How Much Does a Camper Weigh?

You can expect an average camper weight to be about 5,000 pounds (2,268 kg) of dry weight, which refers to the weight of an RV without any liquids, passengers, or cargo.

In most cases, you'll also need to add an additional 1,500 pounds (680 kg) of gear and other weight to get a more "realistic" example.

You can expect your camper to weigh about 250 lbs per foot of trailer. This depends on the type of your trailer and the materials used for construction.

I'll include a list of different RV weight examples later inside this post.

What size vehicle do you need to tow a camper?

I'd imagine you would also like to know how big of a trailer you can buy and tow with your truck or vehicle.

In general, if your vehicle has a tow rating of at least 7,500 pounds (3,402 kg), that will be safe for towing most trailers.

Do you need a truck?

No, depending on which size trailer you plan on going with will affect whether you need a truck to tow it. As long as your vehicle has a high enough tow rating to pull your load, you'll be good to go.

This could be a van, SUV, or even a car in some cases. It does not necessarily need to be a truck (unless you're looking to buy a big family size RV).

Oh, and just an FYI - look for a diesel truck if you plan to tow a heavy camper. You will save yourself a TON of money in fuel. The diesel engines are built for towing, and you'll be able to get much better gas mileage.

Now, let's get to the specific examples based on which type of camper you plan to tow.

All numbers listed are the unloaded vehicle weights or dry weights of the trailers.

Travel Trailer (2,300 to 8,800 lbs)

Average weight of a travel trailer: 2,300 to 8,800 lbs.

Vehicle to tow: truck, SUV, cargo van, or minivan.

Only a few lightweight travel trailers can be towed by a minivan.

Fifth Wheel (5,900 to 11,500 lbs)

Average weight of a fifth wheel: 5,900 to 11,500 lbs.

Vehicle to tow: truck only.

Based on the design of a fifth wheel, you will need a truck to fit the stabilizer arm.

Toy Hauler (4,100 to 14,200 lbs)

Average weight of a toy hauler: 4,100 to 14,200 lbs.

Vehicle to tow: truck, SUV, or cargo van.

You can expect to add an extra 300 to 800+ lbs when carrying dirt bikes or ATVs.

Airstream (2,500 to 8,000 lbs)

Average weight of an airstream: 2,500 to 8,000 lbs.

Vehicle to tow: truck, SUV, cargo van, or minivan.

Depending on your airstream there can be a dramatic difference in weight.

Pop Up Camper (1,400 to 3,200 lbs)

Average weight of a pop up camper:

Vehicle to tow: truck, SUV, cargo van, or minivan.

Hard side trailers will weigh more than the tent trailers, yet still within the range.

Small Camper or Teardrop (600 to 3,100 lbs)

Average weight of a small camper or teardrop: 600 to 3,100 lbs.

Vehicle to tow: truck, SUV, cargo van, minivan, or car.

Some small trailers can even be towed by cars, yet not over 1,500 lbs on average.

Liquid, Passenger, and Cargo Weight

Each different tank you have on your RV will add additional weight when full. From fresh water, propane, gasoline, or sewage can all add up to be from 40 to 400 lbs.

Depending on how many passengers you plan on driving, this can add on an additional 120 to 700+ lbs.

Then with the cargo added to the trailer, that can also be an extra 400 pounds of camping gear, food, kitchen supplies or more without going crazy.

Slide Outs and Total Camper Weight

You'll want to consider that if your camper has slide outs, this can add around 800 pounds to weight of the trailer.

If your camper has canvas tent material pop outs instead, then these should not add a significant amount of weight. These kinds are found on hybrid travel trailers, and pop up campers. The motorized slide outs are the ones that add more weight.

Camper Construction Weight

Depending on the materials used for the construction of your camper can also impact the weight by quite a bit.

The two main RV construction types are the wooden or aluminum frames.

Wooden frame design with the Jayco Jay Flight

Aluminum structure with the Grand Design Imagine

The wooden frames weigh about 900 pounds more than the aluminum campers.

When going to dealerships, you'll want a quick way to spot the difference. On the wooden frame campers there are thick ridges with lateral lines. Whereas the aluminum frame campers feature a smooth fiberglass exterior.

Understanding The Listed Weight Numbers

When doing research for trailer weight there will be a whole bunch of different weight numbers listed on the manufacturer's websites and owner's manuals.

It's also easy to get confused when talking to sales people at RV dealerships. Some people will tell you the gross weight, while others may give you the dry weight.

The best way to get a decent estimation is to take the unloaded vehicle weight and add 1,500 pounds (if you're traveling with a family) for liquids, passengers, and cargo.

Unloaded Vehicle Weight or Dry Weight (UVW) or (DW) - The weight of a tow vehicle or trailer from the manufacturer at the factory. The UVW does not include any dealer installed options, passengers, cargo, or liquids.

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) - The maximum weight of the vehicle or trailer when loaded for travel. This includes the unloaded vehicle weight, optional equipment or accessories, passengers, liquids, and cargo. The trailer and tow vehicle each have their own GVWR.

Do Not Max Out Your Towing Capacity

The easiest way to verify you can tow your camper is to take the dry weight and add 1,500 pounds (if you're traveling with a family). This accounts for potential gear, passengers, and liquids. Then, make sure that this number is not more than 85% of your vehicle's towing capacity.

For example, we tow our Rockwood Freedom pop up camper with our 2007 Honda Odyssey. Our pop up weighs 1,420 pounds. 1,420 + 1,500 = 2,920

The towing capacity of the van is 3,500 pounds. So, 3,500 x 0.85 = 2,975

With this combination, we are right within the range under 85% of the vehicle's towing capacity. The magic ratio of camper/gear/tow vehicle really depends on how much you plan to load into your vehicle and camper when traveling.

If you're a traveling solo or as a couple, you won't need anywhere near as much gear as a family would. However, it's still important to make sure that you're within the safe tow ratings for your vehicle.

You do not want to buy a trailer that matches your vehicle's towing capacity exact or even any bit over. This can damage your transmission and engine over time. If you're pulling too heavy of a load, you also may not be able to make it up hills. Not to mention you'll want to leave some margin for error from manufacturers.

When looking for your vehicle's tow rating, it's better to check the sticker inside the door. This will give you the exact ratings for the model you own, if there's any special towing package, or dealer accessories installed. This is the only way to know for sure about the details of your specific vehicle.

How To Measure The Weight Of Your Camper

If all else fails and you cannot find your camper's dry weight, have misplaced the manual (or can't find it online), you can also measure the weight for piece of mind.

The only true way to get an accurate measurement is to use a local CAT scale, or other equivalent roadside scale. By driving onto the platform you can get a reading of your total camper weight.

I would recommend you drive through the scale loaded up with the total weight you plan on traveling with. This includes the trailer, liquids, passengers, and cargo.

This way you can make sure you're within the load limits safe for your vehicle, before heading out on a road trip.