What size RV can you tow with your SUV or truck?

One of the more common questions I see come up in RV forums is how big of an RV you can tow with a particular truck or SUV.

Every vehicle has a tow capacity, and it varies based on how you have your vehicle equipped.

For example, a Ford F-250 might have a maximum tow capacity of 20,000 lbs. But that’s the max available, not the capacity of your specific vehicle.

If you have a smaller engine, a heavier engine, or a crew cab instead of a regular cab, that number will go down. Higher trim levels and luxury features will lower it, too.

Many trucks have their actual as-equipped tow capacity printed in the glove box or on the door sticker. Most SUVs do not.

If yours does not, you can calculate your tow capacity by taking the GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating) printed on the door sticker and subtracting the printed Curb Weight from it. That number, minus the weight of you and any passengers and cargo, is the maximum that you can tow.

The general rule of thumb, you want to stay at or below 80 percent of your max tow weight.

This provides some buffer for miscalculations and overages, and reduces stress on key safety components like the suspension and braking system.