How Much Weight Can My Car Tow Safely? The Complete Guide to Towing Capacity in Australia

Safe towing isn’t just about whether your car can pull a caravan.

It’s about ensuring the entire setup—car, caravan, accessories, passengers, fuel, and payload—is within legal limits.

Exceeding these limits can lead to:

• Dangerous towing instability
• Reduced braking ability
• Insurance claims being denied
• Fines
• Mechanical failure
• Accidents

This guide breaks down everything you need to know about towing capacity, towing weights, and how to stay safe and legal on Australia’s roads.

Why Safe Towing Matters

Caravans are heavier, more powerful, and more luxurious than ever before. As a result, understanding vehicle towing capacity is critical for safe travel.

Many travellers underestimate their caravan’s weight or overestimate their vehicle’s capability.

In fact, thousands of caravans across Australia unknowingly travel overweight.

When you tow safely:

• Your vehicle performs better
• Your fuel efficiency improves
• Your brakes work effectively
• Your caravan remains stable
• Your family stays safe
• Your insurance remains valid

Before you tow anything—whether a caravan, camper trailer, boat, or horse float—you must understand your vehicle’s towing limits.

Understanding the Key Towing Terms (The Ones Everyone Googles)

If you’re researching towing in Australia, you’ve likely come across terms like GVM, GCM, ATM, braked towing capacity, and tow-ball download. They can be confusing at first, but once you understand them, you’ll know exactly how much weight your car can tow safely.

Let’s break them down.

1. Towing Capacity (Braked and Unbraked)

This is the most searched towing term in Australia.

Every vehicle has two towing capacity ratings:

• Braked towing capacity – maximum weight your vehicle can tow when the caravan has its own braking system
• Unbraked towing capacity – maximum weight your vehicle can tow when the trailer has no brakes

Most caravans require a vehicle with strong braked towing capacity, typically:

• SUVs: 1,500–3,500 kg
• Utes: up to 3,500 kg
• Cars: 500–1,200 kg

Important: Towing a caravan over 750 kg without brakes is illegal.

2. GVM – Gross Vehicle Mass

GVM is the maximum legal weight of your vehicle when fully loaded.

This includes:

• The car itself
• Passengers
• Fuel
• Accessories (bull bars, roof racks, drawers)
• Luggage
• Tow-ball download weight

Many travellers exceed GVM without realising it, especially when adding heavy accessories like long-range tanks or full drawer systems.

3. GCM – Gross Combination Mass

GCM is the maximum combined weight of:



• Your vehicle (loaded) and
• Your caravan (loaded)

This is a major factor in safe towing.

Even if your vehicle’s towing capacity is 3,500 kg, you may not be able to safely tow that weight once your car is loaded with people and gear.

4. ATM – Aggregate Trailer Mass

This is the maximum weight your caravan is allowed to be when it is:

• Fully loaded
• Unhitched from your tow vehicle

It includes:

• Caravan tare weight
• Water tanks (full)
• Gas bottles
• Food
• Clothes
• Tools
• Bikes
• Camping gear

This is the number manufacturers use to ensure the caravan meets legal limits.

5. Tow-Ball Download (Tow-Ball Weight)

This is the amount of weight the caravan places on your car’s tow-bar.

Most caravans have a tow-ball download of 8–15% of the caravan’s total weight.

For example:

• A 2,000 kg caravan may have a 200 kg tow-ball download.

This weight counts toward your vehicle’s GVM, affecting how much you can load inside the car.

6. Payload (Car and Caravan)

Payload refers to everything you add on top of the vehicle’s or caravan’s empty weight.

This includes:

• Food
• Clothes
• Tools
• Water
• Batteries
• Camping gear
• Accessories
• Bikes

Payload gets used up fast—especially in family caravans or off-road caravans.

How to Calculate How Much Your Car Can Tow Safely

To safely tow a caravan, all these weights must be within legal limits.

Here’s how to work it out step-by-step.

Step 1: Check your car’s braked towing capacity

This is listed in:

• Your owner’s manual
• Your compliance plate
• Manufacturer website
• Vehicle specification guides

Example:
Your car’s braked towing capacity is 2,500 kg.

Step 2: Check your car’s GVM and payload

Say your GVM is 3,000 kg, and your car weighs 2,400 kg empty.

