Volkswagen Crafter Cab Chassis: slide-on camper payload

Name: Volkswagen Crafter Cab Chassis Australian vehicle mass and payload records
Creator: Beyond RV

Volkswagen Crafter Cab Chassis has a recorded GVM of 5,500 kg. Chassis-cab mass is 2,122 kg to 2,317 kg; payload calculated as GVM minus that mass is 3,183 kg to 3,378 kg across 4 recorded variants. After a stated 390 kg allowance for occupants, accessories and gear, the remaining body and camper load allowance is 2,793 kg to 2,988 kg. [1]

What the allowance assumes

We subtract 160 kg for occupants, 150 kg for accessories and 80 kg for luggage and gear: 390 kg total. These are assumptions, not measured weights. Published mass bases differ; some already include a driver or fuel. Avoid counting those twice when entering your actual weights.

This is remaining mass allowance, not an approved camper dry weight. Allow for any excluded tray or body, mounting frame, water and camper equipment. No camper fitment verdict is available without verified camper mass, dimensions and centre of gravity.

Change the assumptions in the weight calculator. Enter your occupant, accessory and gear weights there; these assumptions are not automatically filled.

Recorded variants, highest calculated payload first

Model years: not specified in the source. Match your exact variant and mass basis. “Verified” describes the research record, not approval for a camper.

All figures in kilograms unless stated. Sources and review status apply to each row.
Variant / year	GVM / GCM	Chassis-cab mass	Payload / allowance	Tray / axle limits	Source and caveats
Crafter 55 Single Cab MWBYear not specified · single · rear-wheel driveCalculate Crafter 55 Single Cab MWB	5,500 kgGCM: Not published	2,122 kgVolkswagen unladen mass: includes 10 litres of fuel, vehicle fluids and no occupants. Payload is GVM minus unladen mass, quoted for base model vehicles.Front: Not published Rear: Not published	Calculated: 3,378 kgPublished body payload: 3,378 kgAfter 390 kg: 2,988 kgArithmetic: matches published payload	Tray inclusion unknown: confirm actual tray/body mass before using the allowance.Front axle limit: 2,200 kg Rear axle limit: 4,000 kgRear axle headroom before body and loads: UnavailableVan cab chassis. The brochure states no maximum rated body length, so none is recorded; the figure below is the factory tray's load compartment length, which is a fitted tray rather than a chassis rating.	[1] Commercial Vehicles: The Crafter RangeWeights, Capacities and Dimensions, Crafter 50/55 Cab Chassis, page 45source verifiedFactory tray load compartment length 3500 mm, load width 2040 mm, load height 400 mm. That is the fitted tray, not a maximum rated body length, so max_body_length_mm is left empty. No model year is stated in the brochure.Supplied manually by the owner. Crafter 50/55 cab chassis weights on page 45. The brochure is dated February 2021 and states no model year, so it may be superseded; the current range page still lists Crafter 50 and 55.
Crafter 55 Single Cab LWBYear not specified · single · rear-wheel driveCalculate Crafter 55 Single Cab LWB	5,500 kgGCM: Not published	2,165 kgVolkswagen unladen mass: includes 10 litres of fuel, vehicle fluids and no occupants. Payload is GVM minus unladen mass, quoted for base model vehicles.Front: Not published Rear: Not published	Calculated: 3,335 kgPublished body payload: 3,335 kgAfter 390 kg: 2,945 kgArithmetic: matches published payload	Tray inclusion unknown: confirm actual tray/body mass before using the allowance.Front axle limit: 2,200 kg Rear axle limit: 4,000 kgRear axle headroom before body and loads: UnavailableVan cab chassis. The brochure states no maximum rated body length, so none is recorded; the figure below is the factory tray's load compartment length, which is a fitted tray rather than a chassis rating.	[1] Commercial Vehicles: The Crafter RangeWeights, Capacities and Dimensions, Crafter 50/55 Cab Chassis, page 45source verifiedFactory tray load compartment length 4300 mm, load width 2040 mm, load height 400 mm. That is the fitted tray, not a maximum rated body length, so max_body_length_mm is left empty. No model year is stated in the brochure.Supplied manually by the owner. Crafter 50/55 cab chassis weights on page 45. The brochure is dated February 2021 and states no model year, so it may be superseded; the current range page still lists Crafter 50 and 55.
Crafter 55 Single Cab LWOYear not specified · single · rear-wheel driveCalculate Crafter 55 Single Cab LWO	5,500 kgGCM: Not published	2,180 kgVolkswagen unladen mass: includes 10 litres of fuel, vehicle fluids and no occupants. Payload is GVM minus unladen mass, quoted for base model vehicles.Front: Not published Rear: Not published	Calculated: 3,320 kgPublished body payload: 3,320 kgAfter 390 kg: 2,930 kgArithmetic: matches published payload	Tray inclusion unknown: confirm actual tray/body mass before using the allowance.Front axle limit: 2,200 kg Rear axle limit: 4,000 kgRear axle headroom before body and loads: UnavailableVan cab chassis. The brochure states no maximum rated body length, so none is recorded; the figure below is the factory tray's load compartment length, which is a fitted tray rather than a chassis rating.	[1] Commercial Vehicles: The Crafter RangeWeights, Capacities and Dimensions, Crafter 50/55 Cab Chassis, page 45source verifiedFactory tray load compartment length 4700 mm, load width 2040 mm, load height 400 mm. That is the fitted tray, not a maximum rated body length, so max_body_length_mm is left empty. No model year is stated in the brochure.Supplied manually by the owner. Crafter 50/55 cab chassis weights on page 45. The brochure is dated February 2021 and states no model year, so it may be superseded; the current range page still lists Crafter 50 and 55.
Crafter 55 Dual Cab LWBYear not specified · dual · rear-wheel driveCalculate Crafter 55 Dual Cab LWB	5,500 kgGCM: Not published	2,317 kgVolkswagen unladen mass: includes 10 litres of fuel, vehicle fluids and no occupants. Payload is GVM minus unladen mass, quoted for base model vehicles.Front: Not published Rear: Not published	Calculated: 3,183 kgPublished body payload: 3,183 kgAfter 390 kg: 2,793 kgArithmetic: matches published payload	Tray inclusion unknown: confirm actual tray/body mass before using the allowance.Front axle limit: 2,200 kg Rear axle limit: 4,000 kgRear axle headroom before body and loads: UnavailableVan cab chassis. The brochure states no maximum rated body length, so none is recorded; the figure below is the factory tray's load compartment length, which is a fitted tray rather than a chassis rating.	[1] Commercial Vehicles: The Crafter RangeWeights, Capacities and Dimensions, Crafter 50/55 Cab Chassis, page 45source verifiedFactory tray load compartment length 3500 mm, load width 2040 mm, load height 400 mm. That is the fitted tray, not a maximum rated body length, so max_body_length_mm is left empty. No model year is stated in the brochure.Supplied manually by the owner. Crafter 50/55 cab chassis weights on page 45. The brochure is dated February 2021 and states no model year, so it may be superseded; the current range page still lists Crafter 50 and 55.

