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RV glossary · Weights & towing limits

GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating)

Also called: Gross Vehicle Weight Rating

The maximum an RV (or a truck) is allowed to weigh when fully loaded, including everything inside it: cargo, water, propane, batteries and, for motorhomes, passengers. It is set by the manufacturer and printed on the weight label.

GVWR is a limit, not what the RV actually weighs. A travel trailer with a 7,800 lb GVWR might weigh 6,000 lb empty and 7,000 lb loaded for a trip. Going over it overloads the axles, tires, frame and brakes.

For towing, GVWR is the number to compare with your vehicle’s tow rating, because it is the most the trailer can legally weigh. Many RVers follow the 80% rule: keep the trailer’s GVWR at or below 80% of the tow rating to leave a safety margin for wind, hills and heat.

Trucks have their own GVWR too. A truck’s GVWR minus its curb weight is its payload, which has to cover passengers, cargo and the trailer’s tongue or pin weight.

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Related terms

UVW
What the RV weighs as it leaves the factory, without cargo, water or (usually) propane. Manufacturers often list it as UVW or “dry weight.”
CCC
How much weight you can add to a towable RV: GVWR minus UVW. Everything you load counts against it, including water in the tanks, propane, food, gear, batteries and dealer-installed options.
GCWR
The maximum allowed weight of a tow vehicle and its trailer together, both fully loaded. It’s set by the vehicle manufacturer and is often the hidden limit when towing heavy trailers.
GAWR
The most weight a single axle (front or rear) is rated to carry. On a tow vehicle, the trailer’s tongue or pin weight pushes down on the rear axle, so a heavy trailer can exceed the rear GAWR before anything else.
Payload capacity
How much weight a truck or SUV can carry: its GVWR minus its curb weight. Passengers, cargo, the hitch itself and the trailer’s tongue or pin weight all count against payload.
Tow rating
The maximum trailer weight a vehicle is rated to pull, as published by its manufacturer. It depends on engine, axle ratio, cab, bed, drivetrain and tow package, so the same model can have very different ratings.
80% rule
A common rule of thumb: keep a trailer’s loaded weight (or GVWR) at or below 80% of your vehicle’s tow rating. It leaves a margin for wind, hills, heat and rating optimism. It’s a guideline, not a legal limit.

More weights & towing limits terms

Dry weight · OCCC · GVW · Hitch weight · Pin weight · Curb weight · Wet weight · Ship weight

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