RV Towing Calculators (2023)

RV Towing Calculator for Fifth Wheel Trailers

RV Towing Calculator for Travel Trailers (coming soon!)

February 7, 2023

If you are towing or planning to tow a fifth wheel trailer or a travel trailer, then you will want to be 100% sure that you are not exceeding the manufacturer's specifications or weight ratings for your tow vehicle or your trailer. You are taking a huge risk with your own personal safety and that of your family, not to mention other highway users if you surpass these ratings. It's just not worth it! Consider too that your insurance company could potentially deny your claim if they were to discover that you were towing outside of theses ratings.

I have developed an app that I am making free to use. You simply enter some basic information and the app will let you know immediately if you have exceeded any of these ratings. Read on for more information.

Downloading the app

Click one of the links above and it will take you to Microsoft OneDrive where you can select either the 'Fifth Wheel' or 'Travel Trailer' (coming soon) folder. Next, right-click on the file (~33 kb) and select <Download> from the list or click the small circle on the file and then choose <Download> from the ribbon just above the file. The file should automatically download and be saved in your local 'Downloads' folder, or you may be able to select which folder you want to save it in. You must download the file to your own computer. If you just 'click' the file to select it, it will open in Excel for the Web where it won't look or work as intended. Please download the file to your computer!

Next, double-click the file to open it and click the self-explanatory 'Enable Editing' button located in a yellow bar near the top of the screen (this is mandatory, but you will only have to do it once). You might also be asked, "Do you want to make this file a Trusted Document?" The obvious answer is "Yes". Afterwards, be sure and save the app in a folder where it will be easy to locate on your computer.

The image below is a screenshot of the app on my computer and what you are looking at is real data for my own tow vehicle and fifth wheel. Note the three yellow exclamation marks, indicating that I am 'close' (within 5%) of my truck GVW and payload, further demonstrating the importance of paying attention to these weights! What you definitely don't want to see are any red X's!!!

Screenshot of the RV Towing Calculator for Fifth Wheel Trailers.

Using the app

The calculator you choose will help you match a tow vehicle (typically a pickup truck) to either a fifth wheel trailer or a travel trailer when you enter the manufacturer's specifications for both. Next, you will enter the actual (or estimated) weights of your truck occupants and cargo (including the hitch) to calculate your total payload. Based on the weights you enter, the 'Calculated Weights' section will show you if your rig meets the standards set by the manufacturers. Another useful feature is being able to click any of the labels which will display more information about that particular field and define what the acronyms mean.

Once you've entered all of the required data, you'll see an icon beside each field in the 'Calculated Weights' section (see screenshot above). A GREEN check mark indicates you are within the rating margins for your tow vehicle or trailer. A YELLOW exclamation mark means 'CAUTION', you are within 5% of a maximum weight or capacity (unless otherwise noted). A RED X alerts you to a condition that exceeds the rating margins for your tow vehicle or trailer.

CAT Scales

Weighing your rig at a CAT Scale (or similar) is optional but I recommend it for your own peace of mind. Before weighing your rig, it's important to have a full tank of fuel, all occupants, pets, and cargo included, as if you were leaving on a trip. Weigh the truck & fifth wheel hitched together first. CAT Scales have three separate scales to weigh the truck front axle, truck rear axle, and trailer axles simultaneously. Afterwards, unhitch your trailer in the nearby parking area and then weigh the front and rear truck axles without the trailer attached. You will receive two Cat Scale tickets from the attendant with a combined total of five axle weights. Enter those weights in the applicable fields of the 'Axle Weights' section of the towing calculator. Now, check to ensure everything in the 'Actual Weights' section falls within the rating margins for your tow vehicle and trailer as set by the manufacturers. If it's all GREEN checkmarks or YELLOW exclamation marks, you're good to go!

I wish everyone safe travels, fine adventures, cheap fuel, good roads and blue skies!!

Contact me directly if you have any questions or leave a comment below.

The author assumes zero liability for your use of this calculator. I made the calculator for my own use, and it is provided here as a reference and planning tool to use at your own risk. By using the calculator, you accept sole responsibility for the results you obtain. Remember, garbage in, garbage out! Incorrect or poor-quality input will always produce faulty output.

I welcome any comments as long as they are respectful. I can handle criticism and opposing viewpoints, in fact I encourage them. Join the discussion on any of my web pages. Polite, courteous, or neutral comments will be published for everyone else to see. Comments that are deemed rude, inappropriate, vulgar, hurtful, racist, misogynistic, violent, or sexual (among others) will not be published. Remember, we can all agree to disagree and still be respectful!

CAT Scales is copyright CAT Scale Company.