Think payload and towing capacity mean the same thing? Think again. One is all about carry, the other is all about pull. Learn the key differences between these often misunderstood truck terms so you don’t risk harming your truck or your cargo.
What is the Difference Between Payload and Towing Capacity?
The main difference between payload and towing capacity is fairly simple. Payload refers to the number of pounds of cargo a pickup truck can carry, and towing refers to the number of pounds a pickup truck can pull.
It’s a bit reductionist, but you can imagine payload capacity vs. towing capacity as the difference between carrying a little red wagon full of kids (payload) vs pulling that same wagon (towing). As you might guess, it would be much easier to pull the wagon rather than carry it, since carrying the wagon requires you to personally handle all of the weight. When pulling the wagon, the wagon itself would help distribute the load, which would reduce the amount of effort required to move it. For the same reason, most trucks’ towing capacities vastly surpass their payload capacities.
Payload Capacity: How Much Your Truck Can Carry
Your vehicle’s payload capacity refers to all the cargo weight that you can safely add in addition to its empty weight. A "payload" could be anything from a truck bed full of garden mulch to five passengers and a week’s worth of luggage. Maximum payload capacity is calculated by your vehicle manufacturer and noted in the owner's manual.
Towing Capacity: How Much Your Truck Can Pull
Towing capacity refers to how much weight you can safely pull behind your truck with a trailer. Since you need a trailer to transport boats, campers, and other vehicles, these items all fit under the towing capacity category, rather than the payload capacity.
But what if we disregard size? Could you put the weight of a toy-hauler in your truck bed? Probably not, since payload capacity is determined by the strength of your truck’s frame, suspension, brakes, and more. Typically, your truck’s towing capacity far exceeds its payload capacity because the majority of the weight is resting on the trailer axles, not your truck’s axles.
Please note: Towing capacity is not the only consideration when towing. It’s also crucial to adhere to your vehicle’s recommended tongue weight ratio and gross axle weight rating.
Terms You’ll Need to Know to Understand Towing Capacity vs. Payload Capacity
- Curb weight
- Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)
- Gross Combined Vehicle Weight Rating (GCVWR or GCWR)
What is Curb Weight?
Your vehicle’s curb weight is its total weight with all standard equipment, including all necessary operating fluids (oil, coolant, etc.) and a full tank of fuel, but without passengers or cargo. It represents the “ready-to-drive” weight set by the manufacturer.
What is GVWR?
Your Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) is the maximum total weight your truck can handle safely. The manufacturer determines the GVWR, which is listed in your owner's manual and often displayed on a door jamb sticker. Contact your Firestone Complete Auto Care location to ensure your vehicle is serviceable and meets the appropriate GVWR requirements.
Firestone Fun Fact: GVWRs play a role in determining whether a car or truck can be considered a commercial vehicle. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, commercial vehicles must have a GVWR of 10,001 pounds or more.
What is GCWR?
Your Gross Combined Weight Rating is the maximum weight of your loaded vehicle and the trailer. This rating includes all cargo, including cargo loaded onto the trailer. You can think of it as the maximum weight your vehicle can carry and tow at the same time. So, when it comes to GVWR vs GCWR, the latter will typically be higher.
How to Calculate Payload Capacity
You can find your truck’s payload capacity in your owner’s manual, but you can also calculate it by subtracting your truck's curb weight from its GVWR.
Payload Capacity = Gross Vehicle Weight - Curb Weight
For example, if your truck's GVWR is 9,000 lbs and it weighs 5,000 lbs empty, then your payload capacity is 4,000 lbs. You can put 4,000 lbs of people and stuff in your truck.
Please Note: Payload capacity includes passengers! If you’re picking up a couple of friends, you may need to drop cargo to stay within your truck’s weight limit.
Here are some common payloads that you might carry with your truck:
- One-quarter cord of firewood (1,250 lbs)
- One-half cubic yard of sand (1,300 to 1,500 lbs)
- One-half cubic yard of gravel (1,200 to 1,450 lbs)
- One-half cubic yard of mulch (300 to 400 lbs)
- One-half cubic yard of dirt (1,000 lbs)
How to Calculate Towing Capacity
You can find your truck's towing capacity in the owner's manual, but you can technically calculate it on your own, too. To find your truck’s towing capacity, subtract your truck’s curb weight from its GCVWR.
Towing Capacity = Gross Combined Vehicle Weight - Curb Weight
Let's say your truck has a GCVWR of 15,000 lbs. It weighs 5,000 lbs empty, and you already have 4,000 lbs of dirt in the truck bed. Your towing capacity would be no more than 6,000 lbs.
Here are some items you might tow, along with their common weights:
- Car (2,800 lbs)
- Car trailer (1,600 to 2,000 lbs)
- Motorboat (2,500 lbs)
- Boat trailer (300 to 1,500 lbs)
- Camper (5,200 lbs)
What Can Happen If You Exceed Your Payload Capacity or Towing Capacity?
Towing is hard enough on your vehicle as it is. But when you push your vehicle past its rated limits, the consequences typically aren’t subtle. Here’s what you should be prepared for if you overload your truck:
- Brake Issues: Overloading puts extra stress on the brakes, causing them to work harder than they were designed to. As a result, you may end up with longer stopping distances, overheated brake components, and, in the worst case, brake failure when you need them the most.
- Transmission Problems: Your transmission is susceptible to similar issues. The extra weight can force it to operate at a higher temperature and under more load than it was meant to, which can quickly break down fluid, wear down internal components, and lead to sudden, expensive failure.
- Suspension Strain: When you exceed weight limits, your truck’s suspension also takes a beating. Springs, shocks, and axles may strain and temporarily or permanently deform, throwing off the vehicle's balance and handling.
- Tire Troubles: Add in overloaded tires (especially if they’re not tires designed for towing), running hotter and closer to blowout, and you’re left with a truck that simply isn’t as safe or predictable on the road as it would normally be.
Ultimately, exceeding your truck’s payload or towing capacity isn’t wise. Doing so isn’t just taxing on its parts and hard on your wallet. It can also compromise your ability to control your vehicle — a risk that isn’t worth taking, for the sake of yourself and others.
Know Before You Tow!
Ignoring your truck’s weight ratings is one of the easiest ways to damage its frame, engine, transmission, and tires. Always consult your owner's manual or relevant door jamb sticker for exact specifications before pushing, pulling, or hauling any load.
Proper hauling, based in part on the stability of your cargo, can also prevent crashes. A study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that from 2011 to 2014 in the U.S., road debris — including improperly loaded cargo — was a factor in an estimated average of 50,658 crashes per year, causing 9,805 injuries and 125 deaths.
Firestone Complete Auto Care Can Help Share the Load
Whether you're hauling tools or towing a trailer, proper maintenance and knowledge of your vehicle’s limits are key to staying safe on the road. Visit your local Firestone Complete Auto Care for a thorough inspection — our technicians can help ensure your suspension, tires, and brakes are ready for whatever you're carrying. Schedule your appointment today!
