TowSense

Help

Learn how to use TowSense and understand key towing concepts.

Getting Started

The TowSense calculator walks you through a simple wizard:

  1. Select your tow vehicle — Search our database, use AI lookup, or enter specs manually.
  2. Enter vehicle details — Confirm tow capacity, GVWR, curb weight, hitch rating, and passenger/cargo weight.
  3. Select your trailer — Same options: database, AI lookup, or manual entry.
  4. Enter trailer details — Confirm gross trailer weight (or dry weight) and hitch weight.
  5. View results — TowSense checks your setup against multiple safety limits and gives you a clear result.

Key Towing Concepts

GVWR
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating — The maximum total weight your vehicle can safely carry, including the vehicle itself, passengers, cargo, and tongue weight from a trailer.
GCWR
Gross Combined Weight Rating — The maximum combined weight of your loaded vehicle plus the loaded trailer. This is the total weight of the entire rig.
Curb Weight
The weight of your vehicle as it sits at the curb—with all standard equipment and a full tank of fuel, but no passengers or cargo.
Payload Capacity
How much weight you can add to your vehicle (passengers, cargo, and tongue weight). Calculated as GVWR minus curb weight.
Tow Capacity
The maximum weight your vehicle is rated to pull. This varies by trim, engine, axle ratio, and tow package. Always check your specific configuration.
Hitch / Tongue Weight
The downward force the trailer places on the hitch. Should be 10–15% of the total trailer weight for safe towing. Too little causes sway; too much overloads the rear axle.
Dry Weight vs. Loaded Weight
Dry weight is the trailer's weight with no cargo, water, or supplies. Loaded weight (gross trailer weight) is what the trailer actually weighs when you're towing it. Always use loaded weight for safety calculations—dry weight alone can be misleadingly low.

Where to Find Your Specs

Owner's manual — The most reliable source for your vehicle's GVWR, GCWR, tow capacity, and payload.

Door jamb sticker — On the driver's side door frame. Lists GVWR and tire information.

Manufacturer's website — Towing guides are published annually by most major manufacturers.

Trailer data plate — Usually on the tongue or frame near the front. Lists GVWR and dry weight.

Understanding Results

Pass (Green) — All checks passed. Your vehicle is rated to tow this trailer based on the data provided.

Warning (Yellow) — The checks we could run passed, but some data was missing so we couldn't verify everything. Verify the missing specs before towing.

Fail (Red) — One or more safety limits would be exceeded. Do not tow this trailer with this vehicle configuration.

Frequently Asked Questions