Payload = 3,000 kg − 2,400 kg = 600 kg

Payload must include:

• People
• Fuel
• Luggage
• Accessories
• Tow-ball download

If your tow-ball download is 160 kg, you now only have 440 kg left for everything else.

Step 3: Check your car’s GCM

If your GCM is 5,200 kg, and your fully loaded vehicle weighs 3,000 kg:

Caravan max weight = 5,200 kg − 3,000 kg = 2,200 kg

Even though your braked towing capacity was 2,500 kg, your GCM limits you to 2,200 kg.

This is why so many caravanners unknowingly tow overweight.

7. Why You MUST NOT Exceed These Towing Limits

Exceeding towing limits is not just illegal—it’s dangerous.

Here’s what can go wrong:

1. You may lose control of the caravan

Excess weight increases sway and instability.

2. Longer braking distances

Your vehicle may not be capable of stopping safely under load.

3. You risk major mechanical damage

Overloading can destroy:

• Gearboxes
• Engines
• Suspensions
• Brakes

4. Insurance may refuse your claim

If you’re overweight, insurers may not cover accidents.

5. You can be fined heavily

Police and transport authorities conduct roadside caravan weight checks across Australia.

6. Risk of tyre blowouts

Overweight caravans heat up tyres faster.

Safe towing is not optional—it’s essential.

Towing Examples: Common Vehicles vs Caravans

Mid-size SUVs (e.g., Toyota Kluger, Ford Territory)

Towing capacity: 1,600–2,000 kg

Suitable for:

• Small pop-top caravans
• Lightweight hybrids
  Not suitable for:
• Full-height family caravans
• Big off-road caravans

Large SUVs (e.g., Toyota Prado, Nissan Pathfinder)

Towing capacity: 2,500–3,000 kg

Suitable for:

• Medium caravans
• Hybrid off-road caravans

4WD Utes (e.g., Ford Ranger, Toyota Hilux, Isuzu D-MAX)

Towing capacity: 3,500 kg

Suitable for:

• Most full-height caravans
• Off-road caravans
• Toy haulers

Large wagons (e.g., Toyota LandCruiser 200/300, Nissan Patrol)

Towing capacity: 3,500 kg
High GVM and GCM capacity.

Ideal for:

• Heavy off-road caravans
• Family caravans
• Long-term towing setups
  

How to Tell if Your Caravan Is Too Heavy

Search terms like “Is my caravan overweight?” and “How to weigh my caravan” have skyrocketed.

Here’s how to check:

Option 1: Public Weighbridge

Most accurate method.

Weigh your:

• Vehicle alone
• Caravan alone
• Total combination

Option 2: Mobile weighing services

Professionals visit your home or caravan park.

They measure:

• Axle loads
• Tow-ball download
• Total weight

Option 3: DIY estimates (least accurate)

Use manufacturer figures—but real-world weights often differ.



Tips for Safe Towing in Australia

1. Don’t max out your towing capacity

Aim for 10–15% below your legal limit.

2. Install the right towing accessories

• Electric brake controller
• Tow-bar rated for your load
• Extended towing mirrors
• Weight distribution hitch (if suitable)
• Sway control systems

3. Keep tyre pressures correct

Under-inflated tyres are a major cause of caravan accidents.

4. Distribute weight evenly

Heavier items should be:

• Low
• Centred
• Over caravan axles

5. Drive slower

The recommended towing speed in many states is 90–100 km/h.

6. Regular servicing

Service:

• Caravan brakes
• Bearings
• Suspension
• Tyres

At least every 10,000 km or annually.

Final Thoughts: How Much Weight Can Your Car Tow Safely?

You can tow safely in Australia when you:

• Know your towing capacity
• Understand GVM, GCM, ATM, and tow-ball download
• Weigh your caravan accurately
• Use proper towing equipment
• Keep within legal limits

Choosing the right caravan is only half the story—knowing your towing limits ensures every adventure is safe, smooth, and stress-free.

Aussie RV Hub is here to help you:

• Understand towing laws
• Compare caravans
• Calculate weights
• Learn towing basics
• Choose the best caravan for your vehicle

Safe towing starts with knowledge—and now, you’ve got everything you need.