Towing Weight Calculator
Enter your vehicle and caravan specs to instantly check available tow capacity, estimated ball weight and whether your setup meets Australian legal requirements.
Towing Weight Calculator
Check if your tow setup is legal and safe under Australian regulations.
Gross Vehicle Mass, found on the compliance plate
Unladen weight of your tow vehicle
Passengers, fuel and gear loaded in the vehicle
Aggregate Trailer Mass, found on the caravan compliance plate
Key Definitions
- GVM
- Gross Vehicle Mass: the maximum a vehicle can weigh when fully loaded, set by the manufacturer.
- ATM
- Aggregate Trailer Mass: the maximum loaded weight of the caravan, set by its manufacturer.
- Tare Weight
- The unladen weight of the tow vehicle with a full tank of fuel.
- Ball Weight
- The downward force the caravan exerts on the tow ball. Typically 8 to 12 percent of ATM.
- GCM
- Gross Combined Mass: the combined weight of the loaded vehicle and loaded trailer.
How the Calculator Works
This tool uses four inputs to determine whether your towing configuration is within legal limits for Australian roads.
Available Tow Capacity is calculated as your vehicle GVM minus the combined tare weight and payload. This is the maximum ATM your loaded vehicle can legally tow.
Ball Weight Estimate is estimated at 10 percent of the caravan ATM. Most manufacturers specify a ball weight range between 8 and 12 percent of ATM. Check your towbar rating to ensure it can handle this load.
GCM (Gross Combined Mass) is the sum of your vehicle GVM and caravan ATM. Check your vehicle handbook to confirm the manufacturer rated GCM is not exceeded.