About This Tool
Overloading your vehicle or trailer is dangerous and illegal. But figuring out if you're within limits requires juggling multiple numbers — towing capacity, payload capacity, tongue weight, GCWR, and more. This calculator does the math for you.
Enter your vehicle's specs (from the door sticker or owner's manual) and your trailer's weight plus cargo. The calculator instantly shows whether you're safe, approaching limits, or overloaded — with clear visual indicators and specific warnings for each limit.
Use it before buying a trailer, planning a trip with heavy cargo, or any time you're unsure whether your setup is safe. When in doubt, stay under the limits — your brakes, transmission, and tires will thank you.
How to Use
1. Enter your vehicle's max towing capacity (from owner's manual or door sticker)
2. Enter your vehicle's payload capacity (how much weight it can carry inside + in bed)
3. Optionally enter GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating) if known
4. Enter the trailer's empty weight (from trailer sticker)
5. Add the weight of cargo you're putting IN the trailer
6. Add cargo weight inside your vehicle (passengers, gear in bed/trunk)
7. Check the results — green is safe, yellow is approaching limit, red is overloaded
Formula
Total trailer weight = Trailer empty weight + Cargo in trailer
Tongue weight ≈ 10-15% of total trailer weight (for conventional trailers)
Payload used = Tongue weight + Cargo in vehicle
GCWR check = Vehicle curb weight + Payload + Total trailer weight
Safe if:
- Total trailer weight ≤ Max towing capacity
- Payload used ≤ Payload capacity
- Combined weight ≤ GCWR (if specified)