Caravan Weight Checklist for Long-Distance Touring
Gather exact vehicle and caravan ratings, arrange loaded measurements, and record the figures before buying or travelling. Includes an on-page worksheet.
For caravan and long-distance touring owners, understanding weight is essential for safety, legality and peace of mind. This checklist covers the key figures to verify before you head off — whether you're a grey nomad setting off on the big lap or a family planning a touring holiday.
Your caravan weight checklist
1. ATM (Aggregate Trailer Mass)
The maximum permitted total weight of the caravan when fully loaded. Check your van's compliance plate and ensure your loaded weight doesn't exceed it.
2. Towball download
Measure loaded coupling download and follow the manufacturer's loading instructions. No universal percentage of ATM confirms suitability. Compare the actual download with all applicable vehicle, towbar and coupling limits.
3. Water load
Fresh water weighs 1 kg per litre. A full 90-litre tank adds 90 kg. Consider how water placement affects towball weight and axle distribution.
4. Vehicle payload and GCM
Passengers, cargo, net additional accessories and towball load use vehicle carrying capacity. Check GVM and individual axles separately. For combined mass, add coupled vehicle mass to trailer axle-group mass so the coupling load is counted once.
5. Rear axle load
The towball download transfers weight to the rear axle. Even within GVM, the rear axle can be overloaded. Measured coupled axle weights and the exact axle ratings are needed for this check.
ClearPath — Caravan Weight Preparation Worksheet
Record ratings and actual loaded weights separately
GTM is the maximum permitted trailer mass supported by its wheels when coupled; coupling download is excluded. Compare the actual axle-group mass with the plated GTM and applicable axle/tyre limits. Being below ATM alone does not establish suitability.
Arrange suitable weighing with the operator before travelling. Keep passengers, fuel, water, luggage and hitch configuration consistent between readings. Record the date, loading conditions and measurement method. A jockey-wheel reading is not automatically a coupling reading.
Worksheet entries stay on this page only, are lost on refresh and are not submitted or used to calculate a result. Enter “Unknown” where a figure is missing. Use your browser’s Print or Save as PDF before leaving.
| Limit / comparison | Rating (kg) | Actual mass (kg) | Source / date / notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle GVMFully loaded, coupled vehicle mass | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Vehicle front axle limitCoupled front axle reading | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Vehicle rear axle limitCoupled rear axle reading | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Vehicle GCMTotal loaded combination mass | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Vehicle towing capacityActual total loaded trailer mass | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Lowest applicable towball limitMeasured loaded coupling download | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Caravan ATM ratingActual total loaded caravan mass | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Caravan GTM ratingActual trailer axle-group mass | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Trailer axle-group limitActual trailer axle-group mass | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Before buying: ask for the exact model/year/variant, plate and manufacturer documents, the tare condition, fitted-accessory weights, and any approved rating changes. A dealer estimate or a figure for a similar model is not a loaded measurement.
Transport for NSW: trailer mass definitions and weighing arrangements. Worksheet guidance checked 13 October 2026. This is preparation guidance, not weighing or certification.
Free tools to get started
- Vehicle & Caravan Tow Match — explore supplied vehicle and caravan figures; unknown limits remain unassessed
- 4WD Weight & Payload Calculator — model your vehicle setup
- Caravan Weight Calculator — compare entered payload, ATM, GTM and towball figures
For a comprehensive PDF report covering your vehicle, caravan, towball, GCM and axle loads with plain-English advisory from your supplied figures, see the $99 Vehicle + Caravan Assessment.
If you still need measurements, gather them first: payment cannot make missing figures known. If you have measured axle weights and want self-service calculations, review the $29 calculator and report. For broader accessories and modification planning, compare the $149 Complete Vehicle Build Assessment. View illustrative sample reports before choosing. Physical weighing, consultation and engineering certification are separate.
Calculations use manufacturer-published specifications and Australian road authority reference material, with vehicle details organised by model year, configuration and modification status.