Towing Capacity Explained: What the Numbers Actually Mean

Towing numbers are confusing. Braked, unbraked, GCM, towball download, payload. If you get any of these wrong, you're either illegal, unsafe, or both. Here's what each number means in plain English.

The 5 Numbers You Need to Know

Why GCM Matters More Than Towing Capacity

Most people only look at braked towing capacity. "3,500kg? Great, my caravan is 2,800kg." But they forget about GCM.

Here's how GCM catches people out:

• Ranger kerb weight: 2,200kg
• Driver + passenger + fuel + gear: 300kg
• Caravan (loaded): 2,800kg
• Total: 5,300kg
• Ranger GCM: 6,000kg
• Result: Legal. 700kg under GCM.

Now try the same with a RAV4:

• RAV4 kerb weight: 1,640kg
• Driver + passenger + fuel + gear: 250kg
• Caravan (loaded): 1,400kg
• Total: 3,290kg
• RAV4 GCM: 3,440kg
• Result: Legal, but only 150kg under. One extra passenger and you're over.

GCM is often the limiting factor, not towing capacity. Always check both.

Legal Requirements in Australia

• Trailers over 750kg must have brakes. No exceptions. This is federal law.
• Towball download should be 7-10% of trailer weight. Too little and the trailer sways. Too much and your car's front end lifts.
• You need mirrors that let you see past the trailer. Towing mirrors are legally required if the trailer is wider than the car.
• Speed limit while towing: 100km/h max on highways. Even if the road limit is 110km/h.
• Electronic Stability Control (ESC) must remain active. Never turn off ESC while towing.

Towing with EVs: The Range Problem

EVs are great at towing from a power perspective. The Tesla Model Y's 493Nm of instant torque pulls away from lights effortlessly with a trailer. The problem is range.

Diesel and petrol cars lose range too, but they can refuel in 5 minutes. An EV needs 20-40 minutes to charge. For long-distance towing, diesel is still king.

Weight Distribution Hitch (WDH)

If you're towing a caravan, a WDH is not optional. It distributes the towball weight across all four wheels of the tow vehicle, reducing rear sag and improving stability. Without one, your headlights point at the sky and your front wheels have less grip for steering and braking.

Cost: $400-800 installed. Worth every cent for anything over 1,500kg.

Common Towing Mistakes

• Loading too much weight at the back of the trailer. This lifts the towball and causes sway. Keep heavy items over or slightly in front of the axle.
• Exceeding towball download. More than 350kg on most utes. Causes the rear to sag and the front to lift.
• Not checking tyre pressures. Towing puts extra stress on tyres. Inflate to the "loaded" pressure listed on the tyre placard in your car, not the normal pressure.
• Forgetting to account for passenger weight in GCM. Four adults add 320kg to your GCM calculation. That could push you over the limit.

We display towing capacity, GCM, towball download, and payload for every car in our database. Browse all cars sorted by towing capacity on CarSorted.