Guides

Guides

Towing capacity notes and vehicle-class explainers for Tow Capacities.

• Does Fifth-Wheel Pin Weight Count as Payload?Learn how fifth-wheel pin weight uses pickup payload, affects rear axle loading, and how to verify limits with labels, manuals, and scales.
• Does Trailer Tongue Weight Count as Payload?Learn why trailer tongue weight counts against payload, how to calculate remaining capacity, and how to verify GVWR, axle, hitch, and trailer limits.
• What Counts Against Payload When Towing?Learn what consumes payload while towing, including passengers, cargo, tongue weight, hitch parts, accessories, and fluids.
• How to Calculate Available PayloadLearn how to subtract passengers, cargo, accessories, and tongue weight from payload to determine how much capacity remains.
• What Is Payload Capacity?Learn what counts as payload, how to calculate available capacity, and how passengers, cargo, tongue weight, and ratings affect hauling safety.
• How Much Towing Margin Should You Leave?Learn how to choose a practical towing buffer using payload, GVWR, GAWR, GCWR, trailer weight, conditions, and manufacturer limits.
• Can You Tow at Maximum Capacity?Learn how to decide whether towing at maximum capacity is practical by checking payload, tongue weight, axle limits, route, climate, and trailer shape.
• What Is the Weakest Link in a Towing Setup?Learn how to find the lowest-rated limit in a towing setup by checking payload, GVWR, GCWR, axles, hitch parts, trailer tires, and actual weights.
• How to Read a Trailer Weight StickerLearn how to read a trailer certification label, including GVWR, GAWR, tire ratings, inflation pressure, cargo capacity, and loading checks.
• How to Read the Driver Door Weight Sticker for TowingLearn how to use the driver-door certification and tire labels to check payload, GVWR, GAWR, tongue weight, axle loads, and towing limits.
• How to Read a Vehicle Towing ChartLearn how to match a towing chart to body style, drivetrain, engine, axle, and equipment, then verify payload, GVWR, GAWR, GCWR, and hitch limits.
• Does a Tow Package Increase Towing Capacity?Learn when a factory tow package changes towing capacity and when cooling, wiring, gearing, or hitch upgrades only improve towing readiness.
• Dry Weight vs Loaded Weight When TowingLearn how to estimate loaded trailer weight from dry weight, cargo, fluids, propane, and batteries, then verify payload, GVWR, axle, and hitch limits.
• Curb Weight vs Gross Vehicle WeightLearn curb weight vs gross vehicle weight, how GVW differs from GVWR, and how to calculate payload before towing or hauling.
• GVWR vs GCWR vs GAWR ExplainedLearn how GVWR, GCWR, and GAWR differ, calculate towing limits, check payload and axle weights, and verify ratings before towing.
• Towing Capacity vs GCWRLearn how GCWR, tow rating, payload, GVWR, GAWR, and tongue weight determine whether a loaded vehicle and trailer combination is safe and compliant.
• Towing Capacity vs GVWRLearn how towing capacity differs from GVWR, payload, GAWR, and GCWR, with calculations and checks to avoid overloading your tow vehicle.
• Towing Capacity vs Payload CapacityLearn how towing capacity and payload differ, how tongue weight affects payload, and how to check GVWR, GAWR, GCWR, hitch, and tire limits.
• How to Find Your Vehicle's Real Towing CapacityLearn how to verify real towing capacity using VIN-specific ratings, GVWR, GCWR, payload, axle limits, tongue weight, and actual scale weights.
• What Is Towing Capacity and What Actually Limits It?Learn what towing capacity means and how payload, GVWR, GCWR, axles, tires, hitch ratings, tongue weight, and trailer loading set the real limit.
• Best Electric Vehicles for Towing CapacityCompare the best EVs for towing by vehicle class, payload, tongue weight, tow packages, range loss, and how to verify the exact rating.
• Best Vans & Minivans With Towing CapacityCompare minivans and full-size vans for towing. Learn tow ratings, payload, tongue weight, tow packages, and how to verify a safe setup.
