Hitch Weight vs. Dry Weight: The Key Difference for Safe Towing

Hitch weight is the portion of a trailer’s weight that presses down on your tow vehicle’s hitch, while dry weight (also called UVW) is the trailer’s factory weight before cargo, water, propane, batteries, or dealer-installed options. Understanding the difference helps you match a trailer to a tow vehicle safely, because hitch weight directly uses up payload on the vehicle, and dry weight is not the number you’ll actually tow once loaded.

What Each Term Means

Hitch weight (also called tongue weight or pin weight)

Hitch weight is the downward force the trailer applies to the tow point. On a bumper-pull/travel trailer, it’s tongue weight at the hitch ball; on a fifth-wheel, it’s pin weight at the kingpin. This number changes as you load the trailer and typically falls within 10%–15% of the trailer’s loaded weight for travel trailers and 15%–25% for fifth-wheels. Hitch weight counts against the tow vehicle’s payload capacity and influences handling, braking, and stability.

Dry weight (also called UVW—Unloaded Vehicle Weight)

Dry weight is the trailer’s weight as it leaves the factory with standard equipment, but without cargo, fresh water, and typically without dealer-installed options; batteries and propane may or may not be included depending on the manufacturer. Because options and fluids add weight, the “dry” number is almost always lower than the actual towing weight. The most accurate reference for a specific unit is the trailer’s federal weight labels, which list its as-built weight and cargo capacity.

How These Numbers Affect Towing Capacity and Safety

Hitch weight and dry weight influence different parts of the towing equation. The following ratings show where each matters and how to avoid overloading your vehicle or trailer.

• Payload (tow vehicle): Hitch/tongue or pin weight uses payload, along with people, pets, cargo, and the hitch hardware itself.
• GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating): The maximum allowed weight of the tow vehicle when loaded. Too much hitch weight can push the vehicle over its GVWR or rear axle rating.
• GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Ratings): Limits for each axle. Tongue or pin weight shifts load to the rear axle; a weight-distribution hitch can re-balance some load to the front axle and trailer axles but does not increase ratings.
• GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating): The maximum combined weight of the loaded tow vehicle and loaded trailer. Dry weight doesn’t determine compliance—actual loaded weights do.
• Trailer GVWR: The maximum the trailer itself can weigh when loaded. Your real-world trailer weight—often far above the brochure dry weight—must stay at or below this number.

Taken together, these ratings mean you must look beyond dry weight and verify the loaded trailer weight and actual hitch weight against your vehicle’s payload, axle ratings, and tow ratings.

Typical Targets and Ranges

Stable towing depends on maintaining appropriate hitch weight as a percentage of the trailer’s loaded weight. These commonly accepted ranges help guide setup and loading.

• Travel trailers (bumper-pull): Aim for 10%–15% tongue weight of the trailer’s actual loaded weight; 12%–13% is a frequently cited sweet spot for stability.
• Fifth-wheels: Expect 15%–25% pin weight of the actual loaded weight; many land around 18%–22% depending on floorplan.
• Distribution effect: Heavier gear loaded forward raises hitch weight; gear aft reduces it, potentially causing sway if too low.

These ranges are guidelines, not guarantees. Verify with scales and adjust loading and hitch setup to achieve stable handling.

A Worked Example

Here’s how hitch weight and dry weight play out in practice and how to check that you’re within limits.

1. Brochure lists a travel trailer dry weight of 5,500 lb and GVWR of 7,000 lb. Your tow vehicle has 1,500 lb payload on its door jamb label.
2. After loading camping gear, food, and filling 30 gallons of fresh water (~250 lb), the trailer scales at 6,600 lb.
3. Target tongue weight at 12%–13% is roughly 790–860 lb.
4. Your hitch hardware weighs 100 lb, and two adults plus a dog add 420 lb to the truck.
5. Total payload used: 100 (hitch) + 420 (people/pet) + ~825 (tongue) ≈ 1,345 lb, which is under the 1,500 lb payload—but leaves little margin for additional cargo.

This example shows why relying on dry weight can be misleading; the real constraint often becomes tow vehicle payload once hitch weight and passengers are included.

Measuring in the Real World

Published numbers are a starting point. To be sure you’re safe and legal, measure actual weights after the trailer is loaded as you’ll tow it.

• CAT or public scales: Weigh truck and trailer together, then truck alone, and calculate trailer and hitch weights from axle readings.
• Tongue scale: A dedicated tongue-weight scale gives a direct reading for travel trailers.
• Fifth-wheel pin weight: Use axle-scale method; compare truck axle weights with and without the trailer on the hitch.
• Check labels: The yellow Tire and Loading Information label and the federal certification label on the trailer list as-built weight and cargo capacity specific to your unit.

Regularly recheck weights if you change loading, add batteries or solar, or travel with different water levels—these all alter hitch weight and handling.

