How much does a horse trailer weigh? How much does a 40 ft trailer weigh?
When looking for the best 2 horse trailer with living quarters, I learned that the weight of the horse trailer is essential for finding the right towing vehicle size.
So, keep reading to learn more about the average weight of horse trailers and which the best 40 ft travel trailers are.
Quick Summary
- 40-foot horse trailers are among the heaviest trailers, and their weight varies by brand and model.
- Get familiar with the different types of 40-foot camper trailer weights to ensure you pick one with the proper cargo capacity.
- You need a proper towing vehicle to pull a 40-foot RV or horse travel trailer.
How Much Does a 40-Foot Horse Trailer Weigh?
Horse trailers come in several styles, depending on how many animals you want to transport at a time and whether you go for living quarters.
So, how much does a 40-foot horse trailer weigh? Most 40-foot trailers have a gross vehicle weight of around 15 000 to 17 000 pounds (but some reach over 30 000). Their dry weight is over 8 000+ pounds.
Still, the total weight of 40-foot horse trailers can vary, depending on the model (bumper vs. gooseneck), the trailer's material, and the load (horses, your tack, dressing room, etc.).
atch this video to see how big a 40-foot travel trailer is (imagine traveling on the highway in such a giant!):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sf1aT3peEO0
In general, 40-foot horse trailers are one of the most expensive and luxurious units. But they're handy if you have to transport several horses (about six) at a time.
So, how much does the average horse trailer weigh? Let's talk about it in detail so you can better understand how heavy travel trailers are.
How Much Does The Average Horse Trailer Weigh?
Horse trailers are bumpers (connect to the tow vehicle with a bumper hitch), goosenecks (attach to a towing truck with a tongue), or stock trailers.
The average weight of horse trailers varies, depending on their type, the building material, and how many horses they can transport.
So, how heavy is a horse trailer? According to experts from Curt Manufacturing: (1)
- Small horse bumper trailers for one or two horses weigh around 3000 pounds (empty) and have a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of up to 8 000 pounds.
- Large livestock trailers have a dry weight of around 7000 pounds and a GVWR of up to 24 000.
- 12-horse travel trailers can reach up to 24 000 pounds in weight.
Unfortunately, the manufacturer doesn't always provide all the information about the maximum weights or weight limits, so you may have to reach out to inquire about it.
But what about the average travel trailer RV? How heavy is it? Let's find out!
How Much Does the Average Travel Trailer Weigh?
RVs have similar weights to horse travel trailers. But since travel trailers come in more sizes and brands than horse vehicles, you can find ones as light as 1000 pounds.
According to Camper Report, 5200 pounds is the average weight of the most common travel trailers. These are usually around 20-24 feet in length. (2)
But a 40-foot camper trailer weight is around 12 000 to 30 000 pounds. And a 40-foot RV can reach 11 000 pounds of dry weight, as you'll see in the chart below.
40 Ft Trailers Weight Chart
Trailers come in a wide variety of models, styles, and brands. And every manufacturer builds its units to serve a different purpose. That's why the weight among brands varies so much.
I've prepared a travel trailer weight chart to help you better understand these heavy-duty vehicles. Keep in mind that not all of these are suitable for transporting horses!
|
Model |
Length |
Dry Weight |
Gross Vehicle Rating Weight |
|
FEATHERLITE 8582 |
15' 2" to 40' 11." |
from 4500 to 8100 |
Unlisted |
|
Luxe Elite LF-39FB |
40' 10" |
18 000 pounds |
24 000 pounds |
|
Jayco Eagle 334DROK |
41' 2" |
10 755 lbs |
12 825 Pounds |
|
2006 Bloomer 8520GLQ |
40' box length |
16 000 pounds |
30 000 pounds |
|
K-Z Sportsmen 362BH |
40' 9" |
8 250 pounds |
10 460 Pounds |
|
Rivenlee's Semi Trailer |
44' |
Unlisted |
38 000 pounds |
|
Grand Design Solitude 378MBS-R |
40' 2" |
14 344 pounds |
16 800 pounds |
Know The Weights Associated With A Travel Trailer
When looking for the perfect 40-foot camper or horse trailer, it can be confusing to see several weights. And not knowing what they mean can lead to you choosing the wrong vehicle.
So, what each of these weights means, and why are they so important? You'd be surprised!
Dry Weight
Dry weight shows how much the travel trailer weighs empty with standard equipment - without fuel, passengers, or other optional equipment.
As the RV Geeks explain, "Knowing the dry weight of a camper is important to other calculations such as appropriate toad weight, cargo-carrying capacity, passenger-carrying capacity, and more." (3)
Sometimes, manufacturers use empty or unloaded weight instead of dry.
