Can I Tow That? Calculating Your Vehicle’s Towing Capacity

This article is part of an ongoing series dedicated to the basics of towing. Not too long ago, we unpacked how manufacturers determine tow ratings for their vehicles. We also provided a useful glossary, so you have a reference for all the acronyms this industry loves to use. Today, we’re tackling towing capacity and whether or not the vehicle sitting in your garage is up to snuff.

So, you already own a pickup or SUV and you want to know how much it can tow. But you’re a little overwhelmed by the prospect of calculating towing capacity, as well as the sheer volume of camper and trailer options on the market. How do you ensure your current vehicle is up to the challenge? And how do you know what towable is right for you?

Most importantly, where do you start?

Well, first, you should nail down some particulars. If towing for recreation, determine what kind of camping you want to do and what kind of terrain you’ll be crossing to get there. Additionally, work out how many people, pets, and the type and weight of the cargo you’ll be traveling with. These factors are important to nail down because at the end of the day, you cannot tow more weight than your vehicle is rated for.

If your dream is to take you, your spouse, the kids, a chubby Labrador, and a camper trailer full of stuff on a month-long cross-country excursion along unpaved roads, that Subaru Outback ain’t gonna cut it. That being said, if you’re cool with packing light, traveling less rugged roads, and opting for a compact, lightweight trailer, you could probably make it work.

The point is: if you’re determined to keep your current vehicle, do some expectations management. Towing capacity is no joke, so prepare to make some sacrifices.

Do Your Homework

So, you have a general (hopefully, realistic) idea of what you want your setup to look like. It’s time to see if your dream can become reality. First things first—let’s figure out your vehicle’s towing capacity.

To get this number, you need to know the official weight ratings of your vehicle that have been set by the manufacturer. Usually, you can find this information printed on a compliance certification label (i.e. fancy sticker) on your driver’s side door. There are also several reliable databases online that contain this data, but we always recommend you call the manufacturer for peace of mind. (Another option is to spend a little QT with that owner’s manual you tossed in the back of glovebox when you bought your ride.)

“Vehicles that have multiple engine options, wheel bases, cab styles and/or final gear ratio options will have a chart with the combinations and how much each will tow. Read these charts carefully,” advises Camper Report. “Many times, they will only apply if the vehicle has the trailer tow package. The towing capacity of a base vehicle versus one that is properly equipped can be several thousand pounds. Knowing how your vehicle is equipped is the only way to know how much it can tow.”

You’ll Also Have to Do Some Math

It’s not just vehicle trims and configurations that affect towing capacity; passenger weight, camping gear, cargo, liquids in tanks, that chubby Labrador…these all factor in as well.

So, just because Google says your Outback has a towing capacity of 2,700 pounds doesn’t mean you can run out and purchase a 2,700-lb trailer. It also doesn’t mean you need to organize a family weigh-in and put the dog on a diet. “Many people recommend giving yourself a buffer on the max tow weight. If your truck can tow 5,000 pounds, your trailer should not exceed 4,000 pounds,” explains Camper Report.

This is where that hypothetical towing setup comes into play. Does your camping dream involve the whole family? A lot of sporting equipment? Heavy coolers stocked with beer? These things will affect how big your “buffer” should be and therefore how big your new trailer can be.

The video below shows an extremely simple breakdown of how to calculate your true towing capacity:

Consider Tongue Weight

Another factor affecting trailer weight (and your potential purchase) is tongue weight, which is how much downward force the trailer exerts on the hitch ball. Luckily, there’s a rule of thumb governing this too: Tongue weight (sometimes called tongue load) should be 10-15% of the trailer’s total weight.

“Too much tongue weight can cause the truck to sit too low in the rear; that can hurt the front wheels’ ability to provide steering, traction, and braking, and potentially cause suspension damage,” explains Consumer Reports. “Too little tongue weight affects how the trailer will handle behind the pickup, potentially causing the trailer to sway side-to-side, also called fishtailing.”

Make sure the camper you’re eyeing up doesn’t max out your vehicle’s tongue weight or you’ll be shopping for a bigger truck. Additionally, keep in mind that this number will have an affect on your vehicle’s payload. For example, if your trailer weighs 8,000 pounds, you’re looking at a tongue weight of 800-1200 pounds (i.e. 10-15%). So, if the vehicle’s payload maxes out at 1,800 pounds, you’re limiting yourself to only 600 pounds of safely added payload. A family-sized vacation can reach that without blinking.

Don’t Forget About Terrain Challenges

Something many hopeful towers often don’t consider is the role that road quality, elevation changes, and weather can play on towing capacity. “Gas motors lose power as elevation rises,” says Camper Report. “According to the 2016 Ford towing guide, gas engines lose 3-4% of their power for every 1,000 feet above sea level. To combat this power loss, Ford recommends reducing the gross combined vehicle weight by 2% for every 1,000 feet.”

If you, like me, hate word problems and would rather not have to calculate the exact percentage per feet of elevation variances, give yourself another buffer—this time, 10-15% of your max trailer weight. “This will give you some power reserves for weather and elevation changes,” adds Camper Report. “If you regularly drive through the mountains, maybe go as high as 20%. The elevation changes affect turbocharged engines less, but it is still better to be safe than sorry.”

Some Things Are Set In Stone

As you can tell, there are a lot of factors affecting towing capacity—and many of them aren’t one-and-done deals; they’re almost constantly changing. These calculations can get overwhelming, so “use the tools that are available to you,” advises Lisa McCrory, Product Manager for Husky Towing at NTP-STAG and Keystone Automotive. Educate yourself about proper weight ratings and vehicle specs, she says, but don’t be afraid to take advantage of all the online guides and smartphone apps out there specifically designed to make this decision easier.

Most importantly, remember that “nothing out there will actually increase towing capacity,” advises McCrory. It can aid in weight distribution, optimizing capacity, but “if you find that you need to increase your towing capacity to safely pull your trailer, a different vehicle is in order,” she says.

And you thought starting with an existing vehicle would be easier. We haven’t even gotten to the camper yet!

Finding a Camper

Suffice it to say, we can’t catalog all the different options on the market in one (or even several) blog posts. However, we can point you in the direction of some handy online guides. The folks over at Camping World not only have this great breakdown of RV types, but they also offer a useful towing guide that allows you to enter your vehicle and go straight to what types of trailers you can buy. However, you should still verify your own towing capacity with the manufacturer, just to be sure.

Another good resource is RV Guide which can provide you with the specs on just about any trailer, 5th wheel, motorhome, or camper. We also suggest checking out Fifth Wheel Street, which prides itself on being a “one-stop, self-help RV safety information service for novice and experienced RVers.”

We know the details of towing can be a little overwhelming. But if you take the time to get all the facts and practice patience sorting out a word problem or two, you’ll be just fine. Not only that, you’ll also be significantly more prepared than a lot of people towing right now. (Scary, we know.) 

Happy Towing and Safe Travels!