Tow Calculators

Tow Calculators / Free tool

Tow Calculator

Check payload, GVWR, GCWR, trailer weight and hitch limits in one place.

Enter the ratings from your vehicle and trailer documentation to see which entered limit is closest to being exceeded.

Enter your numbers

Compare your towing limits

Use ratings for your exact vehicle and trailer. Leave unknown optional ratings blank; those checks will be marked “Not checked.”

Units: lb

Vehicle ratings

Find these in your vehicle labels and manufacturer towing documentation.

Optional

Use the payload value from your vehicle’s Tire and Loading Information label when available. Needed for the payload check.

Optional

Use the rating for your exact vehicle configuration from manufacturer documentation.

Optional

Maximum loaded weight of the vehicle itself. Often on the certification label.

Optional

Maximum combined weight of loaded vehicle and trailer. Check the manufacturer towing guide.

How do you know your vehicle weight?
Optional

Vehicle ready for the trip with people, cargo, fuel and installed hitch equipment, before attaching the trailer. Do not add those loads again to this scale weight.

If vehicle weight is unknown, leave it blank. GVWR and GCWR cannot be checked without it.

People & cargo

Enter each load once. Use 0 for anything you are not carrying.

Combined weight of everyone except the driver.

Gear carried in the vehicle, not in the trailer.

Equipment added after the vehicle’s payload rating was established.

Weight of installed towing hardware not already included above.

These loads are used for the separate payload check. An actual trip-ready scale weight already includes them for the GVWR and GCWR checks.

Trailer

Use the weight of the trailer as it will be loaded for the trip.

Trailer connection

Use actual loaded weight when known, including cargo, fluids and equipment — not only dry/UVW weight.

Optional

Maximum loaded weight allowed for this trailer, from its label.

How do you know the tongue weight?

Use a measured value when possible. It must describe the same loaded trailer condition.

Hitch ratings

Optional — enter these if known. Blank hitch ratings will be marked “Not checked.”

Optional

Use the lowest applicable vertical-load rating for the equipment in its actual configuration.

Optional

Use the trailer-weight rating for the hitch configuration you will use.

Calculations run in your browser. No account or vehicle lookup is needed.

Results

Your rating comparison appears here.

Enter your loaded trailer weight and tongue weight, then calculate. Unknown ratings will stay clearly marked as unchecked.

Need just one comparison? Choose a focused weight calculator.

The full picture

What this towing calculator checks

Each available rating is compared separately. A missing rating is shown as “Not checked.”

Payload

People, cargo, accessories, hitch equipment, and tongue or pin weight against rated payload.

Tow rating

Loaded trailer weight against the maximum trailer weight rating you enter for the vehicle.

GVWR

Estimated hitched vehicle weight against the vehicle’s gross vehicle weight rating.

GCWR

Combined vehicle and trailer weight against the vehicle’s gross combined weight rating.

Trailer GVWR

Loaded trailer weight against the trailer’s own maximum loaded rating.

Hitch ratings

Tongue or pin load and trailer weight against the hitch ratings you provide.

Why separate checks matter

A tow rating is only one limit.

A loaded trailer can be under the vehicle’s entered tow rating while passengers, cargo, hitch equipment, and tongue or pin weight use nearly all of its rated payload. GVWR, GCWR, trailer GVWR, and hitch ratings may also be closer to their limits.

The result identifies the closest entered rating and lists every entered rating that is exceeded. It does not fill in unknown ratings or certify a setup for towing.

Before you calculate

How to find your numbers

Use labels and documents for your exact equipment. Scale weights are especially useful for a loaded trip.

Rated payload and GVWR

Vehicle certification and Tire and Loading Information labels, usually at the driver-side door area.

Tow rating and GCWR

Manufacturer towing guide or owner documentation for your exact model, equipment, and configuration.

Trailer GVWR

The trailer’s manufacturer label or documentation.

Loaded and tongue/pin weights

A scale measurement for the loaded trip condition when available. Dry or unloaded trailer weight is not a substitute.

Common questions

Tow calculator FAQ

Does tongue weight count against payload?

Yes. Tongue or pin load is carried by the tow vehicle and contributes to payload used. People, cargo, accessories, and hitch equipment also use payload.

Can I use a trailer’s dry weight?

Use the trailer’s loaded weight for a towing comparison. Dry or UVW figures may omit cargo, fluids, options, and other trip loads.

What if I do not know my vehicle weight?

Leave it blank. The calculator can still compare ratings that have enough information, such as payload and tow rating, but GVWR and GCWR will be marked “Not checked.”

Is a result with no exceeded ratings an approval to tow?

No. The calculator compares entered ratings and weights. Axle, tire, component, braking, loading, and legal limits may also apply. Confirm the setup against manufacturer documents and actual scale weights.