Rear axle headroom is the published limit minus the recorded chassis-cab rear mass, where both exist. The body, subframe and loaded camper consume this margin; front axle, tyres and load distribution still need checking.

GVM upgrade arithmetic

If GCM stays unchanged, each extra kilogram of loaded vehicle mass leaves one kilogram less under GCM for a trailer. The Volkswagen Crafter Cab Chassis table uses published GCM minus hypothetical GVM; it does not certify an upgrade or override the published towing limit. No certified upgrade figures are recorded. The increments below are illustrative scenarios, not available or approved upgrades. They assume the vehicle is loaded to the stated hypothetical GVM and GCM stays unchanged.

GCM is not recorded for this model, so no towing arithmetic is available.

A negative result means the hypothetical vehicle mass already exceeds GCM. A positive result is not permission to tow that mass: the manufacturer's towing rating, towbar, towball load, axle limits and actual certification also apply.

Manufacturer sources and currency

These are stored research figures, not a live check of current specifications. Access dates below identify when each source was recorded.

Commercial Vehicles: The Crafter Range — Volkswagen Group Australia. Accessed 2026-09-04.
Supplied manually by the owner. Crafter 50/55 cab chassis weights on page 45. The brochure is dated February 2021 and states no model year, so it may be superseded; the current range page still lists Crafter 50 and 55.

Volkswagen Crafter Cab Chassis payload questions

What is the payload of a Volkswagen Crafter Cab Chassis?

How much can a Volkswagen Crafter Cab Chassis carry with a slide-on camper?

The calculated allowance is 2,793 kg to 2,988 kg after 160 kg for occupants, 150 kg for accessories and 80 kg for gear. Any tray or body excluded from the recorded mass, camper water and camper equipment still have to be allowed for. This is not a camper fitment verdict.

Does a GVM upgrade reduce a Volkswagen Crafter Cab Chassis's towing capacity?

Check your actual weights in the calculator

This tool provides an estimate only. Final suitability depends on your exact vehicle variant, compliance plate, manufacturer specifications, towbar rating, axle limits, tyre ratings, accessories, real loaded weights and certified weighbridge results. Beyond RV weighs your vehicle at the factory before build, and those figures decide the final answer.