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Calcimator

RV Towing Capacity Calculator

Calculate tongue weight, gross combined weight rating, and payload capacity to ensure your tow vehicle can safely handle your RV or trailer.

Inputs

lbs
lbs
lbs
lbs
%

Results

Gross Combined Weight

12,000 lbs

≈ 11 grand pianos

Remaining Capacity

5,850 lbs

≈ 6 grand pianos

Tongue Weight600 lbs
Total Vehicle Payload1,150 lbs
Safety Margin83.57%
Within Safe LimitsYes
How to Use This Calculator
  1. Enter your vehicle GVWR and subtract passenger weight and in-vehicle cargo weight.
  2. Enter the trailer weight (loaded GVWR or scale weight at a truck stop).
  3. Set the tongue weight percentage (typically 10-15% of trailer weight for travel trailers).
  4. Review available towing capacity, tongue weight, and safety margin.
  5. Never tow a trailer that exceeds your vehicle's rated capacity -- exceeding limits risks brake and structural failure.

How the result changes with Vehicle GVWR

Vehicle GVWRGross Combined WeightRemaining Capacity
3,9008,900 lbs2,750 lbs
11,15016,150 lbs10,000 lbs
19,85024,850 lbs18,700 lbs
27,10032,100 lbs25,950 lbs

What each input means

Vehicle GVWR
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating from the manufacturer sticker on the driver door jamb.
Trailer Weight (loaded)
Total weight of the trailer including all gear and water. Use the dry weight plus estimated cargo.
Passenger Weight
Combined weight of all passengers in the tow vehicle.
In-Vehicle Cargo Weight
Weight of gear stored in the tow vehicle (not in the trailer).
Tongue Weight Percentage
Percentage of trailer weight on the hitch. 10-15% is ideal for stability.

What each result means

Gross Combined Weight
Total weight of vehicle plus trailer.
Tongue Weight
Downward force the trailer exerts on the hitch.
Total Vehicle Payload
Passengers + cargo + tongue weight carried by the vehicle.
Remaining Capacity
How much weight you can still add before hitting GVWR.
Safety Margin
Remaining capacity as a percentage of GVWR.
Within Safe Limits
Whether the vehicle is within safe weight limits.

How this is calculated

Worked example, using the default values

  1. Identify Input Parameters
    4 parameters
    Vehicle GVWR = 7000, Trailer Weight (loaded) = 5000, Passenger Weight = 350, In-Vehicle Cargo Weight = 200 = 5 input(s) provided
  2. Calculate Gross Combined Weight
    Gross Combined Weight
    12000 = 12000
  3. Calculate Remaining Capacity
    Remaining Capacity
    5850 = 5850
  4. Calculate Tongue Weight
    Tongue Weight
    600 = 600
  5. Calculate Total Vehicle Payload
    Total Vehicle Payload
    1150 = 1150

Engine last updated . Checked against 2 independently-derived tests — how we verify calculators.

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