How Much Can a Truck Tow?

When determining how much your truck can tow and how much you are towing, there are many factors you need to consider.  Let’s start by just looking at the information you’ll need to know about your truck.

What your truck can tow:

1. Manufacturer Specifications:  Many manufacturers will place a sticker on the inside of the driver’s doorjamb that will give you GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) and GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating).  You can often also find the information inside the owner’s manual.  Many manufacturer’s owner’s manuals will have a chart with different truck configurations to help you determine the correct weight ratings for your truck.  If you do not know how the truck is equipped, it will be difficult to determine the correct information though.
2. Vehicle Equipment:  As seen above, it’s important to know any packages or added equipment your truck may have to determine the correct weight ratings.  Some trucks will also come equipped with towing packages that could include features such as upgraded suspension, cooling systems, transmission coolers, or braking enhancers.  These features can increase the towing capacity of the truck beyond the base specifications.
3. GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating):  GVWR is the maximum allowable weight a vehicle or trailer can hold when loaded with people and/or cargo.  You want to ensure that the weight on your truck or trailer does not exceed the GVWR amount for either.  You also want to remember that GVWR and towing capacity are not the same thing.  GVWR is the total amount of weight put on the truck’s frame, axle, and tires.  Towing capacity also takes into consideration the horizontal stress put on a tuck’s frame from the trailer.
4. GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating):  GAWR is the maximum amount of weight a particular axle can support.  The front and rear axils generally have different ratings.  The tongue weight of a trailer and cargo, or load, weight will be mainly supported by the rear axle.
5. Braked and Un-braked Towing Capacity:  Some trailers come with a braking system that can be wired to the vehicle.  This allows the trailer brakes to be applied at the same time as the truck brakes are when you press the brake pedal.  This is important to know because braking is what limits the towing capacity of a truck the most. Trucks can tow more than their towing capacity shows but lack the ability to safely stop.  A trailer with brakes can increase towing capacity simply by giving the truck more stopping power.
6. Trailer Hitch:  Regardless of how big or powerful your truck is, towing will be limited by the hitch you have.  Hitches vary by class and go from a Class I to a Class V.  A Class I is able to tow up to  2,000 lbs. and a Class V is able to tow up to 20,000 lbs.

So, determining how much weight your truck can tow takes a lot of different information.  Not only do you need to know the GVWR and GAWR, but you also need to know the weight limits on the hitch you are using.  Once you know all this information, it’s all about the load you are carrying and towing.  Next, let’s take a look at calculating the weight you are putting on the truck.

How Much You are Towing

1. Payload:  Payload contributes to the overall gross vehicle weight of the truck and will affect the truck’s ability to tow.  The payload includes all the passengers, fuel in the truck, and cargo that is inside of it.
2. Tongue Weight:  Tongue weight is the downward force that is placed on the hitch by the trailer and its contents.  The payload of the trailer will affect tongue weight, and can be managed by distributing your load in the trailer, to maintain proper towing balance and stability.    In general, you can figure the tongue weight at 10% to 15% of the weight of your trailer, but to be certain, you can always go to a scale to get an exact number.

Always remember to take into consideration the weight of passengers and fuel when doing your calculations for the weight being put on your truck.

If you’re looking for a truck to suit your towing needs, give us a call or stop today at Seminole Chevrolet GMC.  With our inventory of New and Pre-owned Silverados and Sierras we have the truck to get the job done.  Whether your looking for a Light Duty or Heavy Duty Silverado you’ll find it at Seminole Chevrolet GMC, your number one spot for Seminole auto sales.

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