Im carrying around 2800lbs but about 600 of that is water (2/3 tank). So 2200lbs minis us and the dogs (gotta be careful here) and we are down to around 1800lbs. A little under 1/2 tank of fuel and 10 gal of propane, and we are now at around 1500lbs of just stuff. Food, cookware, tools, compressor, solar panels, extra DEF, camp chairs, extra camp chairs, folding table, bbq, spare parts and supplies, clothes, etc. I could easily leave 200lbs of unnecessary stuff at home for a net 1300lbs, and thats for two adults and two dogs, but Im so far under my GVWR and GCWR that it really doesnt matter. But you can see how it adds up and where you can shave some weight. Also my 3400lb Jeep weighs 3900 as is, with the rack, two boats and associated junk. But I have 10,000 towing capacity and another 3400 ccc available. If my specs were close to my actual weight I’d be much more careful about what I carry. I’d leave stuff I don’t routinely use behind. But I’ve found that when I do that I end up needing something I left at home, and as I said, I can afford to carry extra junk. I’d bet your load will be under 1,000lbs. That help?

Helps a ton! Thanks

 

[GlampDaddy]

Not a travel trailer, but our UVW is 43,800 and we were recently weighed at 49,300. I guess we're carrying most everything we need at this point, and it weighs about 5,500 pounds.

 

[Bigblockyeti]

I'm a bit worried about my payload too if I'm going to try and stick with the same truck (still on the fence). But with 6 of us and only a 5 passenger truck, my wife will drive separately with as much weight as I can shove in the trunk of her car and bodies in the seats, I suspect most of this will be food & clothes. I've put together a list of stuff that I think would be the max the TT would need to have in it, covering all worst case scenerios. My truck GVWR is 5815lb and I weighed the truck with a full tank of gas + misc crap in the cab and myself at 4960lb, this was after cleaning out ~200lb of crap that rides in the bed almost in perpetuity. Looking at a number of different TT in the 4000-4500lb empty weight range leaves me a little margin up to my 6100lb tow rating. I don't intend on or need to carry water or leave anything in the grey or black tanks when traveling so the empty weight should be close but then there's everything that will live within the TT when it's "empty." I've put together a list excluding weights but I wanted to see if anyone could weigh in on whether or not this is relistic list based on experience? Anyway here is it, tell me what you think.

1. 2x electric heater
2. Heavier than factory mattresses
3. Bedding
4. Pillows
5. Popcorn popper
6. Waffle iron
7. Blender
8. Pots
9. Pans
10. Utensils
11. Plates
12. Napkins
13. PT
14. TP
15. Soap
16. Wash tubs
17. Towels & washcloths
18. First Aid kit
19. DVDs + player
20. Broom & dustpan
21. Mop
22. Vacuum
23. Board games
24. Playing cards
25. 6x camping chairs + table
26. Outdoor Rug
27. Folding picnic table
28. Camp hammocks
29. 2x TV tray
30. Stabilizer/tongue blocking
31. Cords
32. Receptacle adapters
33. Water hose
34. Cornhole
35. Outdoor shower
36. Fishing gear
37. Gas griddle
38. Mini fridge
39. Lanterns + fuel
40. Fire ring grill
41. Dutch oven
42. Small 120V leaf blower
43. Bow saw
44. Pole pruner
45. Bungees + straps
46. Axe + hatchet
47. 3lb sledge hammer
48. Stakes
49. 10' x 10' canopy
50. Small shovel
51. Fire poker/claw

 

[AbdRahim]

Baystar and carying ~ 2500lbs with full fw tank, empty black and greytanks, full gas tank. Yikes. No passengers either.

 

[Voyageurs]

Without water I would say maybe 270 pounds in the trailer including full fridge and other junk. Probably another 120 in the SUV. (48 pounds of that is a propane generator for dry camping).

 

[Rosy]

I'm a bit worried about my payload too if I'm going to try and stick with the same truck (still on the fence). But with 6 of us and only a 5 passenger truck, my wife will drive separately with as much weight as I can shove in the trunk of her car and bodies in the seats, I suspect most of this will be food & clothes. I've put together a list of stuff that I think would be the max the TT would need to have in it, covering all worst case scenerios. My truck GVWR is 5815lb and I weighed the truck with a full tank of gas + misc crap in the cab and myself at 4960lb, this was after cleaning out ~200lb of crap that rides in the bed almost in perpetuity. Looking at a number of different TT in the 4000-4500lb empty weight range leaves me a little margin up to my 6100lb tow rating. I don't intend on or need to carry water or leave anything in the grey or black tanks when traveling so the empty weight should be close but then there's everything that will live within the TT when it's "empty." I've put together a list excluding weights but I wanted to see if anyone could weigh in on whether or not this is relistic list based on experience? Anyway here is it, tell me what you think.

