Is there a free Australian towing calculator?

Yes. Know My Tow is a free Australian towing calculator — no sign-up, no payment. Pick your vehicle from 100,000+ Australian models and the tool checks towing capacity, GVM, GCM, payload and tow ball weight against your real load in under 30 seconds.

How accurate is an online tow weight calculator?

An online tow weight calculator is accurate when it uses verified manufacturer data. We pull kerb weight, GVM, GCM and braked towing capacity straight from Australian compliance plates and manufacturer specs, then apply tested estimation logic for accessories and tow ball download. Results match a public weighbridge within a few percent for most setups.

What does a towing calculator measure (GVM, GCM, TBM)?

A towing calculator measures four key weights: GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass — your loaded vehicle), GCM (Gross Combination Mass — vehicle plus trailer combined), payload (cargo and passengers you can carry) and TBM / tow ball weight (download the trailer places on the tow ball, usually 8–15% of trailer ATM). All four must sit inside the manufacturer's limits for a legal, safe tow.

Is the calculator free?

Yes. You can check your towing setup for free, and choose to upgrade for a detailed towing report if needed.

Can I use this as a boat towing calculator?

Yes! Enter your boat plus trailer weight in the trailer field. The calculator checks all limits — GVM, GCM, payload and towball download — for any towed load including boats, horse floats, camper trailers and caravans.

What's the towing capacity I need for a horse float?

A loaded 2-horse float typically weighs 1,800–2,500 kg, and a 3-horse angle load can exceed 3,000 kg. Enter the total loaded weight in the calculator to check if your vehicle's braked towing capacity, GVM and GCM can handle it.

Is the towing data accurate?

Yes. We use manufacturer specifications plus tested estimation logic for payload and accessories.

Can I change my setup and re-calculate?

Yes. You can adjust your vehicle, accessories, and caravan details as many times as you need and see instant updates.

Will you store my data?

No. Your data stays on this page and is used only for your calculation. We don't store or share your information.

Is this a caravan towing calculator?

Yes. Know My Tow is Australia's most comprehensive caravan towing calculator, covering GVM, GCM, payload and towball download for 100,000+ vehicles. Enter your caravan's ATM and the calculator checks every weight limit instantly.

Does towing capacity include the weight of the caravan?

Yes. Braked towing capacity is the maximum loaded weight of the trailer itself — that means the caravan's ATM, including water, gas, batteries, food and gear, not its empty Tare weight. If your van's ATM is 3,000 kg, you need at least 3,000 kg of braked towing capacity, and you still have to stay inside GCM.

Does GVM include tow ball weight?

Yes. Tow ball weight sits on your vehicle's towbar, so it counts as part of the vehicle's load and is included in GVM. A 300 kg ball weight eats 300 kg of your vehicle's payload before you add a single passenger or bag.

Does GVM include the trailer?

No. GVM covers only the loaded tow vehicle — kerb weight, passengers, cargo, accessories and tow ball weight. The trailer's own mass sits outside GVM and is captured by GCM instead.

Does payload include passengers?

Yes. Payload is everything you add to the vehicle above kerb weight: passengers, luggage, tools, bull bars, roof racks, canopies, long-range tanks and tow ball weight. Four adults alone typically consume 300 kg of payload.

Does ATM include ball weight?

Yes. ATM (Aggregate Trailer Mass) is the caravan's total loaded weight measured unhitched, so it includes the ball weight. GTM is what remains on the van's own axles once hitched — ATM minus tow ball mass.

Does GCM include the driver and passengers?

Yes. GCM is the maximum combined weight of the fully loaded vehicle and the fully loaded trailer, so it includes the driver, passengers, fuel, cargo and the caravan at its loaded weight.

Does GCM equal GVM plus towing capacity?

Usually not. On most Australian vehicles GCM is less than GVM plus maximum braked towing capacity, which means you cannot use both limits at once. If you tow at maximum capacity you must reduce vehicle load to stay inside GCM — the calculator flags this automatically.

Does Tare weight include water, gas and batteries?

Often not. Many caravan manufacturers quote Tare without full gas bottles, batteries, spare wheels or water, which can leave you 80–120 kg heavier than the plate before you load anything. Treat Tare as a starting point, then weigh the van yourself.

Does towing capacity include the tow ball weight?

Tow ball weight is part of the trailer's ATM, so it is counted in the trailer weight against your braked towing capacity — and it is also counted again on the vehicle side inside GVM. That double-count is the most common reason legal-looking setups fail a weighbridge check.

