How to Find the GVW of a Trailer
- 1). Determine the weight of the empty trailer first. In most cases, if you have a factory-built trailer, the gross weight of the empty trailer will be listed on a sticker attached to the trailer frame. If you cannot find the sticker, refer to the manual that comes with the trailer. If there is no owner's manual, you may need to weigh the empty trailer at a commercial truck scale.
- 2). Determine the weight of your small load by adding up the individual weights of each item that goes on the trailer. Weigh these objects on a bathroom scale before loading them on a trailer. Have another person help you, so the process will move faster. If you are pulling something larger, like a motorcycle, the vehicle weight of the bike will be listed in its owner's manual.
- 3). Add the weight of your load plus the weight of the empty trailer to determine the GVW of your loaded trailer.
- 4). Determine the weight of a large-load trailer using a commercial truck scale. Pull up your vehicle so that only the trailer wheels are sitting on the scale. You do not need to remove the tongue from the trailer hitch on your vehicle. This will give you a close approximation to the total weight of your trailer.