Calculate your truck's safe towing limits and payload capacity
Calculation Results
Max Towing Capacity0 lbs
Remaining Payload0 lbs
Estimated Tongue Weight (12%)0 lbs
Current Total Weight (GCW)0 lbs
Understanding Ford Towing Capacity
Whether you drive a Ford F-150, Super Duty, or a Ford Ranger, understanding your vehicle's towing limits is critical for safety and longevity. This calculator uses four primary factors to determine if your configuration is safe.
Key Terms Explained
GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating): This is the absolute maximum weight allowed for the entire rig—truck, passengers, cargo, fuel, and the loaded trailer combined.
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating): The maximum allowed weight of just the truck and everything inside it (passengers, fuel, tongue weight of the trailer).
Payload Capacity: Calculated as GVWR minus the Curb Weight. Note that the trailer's tongue weight counts against your payload.
Tongue Weight: The downward force applied to the hitch by the trailer. For conventional towing, this is usually 10-15% of the total trailer weight.
Safety Guidelines for Ford Trucks
Even if your Ford is rated for 13,000 lbs, you may be limited by your payload. For example, if you have a full crew and a bed full of gear, you might run out of Payload (GVWR) before you reach your max Towing Capacity (GCWR).
Pro Tip: Always refer to the Safety Compliance Certification Label located on the driver-side door jamb for your specific vehicle's GVWR and GCWR.
function calculateFordTowing() {
var gcwr = parseFloat(document.getElementById('gcwr').value);
var gvwr = parseFloat(document.getElementById('gvwr').value);
var curbWeight = parseFloat(document.getElementById('curbWeight').value);
var cargoWeight = parseFloat(document.getElementById('cargoWeight').value);
var trailerWeight = parseFloat(document.getElementById('trailerWeight').value);
var resultsDiv = document.getElementById('towingResults');
var statusIndicator = document.getElementById('statusIndicator');
if (isNaN(gcwr) || isNaN(gvwr) || isNaN(curbWeight) || isNaN(cargoWeight) || isNaN(trailerWeight)) {
alert("Please enter valid numbers for all fields.");
return;
}
// Calculations
var estimatedTongueWeight = trailerWeight * 0.12; // Standard 12% calculation
var totalTruckWeight = curbWeight + cargoWeight + estimatedTongueWeight;
var totalGCW = curbWeight + cargoWeight + trailerWeight;
var maxTowingCap = gcwr – (curbWeight + cargoWeight);
var remainingPayload = gvwr – (curbWeight + cargoWeight + estimatedTongueWeight);
// Display results
document.getElementById('maxTowing').innerText = maxTowingCap.toLocaleString() + " lbs";
document.getElementById('remainingPayload').innerText = remainingPayload.toLocaleString() + " lbs";
document.getElementById('tongueWeight').innerText = estimatedTongueWeight.toLocaleString() + " lbs";
document.getElementById('totalGCW').innerText = totalGCW.toLocaleString() + " lbs";
resultsDiv.style.display = "block";
// Logic checks
var isSafeGCWR = totalGCW <= gcwr;
var isSafeGVWR = totalTruckWeight <= gvwr;
var isSafeTowing = trailerWeight <= maxTowingCap;
if (isSafeGCWR && isSafeGVWR && isSafeTowing) {
statusIndicator.style.backgroundColor = "#d4edda";
statusIndicator.style.color = "#155724";
statusIndicator.innerText = "✓ SAFE: Your configuration is within Ford's weight limits.";
} else {
statusIndicator.style.backgroundColor = "#f8d7da";
statusIndicator.style.color = "#721c24";
var warningText = "⚠ WARNING: Over Limit! ";
if (!isSafeGCWR) warningText += "GCWR exceeded. ";
if (!isSafeGVWR) warningText += "GVWR (Payload) exceeded. ";
if (!isSafeTowing) warningText += "Max towing capacity exceeded. ";
statusIndicator.innerText = warningText;
}
resultsDiv.scrollIntoView({ behavior: 'smooth', block: 'nearest' });
}
Real-World Towing Example
Let's look at a typical Ford F-150 configuration:
Truck: 2023 F-150 3.5L EcoBoost with a GCWR of 17,500 lbs and a GVWR of 7,050 lbs.
Weights: Curb weight is 5,000 lbs. You have 600 lbs of passengers and cargo inside.
Trailer: You want to tow an 8,000 lb travel trailer.
In this scenario, the truck is safe to tow. However, if you added 500 lbs more cargo to the truck bed, you would exceed the GVWR (Payload limit), even though the engine could still technically pull the weight (GCWR).
Why Payload Usually Runs Out First
Many Ford owners focus on the "Maximum Towing Capacity" advertised in brochures. However, in the real world, the Payload (GVWR) is often the limiting factor. Because 10-15% of the trailer's weight sits directly on the truck's hitch, a heavy trailer can quickly use up all your available cargo capacity before you ever hit the max engine pulling limit.