Does a weight distribution hitch increase towing capacity?

No. A weight distribution hitch redistributes tow ball load across the vehicle's axles to improve handling, but it does not raise GVM, GCM, tow ball rating or braked towing capacity. Legal limits stay exactly the same.

Does payload include the caravan's ball weight?

Yes. Tow ball download is carried by the vehicle, so it comes directly out of your remaining payload. Subtract it first, then work out how much gear and how many passengers you can still carry.

What is braked towing capacity?

Braked towing capacity is the maximum weight of a trailer that has its own brakes that your vehicle is legally allowed to tow. The trailer's brakes must be operational and rated to the trailer's ATM. This is always higher than the unbraked towing capacity, which is the limit for small trailers without brakes (usually 750 kg).

How do I work out my towing capacity?

Work out your towing capacity in three steps: 1) Find your vehicle's braked towing capacity, GVM and GCM in the owner's manual or on the compliance plate. 2) Load your vehicle as you would for a trip and weigh it, or add up passengers, fuel, accessories and cargo. 3) Subtract the loaded vehicle weight from GCM to find your real trailer ceiling, then confirm it is also under the braked tow rating and that tow ball weight fits inside your remaining GVM.

How do I calculate tow ball weight?

The simplest way is to place the trailer's jockey wheel on a scale or use a dedicated tow ball scale under the coupling. As a rule of thumb, tow ball weight is 8–15% of the trailer's total loaded weight — 10% is the most common target. For a 3,000 kg caravan, expect roughly 250–350 kg on the ball. The calculator above estimates this automatically once you enter the trailer weight.

How is tow ball weight calculated?

Tow ball weight is the downward force the trailer puts on the vehicle's tow ball. It is calculated as a percentage of the trailer's Aggregate Trailer Mass (ATM), typically 8–15%, with 10% being the common benchmark. It can also be measured directly with a tow ball scale. The calculator estimates it from your caravan ATM and shows how much it reduces your remaining vehicle payload.

How do I calculate caravan towing weight?

Caravan towing weight is the total loaded weight of the caravan, not its empty Tare. Add the Tare weight, water (1 kg per litre), gas bottles, batteries, food, clothes and gear to get the ATM. Then check that this total is under your vehicle's braked towing capacity and that the loaded vehicle plus caravan is under GCM. The calculator does this in one step when you enter the caravan details.

How much can my car tow?

Your car's tow limit is its braked towing capacity, found in the owner's manual or on the compliance plate. But the real number is usually lower once you load the vehicle. Use the calculator above: select your car, add passengers and gear, then enter the trailer weight to see whether you are within GVM, GCM and tow rating all at once.

Can I tow it calculator?

Yes — Know My Tow is a 'can I tow it' calculator. Enter your vehicle, passengers, cargo and trailer weight, and it checks every limit (braked tow rating, GVM, GCM, payload and tow ball download) to tell you whether the combination is legal and safe.

Is there a 'how much can I tow' calculator?

Yes. This is a how much can I tow calculator: pick your vehicle, add passengers, accessories and cargo, and it returns the maximum trailer weight you can legally tow in your current loaded state — not just the brochure tow rating. The answer is the lower of your braked towing capacity and your remaining GCM headroom.

What can my car tow — is there a calculator for that?

Yes. A 'what can my car tow' calculator needs more than the tow rating, because a fully loaded vehicle usually hits GCM before it hits its maximum tow figure. Select your car above, enter how you actually load it, and the calculator shows the real trailer ceiling for caravans, boats, camper trailers and horse floats.

How do I calculate how much I can tow?

Take your GCM and subtract your loaded vehicle weight (kerb weight plus passengers, fuel, accessories and cargo). The result is the heaviest trailer you can tow. Then check two things: it must also be under your braked towing capacity, and the tow ball weight (8–15% of the trailer) must fit inside your remaining payload. The calculator runs all three checks at once.

How is vehicle towing capacity calculated?

Manufacturers set braked towing capacity from the vehicle's chassis, brakes, cooling and towbar rating, and publish it alongside GVM and GCM. Your usable towing capacity is calculated by taking the lower of that published rating and your GCM minus your actual loaded vehicle weight — which is why two identical utes can have very different real-world tow limits.

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Towing calculator

Towing Calculator

Australia's most trusted free towing weight calculator. Check GVM, GCM, payload, tow ball weight and legal towing capacity for 100,000+ Australian vehicles instantly — verified against manufacturer manuals, ADR compliance and state road rules.