At a glance
| RV type | Hitch type | Typical GVWR | Tow vehicle needed |
|---|
| Pop-up / fold-down | Ball hitch (Class I–II) | 1,500–4,500 lb | Most SUVs, minivans |
| Travel trailer (small) | Ball hitch (Class II–III) | 3,000–7,000 lb | Mid-size truck, large SUV |
| Travel trailer (large) | Ball hitch + WD (Class III–IV) | 7,000–14,000 lb | ¾-ton or 1-ton truck |
| Fifth wheel | Fifth wheel hitch (in-bed) | 10,000–22,000 lb | ¾-ton or 1-ton truck (long bed) |
| Toy hauler (TT) | Ball hitch + WD | 8,000–16,000 lb | ¾-ton or 1-ton truck |
| Toy hauler (FW) | Fifth wheel hitch | 14,000–24,000 lb | 1-ton truck (diesel preferred) |
| Class A | Tow bar (dinghy) | 26,000–45,000 lb | Self-powered |
| Class B (van) | Tow bar (dinghy) | 8,500–11,500 lb | Self-powered |
| Class C | Tow bar (dinghy) | 12,000–18,000 lb | Self-powered |
Travel trailer
The most common RV type — a non-motorized unit towed by a ball hitch mounted to the tow vehicle's frame receiver. Travel trailers range from small teardrop units under 2,000 lbs to large multi-slide units approaching 14,000 lbs. They can be towed by a wide range of vehicles, which makes them accessible — but also means weight limits are more often exceeded by under-trucks than any other RV type.
3,000–14,000 lb
Typical GVWR range
1–3 axles
Axle configuration
- Tongue weight lands on the TV's rear axle — the most commonly overloaded axle in travel trailer towing
- Trailers over 6,000 lb GTW typically require a weight-distributing hitch and anti-sway system
- Tandem axles (two axles in close proximity) distribute trailer weight more evenly but must each stay within their individual GAWRs
- Slides add significant weight — fully extended vs. retracted can shift hundreds of pounds in the trailer's weight distribution
RigIQ: Enter separate left/right corner weights per trailer axle. RigIQ calculates each axle total, checks it against GAWR, and shows side-to-side balance per axle.
Fifth wheel
A fifth wheel trailer couples to a kingpin receiver mounted in the truck bed, positioned over or just ahead of the rear axle. The in-bed coupling point gives the trailer significantly less leverage on the rear axle compared to a ball hitch, which produces a more stable, predictable tow — especially at higher weights and longer trailer lengths. Fifth wheels are generally considered the safest tow configuration for heavy trailers.
10,000–22,000 lb
Typical GVWR range
2–4 axles
Axle configuration
Long bed preferred
Truck bed requirement
- Requires a pickup truck — cannot be towed by an SUV or crossover
- Long bed (8 ft) is preferred; short bed (5.5–6.5 ft) requires a sliding hitch to allow sharp turns
- Pin weight loads directly into the truck bed — bed payload capacity must be checked in addition to rear axle GAWR
- Larger units with 3 or 4 trailer axles must have each axle verified independently against its GAWR
- The elevated front section (living area over the hitch) means more weight forward, which increases pin weight compared to a comparable travel trailer
RigIQ: When your RV type is set to Fifth Wheel, the hitch weight field shows "Pin weight" instead of "Tongue weight." RigIQ flags pin weight outside the recommended 15–25% of trailer total.
Toy hauler
A travel trailer or fifth wheel with a rear garage section — a reinforced bay with a fold-down ramp door for loading ATVs, motorcycles, jet skis, or other powersports equipment. Toy haulers typically have higher GVWRs than equivalent-length non-hauler trailers to account for the garage payload. They also have their own fuel station for powersports fuel, which adds substantial weight when full.
