Easy RV Towing Guide
Search Make & Model Or VIN To Calculate Your Towing Capacity.
Are you thinking about buying a new or used towable RV? The last thing you need is to buy the perfect recreational vehicle only to find out it isn’t so perfect because it’s too heavy for your vehicle to tow safely, especially if the result is damage to your RV or vehicle.
It’s imperative that you know the weight of everything you’ll be towing—not just the weight of the RV itself!
As you search for your next RV, check out our search tool and refer to the RV Towing Glossary below to learn more about the basics of RV towing.
What Is My Vehicle’s Maximum Load?
There are a few RV and vehicle terms you may encounter when searching for your vehicle’s towing power. One key number is your vehicle’s Gross Combined Vehicle Weight Rating (GCWR), which is often located on a sticker on the driver’s side door frame. This is the maximum weight your vehicle can safely tow, including:
- Dry weight (or shipping weight) of the RV or trailer being towed
- Total weight of fluids within the RV or trailer, such as water, fuel, and propane
- Curb weight of the towing vehicle
- Cargo weight of both the towing vehicle and the RV/trailer
- Passenger weight
What Is My Vehicle’s Towing Capacity?
Use the search tool below to find your vehicle’s Trailer Weight Rating (TWR), which is the heaviest RV/trailer weight a vehicle can accommodate as determined by the manufacturer. The TWR includes the tongue weight, or the weight placed on the towing vehicle’s hitch.
Important: When using the tow weight rating or max payload to determine which RVs your vehicle can safely tow, remember that passenger weight, optional equipment, and additional cargo needs to be added into the equation. Do not exceed your vehicle’s towing capacity because doing so can affect your vehicle’s stopping ability, handling, or possibly even damage the drivetrain. You should always obtain your tow vehicle’s trailer weight and trailer weight rating from the appropriate manufacturer before purchasing or towing a trailer and you are responsible for your purchase and operation of your tow vehicle and/or trailer.
When looking at RVs for sale, include the TWR when calculating your vehicle’s GCWR as outlined above.