• Toyota Vehicles With the Best Towing CapacityCompare Toyota models for towing, from Tundra and Sequoia to Tacoma and SUVs, with guidance on payload, tongue weight, tow packages, and verification.
• Best Family Vehicles With Towing CapacityCompare the best family vehicles for towing, from minivans to SUVs and pickups. Learn how payload, tongue weight, tow packages, and GVWR affect your choice.
• Best Fuel-Efficient Vehicles With Towing CapacityCompare fuel-efficient SUVs, pickups, minivans, plug-in hybrids, and EVs for towing, with practical guidance on payload, tongue weight, tow packages, and limits.
• Cars & Sedans With the Best Towing CapacityLearn which cars and sedans tow best, how payload and tongue weight limit capacity, and how to verify tow ratings, packages, and safety requirements.
• How Much Towing Capacity Do You Really Need?Learn how to match a vehicle to your trailer using tow rating, payload, tongue weight, GVWR, GCWR, tow packages, and practical safety margins.
• What Affects Towing Capacity the Most?Learn what most affects towing capacity, including payload, tongue weight, GVWR, GCWR, axles, tow packages, trailer loading, and how to verify limits.
• Can You Increase a Vehicle’s Towing Capacity Safely?Learn whether hitches, cooling, brakes, suspension, and tires can safely increase towing capacity—and how payload, GVWR, axle limits, and tow ratings interact.
• Best Midsize & Small Trucks With Towing CapacityCompare the best small and midsize trucks for towing. Learn tow ratings, payload, tongue weight, tow packages, and how to verify limits safely.
• Heavy-Duty Trucks With the Best Towing CapacityCompare heavy-duty trucks for maximum towing. Learn how tow rating, payload, pin weight, GVWR, duallys, diesel engines, and tow packages affect choice.
• Best Midsize SUVs With Towing CapacityCompare the best midsize SUVs for towing, including tow ratings, payload, tongue weight, tow packages, trailer brakes, and how to verify a specific SUV.
• Best Small & Compact SUVs With Towing CapacityCompare small and compact SUV towing capacity, payload, tongue weight, tow packages, and practical trailer limits before you buy or hitch.
• Best Full-Size & 3-Row SUVs for Towing CapacityCompare full-size and 3-row SUVs for towing. Learn tow ratings, payload, tongue weight, GVWR, tow packages, and how to verify a safe match.
• What Truck Has the Best Towing Capacity?Find out which truck has the highest towing capacity and how to choose safely using tow rating, payload, tongue weight, GVWR, and tow-package requirements.
• Best Half-Ton (1500) Trucks for Towing CapacityCompare the best 1500 half-ton trucks for towing. Learn how tow rating, payload, tongue weight, GVWR, tow packages, and wheelbase affect real capacity.
• Which SUV Has the Best Towing Capacity?Find the SUV with the best towing capacity by comparing tow ratings, payload, tongue weight, wheelbase, tow packages, and exact vehicle limits.
• Best Affordable and Fuel-Efficient SUVs With Towing CapacityCompare affordable, fuel-efficient SUVs for towing. Learn tow ratings, payload, tongue weight, tow packages, hybrid limits, and how to verify capacity.
• SUV vs Truck for Towing: Which Is Better and WhySUVs suit light to moderate towing, while trucks offer more payload and stability. Compare tow rating, tongue weight, GVWR, and tow-package equipment.
• Best SUVs With Towing Capacity: Rankings & ComparisonsCompare the best SUV classes for towing, from compact to full-size. Learn how tow rating, payload, tongue weight, tow packages, and safety affect your choice.
• Best Trucks With the Highest Towing CapacityCompare the best high-capacity trucks by class, tow rating, payload, tongue weight, GVWR, GCWR, configuration, and tow-package requirements.
• What Is the Towing Capacity of Hybrid SUVs?Learn typical hybrid SUV towing ranges and how tow rating, payload, tongue weight, GVWR, and tow packages affect what you can safely pull.