RV Towing Capacity & Payload Calculator
Verify your tow vehicle can safely handle your trailer. Checks GVWR, GCWR, payload, tow capacity and pin/tongue weight in one place.
The four numbers that actually matter
Tow ratings on the sticker board are marketing. The numbers that keep you legal, insured, and alive are on the door-jamb sticker and the trailer's GVWR plate:
- GVWR — the most loaded weight your truck alone is rated for. Includes you, passengers, fuel, gear, AND tongue weight from the trailer. Exceeding this is the most common (and most dangerous) overweight scenario.
- Payload — GVWR minus curb weight. The actual capacity for everything you load into the truck.
- GCWR — truck + trailer combined. Almost never the binding constraint on modern trucks.
- Tow rating — the manufacturer's max trailer weight, calculated assuming a 150 lb driver, no passengers, no cargo. Real-world tow capacity is always less.
Why payload usually fails first
A typical 1500-class half-ton truck might be rated to tow 11,000 lb but only have 1,500 lb of payload. A 9,000 lb 5th wheel with 22% pin weight puts 1,980 lb of pin weight in the bed — before you add a cargo, hitch, or passengers. The math doesn't work, and you'll see this everywhere on RV forums.
Tongue/pin weight rules of thumb
- Travel trailer / bumper pull: 12-15% of GVW. Less than 10% causes sway.
- 5th wheel: 20-25% of GVW.
- Toy hauler with motorcycles in back: load shifts; weigh both unloaded and with toys.
An overweight tow rig handles unpredictably, has reduced braking, can void your insurance, and may exceed the rating of your tires (most blowouts come from being overloaded plus underinflated). Always weigh on a CAT scale before a long trip. The cost is $13 and it's the best safety dollar you'll ever spend.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does GVWR mean on my truck?
My truck is rated to tow 13,000 lb. Why does this calculator say no?
Should I weigh my rig?
What's a weight distribution hitch and do I need one?
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About our math & sources
Every default and formula in this calculator is grounded in published manufacturer specs, industry standards, or peer-reviewed measurement. Where we make assumptions, we tell you what they are so you can adjust.
- GVWR, GCWR, payload definitions. From the SAE J2807 standard (Society of Automotive Engineers) and FMVSS Part 567 (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards). Same definitions used on every door-jamb sticker in the U.S.
- Tongue weight percentages. RVIA (RV Industry Association) recommendations: 10–15% for travel trailers, 20–25% for fifth wheels. Going below 10% causes trailer sway.
- Why tow ratings are misleading. Manufacturer tow ratings assume a 150 lb driver, no passengers, and an empty bed. Real-world capacity is always lower once you load the truck. Same caveat applies to all major manufacturers (Ford, GM, Ram, Toyota).