Published Date: August 13, 2020
Last Updated on October 24, 2022 by camper front
How much does a small camper weigh? That is precisely what we’ll be talking about today.
When you want to know the weight of something, all you need to do is pop it right on the scale, but it’s not that easy when it comes to weighing a camper, there are a couple of factors that have to “weigh” in!
So if you are trying to figure out how much weight you are going to have on your hands on your next hauling, or you are probably looking to invest in a camper, bring your chair closer as we thoroughly review the average weight of a small camper.
Table of Contents
How Much Does a Small Camper Weigh?
A small camper can weigh anywhere around 5,000 pounds (2,268 kg) of dry weight on an average, which refers to the weight of an RV without any cargo, passengers, or extra installations.
However, you may need to add an additional weight of about 1,500 pounds (680 kg)of gear and other “stuff” to get your real weight.
Depending on the construction material (we are going to talk about that later on this article), you should expect your camper to weigh about 250 lbs per foot of trailer.
Now let’s look at different examples of campers and their weights;
- 1,545 Lbs (dry weight)– 13 Feet – 2019 10RK Hummingbird Trailer
- 2,860 Lbs (dry weight) – 16 Feet – 2018 Sport 16RB Trailer
- 2,980 Lbs (dry weight) – 19 Feet 10 Inches – 2019 17RK Hummingbird Trailer
- 3321 Lbs – (Shipped Weight) – 21 Feet 5 Inches – Keystone 175 LHS Single Axle Trailer
- 3,634 Lbs (dry weight) – 22 Feet – 2018 Sport 22FB Trailer
- 4761 Lbs (dry weight) – 23 Feet – 2018 International Serenity 23CB Trailer
- 6,586 Lbs (dry weight) – 28 Feet – 2018 Airstream Land Yacht Trailer
- 3,715 Lbs ( dry weight) 19 feet – 2015 Jayco Jayflight 19RD
- 3,786 Lbs ( dry weight) -17 feet – 2017 R-Pod RP-176
- 3,974 Lbs (dry weight) -23 feet– 2017 Coleman CTS192RDWE
- 4,800 Lbs (dry weight) – 2017 Rockwood Mini-Light 2504s (25 foot long box length, 29 foot total length)
- 5,118 Lbs (dry weight)- 24 feet – 2017 Salem Hemisphere 24BH
- 5,605 Lbs (dry weight) 26 feet – 2015 Jayco Jay Flight 26RKS
- 6,030 Lbs (dry weight)27 feet– 2015 Jayco Jay Flight 27RLS
- 7,690 Lbs dry weight) 38 feet – 2016 Jayco Jay Flight 38BHDS
- 7,705 Lbs (dry weight) 32 feet – 2017 Cherokee West 274DBH
- 5625 Lbs (dry weight ) – 29 Feet 2 Inches – 2019 24MBH White Hawk Trailer
- 7,757 Lbs (dry weight) – 37 Feet 10 Inches – 2019 32BHS White Hawk Trailer
- 6,620 Lbs (dry weight) – 35 Feet 3 Inches – 2019 30RD White Hawk Trailer
Read Also: How Much Does a Popup Camper Cost?
Factors That Affects a Camper’s Total Weight
Construction type of your camper
There are basically two types of campers; we have those made from aluminum and those made from fiberglass. The constructions is a major factor when determining how much does a small camper weigh. They both have their pros and cons, but let’s get into a few details
Fiberglass: This is a type of construction where the camper is built using a fiberglass exterior with smooth exterior sidewalls.
They are considered to be more superior and durable because the fiberglass construction has an aluminum metal structure that is more durable and lightweight. It does a great job of holding up to various rocks that comes its way as well as other sources of potential damage.
It also has a smooth surface, which is easier to clean; it stays cleaner and maintains its shine better than aluminum.
And since they look better over a longer period of time, they have a better reselling price.
The fiberglass exterior means that the internal structure of the camper is made from aluminum piping and not of wood and this means better gas mileage
Aluminum: Aluminum is inexpensive and yes, it can be easily damaged compared to fiberglass, but its easy to repair.
The exterior structure of shingles that makes replacing a piece with another as cheap and easy as it can get. I know the word cheap is being repeated all over but isn’t a bad product.
The only downside it has is that they often have wooden frames which could be pretty bulky and it could have a direct impact on your gas mileage, and it also puts additional strain on your truck and its transmission.
Liquid and Additional Gears
The fluids in your camper’s system add up pretty quickly and are going to contribute a significant amount of weight to your camper’s total weight.
A gallon of water weighs around 8 pounds, and your average trailer contains up to 48 gallons of freshwater. So your freshwater tank is going to add about 400 pounds of weight to your camper.
Other items like a space heater, an air conditioner, a generator capable of powering your entire travel trailer will all contribute to the additional weight.
Other days to day necessities like items of clothing, food items, toiletries, dishwares all need to be factored in also as they will contribute to the weight of your camper.
Slideouts
Slideouts or a sliding room system that expands the living space, this is a great addition and adds useful space, but it dramatically adds a ton of weight to your camper. Knowing the number and size of the slides is important when calculating how much does a small camper weigh.
So, if your camper has a slideout, it’s a major addition as it adds roughly 800 pounds of weight to the trailer.
Important Weight Definitions to Know
There are a ton of different terminologies when it comes to knowing the weight of your camper, and it’s easy to get confused. However, it is important to understand the different terms when trying to determine how much does a small camper weigh.
Here are some of the weight definitions you need to familiarize yourself with;
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)
This is the maximum weight of the vehicle or trailer when fully loaded for travel. This includes the unloaded vehicle weight, extra equipment or accessories, cargo, passengers, liquids.
The tow vehicle and trailer each have their own GVWR.
Unloaded Vehicle Weight
This is the dry weight of the camper with no gear, no fluids, and no additional items. This is the exact structure weight before it’s prepped to hit the road.
Dry Weight
Dry Weight is like Curb Weight, except all of the camper’s consumables such as washer fluid, oil, fuel, coolant, etc. are not added in the calculation.
Cargo Carrying Capacity
This is the highest amount of weight your cargo and gear should amount to. You can weigh your items separately before loading, to carefully keep track of your cargo’s weight.
Gross Combined Weight Rating
The GCWR is the total weight of absolutely everything. When you total the vehicle, everything inside the vehicle, the towing apparatus, the gears, and the trailer, it should be less than this number.
Conclusion
There are tons of factors to consider when considering the average weight of a small camper. One thing to keep in mind is that the overall weight is going to be totally different from the dry weight, and every owner typically has their own items that they use, which should be factored in.
Hopefully, we’ve been able to give you the best answer to the question: How much does a small camper weigh?
Do let us know if you have any more questions regarding the weight of a small camper.
