If you want to be able to bring everything you need on your next RV trip, then you might be looking to hook up a trailer of some kind. Whatever you’re planning to attach, though it is important that you first answer the question:
How much weight can my RV tow?
Each individual RV will have a unique towing capacity that you can find by looking at the specifications given by the manufacturer. In general, though, most Class-A RVs can tow up to 10,000 or 15,000 pounds, Class-C RVs can tow between 3,000 to 10,000 pounds, and Class-B RVs can tow 3,000 to 5,000 pounds.
Read ahead to find out how much your RV is likely to be able to tow so that you can figure out what you can attach to the back when you’re traveling.
How Can I Find Out the Towing Capacity for My RV?
Every individual vehicle will have a different towing capacity, depending on its specific make and model.
Although there are some general rules that are expected for vehicles based on their size, you will need to look at the specifications for your motorhome to check exactly how much your RV can handle.
Fortunately, this is pretty easy to find out. Every vehicle has to publish its maximum towing capacity in the handbook.
If you haven’t got a physical copy of yours, then you can almost always find a PDF online by searching for your make and model.
Additionally, you can check the VIN plate or door sticker to figure out your towing capacity. This can be found in a few different locations:
- Front of the engine block.
- Front of the car frame.
- Inside the driver-side doorjamb.
- Driver-side doorpost.
- Underneath the spare tire.
The VIN plate or door sticker should have figures for the curb weight (how much the vehicle weighs without anything in it), and the Gross Combined Weight Rating (how much the vehicle can manage including any trailers, people, fuel, and cargo).
To find out your towing capacity, all you have to do is:
- Find the curb weight
- Add the weight of passengers, fuel, and cargo
- Subtract this from the GCWR
- This is your maximum towing capacity
How Much Weight Can My Tow Hitch Handle?
Don’t forget to check the capacity of your tow hitch as well! While your vehicle itself might be able to manage a high towing weight, your hitch might not.
Again, you can typically find this in the manual or on the VIN plate or sticker. Sometimes, you will see it referred to as “tongue weight”. If you have added an aftermarket tow hitch, then you will need to check this separately.
Most 2-inch tow balls have a maximum capacity of 8,000 pounds, whereas slightly larger tow balls with longer receivers can handle 10,000 pounds all the way up to 21,000.
How Much Weight Can Different Classes of RV Tow?
Although every RV will have a specific ow maximum capacity for how much it can tow, there are some general expectations that you might have for your vehicle, depending on its class.
- Class A: Typically, Class A RVs have the highest towing capacity of any kind of motorhome. The average Class A can usually tow up to 10,000 pounds, but some will be able to tow as much as 15,000 pounds.
- Class B: Class B motorhomes often have the smallest towing capacity, as they are the smallest type of RV on the market. They can generally tow between 3,000 and 5,000 pounds
- Class C: These motorhomes fall somewhere in between a Class B and a Class A. They might only be able to tow 3,000 pounds, but some will be able to tow as much as 8,000 pounds.
It is really important to remember, though, that you can’t just guess your RV’s towing capacity based on class alone.
You have to make sure that you know exactly what the towing limit is for your specific make or model, as towing too much weight can cause serious damage or even harm.
Towing Capacity of Some of the Most Popular RVs
So, you are going to need to look into the exact make and model of RV that you have if you want to know how much weight you can tow, but how do different RVs compare?
Let’s take a look at a few of the most popular RVs on the market today, and what kind of weight they are rated to handle.
Class A
| Model | Towing Capacity |
| 2022 Tiffin Allegro Red 340 33AL | 5,000 lbs |
| 2021 Newmar Ventana 4326 | 15,000 lbs |
| 2022 Winnebago Sunstar 35 U | 22,000 lbs |
Class B
| Model | Towing Capacity |
| 2022 Winnebago Travato 59K | 3,500 lbs |
| 2022 Airstream Interstate 19 | 4,200-5,000 lbs |
| 2021 Coachmen RV Galleria 24A | 5,000 lbs |
Class C
| Model | Towing Capacity |
| 2022 Winnebago View 24V | 5,000 lbs |
| 2020 Tiffin Wayfarer 25RW | 5,000 lbs |
| 2022 Jayco Redhawk 29XK | 7,500 lbs |
How Much Weight Can My Converted Van Tow?
When it comes to a converted camper van, things shouldn’t be much more complicated. Depending on the alterations that you’ve made, though, you might find that your towing capacity is not quite what you expect.
Typically, you just need to look at the towing capacity of the base vehicle that you are converting.
Some of the best vans to choose for high towing capacity are:
- Ram Promaster – Maximum Towing Capacity: 5,100 lbs
- Mercedes Benz Sprinter – Maximum Towing Capacity: 7,500 lbs
- Ford Transit – Maximum Towing Capacity: 7,500 lbs
- Nissan NV 3500 – Maximum Towing Capacity: 9,400 lbs
- GMC Savana – Maximum Towing Capacity: 10,000 lbs
If you have made any significant alterations to the structure of the van itself, then you should contact a certified mechanic to make sure that your towing capacity hasn’t been affected.
Closing Thoughts
So, how much weight can your RV tow? Well, it all depends on the make and model that you have.
You can find out the maximum towing capacity for your RV by looking in the vehicle handbook, or calculating it based on the curb weight and Gross Combined Weight Rating that you should be able to find on your vehicle’s VIN plate or door sticker.
When it comes to towing, safety should always be the top priority. It’s never worth taking a risk or guessing what your RV can handle – always make sure before you actually hook anything up!
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Erick is a freelance writer and outdoor enthusiast. Growing up in Nairobi Kenya and now calling Glasgow, United Kingdom home. Sipping on homemade spiced swahili tea and enjoying a good book is his idea of bliss.