8,000–24,000 lb
Typical GVWR range
2–4 axles
Axle configuration
- Garage payload loads the rear axle(s) most heavily — ATVs or motorcycles far back in the garage can drop tongue/pin weight below the safe minimum and cause sway
- Position heaviest items as far forward in the garage as possible; check tongue/pin weight after loading
- Fuel stations typically carry 25–50 gallons of fuel — at 6 lbs/gal for gasoline, that's 150–300 lbs of rear-biased weight
- Tandem or triple axle configurations are common on heavier toy haulers — each axle must be verified
RigIQ: Toy Hauler is a supported RV type in Garage. The Weights screen shows per-axle inputs for all trailer axles plus the tow vehicle, and flags tongue or pin weight outside safe ranges after you've loaded the garage.
Class A motorhome
A full-size motorhome built on a commercial bus or heavy-duty motorhome chassis. Class A coaches are self-powered — they don't require a tow vehicle — but many owners tow a dinghy vehicle (flat tow or on a trailer) behind the coach. The coach's GVWR includes the weight of the coach itself plus passengers, water, fuel, gear, and the dinghy tongue weight.
26,000–45,000 lb
Typical GVWR range
2–3 axles
Axle configuration
- OCCC (Occupant and Cargo Carrying Capacity) is the critical limit — it includes passengers, water, cargo, and dinghy tongue weight
- Diesel pushers (engine in rear) have the engine weight over the tag axle; gas coaches have the engine over the front axle — axle weight distribution differs significantly between types
- Slides can weigh 500–1,500 lbs and shift weight to one side when extended; slides-in vs. slides-out can change axle loads meaningfully
- Tag axle (third rear axle) models spread load across three axles; non-tag models concentrate more on the rear drive axle
RigIQ: Class A is a supported RV type. Enter front and rear (and tag axle) corner weights. For coaches with a dinghy, enter the dinghy weight in the Dinghy field — it adds to the coach's GVWR check.
Class B (camper van)
A self-contained unit built within a full-size van body (typically a Ram ProMaster, Mercedes Sprinter, or Ford Transit). The most maneuverable and fuel-efficient RV type. Limited interior space means cargo capacity fills quickly. Despite their smaller size, Class B vans can tow a small trailer — up to 3,500–5,000 lbs depending on the chassis and powertrain.
8,500–11,500 lb
Typical GVWR range
2 axles
Axle configuration
500–2,000 lb
Typical payload
3,500–5,000 lb
Max tow capacity
- Payload is tighter than it appears — a lithium battery bank, solar system, and water tank can consume 300–600 lbs before passengers and gear
- Roof-mounted gear (solar panels, bike racks) raises center of gravity and affects handling in crosswinds
- Two-axle design means front/rear weight distribution is the primary concern — no side-to-side independent axle readings from a CAT Scale
RigIQ: Use the Class B type in Garage. Enter front and rear corner weights — RigIQ checks each axle against its GAWR and your GVWR.
Class C motorhome
Built on a cutaway van or truck chassis with a cab-over sleeping area above the driver/passenger cab. Class C coaches offer more living space than a Class B at a lower cost than a Class A, and have higher tow capacities than Class B — typically 5,000–10,000 lbs depending on chassis. The cab-over section adds weight over the front axle, which can lead to front axle overloads when combined with a full cab-over bed and passengers.
12,000–18,000 lb
Typical GVWR range
2 axles
Axle configuration
5,000–10,000 lb
Typical tow capacity
Ford E-Series / Ram
Common chassis
- Front axle overload is a common issue — the cab-over section, engine, and any items stored in the cab put significant weight on the front axle
- Towing a dinghy or utility trailer adds to the GVWR and rear axle load — check chassis tow rating, GAWR, and GCWR
- Rear weight (generator, cargo bays) must be balanced against heavy items in the cab-over
RigIQ: Class C is a supported RV type. Enter front and rear corner weights — the front axle GAWR check catches the common front-heavy overload before you leave home.
Setting up in RigIQ
In Garage → Add RV, choose your RV type and enter GVWR, the number of axles, and each axle's GAWR. For towable RVs, add your tow vehicle separately with its own GVWR and per-axle GAWRs. RigIQ tracks both independently and flags limits on both sides of the hitch.
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RigIQ supports every RV type
Set your rig type in Garage, enter your specs, and RigIQ tracks GVWR, per-axle GAWR, tongue or pin weight, and tire pressure — for the trailer and the tow vehicle.