Towing Capacity Calculator
Check your payload and GCWR limits before you hitch up — from the numbers on your truck's door sticker, not a guessed vehicle database.
Truck ratings
This trip's load
No exact figure entered — using an estimated 600 lb (10% of trailer weight, the low end of the usual 10-15% range). Weigh it if you can for an exact number.
How this is calculated
Payload capacity is your truck's GVWR minus its curb weight — that's the total weight it can carry, and it has to cover passengers, cargo, AND the trailer's tongue/hitch weight pressing down on the rear axle, not just what's riding in the bed or cabin. GCWR is checked separately: your loaded truck weight (curb weight plus everything above) plus the full trailer weight must stay under the GCWR your manufacturer rates for the combination. Both checks are independent — a rig can be within GCWR while still over payload, or the other way around. This calculator never looks up your vehicle by make or model; every number comes from your own door sticker, owner's manual, or trailer paperwork.
Common questions
Where do I find my truck's GVWR and GCWR?
GVWR is almost always on the certification label inside the driver's door jamb, alongside the tire and curb weight information. GCWR is usually in the owner's manual towing section, not on the door sticker — some manufacturers publish it online by trim and engine instead. If you can't find GCWR, a dealer can look it up from your VIN.
Why does tongue/hitch weight matter if I already entered the trailer's weight?
A loaded trailer doesn't just pull — a share of its weight (typically 10-15%) presses straight down on your truck's hitch and rear axle, using up payload capacity the same way passengers or cargo in the truck do. Ignoring it is the most common way people underestimate how close they actually are to their payload limit.
What's the difference between the payload check and the GCWR check?
Payload checks whether your truck itself is overloaded (GVWR minus curb weight, covering passengers/cargo/tongue weight). GCWR checks the whole combination — truck plus trailer together — against the manufacturer's rated limit for towing. A truck can pass one check and fail the other, which is why this calculator always shows both.
Why doesn't this calculator just look up my truck by make and model?
Ratings change by trim, engine, axle ratio, and factory options — a lookup keyed only to make/model/year can easily show the wrong number for your specific configuration. Reading the actual figures off your door sticker or paperwork is the only way to be sure they match the truck in your driveway.
Does this replace weighing my rig at a scale?
No — this calculator gives you a solid planning estimate from your stated numbers, not a substitute for an actual scale check before a long trip, especially if you're close to either limit. A public CAT scale or truck stop scale is the only way to know your real, as-loaded weight.
Part of Automotive Calculators