Tow Capacity Calculator
Safe towing weight with payload
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Tow Capacity Calculator is built for safe towing weight with payload — fast, free, and private. You supply GCWR (kg), Truck Weight (kg) and Passengers + Cargo (kg) to Tow Capacity; the answer follows at once. Tow Capacity prints the result and its working. That makes Tow Capacity handy for quick estimates anywhere. You can disconnect once Tow Capacity has loaded; the arithmetic runs locally. Tow Capacity is part of the Auto & Transport collection on CalcProMaster, alongside tow capacity calculator trailer weight payload, free online tow capacity calculator and more. Tow Capacity is great for comparing scenarios. Change one value and watch. Tow Capacity answers the next Auto & Transport question you meet.
What the defaults allow
With a 5,000 kg gross combined weight rating, a 2,200 kg truck and 400 kg of passengers and cargo, the maximum trailer weight is 2,400 kg.
The limit is not the truck’s towing figure in isolation. GCWR caps the whole combination — truck, occupants, cargo and trailer together — so weight carried inside the vehicle comes directly off what can be hitched behind it.
How much you can safely tow
Your towing limit is what is left of the combined rating after the truck and everything in it:
Tow capacity = GCWR − Truck weight − Passengers + cargo
5,000 kg GCWR − 2,200 kg truck − 400 kg load = 2,400 kg of towing capacity.
| GCWR (kg) | Truck (kg) | Payload (kg) | Tow capacity (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5,000 | 2,200 | 400 | 2,400 |
| 6,000 | 2,200 | 400 | 3,400 |
| 6,000 | 2,500 | 600 | 2,900 |
| 7,000 | 2,500 | 600 | 3,900 |
| 7,000 | 2,800 | 800 | 3,400 |
Every extra kilogram of passengers or cargo takes a kilogram off your towing capacity. Related: cargo volume and auto calculators.
The arithmetic
Max trailer = GCWR − (truck weight + occupants and cargo).
2,200 + 400 = 2,600 kg loaded truck. 5,000 − 2,600 = 2,400 kg.
Worked example
GCWR 5,000 kg
Truck 2,200 kg
Passengers and cargo 400 kg
Loaded truck 2,600 kg
Max trailer = 2,400 kg
Why the trailer’s tongue weight matters too
Around 10–15% of a trailer’s weight rests on the hitch, and that counts against the truck’s payload and rear axle rating. A 2,400 kg trailer puts roughly 240–360 kg on the hitch, which is already close to what many light trucks can carry on top of passengers. The trailer may fit the combined limit while the rear axle does not.
The other limits that bind first
- GVWR — the truck’s own maximum loaded weight, often reached before GCWR.
- Payload rating — passengers, cargo and tongue weight combined.
- Rear axle rating (GAWR) — the limit that tongue weight tests directly.
- Hitch and ball rating — a hitch rated to 2,000 kg is a hard limit regardless of the truck.
- Trailer’s own GVWR — the trailer can be the weakest link.
What this calculation does not cover
Braking, sway stability, tongue weight distribution, gradient performance and legal licensing all sit outside a weight subtraction. The lightest of the applicable ratings is the real limit, so check every one of them before loading.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the trailer limit 2,400 kg rather than 2,800?
Because the 400 kg of passengers and cargo comes off the 5,000 kg combined rating first. 5,000 − 2,200 − 400 = 2,400 kg.
Is GCWR the same as towing capacity?
No. GCWR is the maximum combined weight of truck, occupants, cargo and trailer. Towing capacity is derived from it by subtracting the loaded truck, which is what this page does.
Does tongue weight count against payload?
Yes. About 10–15% of trailer weight rests on the hitch and counts toward payload and the rear axle rating, which is often the limit that binds first.
What if I add a passenger?
Every kilogram added to the truck reduces the allowable trailer weight by the same amount. Two more adults at 80 kg each cut 160 kg from the towing figure.
Which rating should I trust?
The lowest one that applies — GCWR, GVWR, payload, axle rating, hitch rating or the trailer’s own limit. Whichever is smallest is the real constraint.
How much can I tow with two extra passengers?
Every kilogram inside the truck comes off the trailer allowance. Two adults at 80 kg each, plus their luggage, cut about 180 kg — so the 2,400 kg figure falls to roughly 2,220 kg on exactly the same vehicle.
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