RV Weight and Payload Calculator
Check cargo, water, propane, and passengers against your RV's GVWR, and see how much payload your tow vehicle has left after tongue weight.
Check what you load against your RV’s weight ratings, and see how much payload your tow vehicle has left. Free, private, and it shows its working.
Why RV weight matters
Every RV has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR): the most the fully loaded RV may weigh. Going over it strains tires, brakes, axles and suspension, and it can make handling unpredictable. Overloading is also easy to do by accident, because water, propane, food and gear add up quickly. For example, fresh water weighs about 8.34 pounds per gallon, so a 40-gallon tank adds more than 330 pounds on its own.
Where to find your weight ratings
Look for the federal certification label and the cargo carrying capacity sticker, usually near the entry door on motorhomes or on the front left side of trailers. These show the GVWR, axle ratings (GAWR), and the unloaded vehicle weight as the RV left the factory. Dealer-added options are not always included, so your real cargo capacity may be lower than the sticker suggests.
How to check your real weight
- Load the RV the way you normally travel, including water and propane.
- Weigh it at a certified public scale, such as those at many truck stops.
- Weigh each axle if the scale allows, then compare every reading with its rating.
- For trailers, weigh the tow vehicle with and without the trailer attached to find the real tongue or pin weight.
This calculator helps you plan before you weigh. A scale ticket is the only reliable final answer.
Tips for more accurate results
- Use the numbers on your RV’s own weight labels, not brochure figures, and remember dealer-installed options.
- Confirm your estimate at a certified scale, weighing each axle if you can.
Related guides
When this tool helps most
Use it before you load for a long trip and whenever you add heavy gear. Weight affects braking, tires and handling, and payload runs out sooner than most owners expect.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Counting only cargo and forgetting water, propane and passengers.
- Ignoring tongue weight when calculating truck payload.
- Guessing instead of weighing the rig at a truck scale.
Step-by-step guides that use this tool
These guides explain the decisions behind the numbers, so you can act on your result with confidence.
Understanding your results
- Remaining payload: what your vehicle can still carry after people, gear and tongue or pin weight.
- Lowest rating: the weakest link in the chain sets your limit.
- Warnings: any rating you exceed is flagged so you can move or remove weight.
Two quick scenarios
Fifth wheel pin weight
Pin weight takes a large share of a pickup’s payload, which is why many fifth wheels need a heavier truck than expected.
Full water tank
Fresh water is heavy. Traveling with tanks partly filled can keep you inside your ratings.
Before you rely on the numbers
- Find ratings on the door-jamb and RV labels.
- Weigh the loaded rig at a truck scale.
- Count passengers, pets and bed-mounted gear.
- Recheck tire pressure for the loaded weight.
Keep planning with RV trailer hitch guide and Tongue Weight Calculator.
Official references
Frequently asked questions
Cargo carrying capacity is the GVWR minus the unloaded vehicle weight. It is the total weight available for water, propane, food, gear, passengers in a motorhome, and any equipment you add. Yes. The trailer’s tongue or pin weight rests on the tow vehicle, so it counts against the truck’s payload along with passengers and cargo in the truck. Many RVers carry only the water they need for the drive and fill up near their campsite, which saves weight and fuel. Check whether your campsite has water first.What is cargo carrying capacity?
Does tongue weight count against my truck's payload?
Should I travel with an empty fresh water tank?
This tool is for planning and education only. It does not store your entries. Read our disclaimer.