Common Misconceptions

Several myths can lead to overloading or poor handling. Keep these clarifications in mind.

• “Dry weight equals towing weight.” False—real-world towing uses the loaded weight, often hundreds to thousands of pounds higher.
• “Weight-distribution hitches increase capacity.” They help balance axle loads and improve control but do not raise GVWR, GAWR, or payload limits.
• “Tongue weight is fixed.” It varies with cargo placement, tanks, and accessories; verify after loading.
• “If tow rating is high enough, I’m fine.” Payload, axle ratings, and hitch ratings can still be limiting factors even if the tow rating looks generous.

Understanding these points helps you evaluate the entire system—truck, hitch, and trailer—rather than a single brochure number.

Bottom Line

Hitch weight is a dynamic, real-world load on your tow vehicle that directly uses payload and affects stability. Dry weight is a baseline factory number for the trailer that excludes cargo and often fluids and dealer-installed items. For safe towing, base your decisions on actual loaded weights and ensure hitch weight falls within healthy percentages while all vehicle and trailer ratings remain within limits.

Summary

Hitch weight (tongue/pin) is the downward force the trailer applies to the tow vehicle and counts against payload; dry weight (UVW) is the trailer’s factory weight without cargo, water, and typically without dealer-installed options. Dry weight is not the weight you tow—load the trailer, measure actual weights, aim for 10%–15% tongue weight on travel trailers (15%–25% on fifth-wheels), and confirm you stay within all vehicle, axle, hitch, and trailer ratings.

What should your hitch weight be?

What Is Proper Tongue Weight? For conventional trailers with ball-mounted hitches, proper tongue weight is roughly 10 to 15 percent of the total loaded trailer weight.

Do you add hitch weight to dry weight?

No, the published dry weight does not include the hitch weight, as it represents the trailer’s empty weight as it rolled off the factory floor, before any cargo or fluids are added. However, the hitch weight is an actual weight that is a component of the trailer’s total weight, and this portion of the weight is what is transferred to the tow vehicle’s hitch. 
Understanding Dry Weight

• Definition: Dry weight (also known as Unloaded Vehicle Weight or UVW) is the weight of the trailer when it leaves the factory, with no cargo, no water, and no propane. 
• What’s included: It represents the base weight of the trailer itself, including any factory-installed options. 

Understanding Hitch Weight

• Definition: Hitch weight (or tongue weight) is the amount of weight the trailer’s tongue places on the hitch of the tow vehicle. 
• Relationship to dry weight: While not included in the dry weight, the hitch weight is a portion of the trailer’s total weight that is transferred to the tow vehicle. 
• Dynamic nature: Hitch weight changes depending on how the trailer is loaded, with any cargo stored in front of the axles increasing the hitch weight. 

Key takeaway
You should never simply add the published dry weight and hitch weight to get the trailer’s total weight. Instead, remember that the hitch weight is a part of the overall weight that presses down on the tow vehicle, and this must be accounted for when calculating the total payload and towing capacity.

Does hitch weight count towards towing capacity?

To determine your vehicle’s towing capacity, consult your vehicle’s owner’s manual or contact the manufacturer. They will provide you with the maximum weight your vehicle can safely tow. Hitch weight and towing capacity are closely related. The hitch weight should not exceed the towing capacity of your vehicle.

What should the tongue weight be on a 7000 lb trailer?

For a 7,000 lb (Gross Vehicle Weight, or GVW) trailer, the tongue weight should be between 700 and 1,050 pounds, or 10 to 15 percent of the total trailer weight. You can use a portable scale placed under the trailer tongue to measure this weight directly, or you can use a simpler method by placing a scale at a specific point and multiplying the reading by a factor of three, as described in various guides, to get an estimate. 
Calculating Your Trailer’s Tongue Weight

1. Know Your Total Weight: First, you need to know the Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) of the trailer when it’s loaded with cargo. For a 7,000 lb trailer, the 10-15% range is 700 to 1,050 pounds. 
2. Use a Portable Scale: The most accurate way to find the tongue weight is to use a scale. 
   • Extend the trailer’s tongue jack onto blocks. 
   • Place the scale under the tip of the trailer tongue. 
   • Lower the tongue jack onto the scale. 
   • Read the weight on the scale; this is the tongue weight. 
3. Trailer Loading and Balance: Proper loading is crucial for safety. 
   • Place approximately 60% of the load in front of the trailer’s axles. 
   • Place the remaining 40% of the load behind the axles. This helps prevent trailer sway and ensures proper tongue weight. 

Key Considerations

• Weight Distribution Hitch (WDH): A WDH is highly recommended for towing heavier trailers. It helps distribute the tongue weight evenly and keeps the trailer riding straight. 
• Safety: Always keep your tongue weight within the recommended range to ensure safe and stable towing. Too little tongue weight can lead to dangerous trailer sway, while too much can overload the tow vehicle’s rear axle.