How Much Does A Pop-Up Camper Weigh?

I think it’s a given that pop-up campers are great, right? You should never have to give up your dreams of traveling and exploring this beautiful world that we live in.

But RVs can be pretty pricey and towing a travel trailer isn’t always a practical option. And that’s where pop-up campers come in to save the day.

Since they’re much smaller and collapsible, they tend to be much easier to tow without causing too much stress on your car. And just like that, the whole world opens up, and you can go out and seek adventure wherever adventure calls.

But there are still practical issues that you’ll need to consider before you run out the door, wallet in hand, ready to purchase your very own pop-up camper.

While they are typically much easier to tow than travel trailers, you’ll still need to consider the weight of your camper to ensure that your car can haul it along with you wherever you go.

There isn’t one set answer to how much one of these types of campers will weigh, and this is because there is quite a variety of pop-up campers.

They come in a range of different sizes. Typically, your smaller pop-up campers will weigh as little as just 600 pounds, while you’re more extravagant and larger options can exceed 4,500 pounds.

On average though, most pop-up campers tend to weigh around 2000 pounds.

Pop-Up Camper Weight Ratings & Definitions

It’s really important to know how much your pop-up camper is going to weigh. You don’t want to purchase a camper that your car can’t tow.

Or even worse, get halfway to your destination for your car to give up and a breakdown due to too much weight.

Is there anything worse than waiting for a recovery van in the middle of nowhere knowing that you’re missing out on all the fun waiting for you at the end of your destination?

But when it comes to looking at camper weights, there’s a lot of different lingo that can be hard to wrap your head around.

It’s important that you know what each and every weight listing means so that you know for sure that you have the appropriate vehicle for the correct camper.

So let’s take a look at some of the terms you’ll come across.

• UVW – Unloaded Vehicle Weight – This is basically the lowest weight that the camper will be. This is the weight without any of your baggage, gear, or kit in the camper.

You should consider that by the time your camper is ready for the road it will weigh more than its unloaded weight.

• CCC – Cargo Carrying Capacity – This is the limit of weight that you can add to the camper. You’ll need to weigh everything that is going into your camper, including any clothes, gadgets, or appliances.

Make sure you do this, it can be surprising how quickly you will reach the maximum capacity.

• GAWR – Gross Axle Weight Rating – This is the maximum weight that the trailer’s axles will be able to support safely. This rating includes the UVW and the CCC.

It is really important you ensure you don’t go over this weight as the trailer may fail under the load if it is surpassed.

• GVRW – Gross Vehicle Weight Ratio – This is the amount of weight that your vehicle has the ability to carry.

This includes both the weight of the car and the camper so you’ll need to consider the passengers, pets, baggage, and the like.

How Much Can Your Vehicle Tow?

When it comes to buying your new pop-up camper the main thing that you’ll need to keep in mind is how much your car has the capacity to tow.

You need to shop within the means of your car or that pop-up camper won’t be getting very far at all.

To find out just how much your car can tow, you have two options. You can check the owner’s manual of the vehicle, or you can find out through the vehicle’s VIN number.

Failing that you can always look up the make and model online and see what comes up, but it’s important to remember that towing allowances will vary based on the model of the car.

For example, a basic model will tow less than an upgraded version.

Make sure that you don’t purchase a pop-up camper that matches the maximum weight that your car can tow.

You want to opt for something several hundred pounds below that number to account for anything that you’ll put into the camper.

Remember how we talked about how quickly weight can add up when you factor in your water, gear, and gadgets? You don’t want to push your vehicle too hard.

Pop-Up Campers And Breaks

Adding breaks to a heavy trailer make them significantly safer on the road, so they are a wise investment for most pop-up trailers.

Legally, you are only required to have breaks if the trailer is over 3000 pounds, but I would always advise adding breaks to any campers over 2500 pounds in weight.

So, if you have a 600-pound pop-up camper, you won’t need one. But since the majority of pop-up campers tend to be upwards of 2000 pounds, I would always lean towards adding breaks to your camper.

Final Thoughts

Most pop-up campers weigh approximately 2000 pounds. However, this can vary from camper to camper depending on their size.

When looking at purchasing a pop-up camper, it’s imperative that you take note of its weight as well as your car’s towing capacity.

You don’t want a pop-up camper that your car cannot tow, as that is the perfect recipe for an exploration disaster. And let’s face it, no one wants to break their car.

You’ll also need to ensure that you take into consideration that the camper will become a fair amount heavier once you add things like water, luggage, and other essentials.

So always ensure that you opt for a camper that is a few hundred pounds under your car’s weight limit.

And once you’ve done this, you’re all set and the only thing left to worry about is which destination you want to pick first!