What Does GVWR Mean on Trailers | Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
- Brent
- Apr 23
- 2 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
Righto, let’s unpack one of those terms that gets tossed around a lot in the world of trailers—GVWR. Whether you’re hiring or buying a trailer, understanding GVWR is absolutely key to staying safe and legal on the road. So, let’s break it down in classic Brent style.
GVWR: The Trailer Weight You Can’t Ignore
GVWR stands for Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. It’s the maximum total weight a trailer is allowed to weigh when fully loaded. That includes the trailer itself plus anything you’ve put on it—mini diggers, mowers, cement mixers, toolboxes, the lot.
Every trailer has its own GVWR, set by the manufacturer. This rating isn’t a suggestion—it’s a limit. Going over it? That’s a one-way ticket to damaged gear, poor braking, and possibly a friendly chat with the authorities (and not the good kind).
Why GVWR Matters
Let’s say you’ve got a trailer with a GVWR of 3,500kg. That means the total combined weight of the trailer and its load must not exceed 3,500kg. Simple enough, right? But here’s where folks trip up: they forget to factor in the trailer’s own weight (known as the unladen or tare weight).
So if the trailer itself weighs 900kg, that leaves you 2,600kg of payload to work with. Stick a machine on that weighs 3 tonnes? You’re 400kg over the limit and putting your tow vehicle, trailer, and licence at risk.
GVWR vs Payload vs GTW
To keep it clear:
GVWR is the total weight limit for the trailer and its cargo.
Payload is how much you can carry on the trailer excluding its own weight.
GTW (Gross Train Weight) is the total combined weight of your tow vehicle, trailer, and everything they’re carrying.
Your setup needs to stay under all three limits—GVWR for the trailer, and GTW for your towing vehicle.
Legal Towing and Safety
Sticking within GVWR isn’t just good practice—it’s the law. In the UK, exceed it and you’re risking fines, points on your licence, or worse. More importantly, your brakes might not cope. That’s why many larger trailers (like our Brent plant trailers) come with overrun braking systems as standard.
Choosing the Right Trailer with Brent
At Brent, all our trailers—whether you’re hiring short-term or buying for the long haul—come with clearly marked GVWR ratings. We’ll help you choose the right model based on what you’re towing, your licence category, and your tow vehicle’s capacity.
We stock a wide range of trailers, such as Vlemmix trailers, all built tough and rated for safe towing across the UK.
Final Thought: Know Your Numbers
Before you hitch up and head out, make sure you:
Check your trailer’s GVWR
Know your load’s weight
Confirm your tow vehicle can handle it
Stay within legal and safe limits
Want help choosing the right trailer for your load? We’ll sort you out.
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