Typical Weight of a 40 Foot Travel Trailer (15 Examples)

One of the most important things you need to know when towing a travel trailer is the weight of the trailer.  

And the larger the trailer, the more important this becomes, as some of the largest travel trailers can weigh well over 5 tons.  

Which can greatly impact the type of vehicle you will need to tow the trailer safely.  

And one of the largest campers you can buy is the 40-foot travel trailer, which really looks and feels more like a small home than a trailer.  

But just how much does a 40-foot travel trailer weigh?  

A 40-foot travel trailer will typically have a dry weight between 8,000 and 11,000 pounds and a gross vehicle weight between 10,000 and 14,000 pounds.   With items such as trailer design, the number of slides, and four-season capability having the biggest impact on overall weight.

But if you want to know how much a specific 40-foot travel trailer weighs, keep reading.  

As we provide both the dry weight as well as the gross vehicle weight of some of the most popular 40-foot travel trailers on the market today.  

40 Foot Travel Trailer Weights (Lightest to Heaviest)

Understanding the Numbers

When shopping for an RV it’s important that you understand all the different weights associated with a typical travel trailer, because there are actually several different weights you need to be aware of.

Dry Weight

The first weight you need to become familiar with is the dry weight of the travel trailer. 

The dry weight of a travel trailer is the weight of the trailer completely empty and unloaded with no cargo and empty holding tanks.  

Gross Vehicle Weight

The gross vehicle weight of a travel trailer is the trailer’s max weight rating which is set by the manufactuer of the RV.  

So the gross vehicle weight of the trailer is the max amount of weight the trailer can safely handle when it is fully loaded with gear and the tanks are full.  

Hitch Weight

Hitch weight is the amount of weight that the tongue of the trailer will load onto the hitch ball or receiver of your tow vehicle.  

Cargo Carrying Capacity

The last number you need to know when it comes to travel trailer weight is the cargo carrying capacity.  

The cargo-carrying capacity of a trailer is the max cargo weight that the travel trailer can handle.  

5 Popular 40 Foot Travel Trailers and their Specs

In order to give you an even better idea of all the different weights associated with a 40-foot travel trailer.

We wanted to highlight some of the more popular 40-foot travel trailers and provide their full specs with all their different weights including their dry weight, gross vehicle weight, hitch weight, and cargo-carrying capacity.

So you get a real feel for all the different weights associated with a 40-foot travel trailer.

Jayco Eagle 332CBOK (One of the Most Popular)

Quick Specs

• Cost:  $48,000 
• Length:  40 Feet 1 Inch
• Dry Weight:  10,885 Pounds
• Gross Vehicle Weight:  11,995 Pounds
• Hitch Weight:  1,325 Pounds
• Cargo Carrying Capacity:  1,110 Pounds

The Jayco Eagle 332CBOK is one of the most popular 40-foot travel trailers on the road today.  

Featuring a large rear entertainment area that includes ample seating, a fully equipped kitchen with a center island and residential-style appliances, and two large slides.

In addition, this spacious 40-foot travel trailer also comes equipped with a large three-piece center bath and an owner’s suite at the front of the trailer that can be optioned with a wash and dryer.  

Heartland Mallard M335 (Lightest)

The Heartland Mallard M335 has the distinction of being one of the lightest 40-foot travel trailers you can buy, with a dry weight of 8,840 pounds and a gross vehicle weight of 9,900 pounds.

Making this large camper one of the few 40-foot travel trailers that has a gross vehicle weight under 10,000 pounds.  

In addition, this well-appointed travel trailer also has the distinction of being one of the cheapest 40-foot travel trailers you can buy with an average price of only $32,000.

Which is pretty amazing considering how large and well-equipped this travel trailer is from Heartland.  

Forest River XLR Boost 31QB (Toy Hauler)

Quick Specs

• Cost:  $35,000 
• Length:  39 Feet 3 Inches
• Dry Weight:  8,840 Pounds
• Gross Vehicle Weight:  13,465 Pounds
• Hitch Weight:  1,465 Pounds
• Cargo Carrying Capacity:  4,145 Pounds

If you’re looking for a large travel trailer that can not only comfortably accommodate your entire family but also all your toys and outdoor gear, then you need to look no further than the Forest River XLR Boost 31QB.

Because this toy hauler from Forest River is in its own class when it comes to its toy hauler capabilities. 

As this 40-foot toy hauler has a 4,145-pound cargo-carrying capacity, a rear garage with a length of 12 feet 6 inches and a width of just over 8 feet, and a large ramp that allows for easy loading and unloading of all your toys and gear.  

Jayco Eagle 330RSTS (Built for Entertaining)

Quick Specs

• Cost:  $50,000 
• Length:  40 Feet 1 Inch
• Dry Weight:  10,600 Pounds
• Gross Vehicle Weight:  11,995 Pounds
• Hitch Weight:  1,300 Pounds
• Cargo Carrying Capacity:  1,395 Pounds

Another great option if your looking for a large travel trailer is the Jayco Eagle 330RSTS which features a large rear entertaining area that has two huge slides, a well-equipped kitchen with a center island and residential-style appliances, theatre seating, a tri-fold sofa, and a freestanding kitchen table. 

In addition, this 40-foot travel trailer also comes standard with two separate awnings measuring 16 feet in length and 10 feet 6 inches in length. 

But the amenities don’t stop there as this well-appointed large travel trailer from Jayco, also has a large three-piece dry bath, a total of 3 slides, and an optional wash and dryer.  

Forest River Explore Vibe 34BH (Bunk House)

Quick Specs

• Cost:  $33,000 
• Length:  39 Feet 5 Inches
• Dry Weight:  8,164 Pounds
• Gross Vehicle Weight:  9,972 Pounds
• Hitch Weight:  972 Pounds
• Cargo Carrying Capacity:  1,608 Pounds

Another trailer on the lighter side for a 40-foot travel trailer is the Forest River Explore Vibe 34BH.

But just because it has a gross vehicle weight of fewer than 10,000 pounds don’t think that Forest River skimped on features or amenities, because this 40-foot travel trailer is fully loaded with everything you could possibly want.

But perhaps the best feature on this large travel trailer though is its rear bunkhouse which allows this trailer to sleep an amazing 10 people at a time.  

When you factor in the bunkhouse, convertible dinette, double tri-fold sofas, and front queen bed in the owner’s suite.  

Tow Vehicles that can Tow a 40 Foot Travel Trailer

When you want to tow a 40-foot travel trailer that often has a weight of 10,000 pounds or more, not just any tow vehicle will do.

In fact, when you get up to the weight of a 40-foot travel trailer, most of the tow vehicles you see towing smaller travel trailers in the 20 to 30 foot range, such as half-ton trucks and larger SUVs will be totally inadequate.

As they won’t have near the towing capacity to comfortably and safely tow a 40-foot travel trailer.

So to help you figure out what kind of tow vehicle you need to tow a 40-foot travel trailer, we created this helpful list of vehicles capable of towing a 40-foot travel trailer.  

• Ford F250 (Towing Capacity 12,300 – 15,000 Pounds)
• Ford F350 (Towing Capacity  12,000 – 20,000 Pounds)
• Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD (Towing Capacity 14,500 Pounds)
• Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD (Towing Capacity 14,500 – 20,000 Pounds)
• GMC Sierra 2500HD (Towing Capacity 14,500 Pounds)
• GMC Sierra 3500HD (Towing Capacity 14,500 – 20,000 Pounds)
• RAM 2500 (Towing Capacity 10,520 – 15,040 Pounds)
• RAM 3500 (Towing Capacity 13,490 – 14,970 Pounds)