How Do I Calculate My Truck's Towing Capacity
When there are so many different trucks available today with the ability tow a different amount of weight, how do you calculate your trucks towing capacity? You never want to tow more than your trucks maximum capacity for the safety of you and other drivers on the road. Many of us truck owners don't know the proper way to figure out our safe load limits of our pickup trucks. Here are some items to get familiar with when you're ready for your next towing job.
Know Before You Tow
Trucks vary in terms of weight and towing weight, so knowing which hitch is right for you is very important. B&W, for example, has rated their Tow & Stow hitches to tow 10,000 lbs. with the 2’’ shank model, 14,500 lbs. with the 2 1/2" shank model, and 21,000 lbs. with the 3" shank model. This is called Gross Towing Weight Rating (GTWR). The Vertical Towing Weight Rating (VTWR), also called Tongue Weight Rating, is 1,000, 1,450, or 2,100 lbs. depending on the shank model you have as seen below.
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)
- This is the maximum allowable weight of the fully loaded vehicle. You can find this, most likely, on the sticker inside your driver’s side door.
Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR)
- This is the maximum allowable weight of the tow vehicle and the loaded trailer including all cargo and passengers. Find this in your owner’s manual or by calling your truck dealer.
Max Tow Rating
- This is the maximum weight that your trailer can be in order to safely tow behind your truck. It is sometimes located in the truck owner’s manual or you can find the Max Tow Rating at trailerlife.com/trailer-towing-guides.
Vertical Towing Weight Rating (VTWR)
- Also known as tongue weight, can be found on the trailer coupler. It is often recommended that your hitch be no more than 10% of your truck’s Max Tow Rating.
- Make this calculation: Max Tow Rating x .10 = VTWR
Finding Your Actual Weights
Take your loaded truck and loaded trailer to a scale at a truck stop, quarry, or material supply center. For a small fee you can weigh your tow vehicle and trailer on their scale.
1. Find your GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight)
- Weigh just your truck with a full tank of gas, all your passengers and items in the cab and truck bed with your trailer loaded and attached, but not on the scale. Don’t exceed your manufacturer’s GVWR.
2. Find your GCW (Gross Combined Weight)
- Weigh your fully loaded truck and trailer including all cargo, a full tank of gas and passengers. Don’t exceed your manufacturer’s GCWR.
3. Find your Towing Weight
- Weigh your loaded truck without the trailer attached. This is your truck weight. Subtract your Truck Weight from your GCW. This is your towing weight.
- GCW – Truck Weight = Towing Weight
4. Find your VTW (Vertical Tow Weight)
- Also known as Tongue Weight. Subtract your Truck Weight from your GVW.
- GVW – Truck Weight = VTW
Even though you may be under your vehicle’s Max Towing Rating, when your Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) goes up, (more passengers, more cargo) your ability to tow the Max Towing Rating may not be possible, because the Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) must not be exceeded.
Find all your towing accessories that you need here at SharpTruck.com!