Car and Caravan Weight Calculator

Article by · 11 October 2019 ·


              

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53 Comments

  • comment-avatar

    Greg Kingdom

    A big help. But does a weight distribution hitch change these figures and can I keep this as an app?

    • mm

      Brendan Batty

      Hi Greg, thanks for the question. No, a weight distribution hitch doesn’t affect these numbers – all a WDH does is transfer weight from the rear axle of the tow vehicle to the front axle ‘distributing’ the weight more evenly across the vehicle. Check out a video here describing the process – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-PyN0EY3Ww

      • comment-avatar

        Matt

        Those WDH’s are a heavy item in themselves, so if you’re watching your weights, their weight should also be included in the tow ball weight or subtracted off the vehicle payload.

  • comment-avatar

    carl

    i am under weight every ware but my caravan is over weight by 300 kg i dont understand

    • mm

      Brendan Batty

      Send us a screen-shot Carl, and we might be able to help you.

    • comment-avatar

      Ge

      Double check that next to your final answer if there is a minus sign you are under by kg.

  • comment-avatar

    Peter

    I am under weight everywhere but my GVM is over weight by 300 kg. I dont understand, like Carl.

  • comment-avatar

    Gary Althorpe

    Hi Brendan, I am confused by your details included in the latest RAC magazine re vehicle weights. Page 30 refers to a Toyota Fortuna and the relevant GCM and GVM values.
    I don’t think your maths are correct, and would appreciate your comments.
    Regards
    Gary Althorpe

  • comment-avatar

    Jos Willemsen

    Hi I am confused also as I am under weight on all sides but over on the Gvm!
    I changed the figures around cause I am confused by the tare and kerb weight as the caravan has a tare and agg weight and as I understand the tare is the caravan and the agg is the loaded caravan?

  • comment-avatar

    Daniel

    Hi does anyone know how the towball weights work at with the caravan does as ive got a ball weight off 138 kg and my caravan weighing at 900kgs empty am i under the limit of towing weight ??? And i also have a 94 pajero 3ltr v6 that does tow it well tho as tows upto 2500kgs at the ball can anyone tell me if im fine for towing an 16ft poptop caravan tho????

  • comment-avatar

    julie

    hi dont understand the weights in the calculation as they came back as – does this mean im ok to tow the van with is says
    -440kg too heavy
    gcm -592kg
    gvm -598kg
    caravan overweight -438kg

    • comment-avatar

      Chook

      Hi Julie….a minus (-) means it’s under the limit…all OK. (if I’ve read it correctly)

  • comment-avatar

    Megs

    Our vehicle worked out safe on all accounts, but, the compliance plate on van axle group load capacity is lower than the GTM.
    Why would a manufacturer of a new van quote an axle load less than the GTM.

    • comment-avatar

      Laurie Reidy

      Option rv have done the same with my van

  • comment-avatar

    Brian

    I have been weighed by RTA Queensland I put in the weights they put in they show me under by 150kg your numbers tell me I am over by400 ??

    • comment-avatar

      Hi Brian, have you got all the numbers around the right way. Often people mix up aggregate and total mass.

  • comment-avatar

    Trent

    Hi all just trying to figer out what suspension kit to put underneath my van with the van fully loaded it weighs 1800kg but hooked upto the car it weighs 1600kg so i understand that i have a 200kg ball weight but my question is do i need suspension to handle at least 1800kg or 1600kg cheers for any info

  • comment-avatar

    Tim Proctor

    I have a 2018 Toyota 200 Sahara with a Lovells 3800kg GVM upgrade and a Lovells 4000kg BTC upgrade. My ball weight is 310Kg and Van has an ATM of 4000Kg. What is my maximum GCM?

    • comment-avatar

      Brett Hughes

      Can’t tell from those figures Tim. Most upgrades don’t change the GCM.
      Your supplier would need to tell you if you got a GVM AND a GCM upgrade.
      You should have it on a new compliance plate either, otherwise your legal capacities may not have changed.

  • comment-avatar

    Kevin

    Hi Brendan, can the tow car be to light Compared to the caravan it’s towing even it meets all the requirements

  • comment-avatar

    Jack

    This showing my weights to be over by 720 gcm, which is not correct. this is not set this up correctly as seen by the previous comments

  • comment-avatar

    John ashton

    The calculator is a great idea, very useful, after a trip to the engineers and a couple of small mods my Jayco and Pajero sport are now legal. Thanks again for a great idea, Cheers John

  • comment-avatar

    Brian Barrett

    Thank you for the use of the calculator, I’m under on all counts.

