Tow Guide

Disclaimer: This Tow Guide tool displays maximum towing capacity based on the vehicle information you provide. You must also consider optional added equipment, passengers, and cargo to determine the maximum weight your vehicle can safely tow. Do not exceed your vehicle’s towing capacity, as doing so affect your vehicle’s stopping ability and handling, as well as damaging your vehicle’s drivetrain. You are fully responsible for the purchase and operation of your tow vehicle and/or trailer, so be sure to confirm your vehicle’s tow trailer weight rating from your vehicle dealer or vehicle manufacturer before purchasing or towing a trailer.

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Terms & Definitions Related to RV Weights

• Dry Weight/Shipped Weight – The weight of the RV as shipped from the manufacturer without any passengers, cargo, liquids, or additional accessories or dealer installed options.
• Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) – The current combined weight of the RV (dry weight) plus passengers, cargo, and liquids.
• Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) – The maximum allowed weight of an Vehicle/RV, including passengers, cargo, fluids, etc..
• Cargo Weight – The total weight of all passengers, food, clothing, liquids, accessories, etc.. that you might put into your RV.
• Tongue/Hitch Weight – The weight/pressure applied from the trailer tongue/coupler to the conventional/bumper hitch on your vehicle.
• Pin Weight – This is often referred to as the weight/pressure applied from fifth wheel king pin to the hitch in the bed of your truck.
• Payload Capacity – For Trucks the amount of weight you can safely add to the bed of the truck. Your Fifth Wheels Hitch Weight or Pin Weight plus the actual weight of hitch plus any other accessories you have in the bed of the truck must not exceed the Payload Capacity amount. Confirm Payload Capacity with your vehicle’s manufacturer.
• Max Towing Capacity – The maximum weight limit that can safely be towed by your specific vehicle. This weight is calculated by adding the RV’s GVW with weight of all passengers, cargo, and liquids in your tow vehicle.
  • CCC: Cargo Carrying Capacity. The maximum weight limit for personal items you can add to an RV.
  • GAWR: Gross Axle Weight Rating. The gross axle weight rating is the maximum distributed weight that may be supported by an axle of a road vehicle. Typically, GAWR is followed by either the letters FR or RR, which indicate front or rear axles respectively.
  • GCWR: Gross Combined Weight Rating. The manufacturer's maximum load weight, in pounds, allowed for the trailer and tow vehicle. This rating includes the weight of the trailer, tow vehicle, fuel, water, propane, supplies and passengers.
  • NCC: Net Carrying Capacity or Payload Capacity. The maximum weight of fuel, water, propane, supplies and passengers that can be added to an RV without exceeding the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR).
  • OCCC: Occupant and cargo, carrying capacity.
  • Tongue Weight: The actual weight pressing down on the hitch ball located on the tow vehicle. Generally, tongue weight is 10% to 15% of the gross vehicle weight.
  • UBW: Unit Base Weight. The dry weight of the base unit without options.
  • UVW: Unloaded Vehicle Weight or Dry Weight. The weight of the RV without adding fuel, water, propane, supplies and passengers.
  • Weight Distribution Hitch: Transfers the weight from the tongue of the trailer and redistributes it to the front of the tow vehicle.
  • Wet Weight: Weight of RV with full tanks of fuel, propane, fresh water.