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    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. Once you know your towing capacity, browse RVUniverse.com to find new and used travel trailers, fifth wheels, toy haulers, pop-up campers, teardrop trailers, park models, and more.

    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.

    Or Search By Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
    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.

    Enter your Vehicle Information and click Run Search to find your vehicle's tow limit and learn which RVs you will be able to tow.

    When looking at RVs for sale, include the TWR when calculating your vehicle’s GCWR as outlined above.

    RV Towing Glossary

    Dry Weight (Shipping Weight)This is the weight of an RV/trailer before the addition of fluids/liquids, and cargo. Manufacturers determine this figure before shipping new RVs to dealerships. Dry weight is also sometimes referred to as Unloaded Vehicle Weight (UVW).

    Curb WeightThis is the weight of an RV/trailer or vehicle, including fluids. It is typically the weight of the frame plus standard parts and excludes the weight of optional dealer add-ons.

    Gross Combined Vehicle Weight Rating (GCWR)This is the maximum allowable combined weight of a fully loaded towing vehicle and a fully loaded RV/trailer being towed. It includes the RV/trailer dry weight and the total weight of fluids, cargo, and passengers on board the towing vehicle and the RV/trailer.

    Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)This is the total weight of an RV/trailer or vehicle, including the dry weight plus liquids, cargo, and passengers. For a vehicle towing an RV/trailer, GVW also includes tongue weight.

    Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)This is the maximum allowable weight of a fully loaded vehicle, including options, liquids, cargo, passengers, and tongue weight. The Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) must never exceed the GVWR.

    PayloadThis includes a vehicle’s passengers, dry cargo, and any fluids not included in curb weight.

    Tongue Weight (Tongue Load)This is the weight placed on the hitch when an RV/trailer is coupled to the towing vehicle. It should not exceed 10% to 15% of the RV/trailer’s Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW).

    Trailer Weight Rating (TWR)Sometimes referred to as Tow Weight Rating, this is the heaviest weight of a fully loaded RV/trailer that a vehicle can tow, including the tongue weight, as determined by the manufacturer under test conditions. The tow rating may not include the weight of passengers (other than the driver), cargo, and other gear.