  • comment-avatar

    Trevor

    Your pic showing the tow ball scale is not going to show the full weight unless we can see clearance under that jocky wheel!!

  • comment-avatar

    Frank

    After nutting out the figures for days and putting the rig over the weigh bridge, I then discover your calculator. It’s very pleasing to see a calculator that is so easy to use.

  • comment-avatar

    David

    Hi TTR, I have used the calculator and am under on all accounts. I have tried to recreate the calculations on a spreadsheet and I am close. A question I have is whether the GCM (max) is the sum of: the ATM (loaded weight of the VAN), the GVM (loaded weight of the CAR) and the Towball down weight. If yes, then I don’t think this is how the TTR calculator works.
    A second question is whether the Towball down weight is transferred to the CAR when hitched, thus increasing the Payload capacity when unhitched.
    Thanks for your help.
    David

    • comment-avatar

      Brett Hughes

      The total combination mass is the total laden mass of the tow vehicle (excluding the towball weight), plus the ATM of the caravan (which also includes the towball down weight).
      However, the towball down weight is included in the GVM calculation AND in the ATM calculation.
      That also answers your second question – the towball down weight doesn’t transfer to the tow vehicle in the ATM calculation (ie it’s not subtracted).
      This is why people rarely get to their maximum GVM and their maximum ATM. And I’ll guess that’s the difference in your calculations.
      There are several websites that show the calculations and diagrams.

  • comment-avatar

    Mark Meurisse

    I’m trying to discover the tow ball weight of a 1999 Jayco (unknown model) 6.17m caravan as my VW Tiguan 132 TSI has a towball limit of 100kg. Please advise how I might be able to confirm this as the sellers aren’t sure.
    Thanks,
    Mark

  • comment-avatar

    Kel

    My caravan is overweight by 160 KG. My GVM over by 210kg. Maybe I can reduce some weight in the van?

  • comment-avatar

    Wayne

    Does the loaded/total weight of the caravan discount the towball weight or is it inclusive of it?

  • comment-avatar

    Robert Johnston

    The loaded weight of the caravan is what the van weighs unhitched from the tow car. The loaded weight of the tow car is what it weighs unhitched from the van. Add both together you have your GCM. The towball weight is used to determine the added weight applied on the rear axle of the tow car which impacts the tow cars GVM.

    • comment-avatar

      Geoff Prothero

      GCM is a figure set by the cars manufacturer, you cannot add ATM and GVM and say this is my GCM, you can only check that you’re not over your GCM using this method and you must include your towball weight in the GVM.

  • comment-avatar

    Mark york

    Great calculator, easy to use and clarified what i thought anyway. Good peace of mind.

  • comment-avatar

    greg charet

    I have put approximate weights for car and caravan am i over the weight on both the caravan and car as i don’t see a Pluss Sign only Minus and will take to a weigh bridge for exact weights ,but going by what i have put am i over weight Thanks Greg
    Caravan’s weight, fully loaded for travel
    2208
    How much does your caravan weigh, packed with all your gear, water and gas? 2220
    Caravan’s Aggregate Trailer Mass
    1999
    Caravan’s Tow Ball Download
    250
    What is the tow ball download when the caravan is fully loaded?
    Car’s GVM
    2275
    What is your car’s Gross Vehicle Mass?
    Car’s Braked Towing Limit
    3100
    Car’s Kerb Weight
    2110
    What is the car’s kerb weight (weight before a load)?
    Loaded weight of tow car
    2550
    much how much does the car weigh, with all passengers, packed for a trip, without the caravan hitched?
    Car’s GCM
    5565
    What is the Gross Combination Mass of the tow car?
    The caravan is too heavy for my car to tow by:
    -892kg
    A positive value means your caravan is too heavy for your car to tow. Reduce the weight by the number shown.
    I will be over GCM by:
    -807kg
    A positive value mean’s you need to remove weight from your car or caravan to stay legal. A negative value mean’s you’ve got some capacity to spare.
    I will be over GVM by
    525kg
    A positive value means you need to remove weight from the to vehicle, either by reducing luggage or accessory weight, or reducing tow ball download.
    My caravan is overweight by:
    209kg
    A positive value means your caravan is overweight and you need to remove weight from it to legally tow it.

