Towing and RV weight calculators that show the real numbers.

How to use these calculators

Towing safely is mostly a matter of keeping several weights under their limits at the same time. No single number tells the whole story: a truck with a high tow rating can still run out of payload, and a trailer under its own rating can still overload the tow vehicle’s rear axle. Each calculator here checks one of those limits and explains the formula, so you can see exactly why you get an OK, an “at the limit” or an “exceeds”.

1. Collect your ratings from the door-jamb labels, the owner’s manual and the trailer’s VIN plate (the next section explains where).
2. Start with the big picture: the towing capacity, payload and GCWR calculators.
3. Get the hitch right: tongue weight, hitch class and, for heavier trailers, a weight distribution hitch.
4. Check the details: axle loads, tires, how the cargo is placed and how it is strapped down.
5. Plan the trip: fuel cost, range, travel time, and what grades and braking will demand.
6. Confirm at a scale. Estimates are a starting point; a certified scale gives the real numbers. Our guide on weighing your truck and trailer shows how.

If you are new to towing, read towing weight ratings explained first, then follow the step-by-step weight check with your own vehicle and trailer.

Start with the numbers on your door

Open the driver’s door and find the certification label and the yellow Tire and Loading Information label. They list your vehicle’s GVWR, axle ratings (GAWR) and the payload for that exact vehicle. Your owner’s manual or the manufacturer’s towing guide lists GCWR and the maximum trailer weight. With those numbers, the calculators above tell you what you can safely carry and tow.

Results are estimates based on standard formulas. They don’t replace your manufacturer’s ratings, and when two numbers disagree, the lower one wins. See the disclaimer.