What's the difference between GVWR and GCWR?

GVWR is the most your truck or SUV can weigh on its own — fully loaded with passengers, fuel and gear. GCWR is the most your truck or SUV and trailer can weigh together, hitched up. A combination can sit under each weight rating on its own and still break the GCWR 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 — Towing Capacity, GCWR headroom and trailer Trailer GVWR — 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 trailer Trailer GVWR is more than your truck or SUV's 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 truck or SUV and trailer 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 truck scale (CAT scale)?

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 truck scale (CAT scale). 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 truck or SUV's placard and the trailer'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 truck scale (CAT scale).

What do I need to get a verdict?

Four essentials: your truck or SUV's GVWR and Towing Capacity, and your trailer's Trailer GVWR and empty weight (Dry Weight). Add your truck or SUV's Curb weight, GCWR and Tongue weight rating for a fuller check that also covers combined weight and tongue weight.

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 tongue weight. Figures shown in lb.

Can I Tow It?

United States towing calculator

Enter your truck or SUV and your trailer and get a clear verdict — Pass, Caution or Fail — with the 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 truck has a Towing Capacity of 7,000 lb and a GCWR of 12,000 lb, with a Curb Weight of 5,000 lb. Your trailer has a Trailer GVWR of 6,000 lb. Because 6,000 lb is under the 7,000 lb Towing Capacity, and 5,000 lb + 6,000 lb = 11,000 lb stays under the 12,000 lb GCWR, 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 door placard and the trailer plate, then confirm your real loaded weights at a truck scale (CAT scale).

Towing weight terms, explained

GVWR: The maximum your loaded truck or SUV is rated to weigh on its own, including passengers, fuel and everything on board.
GCWR: The maximum your truck or SUV and trailer are rated to weigh together when hitched and loaded.
Trailer GVWR: The maximum your fully loaded trailer is rated to weigh, including water, gas and gear.
Towing Capacity: The heaviest braked trailer your truck or SUV is rated to tow.
Curb weight: Your truck or SUV's weight empty — no passengers or cargo, ready to drive.
Dry Weight: Your trailer's weight as supplied, before you add water, gas or gear.
Tongue weight: The downward weight the trailer's coupling places on your truck or SUV's hitch when level.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between GVWR and GCWR?: GVWR is the most your truck or SUV can weigh on its own — fully loaded with passengers, fuel and gear. GCWR is the most your truck or SUV and trailer can weigh together, hitched up. A combination can sit under each weight rating on its own and still break the GCWR 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 — Towing Capacity, GCWR headroom and trailer Trailer GVWR — 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 trailer Trailer GVWR is more than your truck or SUV's 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 truck or SUV and trailer 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 truck scale (CAT scale)?: 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 truck scale (CAT scale). 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 truck or SUV's placard and the trailer'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 truck scale (CAT scale).
What do I need to get a verdict?: Four essentials: your truck or SUV's GVWR and Towing Capacity, and your trailer's Trailer GVWR and empty weight (Dry Weight). Add your truck or SUV's Curb weight, GCWR and Tongue weight rating for a fuller check that also covers combined weight and tongue weight.
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 tongue weight. Figures shown in lb.