How Much Does an RV Weigh? (Every RV Class + Important Terms)

How Much Does an RV Weigh?

Shopping for an RV isn’t a quick process. 

You need to know how you want to travel, whether you’re OK driving a large vehicle or not, the amenities and interior space you want, whether you’ll be towing it or it should be motorized…

…you get the idea. It’s a big job. 

One of the most important considerations is how heavy the RV you want is (or how heavy of an RV can you tow). RVs can range all the way from 1,000 lbs on the tiny end to 35,000 lbs on the jumbo end of things.

RVs can be incredibly heavy, impacting where you can park and camp. And, in the case of trailers, you’ll need to know exactly how much the RV you’re considering weighs to know if you can tow it with your truck or SUV. 

Below, you’ll find a straightforward breakdown of RV weights including weight ranges for all major RV types from Class A to travel trailers.

Types of RV Weight (Terms to Know)

Before we get to how much each RV class weighs, it’s important to know a few terms.

Several weight-related RV terms get passed around in the RV space, terms you’re sure to run into when reading said RV distributor’s sales lingo. 

They are:

Unloaded Vehicle or “Dry” Weight (UVW)

Arguably the most important term, Unloaded Vehicle Weight– typically referred to as “dry weight”– is the weight of the RV straight from the manufacturer.

This doesn’t include any fluids, propane, passengers, or any of your supplies or other stuff you’ll bring on your trip. 

If you’re looking at dry weight when shopping and want to know the total weight of that RV after you’ve loaded everything up for your trip, a safe estimate to add is 1,000 – 1,500 lbs.

This varies depending on the size of the RV, as larger RVs can hold more, but a fully loaded RV tends to have around that weight range worth of stuff.  

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) 

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, or GVWR, refers to the maximum weight of the RV. Load up your RV beyond this with passengers, stuff, fluids, propane, etc. and you’ll damage the RV.

Gross Cargo Carrying Capacity (GCCC)

Gross Cargo Carrying Capacity, or GCCC, refers to the maximum cargo capacity of the RV. This includes all the stuff you’d load up your RV with that we touched on a moment ago:

• Fluids
• Propane
• Supplies/personal items
• Passengers
• Installed accessories

In other words: dry weight + GCCC = the GVWR.

Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR)

Gross Axle Weight Rating, or GAWR, refers to the maximum amount of weight that each axle can carry. 

In typical cases, this won’t be a concern. However, if your RV’s cargo weight is close to its maximum and that weight is unevenly distributed, you may go over the GAWR on one of your axles and risk damaging your RV. 

Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR)

Gross Combination Weight Rating, or GCWR, refers to when towing an RV. 

Specifically, the total combined weight of both your truck, RV, and all cargo (including passengers, liquids, propane, etc.).

If you plan on purchasing a trailer this is yet another important weight-based term to understand as it will determine what trailers you can tow and when to know if the weight you’re towing is safely within your capacity. 

Hitch Weight (HW)

Hitch Weight, also referred to as “tongue weight”, refers to how much trailer weight your hitch is carrying.

For example, if you’re towing a 2,500-lb trailer, your hitch weight should be around 10-15% of the total trailer weight. In this case, about 250-350 lbs.

This is important to know because trucks typically have both a tow weight and a hitch or tongue weight, so you’ll need to make sure that your truck or SUV fits both weight grades to safely pull a particular trailer. 

How Much Does an RV Weigh: Weight Breakdown by RV Class

Now that we’ve covered the more common RV weight-related terms, let’s break down the typical weight based on the RV class. 

Note: all weights listed below are dry weight, i.e. the weight of the vehicle straight out of the manufacturer, and does not include fluids, propane, occupants, or supplies. 

Class A

Class A RVs are the luxury megabuses of the RV world, longer and bigger than any other RV class (only rivaled by fifth wheels in some cases). 

What you give up in maneuverability you gain in size and amenities, but you’ll be lugging around a behemoth that can be incredibly hard to park in campsites and just about anywhere else. 

The typical weight for a Class A RV is between 15,000 – 35,000 lbs.

Class B

The Class B RV is a van style vehicle and the smallest of the RV classes, allowing for the greatest maneuverability and zero issues parking at campsites. 

Class B RVs typically come in between 6,000 – 8,000 lbs.

Class C

The Class C RV is the mid-sized vehicle of the motorized RV world, smaller than a Class A RV but a good bit larger than a Class B van. 

The average weight of a Class C RV is typically between 10,000 – 12,000 lbs.

Fifth Wheel

A fifth wheel is a towable (non-motorized) RV that attaches directly to the bed of your truck.

Fifth wheels have a large variety of sizes and weights depending on the size of the RV. 

However, fifth wheels can weigh anywhere from 2,500 – 20,000+ lbs, typically 10,000 – 14,000 for a mid-sized fifth wheel. 

Travel Trailer

As opposed to a fifth wheel, a travel trailer attaches to a trailer hitch, perfect for couples or small families.

Travel trailers have a wide-range of weights, ranging from just over 1,000 lbs to 9,000 lbs. 

Toy Hauler

A toy hauler is a trailer designed to hold large toys such as dirt bikes and snowmobiles. 

Toy haulers typically weigh between 10,000 – 15,000 lbs.

Which RV Type Is Best for You?

Shopping for an RV takes a lot of work. 

If you’re researching RV weights to get a better idea of the size of RV that you want, consider checking out our guide on the best RVs for full-time living below:

• 11 Best RV Brands and Manufacturers [2024 Guide]
• 7 Best Travel Trailers for Full-Time Living [Complete 2024 Guide]