Kansas City
(816) 579-0463
Contact Us

Osage Beach
(573) 245-0042
Contact Us

Kansas City
(816) 579-0463
Contact Us

Osage Beach
(573) 245-0042
Contact Us

Towing Guide

Let us help you get moving!

WHAT IS THE TOWING CAPACITY OF MY VEHICLE?

RV Dry Weight + Passenger’s Weight + Cargo + Liquids = Total Weight (must not exceed towing capacity)

Tow Rating Guide

  • Understanding your vehicle’s tow rating capacity is critical to choosing the right RV for you and your family.
  • Towing your next RV safely down the road will depend on having the right tow vehicle and RV combination.
Find My Vehicle's Towing Capacity

Attention: Your vehicle's max towing capacity includes passenger weight, added accessories, any current liquids in tanks, and any cargo you've added such as food, clothes, chairs, grills, games, tools, etc.. For purposes of Find an RV I can Tow, we've allowed 1000 lbs for RVs over 8000 lbs, 750 lbs for RVs under 8000 lbs, and 500 lbs for RVs under 5000 lbs for average Cargo Weight. Always confirm your specific tow vehicles towing capacity directly from your vehicle's manufacturer before purchasing or towing an RV. You are responsible for the decision to operate your vehicle and any RV you may tow. If your specific vehicle is not listed, please contact us for assistance.

Terms & Definitions

  • 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.

Disclaimer: Your vehicle’s max towing capacity equals passenger weight, added accessories, any current liquids in tanks, and ALL cargo. For filter search we have allowed 1000 lbs for RVs over 8000 lbs, 750 lbs for RVs under 8000 lbs, and 500 lbs for RVs under 5000 lbs for average Cargo Weight. Always confirm your specific tow capacity from your vehicle’s manufacturer’s website before purchasing or towing an RV. You are responsible for the decision to operate your vehicle and any RV you may tow.

Terms and Definitions

Unloaded Weight/Manufacturer’s Shipping Weight

  • This refers to the weight of the recreational vehicle (RV) as it leaves the factory, excluding passengers, cargo, fluids, and any aftermarket or dealer-added features.

Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)

  • This is the sum of the RV’s unladen weight plus the weight of passengers, cargo, and fluids within it.

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)

  • The highest permissible weight for the RV or vehicle, encompassing everything from passengers and cargo to all types of fluids.

Cargo Weight

  • The total weight of all passengers, food, clothing, liquids, accessories, etc.. that you might put into your RV.

Tow Hitch Weight

  • The weight/pressure applied from the trailer tongue/coupler to the conventional/bumper hitch on your vehicle.

Fifth Wheel Connection Weight

  • Typically known as the force exerted by the RV’s fifth wheel king pin onto the truck’s bed hitch.

Carrying Capacity

  • For trucks, it’s the maximum weight that can be added safely to the truck’s bed. The combined weight of the fifth wheel’s hitch or connection weight, the hitch’s own weight, and any bed accessories must not surpass this limit. Verification with the vehicle’s manufacturer is advised.

Maximum Hauling Capacity

  • This is the top weight that can be towed securely by your specific vehicle, determined by adding the RV’s total vehicle weight to the load of passengers, cargo, and fluids in the towing vehicle.

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