  • comment-avatar

    greg charet

    I have another question
    I used a Jack with a weight scale built in but will be going to a Weigh Station
    The drivers side of the caravan weigh is approximately
    1250kg but the off side is only 700kg
    Is this illegal in NSW as all the heavy items built into the van are on the drivers side ,Fridge, Toilet, Water Heater ,Batteries ,The Axle weight is 2000kg ,but total van weight when loaded can be 2208kg
    When i collected the van it was level and had no issue towing

  • comment-avatar

    Lisa Brophy

    One thing missing is manufacturers tow ball mass maximum. If the actual ball mass is over this then game over right? Can’t do anything to fix it.

    • comment-avatar

      Geoff Prothero

      Manufacturer towball weight is with the van empty.

    • comment-avatar

      Bob

      I thought your comment is very true. I’m facing that dilemma now. Did you get any response to your “game over” on towball weight?

    • comment-avatar

      Bob

      I thought your comment is very true. I’m facing that dilemma now. Did you get any response to your “game over” on towball weight?

  • comment-avatar

    Bruce

    I don’t get all this jargon if your car has a maximum tow of 2300 kg and you don’t don’t go over this weight you shud be legal right ? Is your weight what’s in your car part of this 2300 kg

    • comment-avatar

      Michelle Masefield

      See this video – explains it all:
      https://youtu.be/swUDFWQ5QhI

  • comment-avatar

    Peter Fisher

    So far so good, all under with the van being at zero as we haven’t actually added up the contents as yet. Just getting a guide as to where we are at with raw figures and all is looking great.

  • comment-avatar

    Paul Grant

    I am under weight for my GCM, but this site tells me I am 2400kg over something is very wrong, I sure I have put in the correct figures. Think this is rubbish. My GVM is 3040kg, CGM 5550kg max tow ball weight is 300kg, can tow 3000kg, with with a full load of 3040kg takes trailer weight (with brakes) back to 2500kg max. Our caravan is Tare 1920kg GVM 2160Kg and still says I am over weight.

    • comment-avatar

      Michelle Masefield

      The towball weight that you need to enter is, rule of thumb, 10% of the total weight of your full loaded van – not the maximum download weight that is stamped on your compliance plate.
      You also need to enter your vans ATM – not the GTM. ATM is your vans GTM plus the tow ball loading at TARE. The ATM or Ball loading (either/or or both) should be stamped on the compliance plate.

  • comment-avatar

    Michael Fetzer

    Best explanation and calculation I’ve seen ! Upsetting because I found im a little over on my van weights for my tug

  • comment-avatar

    Frank Cascio

    Your calculator is an excellent resource for caravaners. But I am struggling to estimate the REAR AXLE LOAD on my proposed Ford Everest Trend RWD. The max allowed is 1650kg, but I cannot find the rear axle load AT KERB.

  • comment-avatar

    Ian Johnson

    Hi, I am very new to this and still trying to get my head around the language of Caravans and weights etc. I am looking at the calculator and a little confused as I thought the caravan weight when fully loaded was the ATM.
    Can someone please help me out here.
    Many thanks in advance …..Ian

  • comment-avatar

    Stewart Parfett

    I always was happy how my van sat and towed. 120 Prado handles it well. Was really stoked to see that I under by 160 kg but not telling wife otherwise more nicknames from all over. Thanks for a great tool, 👍 takes the stress out of my maths

  • comment-avatar

    Dan

    My car has not got plated GCM, contacted the manufacturer and they were unable to advise – even the DOT has that section blank on the vehicles registration. How will this affect my limits?

  • comment-avatar

    Roz

    I have worked hard to try to get my van loaded weight + towball weight under the van ATM and I’m really struggling with this. Am I misinformed?

  • comment-avatar

    Anthony

    Hi, when it asks for the total weight of the caravan I assume that means the weight at the wheels and at the jockey wheel, ie the tow ball weight, I ask as I have been on a weight bridge and they are two separated weights on the docket so wanted to be sure I was correct. Also I assume I don’t add the tow ball weight to the car he tool does that,thanks

  • comment-avatar

    Bob

    I need help to understand about tow ball weights. My Pajero max towball weight is 180kg if van is over 2500kg. There are caravan council “recommendations” that your tow ball weight should be 10% of the loaded van. My issue is if I tow a 3000 kg van, I can’t have 300kg on the towball. Your calculator doesn’t consider this. So can I assume that the 10% towball weight is not legislation, and that I will not be fined for this?
    Will my insurance be affected if I keep towball weight to 180kg, and NOT the 10% number?

  • comment-avatar

    Tony

    Thankyou, your calculator has just settled my thoughts, after putting in the figures for my regent caravan and 200 series VX land cruiser all the results have come out negative with 100Kg still available for the caravan.
    I am going to get van weighed whilst away shortly so will have an accurate number ,instead of what i believe is an over estimate.


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