What is a GVWR?
Updated: Nov 17
GVWR stands for Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. GVWR is calculated by the manufacturer, saying this is the total amount of weight that can be on the trailer (including the weight of the trailer).
How much weight can I haul on my trailer? Jobsite Trailers' GVWR is no different. For example: If your trailer is rated at 14,000 lbs GVWR, and your trailer weighs 3,000 lbs empty, then you can haul up to 11,000 lbs on the trailer; this is referred to as payload capacity.
GVWR stands for Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, and essentially means the Total amount of weight the trailer can weigh while it's on the road. Typically *, the stickered GVWR is determined by adding together the empty trailer's weight +plus+ the total weight of the cargo it was built to handle (Payload capacity).
Subtract the weight of your trailer from its GVWR to see how much it will hold. If you know how heavy your trailer is, simply subtract its weight from the GVWR. Otherwise, you’ll need to weigh it yourself. Hitch the empty trailer to your towing vehicle, haul it to a truck stop or another location with a certified scale, and drive it onto the scale. Once the scale calculates a weight reading, subtract this number from the trailer’s GVR to find out how much weight it can safely carry.
Run a quick search to pull up a list of truck stops and other businesses in your area with certified scales available for general use. In some cases, you may have to pay a small fee in order to weigh your trailer.
The weight of your trailer before it has been loaded is known as its “curb weight.” If you have a trailer with a GVWR of 7,000 lb (3,200 kg) and a curb weight of 4,000 lb (1,800 kg), it will be able to safely haul 3,000 lb (1,400 kg) of cargo.[4]