How much can my truck or SUV tow?
Before you rent, borrow or buy a trailer, this is the one number that matters. Below are real towing capacities for the vehicles we see most often in the Inland Empire, what the numbers on your door sticker actually mean, and which trailers each vehicle can genuinely handle.
Ranges are for properly equipped vehicles and vary by engine, cab, bed and axle ratio. Your owner’s manual and door-jamb sticker are the authority — always check them.
| Vehicle | Towing capacity | What it can pull |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota Tacoma (2016+) | 3,500 – 6,800 lb | Handles any of our utility trailers and a single car on a car hauler if properly equipped. |
| Ford F-150 (V6 EcoBoost / V8) | 7,000 – 13,000 lb | Tows everything in our fleet, including loaded dump trailers. |
| Chevrolet Silverado 1500 / GMC Sierra 1500 | 7,000 – 13,300 lb | Tows everything in our fleet. |
| Ram 1500 | 6,200 – 12,750 lb | Tows everything, though a fully loaded 14K dump trailer is a 2500-class job. |
| Toyota Tundra | 8,300 – 12,000 lb | Tows everything in our fleet. |
| Toyota 4Runner | 5,000 lb | Great for utility trailers and light loads. Not for a loaded dump trailer. |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee | 6,200 – 7,200 lb | Utility, tilt and lighter enclosed trailers are comfortable. |
| Honda Ridgeline / Pilot | 5,000 lb | Fine for utility trailers with a normal household load. Not a dump-trailer vehicle. |
| Ford Explorer / Chevy Tahoe | 5,000 – 8,600 lb | Tahoe/Suburban handle most of the fleet; Explorer sticks to utility and light loads. |
| Subaru Outback / Ascent | 2,700 – 5,000 lb | Outback is limited — a small utility trailer with a light load only. Ascent does more. |
| Ford F-250 / Ram 2500 / Silverado 2500 | 14,000 – 22,000+ lb | Nothing we rent will challenge these. |
| Sedans and most crossovers (Camry, Civic, RAV4, CR-V) | 0 – 1,500 lb | Generally not tow vehicles. If you need to haul something and drive one of these, borrowing a truck for the day is the usual answer — or hire a delivery. |
The three-step check that takes two minutes
- 1. Find your tow rating. Owner’s manual, towing section. Not the number from an ad — the one for your exact configuration.
- 2. Subtract the empty trailer. Each trailer page lists its weight. What remains is what you can actually load.
- 3. Check your payload, not just your tow rating. Tongue weight is 10–15% of the loaded trailer and it sits on your rear axle, along with your passengers and anything in the bed. This is the limit people hit first.
If any of that is unclear for your vehicle, call or text 909-402-6600 before you book. We would much rather talk you into a smaller trailer than have you find out on the 15.
Towing questions, answered
Where do I find my exact towing capacity?
Three places, in order of reliability: the owner's manual towing section, the sticker inside the driver's door jamb (it lists GVWR and payload), and the manufacturer's towing guide PDF for your exact year, engine, cab and axle ratio. Online "max tow" numbers are almost always the best-case configuration, which may not be yours.
What is the difference between GVWR, GCWR, payload and tongue weight?
GVWR is the most your vehicle may weigh fully loaded. GCWR is the most your vehicle and trailer may weigh together. Payload is what you can put in the vehicle — people, cargo and trailer tongue weight all count against it. Tongue weight is the downward force the trailer coupler puts on your hitch ball, normally 10–15% of the loaded trailer weight. Running out of payload before you run out of tow rating is extremely common.
Does the trailer's own weight count?
Yes. Towing capacity covers the trailer plus everything on it. A 16-foot utility trailer weighs roughly 1,800–2,400 lb empty, an enclosed cargo trailer 2,000–4,500 lb, and a dump trailer 3,000–5,000 lb before you load a single thing. Subtract that first, and what remains is your real cargo allowance.
What if my vehicle cannot tow what I need?
Two honest options. Step down a trailer size and make two trips — with a 24-hour rental day, two trips still costs one day. Or borrow a friend's truck; you are allowed to rent the trailer and tow it with any properly equipped vehicle. Give us a call at 909-402-6600 and we will tell you straight whether your vehicle can do the job.
Do I need trailer brakes?
In California, any trailer with a gross weight over 1,500 lb is required to have brakes. All of our trailers that need them have electric brakes, which means your tow vehicle needs a working brake controller and a 7-pin connector. Many trucks from 2015 onward have one built in. If yours does not, an aftermarket controller is an inexpensive install — and we will tell you before you book whether the trailer you picked requires one.
What hitch ball size do I need?
Most of our trailers use a 2-inch or 2-5/16-inch ball. The required size is listed on each trailer page and in your booking confirmation, so you can check before you drive over. See our hitch and ball size guide for how to identify what you already have.
Know your number? Pick the trailer.
Every trailer page lists its empty weight, required ball size and whether it needs a brake controller — so you can confirm the match before you pay.
See trailers & live availabilityNot sure which one? Which trailer do I need? · Hitch & ball size guide