Stupid Question

[EFAIII]

I know this may sound dumb to most of you, but I have just started camping and am currently camping in a 1994 Palamino Filly.  The kids are starting to get bigger so I need something a little bigger.  I know how much my TV will pull but when I look at the weights on some of the campers, do I go by the Total Dry Weight or the GVWR?  And could someone explain these to me.  It has probably been covered before so I am sorry for this if it has.

[abbear]

I know how much my TV will pull but when I look at the weights on some of the campers, do I go by the Total Dry Weight or the GVWR?  And could someone explain these to me.  It has probably been covered before so I am sorry for this if it has.

Unloaded Vehicle Weight (UVW) (dry weight) - Weight of the trailer as manufactured at the factory when separated from the tow vehicle.  The UVW does not include the weight of water in the storage tank or water heater (if applicable) or propane in the gas bottle.

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) - Maximum permissibl weight of the trailer fully loaded for camping when separated from the tow vehicle including all accessories, fluids, and cargo.  GVWR = Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) + tongue rating.

The above is straight out of my Fleetwood owners manual.  

I would use the gvwr to determine what you could tow.  That is the max your trailer can weigh.

[EFAIII]

Thanks for the info.  That is just what I needed.  I would have looked at the owners manual for my camper, but I got it second hand and the manual is long gone.

[tlhdoc]

Another thing you need to look at when determining what you can tow is, what is in the TV (tow vehicle).  Many vehicles base the amount that the TV can tow on an empty vehicle with just a 150 pound driver.  So anyone and anything in the TV has to be counted in your towing capacity.

[aw738]

EFAIII what part of WV are you from?