How to Figure Out Towing Capacity
Before you go out on the open road with a trailer or other tow load, be sure you are not going over the vehicle's maximum towing capacity, and you must never go over the maximum towing weight. It is a great idea to leave a 20 percent safety margin.
Supplies:
- Gross vehicle weight
- Gross combination weight rating
- Gross vehicle weight rating
- Take a look on the door panel on the inside of the vehicle for a tab that shows the gross combination weight rating, also known as the GCWR. This is the maximum weight of the car, plus what the tow load can and should weigh. The number includes everything inside. The number can also be found in the owner's manual.
- Look for the gross vehicle weight, or the GVW. This, too, is the total weight of the vehicle that also includes everything inside of it. You can weigh the vehicle on weigh scales normally found at truck stops.
- Determine the towing capacity of the vehicle. In order to do this, subtract the GVW that was found in Step 2 from the GCWR that was found in Step 1. The formula for this is GCWR - GVW = Maximum Trailer Weight. The answer of the equation will equal the maximum weight your vehicle can tow. Even though you might have to know the correct weight of the trailer, you can never be totally sure of the tow load unless you have taken the fully loaded trailer to a weigh scale.