1. 2x electric heater
2. Heavier than factory mattresses
3. Bedding
4. Pillows
5. Popcorn popper
6. Waffle iron
7. Blender
8. Pots
9. Pans
10. Utensils
11. Plates
12. Napkins
13. PT
14. TP
15. Soap
16. Wash tubs
17. Towels & washcloths
18. First Aid kit
19. DVDs + player
20. Broom & dustpan
21. Mop
22. Vacuum
23. Board games
24. Playing cards
25. 6x camping chairs + table
26. Outdoor Rug
27. Folding picnic table
28. Camp hammocks
29. 2x TV tray
30. Stabilizer/tongue blocking
31. Cords
32. Receptacle adapters
33. Water hose
34. Cornhole
35. Outdoor shower
36. Fishing gear
37. Gas griddle
38. Mini fridge
39. Lanterns + fuel
40. Fire ring grill
41. Dutch oven
42. Small 120V leaf blower
43. Bow saw
44. Pole pruner
45. Bungees + straps
46. Axe + hatchet
47. 3lb sledge hammer
48. Stakes
49. 10' x 10' canopy
50. Small shovel
51. Fire poker/claw

Ditch 5, 6, 7, 19, 22 and 42. Also leave the electric heaters at home in the summer.

 

[MemoriesByTheMile]

Many of these items would not be on our personal list, but realize that each of us prioritizes different things and are in different stages of life.

We would definitely have the vacuum but wouldn’t have the fire stuff, grill, griddle, mini fridge, folding picnic table, etc

If weight is the limiting factor, maybe weigh each item to help in determining if that weight is really needed.

 

[Joe Hogan]

We packed what we needed/wanted fit each trip With full water and fuel. Ran across a CAT Scale at the beginning of each trip. Adjusted fresh water level if we were over weight. Gail is an excellent packer so she was able to gauge how much to take. Typically we were right at allowable weight with tow car/dolly.

 

[Joe Hogan]

We made a newbie mistake when ordering our Canyon Star and got too many options that we really didn’t need or use. The extras took up valuable load capacity. When ordering the Dutch Star we did not make that same mistake though less important with a DP.

 

[Jabber Jaw]

JOE,
I purposely ordered our Canyon Star, as a model "3710", because it has the heaviest allowable cargo capacity.
After 3 years, loaded with everything we carry, "DI" washer, power washer, ladders, etc, etc, & "Liquid Spring suspension; while at the "NKK International" we had the coach weighed at all 4 corners. Total weight now is 25,060, on a 26,000 GVWR chassis. Includes a half full fresh water tank! Bottom line, I am so very happy we bought this model coach, as there is only the 2 of us!
I am sure your "3911" , even with planning, was pushing the 26,000 GVWR limit. The Braun lift an requirements added substantial weight! BUT!!
The new "Dutch Star" will give you plenty of load capacity, & all the other benefits of having the "DP"!! I am sure you are excited to get it, and have many little modification plans already in the works; to make it your "special" home on wheels!! Good Luck!
By the way, I've gotten side tracked for the next couple of months, due to recovery from hip replacement surgery! Has slowed me down to a crawl!

When is delivery scheduled??

Allan

 

[Joe Hogan]

JOE,
I purposely ordered our Canyon Star, as a model "3710", because it has the heaviest allowable cargo capacity.
After 3 years, loaded with everything we carry, "DI" washer, power washer, ladders, etc, etc, & "Liquid Spring suspension; while at the "NKK International" we had the coach weighed at all 4 corners. Total weight now is 25,060, on a 26,000 GVWR chassis. Includes a half full fresh water tank! Bottom line, I am so very happy we bought this model coach, as there is only the 2 of us!
I am sure your "3911" , even with planning, was pushing the 26,000 GVWR limit. The Braun lift an requirements added substantial weight! BUT!!
The new "Dutch Star" will give you plenty of load capacity, & all the other benefits of having the "DP"!! I am sure you are excited to get it, and have many little modification plans already in the works; to make it your "special" home on wheels!! Good Luck!
By the way, I've gotten side tracked for the next couple of months, due to recovery from hip replacement surgery! Has slowed me down to a crawl!

When is delivery scheduled??

Allan

The Dutch Star will be a 2024, delivered in September - October, We are excited to get it. Hope your recovery goes well.

 

[A-Texan]

Depends on the lenght of the trip, but typically we carry between 600 - 700 lbs (that includes the weight distribution kit we have on it and about 15 -20 gallons of water in the fresh water tank). The weight adds up quickly. Most of the stuff in the trailer stays in the trailer with the exception of our clothing and food (tools, games, bedding, fishing equipment, dishes, generator, etc.). The only thing we add to it on a trip is clothing, food, and fresh water before we leave.