Vehicle Towing & Payload Capacity Calculator
Calculate GVM, GCM, towball mass & legal towing compliance.
Last reviewed by the myCalculator Editorial Team
Input Parameters
Calculation Results
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Formula & How Vehicle Towing & Payload Capacity Calculator Works
Towing safely depends on several limits at once. The vehicle's Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) is the maximum it can weigh when loaded, the Gross Combination Mass (GCM) is the limit for the vehicle and trailer together, and the braked towing capacity is the maximum trailer mass it may pull. The trailer's tow ball weight, typically 10% of trailer mass, counts toward the vehicle's load. For example, a vehicle weighing 2,400 kg with 350 kg of passengers and cargo and a 2,500 kg trailer has a combined mass of 5,250 kg, which must be below its GCM. Check the compliance plates and the owner's manual, because exceeding a limit is illegal and unsafe.
- Enter Gross Vehicle Mass - GVM (kg): Input your target parameter value.
- Enter Kerb / Tare Weight (kg): Input your target parameter value.
- Enter Gross Combination Mass - GCM (kg): Input your target parameter value.
- Enter Max Towing Capacity (kg): Input your target parameter value.
- Enter Passengers + Car Cargo (kg): Input your target parameter value.
- Enter Loaded Trailer Weight (kg): Input your target parameter value.
- Apply Formula: Calculate using
Compliance check against GVM, GCM, and Braked Tow Rating limits. - Review Results: View exact computed answers, metrics, and worked mathematical proofs.
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Are you using our calculation results for a university assignment, research paper, or academic report? Use the auto-generated citations below to accurately reference this tool in your bibliography.
MyCalculator.com.au. (2026). Vehicle Towing & Payload Capacity Calculator. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.mycalculator.com.au/calculators/engineering/towing-capacity
MyCalculator.com.au. (2026) 'Vehicle Towing & Payload Capacity Calculator'. Available at: https://www.mycalculator.com.au/calculators/engineering/towing-capacity (Accessed: 24 October 2026).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is GCM in towing?
GCM (Gross Combination Mass) is the maximum legal total weight of car, occupants, cargo, and trailer combined.
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Authoritative Standards & Verified Reference Citations
Calculations and mathematical logic on this page are grounded in published statutory rules, regulatory standards, and official government data published by the following bodies:
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