Conservative estimates for payload + tongue/pin weight. Always verify with your door sticker, owner’s manual, receiver label, tire load ratings, and ideally a CAT scale weigh-in.
TowCalculator.net is a payload-first towing calculator for real-world setups — not brochure fantasy numbers. Enter your vehicle’s door-sticker payload, passengers, cargo, and hitch weight, then choose a trailer type (car trailer, travel trailer, or 5th wheel). The calculator estimates tongue/pin weight, shows how much payload you’ve used, and highlights tight margins or likely overload situations.
This is built for people towing with SUVs, trucks, and cars who want a quick reality check before buying a trailer, loading gear, or heading out on a trip. The reason payload matters: tongue/pin weight plus people and cargo often exceed limits long before you hit the advertised tow rating — and that’s where handling, braking, and stability start to suffer.
You’ll learn how trailer type changes assumptions, what numbers to verify (receiver ratings, brakes, GCWR), and what to fix if you’re close to the edge. For best accuracy, confirm real weights at a CAT scale.