Can your truck tow that travel trailer or fifth wheel? Enter the numbers from your door-jamb stickers and the trailer, and see payload, towing capacity, GVWR and GCWR side by side - with the tightest limit first.
Where to find the numbers
- Payload capacity - the yellow "Tire and Loading Information" sticker on the driver's door jamb: "The combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed ... lbs". It is usually the first limit a truck reaches.
- GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) - the white sticker on the door jamb: the most the loaded truck may weigh.
- GCWR (gross combined weight rating) and towing capacity - the owner's manual or the maker's towing guide for your exact engine, axle ratio, cab and bed.
- Dry weight (UVW) - the trailer's sticker. Real trailers leave the lot heavier: batteries, propane and options are often not included.
The rules of thumb used
- Tongue weight of a travel trailer is 10-15% of its loaded weight (13% is used); fifth-wheel pin weight is 15-25% (20% is used). The tongue or pin weight counts against the truck's payload.
- Water weighs 8.34 lb per gallon - travel with the fresh tank nearly empty when you can.
- Many RVers stay under 80% of the towing capacity for a margin on hills, in wind and in heat.
This is an estimate from the numbers you enter, not an approval to tow. Weigh the loaded truck and trailer on a certified (CAT) scale before a long trip, and follow your vehicle and hitch manufacturers' limits.