There are a lot of factors that go into picking out the right new or used RV for your family’s needs – like floor plan features, size, and how many travelers it can accommodate. But one important feature you don’t want to overlook is picking something that works with your intended towing vehicle. Towing an RV that exceeds your vehicle’s tow rating can strain the engine and shut down your road trips pretty fast.
Thankfully, our online tow guide can help you figure out your vehicle’s maximum towing capacity! This capacity includes the following factors:
- Passenger weight
- Added accessories
- Current liquids in tanks
- Added cargo – any camping gear you’ve packed including food, tools, camping chairs, etc.
How to Use Our Tow Guides
This process couldn’t be easier! First, select your towing vehicle’s year, make, and model from our drop down lists.
From there, click the “Find an RV I Can Tow” button and check out our available listings!
Terms & Definitions
If you’re new to RVing, there may be a few terms along the way to get used to. Here’s a quick rundown of terms you’ll see along the way and what it means:
- Dry or Shipped Weight: the weight of the RV as shipped from the manufacturer. Does not include weight of passenger, cargo, liquids, or upgrades/options you may select from the dealership.
- Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW): the current combined weight of the RV (see above) plus passengers, cargo, and liquids. If you add more, the GVW increases.
- Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR): the maximum allowed weight of the vehicle/RV and all passengers, cargo, etc.
- Cargo weight: the total weight of passengers and everything you pack in the RV.
- Tongue/Hitch Weight: this is the weight/pressure from the trailer tongue or coupler applied to your vehicle’s conventional bumper hitch.
- Pin weight: the weight/pressure applied from the fifth wheel king pin to the hitch in the bed of your truck.
- Payload Capacity: this is the amount of weight you can safely add to the bed of the truck.
- Max Towing Capacity: the maximum amount of weight that your specific vehicle can safely tow. Calculated by adding the RV’s GVW with the weight of all passengers, cargo, and liquids in your towing vehicle.
Got questions? We’ve got answers! Contact us today. We’d love to help you find the perfect RV for your family – and your towing vehicle!
