Tow Vehicle Towing Capacity Chart

[wwsmith111]

http://www.onlinetowingguide.com/gui...apacities.html

[SilverEscape]

I've stumbled on that site. The most recent year listed is 2011 and it doesn't list other important info like tongue weight. For example, a Touareg can tow 7700# but with a max tongue weight of 616#. Which will make a huge difference in what trailer you can tow.

Also knowing what's included in the max tow weight would be useful. For example, Ford includes a 150# driver. Acura includes two 150# occupants and 15# of cargo each in the cargo area.

Then there's other info that's important like whether or not a WDH can be used and if so, how does it change the tow capacities.

So for me, that site wasn't very useful for tow capacities. I need more info than one number, not to mention if there were changes to the vehicle since 2011 that affect tow capacity.

Maybe the rest of the info on the site is helpful. I was looking for tow capacities when I found it and didn't need the other info at that time.

[mjlaupp]

The most comprehensive towing guides that I have found online are provided by Trailer Life Magazine: http://www.trailerlife.com/trailer-towing-guides/

[wwsmith111]

The "one number" is the most important one and is used to compare TVs and the max. capacity of a TV. Also, a weight distribution hitch doesn't change the tow capacity of a TV. Obviously there are many factors other than the TV capacity. But the max. tow capacity is not a useless number and is the most important one and is the info where all must start when considering TV capabilities.

[SilverEscape]

Well 2011 is still out of date and for me, that single number is mostly useless. LOL

And a weight distributing hitch does change how much some vehicles can tow and how much tongue weight they can carry (some have two sets of numbers). Sure it doesn't change max tow capacity but that's not what I meant. Perhaps my choice of words was incorrect.

[wwsmith111]

wow.

[33 RLDS]

It don't even show my Avalanche on it..

[SilverEscape]

Originally Posted by 33 RLDS

It don't even show my Avalanche on it..

I do see an Avalanche in the 2011 section but it might not be your particular configuration.

[DocBrown]

Guides like this can be helpful but one should never make a final weight decision based on them. There's too much missing information. The best guide today is the owners manual along with the tire load sticker in the door, and know what options your vehicle is equipped with. Almost all manuals are available online today so you can look up detailed information before you even look at a vehicle.

[SilverEscape]

Originally Posted by wwsmith111

wow.

Are we not allowed to have differing opinions? I've just discovered after purchasing my last 3 vehicles that max tow capacity has meant almost nothing to me without knowing other information along with it.

For example, the truck I just put a deposit on has a max tow capacity of 11,300 pounds I think it is. Well it may as well say 5500 as that's my trailer GVWR and once I have the tongue on, my entire family and cargo, I've maxed the payload. There are in fact models of this trucks that tow less (9300) and have a higher payload than my trim level so I could actually tow a heavier trailer with the model that towed less. So for my situation (hauling a family and cargo), seeing only those two numbers as comparison would not be helpful.

Not to mention that the chart on that page has either the incorrect numbers for my particular truck configuration or maybe for 2014 those numbers are different than 2011.

And if you were someone looking at SUVs, the Explorer and MDX appear to tow the same. Except the Explorer only account for a driver in its ratings and the MDX includes driver, passenger and some cargo. So the MDX can actually tow more but the one number doesn't show that. And it may matter to the person towing a 4800# boat a couple times a year with him and his wife. And heck, maybe with payload numbers, that changes too.

[33 RLDS]

Originally Posted by SilverEscape

I do see an Avalanche in the 2011 section but it might not be your particular configuration.

Didn't realize it was only covering a single year. They stopped making a 2500 Avalanche long before the 1500 ended..

[DocBrown]

Originally Posted by SilverEscape

And if you were someone looking at SUVs, the Explorer and MDX appear to tow the same. Except the Explorer only account for a driver in its ratings and the MDX includes driver, passenger and some cargo. So the MDX can actually tow more but the one number doesn't show that. And it may matter to the person towing a 4800# boat a couple times a year with him and his wife. And heck, maybe with payload numbers, that changes too.

Exactly my point above. Payload is critical. Also I'd be surprised if the MDX had much more than a 700# tongue weight limitation. The Explorer probably has closer to 900#. And Honda is notorious for stating not to use a WD hitch on their vehicles sot hey don't even give 2 ratings. More often than not on SUVs and 1/2 ton PUs you'll run into hitch and payload limits before you'll hit the "max" towing capacity.

[SilverEscape]

Originally Posted by DocBrown

Exactly my point above. Payload is critical. Also I'd be surprised if the MDX had much more than a 700# tongue weight limitation. The Explorer probably has closer to 900#. And Honda is notorious for stating not to use a WD hitch on their vehicles sot hey don't even give 2 ratings. More often than not on SUVs and 1/2 ton PUs you'll run into hitch and payload limits before you'll hit the "max" towing capacity.

The MDX is only 500 (the whole reason I just put a deposit on a truck. Ha ha!) The Explorer was also 500 the last time I looked into it. But yes, I agree completely with your point about running into other limits on these types of vehicles before you hit the max limit.