Interactive owner tools
Run the arithmetic before making the decision.
Five free calculators, towing capacity and payload, fuel cost, EV charging time, and tire size, run transparent arithmetic in your browser rather than looking up a value from a database. The towing/payload worksheet below uses the exact formula shown next to it (payload = GVWR minus curb weight; remaining payload subtracts people, cargo and tongue weight; tow-rating margin subtracts the loaded trailer weight), illustrated with 4 worked examples before you enter your own vehicle's numbers. Every result shows its inputs and its limits, and none of the five can override a manufacturer's actual GVWR, tow rating or tire specification: those always come from the vehicle's own certification label, door-jamb label or owner's manual, never a generic figure for the model name.
Back to the complete public-data and calculator tool desk
Calculator 01
Annual fuel-cost calculator
Compare actual annual mileage, vehicle MPG and local fuel price. EPA estimates use standardized assumptions; this worksheet uses yours.
Calculator 02
EV AC charging-time calculator
Estimate energy from the wall and ideal elapsed time. Actual power can be capped by the vehicle, charger, temperature or battery-management system.
Calculator 03
Towing and payload worksheet
Trailer tongue weight consumes vehicle payload. Use the exact door-jamb labels and tow guide; this arithmetic screen is not a tow-rating source.
Calculator 04
Tire diameter and speedometer calculator
Compare metric tire sizes. Fitment also requires load, speed, rim-width, clearance and manufacturer approval, not diameter alone.
Use the exact certification label, door-jamb labels, owner’s manual, tow guide and tire requirements for the vehicle. These tools do not increase a manufacturer limit.
Towing capacity calculator: worked examples
Four illustrative scenarios computed with the exact formula the calculator above uses: payload = GVWR − curb weight; remaining payload = payload − people − cargo − tongue weight; tow-rating margin = tow rating − loaded trailer weight. Not specifications for any named vehicle: enter your own vehicle’s certification-label numbers above for a real result.
| Scenario | GVWR | Curb weight | Calculated payload | Payload remaining | Tow rating | Tow-rating margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compact crossover | 5,300 lb | 3,600 lb | 1,700 lb | 850 lb | 2,000 lb | 200 lb |
| Midsize SUV (AWD) | 6,200 lb | 4,400 lb | 1,800 lb | 650 lb | 3,500 lb | 500 lb |
| Half-ton pickup (gas V8) | 7,100 lb | 5,250 lb | 1,850 lb | 400 lb | 11,000 lb | 1,500 lb |
| Half-ton pickup (max tow package) | 7,350 lb | 5,450 lb | 1,900 lb | 200 lb | 13,000 lb | 800 lb |
Is there a free towing capacity calculator?
Yes: the towing and payload worksheet above. Enter your vehicle's GVWR, curb weight and tow rating from its own door-jamb label, plus the people, cargo and tongue weight you plan to carry, and it computes remaining payload and remaining tow-rating margin. It cannot look up a tow rating for you: that number always comes from the vehicle's own certification label or manufacturer tow guide, never a generic figure for the model name.
Why do I need my own GVWR and curb weight to use a payload calculator?
Payload (how much weight a vehicle can carry, including passengers, cargo and trailer tongue weight) is GVWR minus curb weight, and both numbers are specific to the exact trim, cab, bed and equipment on your vehicle, not the model name generally. The same nameplate can have curb weights that differ by hundreds of pounds between trims.
What is tongue weight, and why does it count against payload?
Tongue weight is the downward force a trailer's coupler applies to the tow vehicle's hitch: typically 10-15% of a loaded trailer's total weight. It is carried by the tow vehicle itself, which is why it subtracts from available payload the same way passengers and cargo do, even though the trailer's own wheels carry most of its weight.
What does a negative 'payload remaining' or 'tow-rating margin' result mean?
That the combination you entered exceeds a rated limit: either the vehicle's GVWR (payload) or its tow rating. The calculator flags this so you can adjust before loading the vehicle, but it cannot override the manufacturer's actual limits.
Public-data tools