What's the difference between GVM and GCM?

GVM is the most your tow vehicle can weigh on its own — fully loaded with passengers, fuel and gear. GCM is the most your tow vehicle and caravan can weigh together, hitched up. A combination can sit under each weight rating on its own and still break the GCM limit once you add them together, which is why Can I Tow It? checks both.

What does Pass, Caution or Fail mean?

Can I Tow It? returns one of three verdicts. Pass (well matched) means every check — Braked Towing Capacity, GCM headroom and caravan ATM — sits comfortably within its limit. Caution (careful) means all checks pass but at least one margin is tight, so it's worth confirming once loaded. Fail (no) means at least one rating is exceeded — for example the caravan ATM is more than your tow vehicle's Braked Towing Capacity. The verdict is based only on the spec figures you enter.

Do I need an account to use Can I Tow It?

No. Can I Tow It? runs in your browser with no sign-up. Enter your tow vehicle and caravan figures and you get the verdict and the reasons straight away. You can optionally email yourself the result so you have it handy later.

Does this replace a weighbridge?

No. Can I Tow It? is a spec-based check that compares the weight ratings you enter — it does not measure your actual loaded weight, and it is not legal weight evidence. Use it to plan and sanity-check your combination, then confirm your real loaded weights at a weighbridge. Towing remains the operator's responsibility.

How accurate is the tow check?

The check is deterministic: it applies the same weight rules every time to the numbers you give it, so the maths is exact for the figures entered. Its accuracy depends on those figures being right — pull them from your tow vehicle's placard and the caravan's compliance plate. Because it works from spec sheets rather than your actual loaded weight, treat the result as decision support and confirm at a weighbridge.

What do I need to get a verdict?

Four essentials: your tow vehicle's GVM and Braked Towing Capacity, and your caravan's ATM and empty weight (Tare Weight). Add your tow vehicle's Kerb weight, GCM and Tow ball mass rating for a fuller check that also covers combined weight and tow ball mass.

Is Can I Tow It? just another towing calculator?

Can I Tow It? gives you an instant spec check for free — a clear Pass, Caution or Fail with the reasons behind it. The loadmate app then goes further: it keeps tracking what changes after you load up, so your headroom stays current as you add water, gear and a tow ball mass. Figures shown in kg.

Can I Tow It?

Australia towing calculator

Enter your tow vehicle and your caravan and get a clear verdict — Pass, Caution or Fail — with the braked towing capacity, payload and weight checks behind it. The same engine that runs inside the loadmate app, in your browser, with no account.

Well matched

Comfortable margins across every check.

Careful

It tows, but a margin or load limit is tight.

The pairing exceeds at least one rating.

Enter every weight in kg.

loadmate is decision support for towing safety, not legal weight certification — verify against a certified weighbridge; the tow remains the operator's responsibility. Safety note.

A worked example

Say your tow vehicle has a Braked Towing Capacity of 3,000 kg and a GCM of 5,500 kg, with a Kerb weight of 2,300 kg. Your caravan has an ATM of 2,500 kg. Because 2,500 kg is under the 3,000 kg Braked Towing Capacity, and 2,300 kg + 2,500 kg = 4,800 kg stays under the 5,500 kg GCM, every check clears with room to spare — so Can I Tow It? returns Pass (well matched). These are round, illustrative figures, not a specific model; enter your own from the tow vehicle's placard and the caravan's compliance plate, then confirm your real loaded weights at a weighbridge.

Towing weight terms, explained

GVM: The maximum your loaded tow vehicle is rated to weigh on its own, including passengers, fuel and everything on board.
GCM: The maximum your tow vehicle and caravan are rated to weigh together when hitched and loaded.
ATM: The maximum your fully loaded caravan is rated to weigh, including water, gas and gear.
Braked Towing Capacity: The heaviest braked caravan your tow vehicle is rated to tow.
Kerb weight: Your tow vehicle's weight empty — no passengers or cargo, ready to drive.
Tare Weight: Your caravan's weight as supplied, before you add water, gas or gear.
Tow ball mass: The downward weight the caravan's coupling places on your tow vehicle's hitch when level.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between GVM and GCM?: GVM is the most your tow vehicle can weigh on its own — fully loaded with passengers, fuel and gear. GCM is the most your tow vehicle and caravan can weigh together, hitched up. A combination can sit under each weight rating on its own and still break the GCM limit once you add them together, which is why Can I Tow It? checks both.
What does Pass, Caution or Fail mean?: Can I Tow It? returns one of three verdicts. Pass (well matched) means every check — Braked Towing Capacity, GCM headroom and caravan ATM — sits comfortably within its limit. Caution (careful) means all checks pass but at least one margin is tight, so it's worth confirming once loaded. Fail (no) means at least one rating is exceeded — for example the caravan ATM is more than your tow vehicle's Braked Towing Capacity. The verdict is based only on the spec figures you enter.
Do I need an account to use Can I Tow It?: No. Can I Tow It? runs in your browser with no sign-up. Enter your tow vehicle and caravan figures and you get the verdict and the reasons straight away. You can optionally email yourself the result so you have it handy later.
Does this replace a weighbridge?: No. Can I Tow It? is a spec-based check that compares the weight ratings you enter — it does not measure your actual loaded weight, and it is not legal weight evidence. Use it to plan and sanity-check your combination, then confirm your real loaded weights at a weighbridge. Towing remains the operator's responsibility.
How accurate is the tow check?: The check is deterministic: it applies the same weight rules every time to the numbers you give it, so the maths is exact for the figures entered. Its accuracy depends on those figures being right — pull them from your tow vehicle's placard and the caravan's compliance plate. Because it works from spec sheets rather than your actual loaded weight, treat the result as decision support and confirm at a weighbridge.
What do I need to get a verdict?: Four essentials: your tow vehicle's GVM and Braked Towing Capacity, and your caravan's ATM and empty weight (Tare Weight). Add your tow vehicle's Kerb weight, GCM and Tow ball mass rating for a fuller check that also covers combined weight and tow ball mass.
Is Can I Tow It? just another towing calculator?: Can I Tow It? gives you an instant spec check for free — a clear Pass, Caution or Fail with the reasons behind it. The loadmate app then goes further: it keeps tracking what changes after you load up, so your headroom stays current as you add water, gear and a tow ball mass. Figures shown in kg.