Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)
To calculate the towing capacity of your vehicle, you need to understand the concept of Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). GVWR is the maximum weight that a vehicle can safely carry, including the vehicle’s weight, passengers, cargo, and tongue weight (the weight of the trailer tongue pressing down on the hitch).
To determine the towing capacity, subtract the vehicle’s curb weight (the weight of the vehicle without any passengers or cargo) from the GVWR. The resulting number is the maximum weight that the vehicle can tow.
Payload Capacity
Payload capacity refers to the maximum weight that a vehicle can carry in its cabin and cargo area. It includes the weight of passengers, cargo, and tongue weight. To calculate the available payload capacity for towing, subtract the weight of passengers and cargo from the vehicle’s payload capacity.
Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR)
The Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) is the maximum weight of the fully loaded vehicle and trailer combined. It includes the weight of the vehicle, passengers, cargo, trailer, and trailer tongue weight. To determine the towing capacity, subtract the vehicle’s curb weight from the GCWR.
Towing Capacity Calculation Example
Let’s take an example to illustrate the calculation of towing capacity. Suppose you have a vehicle with a GVWR of 6,000 pounds and a curb weight of 4,000 pounds. The payload capacity is 1,500 pounds, and the GCWR is 10,000 pounds.
To calculate the towing capacity, subtract the curb weight from the GVWR: 6,000 pounds – 4,000 pounds = 2,000 pounds. This means that the vehicle can tow up to 2,000 pounds.
However, it’s important to consider the payload capacity. If the payload capacity is 1,500 pounds and you have four passengers weighing a total of 500 pounds, subtract the weight of passengers from the payload capacity: 1,500 pounds – 500 pounds = 1,000 pounds. This is the available payload capacity for towing.
Finally, consider the GCWR. If the GCWR is 10,000 pounds and the curb weight is 4,000 pounds, subtract the curb weight from the GCWR: 10,000 pounds – 4,000 pounds = 6,000 pounds. This is the maximum weight of the fully loaded vehicle and trailer combined.
Based on these calculations, you can safely tow up to 1,000 pounds with the given vehicle, considering the payload capacity and the maximum weight of the fully loaded vehicle and trailer combined.
