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In this discussion, we’ll cover some towing basics, which is a topic that causes confusion and a lot of questions for people just getting start with RV travel trailers. Let’s begin with some basic terminology that you will see from manufacturers websites.
RV Weight Terminology
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- UVW – Unloaded Vehicle Weight. This is the weight of the trailer with no options (think microwave, A/C, etc.), water, battery or propane. It is the lightest possible weight of the trailer but likely is not what your new trailer will weigh from the factory with options added.
- CCC – Cargo Carrying Capacity. This is how much gear and cargo you can carry in this unit based on the UVW
- GVW – Gross Vehicle Weight. This is the total weight the RV is rated for, which includes the trailer, options, any gear and water. This is the sum on the UVW and CCC.
It’s important to remember that the UVW of a trailer on a manufacturer’s website is almost always going to be lighter than what your trailer will be. This is because options are not included. This is important to understand, especially as you consider the capacity of your tow vehicle.
The other side of the coin is the stated vs adjusted tow capacity of your tow vehicle. I go into more detail on this in the Towing with a Honda Pilot video (see link to video at bottom), but suffice to say, your towing capacity is greatly reduced by the gear and people weight in the tow vehicle. So, if the tow capacity is stated at 4,500 lbs. and you add three other people weighing 150 lbs., plus minimal gear, that tow capacity can be reduced by several hundred pounds.
Understanding your towing margin is what we want to get to. Here is an example using my 2014 Honda Pilot 4WD:
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- 4,500 lbs. tow capacity (2 people at 150 lbs. each + 15 lbs. gear)
- 4,100 lbs. with 4 people @150 lbs. each and 15 lbs. gear
2016 R-Pod 171:
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- UVW = 2,224 lbs. (Brochure). This does not include options (A/C, Micro, TV).
- UVW = 2,433 lbs. (Trailer Sticker). This does not include battery or propane (likely +80 lbs.).
- Add 300-400 lbs. in cargo for gear. This would not include water in the hot water tank or in the freshwater tank. So, our trailer now weighs about 2,800 lbs.
- If the Pilot’s capacity is 4,100 lbs. and our trailer is at 2,800 lbs., we have a margin of 1,300 lbs. or we are using about 68% of our towing capacity. Obviously the less this percentage is the better and likely safer your towing experience will be.
Overall, my take with towing is to increase the towing margin when and if you can. If you find your towing margin is just too slim for comfort, reconsider with a larger tow vehicle or a smaller RV or both. You simply don’t want to get into a situation where you are unsafe on the road. Also, remember that you not only have to be able to tow your trailer comfortably and safely, but you also have to be able to control and stop your trailer quickly at times. Better to err on the side of safely and tow with a comfortable margin. Ultimately, I did what may people do who decide they want to continue to own a trailer, I bought a solid ½ ton truck to tow with.
All the best in your camping endeavors!
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