Fresh off a 4,000+ mile trip that combined mountain biking, backroads, and chunky off-road exploration, I wanted to see how much my vehicle weighed when fully loaded for a multi-week trip.
So I left it packed, filled up with gas, and took it to the CAT Scales. Here’s how it all added up, with actual weights for most of the gear, racks, mounts, and accessories, plus a complete video overview of everything I brought on the trip.
If you’re wondering how to save weight in your vehicle, or just curious how it all adds up, this overview will help you select your own gear more wisely and help keep your vehicle under its GVWR.
Keep reading to the end to see my actual vehicle weight…
Complete gear overview w/ actual weights
Check the description on YouTube for time stamps.
Overland gear actual weights by category
Here’s what each bit of gear weighs:
- Duffel bag with all my clothing: 22 lbs
- duffel with tools and recovery gear: 39.4 lbs
- storage bin with inflation, fire pit, etc.: 87.4 lbs
- Two helinox camp chairs with puffy covers : 8 lbs
- Water (3/4 full): 31.6 lbs
- Food Bin: 27.2 lbs
- Hydration Pack w/pump, etc.: 6.4 lbs
- Action Camera stuff: 9.0 lbs
- Instaprivy Camp Toilet: 6.4 lbs
- Jerry Can Fuel Tank (full): 38.6 lbs
- DJI Power 2000: 48.6 lbs
- Travoca Rigel 60 liter electric cooler: 62.6 lbs
- Midland MXT575 w/ power cables, antenna, and antenna wire: 3.3 lbs
- TOTAL: 390.5 pounds
Next, we’ve got the storage, interior buildout and roof rack:
- Rear storage system and deck: 21.6 lbs
- Front deck: 13.6 lbs
- Remove rear floor mats: -3.4 lbs
- Leveling block for cooler: 2.2 lbs
- Plastic tire chocks x2: 0.8 lbs
- Factory crossbars: -4.9 lbs
- Uni-strut crossbars: 5.8 lbs
- Mounting hardware: 2 lbs
- TOTAL: 37.7 pounds
Lastly, the rooftop tent, bike rack, hitch swing, and e-MTB:
- Yakima SkyPeak HD w/ accessories: 171.5 (incl. mattress)
- Ladder: 14.8 lbs
- Shoe bags with mounting hardware: 2.4 lbs
- 1UP USA RakAttach: 55.8 lbs
- 1UP USA APS panels and table accessories: 29.4 lbs
- 1UP USA Super Duty single-bike rack: 37.6 lbs
- Ari Nebo Peak E Mountain Bike (size XL): 43.5 pounds
- TOTAL: 355.6
Separating those out, that’s 171.5 lbs on top of the vehicle (not counting shoe bags, which I really don’t use and probably won’t bring on the next trip), 14.8 lbs inside (ladder), and 166.3 lbs off the back of the vehicle.
Add it all up and you get 783.8 pounds of gear, mounts, and accessories.
There are things not accounted for in this, like traction boards, machete, first aid kit, the stereo and subwoofer, microwave, power outlet, charger, the lights and switch panel, plus all wiring for all those things, and the usual bits and bobs stuffed into seatback pockets, etc. But I’ve also removed a LOT of weight from the vehicle prior to adding these things back:
And since that video, I’ve also removed the 2nd row seats (but not seatbelts…yet). But this overview of the big stuff gives you a good idea of how weight is added to the car.
Gear Links
Here are links to some of my favorite gear for this build:
- Strap Anchors
- Travoca Rigel 60L cooler
- Midland MXT575
- LifeSaver Water Jerrycan (use code ADVENTUROUSWAYOFLIFE for $10 off)
- DJI Power 2000
- Mission Workshop Hauser Hydration Pack
- Helinox Sunset chairs
- Baja Designs / sPOD
- Bluetti Charger 1
These videos were filmed with the Insta360 Ace Pro with Rode Wireless GO mics.
GX 470 Overland Vehicle Actual Weight
Outfitted for a multi-week adventure for two, running trails and backroads solo (no support vehicles or caravan), my GX weighed in at 5,900 pounds.
Add in my wife, her bags, and all the drinks and food in the cooler that aren’t accounted for and the total is probably closer to 6,100 lbs. The GX470 has a GVWR of 6,200 lbs.
This means that I’m within 100 lbs of GVWR before adding bumpers, winch, sliders, skid plates, etc. All of those things would probably push this build, all else the same, near 6,600 lbs.
So, where to cut weight?
I have some ideas, but until I’ve tested them and re-weighed, I’ll hold those thoughts. If you liked this and want to see where the build is headed, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow on social!
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