How Much Does a Pop-Up Camper Weigh?
Ready to tow, a pop-up camper usually weighs 1,600 to 3,500 lbs, including the trailer.
Forest River's published unloaded vehicle weights (about 1,300 lbs for small hard-side pop-ups to about 2,500 lbs for 23 ft-open tent campers) plus 300 to 800 lbs of water, propane, bedding, food, and gear, capped near the GVWRs Forest River lists (about 2,300 to 3,800 lbs).
Tongue weight: about 250 to 375 lbs. Hitch: standard bumper-pull (receiver hitch).
Real examples
| Example | Published weight | What that weight includes |
|---|---|---|
| Forest River Rockwood 16OTG (hard-side pop-up) | 1,319 lbs | UVW (unloaded vehicle weight); 162 lb hitch |
| Forest River Rockwood Freedom 1640FT | 1,763 lbs | UVW; 250 lb hitch; 2,346 lb GVWR |
| Forest River Rockwood 2380FT | 2,518 lbs | UVW; 290 lb hitch |
Published weights are usually dry, before fuel, water, batteries, and gear. Weigh your rig at a truck stop scale to know for sure.
Can your vehicle tow a pop-up camper?
Which vehicles can tow a pop-up camper?
16 of 16 vehicles we cover can tow a typical pop-up camper at 2,500 lbs, using each one's best-case current rating.
| Vehicle | Max towing | Can it tow it? |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Ford F-150 | 13,500 lbs | Yes |
| 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | 13,300 lbs | Yes |
| 2026 Toyota Tundra | 12,000 lbs | Yes |
| 2026 Ram 1500 | 11,610 lbs | Yes |
| 2026 Chevrolet Tahoe | 8,400 lbs | Yes |
| 2026 Ford Ranger | 7,500 lbs | Yes |
| 2026 Toyota Tacoma | 6,500 lbs | Yes |
| 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee | 6,200 lbs | Yes |
| 2026 Toyota 4Runner | 6,000 lbs | Yes |
| 2025 Kia Telluride | 5,500 lbs | Yes |
| 2026 Ford Explorer | 5,000 lbs | Yes |
| 2026 Honda Pilot | 5,000 lbs | Yes |
| 2026 Hyundai Palisade | 5,000 lbs | Yes |
| 2026 Toyota Highlander | 5,000 lbs | Yes |
| 2026 Ford Bronco | 4,500 lbs | Yes |
| 2026 Subaru Outback | 3,500 lbs | Yes |
Common questions
How much does a pop-up camper weigh?
Loaded and on its trailer, a pop-up camper typically weighs 1,600 to 3,500 lbs. Forest River's published unloaded vehicle weights (about 1,300 lbs for small hard-side pop-ups to about 2,500 lbs for 23 ft-open tent campers) plus 300 to 800 lbs of water, propane, bedding, food, and gear, capped near the GVWRs Forest River lists (about 2,300 to 3,800 lbs).
What's the tongue weight of a pop-up camper?
Plan on 10% to 15% of the loaded weight, about 250 to 375 lbs at a typical 2,500 lbs.
What size vehicle do I need to tow a pop-up camper?
Look for a towing rating of at least 4,500 lbs so a heavier pop-up camper still sits under 80% of the rating.
Sources
- Rockwood Tent Camper floorplans and specifications (Forest River)
- Rockwood 1640FT Floorplan (Forest River)
- GMC Yukon owner's manual, Weight of the Trailer Tongue (10 to 15 percent) (General Motors (hosted by ManualsLib))