Gross Vehicle Weight
The gross vehicle weight rating shows the maximum weight the trailer can bear. So 14, 000 pounds of gross vehicle weight means you can't load provisions, passengers, horses, or cargo over 14,000 lbs.
On the other hand, the gross combination weight rating shows the maximum weight of the travel trailer with its attached tow truck, including all the passengers/cargo in the trailer and tow vehicle.
Hitch Weight
Hitch weight or tongue weight shows you how much weight the travel trailer places on the hitch it's attached to. It's vital for determining the best towing vehicle for your type of 40-foot camper.
Curb Weight
Curb weight is the vehicle's weight with a full tank and all standard equipment but without any passengers, horses, or other extra weight.
Cargo Carrying Capacity
The cargo capacity shows the maximum permissible weight of personal belongings or additional weight you can load on your travel trailer.
The average cargo capacity of a small horse trailer is about 4 300 pounds. But the bigger the trailer is, the more horses and equipment you can load.
Here's one easy method for calculating the cargo carrying capacity - subtract the curb weight from the GVWR.
And now, let's see which the best 40-foot travel trailers are!
3 Best 40-Foot Travel Trailers With Their Specifications
40-foot horse trailers come with plenty of features to make transporting your precious cargo as safe as possible and provide extra comfort. And here are the three best ones!
Featherlite is an excellent choice if you're looking for a luxurious horse trailer with living quarters. It's available from 15-foot to 40-foot in length with an internal height of 7' 6" and 40" stall width.
This 40-foot travel trailer impresses with its padded slant slot dividers, stall rubber mats, LED dome lights, adjustable saddle racks, stain-resistant linoleum flooring, and air conditioning.
The living quarters are of the highest quality, offering you a luxurious kitchen with a burner stove, refrigerator, microwave, and more.
And what I like the most is that you have an on-demand pressure water system, a wardrobe with mirrored doors, and a comfortable bed with a queen mattress.
Check this video for a quick look inside:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQvC1gD_4Sk
Safetack Reverse is a combination of forward and rear facing horse trailers. That's great because you can load your horses from the forward and the rear-facing walls.
And it's one of the best horse trailers because you can customize its length and features to suit your needs and animals. It's perfect for larger horse breeds, and you can order it to accommodate six horses.
The standard model includes luxuries, such as a fold-out sofa bed, full bath, hardwood cabinets, safety features (SafeKick walls, No Leak Roof, etc.), and kitchen counters.
Boomer is another excellent brand for horse owners. It has impressive innovation features, such as an integrated hay pod, swinging feed doors, swing-out saddle racks, and overhead storage areas.
Best of all, Bloomer can modify the trailer to suit your required overall length, horse stalls, and internal and external heights. And its living quarters are also of a high standard.
For example, the 2006 Bloomer 8520GLQ has a well-equipped kitchen, living room, and bathroom.
As for the horse trailer, it features aluminum construction, 17.5-inch wheels, and a 16 000 dry weight. It's suitable for five horses.
What Vehicles Do You Need To Pull A 40-Foot Trailer?
Since 40-foot travel trailers have an average dry weight of around 8 000 pounds, you can't use a regular pickup truck to pull it.
So, what tow vehicles do you need to pull a 40-foot trailer? It's best to rely on full-sized, medium/ heavy-duty trucks to do the job, such as F-250.
But to be safe, always check the vehicle's towing capacity, and don't forget about the hitch weight!
FAQs
- How Much Does an 18 ft Camper Weigh?
An 18-foot camper weighs approximately 2300 pounds. But the exact weight depends on the model, the construction materials, and the brand.
- How Much Does a 36-Foot Trailer Weigh?
A 36-foot trailer can weigh 8000 to 10 000. But 36-foot 5th-wheel campers can reach up to 15 000 when empty of passengers and cargo.
- How Much Does a 5th-Wheel Trailer Weigh?
5th-wheel campers are one of the heaviest units. They can reach up to 20 000 pounds, but most are around 13 000 -15 000 pounds.
Conclusion
How much does a 40-ft trailer weigh? 40-foot travel trailers are heavy vehicles with an average GVWR of more than 8 000 pounds and a laden weight of up to 30 000 pounds.
Don't forget to consider your horses' breed and size when picking a 40-ft trailer for animal transport. Horses over 17 hands in height will have problems fitting in a 7' height trailer.
What do you think about this topic? How much does a 40-ft trailer weigh? Share your thoughts with me in the comment sections.
Resources:
- A Guide to Trailer Weights by Trailer Type . CURT Group OrderHub. Available from: https://www.curtmfg.com/trailer-weight
- Harmer J. Average Trailer Weights Examples . Camper Report. 2016 . Available from: https://camperreport.com/camper-weight/
- RVgeeks. What is Dry Weight on a Camper? . TheRVgeeks. 2021 . Available from: https://www.thervgeeks.com/what-is-dry-weight-on-a-camper/