Average ATV Trailer Weight (With 10 Examples)

Whether you need a trailer to tow your ATV out to the trails or you’re looking to get a trailer to tow behind your ATV, it’s good to know approximately how much they weigh. In this post, I have gathered the weight of some of the most common types so that it’s easier to compare. 

So how much does an ATV trailer weigh? An average ATV trailer (ATV hauler) weighs from 600 to 1500 lb empty and about 3000 lb, including the maximum allowable cargo weight. An average ATV tow-behind trailer weighs 400 to 800 lb empty and has a 2000 to 3000 lb payload capacity.

Comparing the Weight of 10 ATV Trailers (ATV Haulers)

This table shows the most critical weight ratings of ten typical trailers used for towing ATVs.

Comparing the Weight of 10 ATV Tow-Behind Trailers

This table shows the weight rating of ten typical ATV tow-behind trailers.

ATV Trailer Weight Ratings and Vehicle Towing Capacity

ATV trailers are listed with various weight ratings with different meanings. Understanding the difference between them is crucial for safe towing.

• Empty weight, also known as trailer weight, is the trailer’s weight when empty.

• Payload capacity, or carry-weight or load capacity, is the maximum cargo weight the trailer can carry. This number does not include the empty weight of the trailer itself.

If you know the empty weight of your trailer, you can find the payload capacity by subtracting the trailer weight from the GVWR:

Payload capacity = GVWR – Trailer weight

• GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) is the maximum operating weight of the trailer. The same term is used for most vehicle types and describes how heavy a vehicle can be, including the vehicle itself, all cargo, all passengers, all fluids, etc. For ATV trailers, the GVWR indicates the trailer’s maximum combined weight and all cargo can be. You will find the GVWR on your trailer’s VIN plate.

GVWR = Payload capacity + Trailer weight

• GTW (Gross Trailer Weight) is the actual weight of your fully-loaded trailer. This number varies depending on how much weight of the cargo you put in the trailer.

• Towing capacity, or maximum towed load, tells you how much rolling weight your car, truck, or ATV can safely tow on level ground. In this post, we look closer at an ATVs actual towing capacity.

• Tongue weight is the amount of your trailer’s weight that transfers to the trailer hitch (or gooseneck) of your car, truck, or ATV.

• Maximum Vertical Hitch Weight tells you how much tongue weight can be placed on the towing vehicle’s trailer hitch (car, truck, or ATV). ATVs typically have a maximum vertical hitch weight rating of about 1/10th of their towing capacity.

• GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating). Some manufacturers provide the GAWR rating. This rating tells you the maximum allowable weight that can be placed on an individual axle. Note that the GAWR on a trailer is usually higher than the GVWR rating. You should still not exceed the GVWR rating, as there can be factors other than the axle capacity limiting the maximum allowable weight. Such factors are load placement, brakes, suspension, and more.

GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating) refers to the total mass of a vehicle, including all trailers.

Factors Determining the Weight of an ATV Trailer

As you can see from the comparison tables, the weight of ATV trailers varies quite a bit. There are a few main factors that determine the weight of different models of trailers.

Trailer Type

It is essential to know that there is a big difference between trailers designed for hauling an ATV with an automobile and tow-behind utility trailers designed to hook up to an ATV.

Trailers designed to be pulled by an ATV are generally about half the weight of trailers designed to pull behind a car. Even the smallest ATV haulers/ utility trailers exceed the rated towing capacity of some of the smaller ATVs.

Generally, using an ATV to pull a trailer designed to be pulled by a car or truck is not advised.

The same general rule applies the other way around as well. ATV tow behind trailers is generally not designed to be pulled by a car.

Trailer Construction and Number of Axles

Besides the frame, the axle is the heaviest component on a trailer. Adding one more axle does increase a trailer’s capacity, but it also adds weight.

In many cases, you will find that you can tow a smaller amount of cargo in a single-axle trailer than in a dual-axle due to the weight limit of your tow hitch.

Trailer Bed Size

A 10′ to 12′ deck with a single axle is the most common configuration for hauling one ATV, with a full-size ATV being around 80 to 85 inches long. You must ensure you have a large enough deck if you plan on hauling more than one ATV at a time.

Longer and broader trailers are heavier than smaller trailers with similar construction. But the difference in weight may not be as high as you think. The weight of the axle, drawbar, nosewheel, and lighting assembly can be the same even if you go up one step in bed size.

Trailer Building Material – Steel vs. Aluminum vs. Plastic

ATV haulers are typically made out of steel or aluminum.

In the early days of ATVs, there were no haulers specifically designed to carry ATVs. Most people used a basic wood-decked, heavy-duty utility trailer made of solid steel.

Due to their robustness, many still prefer using steel utility trailers to haul ATVs. The downside is that they are relatively heavy when empty.

ATVs are relatively lightweight vehicles that do not require the same robustness as a small excavator or other small but heavy machinery. Hardwood floors are needed to protect the trailer from steel excavator tracks but are not necessary for a rubber ATV wheel.

That’s why aluminum trailers have been and still are increasing in popularity for ATV hauling.

Aluminum is much lighter than steel and wood but still relatively strong. A lighter-weight trailer will give you better mileage and won’t require such a large car or truck for safe pulling.

With an aluminum trailer like the Aluma A8816, you may be able to tow one extra ATV compared to a similar size steel trailer while maintaining the same combined weight.

ATV tow–behind trailers are often made of steel tubing and steel sheets or mesh. The goal is to make a lightweight trailer that is still robust enough. In later years, we’ve seen a new type of trailer entering the market.

The frame and axles are still steel, but the box can be made of plastic or other composite materials. Plastic box trailers are great for camping and other situations where having a lightweight trailer is essential.

Related: How Much Weight Can an ATV Carry? (Cargo and Rider)

FAQ

Wrapping Up

Understanding the weight of ATV trailers is crucial for safe and efficient usage. The construction, number of axles, bed size, and building material all significantly influence a trailer’s weight.

Always remember to check your vehicle’s weight ratings and towing capacity before hauling your ATV or towing a trailer behind it.