Newbie Tow Capacity Question

aftermath wrote:
All the limits are important but...I think towing capacity is the least important of them all. My Tundra has a tow capacity of something like 9500 lbs. Really? I tow my trailer down the road that weighs 6500 and I am near my limit for payload capacity. Pay very close attention to payload, axle limits and GVWR when you have a half ton. You will run up against one of these far before you go over the Towing Capacity number.

Advertised brochure "Tow Capacities" are often over stated and typically will have asterisks after Tow Capacity..

Those asterisks are pointing to the foot notes in fine print at the bottom of the brochure which often state the max tow capacity is for the BASE model REGULAR CAB with SHORT BED of said vehicle with the LOWEST TRIM.

The base vehicle configuration weighs the least (lowest curb weight) and allows for more "cargo" or "payload" of said vehicle.

The Curb weight is subtracted from the GVWR and the result is available cargo weight or payload..

Full 4 door cab, plus longest bed plus top trim level will weigh more, that extra weight means less available cargo or payload is available.

This is why folks tend to run out of available cargo or payload weight before they ever get close to the "tows up to" weight.

But, folks tend to ignore the foot notes and use the max advertised brochure "tows up to" marketing numbers..