# towlimits

> Free towing calculators and plain-English guides for Australia. They check a tow vehicle and trailer against GVM, GCM, towing capacity, towball download, caravan payload, and the trailer brake, breakaway, safety chain and coupling rules in Vehicle Standards Bulletin 1 (Revision 6, August 2026). All masses are in kilograms. Rules last checked 12 October 2026. Written by Muhammad Afzal. Corrections: hello@towlimits.com.

Key facts the site uses (Australia, trailers up to 4,500 kg ATM):
- Brakes are based on GTM: none required up to 750 kg; at least one axle up to 2,000 kg (over-run brakes allowed); every wheel, controlled from the tow vehicle, over 2,000 kg, plus a breakaway system that holds the brakes on for at least 15 minutes.
- Safety chains are based on ATM: one chain up to 2,500 kg; two chains from 2,501 to 3,500 kg; two Grade T steel chains above 3,500 kg.
- 50 mm ball couplings (AS 4177.3) are rated 750, 2,000 or 3,500 kg; above 3,500 kg ATM the coupling must comply with ADR 62.
- The heaviest trailer a vehicle can tow is the lowest of: towing capacity, GCM minus loaded vehicle weight, (GVM minus loaded vehicle) divided by the towball percentage, maximum towball download divided by the towball percentage, and the towbar rating.
- Towball download counts against the tow vehicle's GVM. GTM = ATM minus towball download.
- Towball download: as a guide 8 to 10% of the caravan's ATM (WA Department of Transport Safe Towing Guide), never over the vehicle's or towbar's maximum.
- Towing speed: WA caps any vehicle towing at 100 km/h; NSW caps towing at 100 km/h when the vehicle's GVM or the combination's GCM is over 4.5 tonnes.

## Calculators

- [Towing calculator: is your setup within its limits?](https://towlimits.com/towing-calculator/): Check your car or ute and trailer against GVM, GCM, towing capacity and towball download in one go.
- [How much can I tow? GCM calculator](https://towlimits.com/how-much-can-i-tow/): Find the heaviest trailer your vehicle can legally pull as it's loaded today, and which limit stops you.
- [Ute and 4WD payload calculator](https://towlimits.com/payload-calculator/): Add up accessories, passengers, gear and towball download to see how much of your GVM is left.
- [GVM upgrade calculator: what you gain and what you lose](https://towlimits.com/gvm-upgrade-calculator/): See how a GVM upgrade changes your payload and how much you can still tow, with and without a GCM upgrade.
- [Towball weight calculator](https://towlimits.com/towball-weight-calculator/): Work out your towball download as a percentage of the trailer and check it against your vehicle and towbar.
- [Caravan payload calculator (ATM minus tare)](https://towlimits.com/caravan-payload-calculator/): See how much you can really pack in your caravan once water, gas and extras are counted.
- [Weighbridge calculator for caravans and trailers](https://towlimits.com/weighbridge-calculator/): Turn weighbridge readings into GTM, towball download and trailer weight.
- [Trailer tyre load rating calculator](https://towlimits.com/trailer-tyre-load-calculator/): Turn the load index on your caravan or trailer tyres into kilograms and check they can carry your GTM and ATM.
- [Towing fuel consumption and range calculator](https://towlimits.com/towing-fuel-calculator/): Work out fuel use, range per tank, refuelling stops and trip cost when you tow a caravan or trailer.
- [Trailer brake, safety chain and coupling requirements](https://towlimits.com/trailer-brake-requirements/): Enter your trailer's ATM to see the brakes, breakaway system, safety chains and coupling it needs in Australia.

## Vehicle towing specs

Published figures copied from each manufacturer's own spec sheet, with derived payload while towing.

- [All vehicles](https://towlimits.com/vehicles/)
- [BYD Shark 6](https://towlimits.com/vehicles/byd-shark-6/): braked towing 2,500 to 3,500 kg, GCM 5,750 to 6,650 kg, GVM 3,500 kg
- [Ford Everest](https://towlimits.com/vehicles/ford-everest/): braked towing 3,500 kg, GCM 6,250 to 6,350 kg, GVM 3,100 to 3,240 kg
- [Isuzu D-Max](https://towlimits.com/vehicles/isuzu-d-max/): braked towing 3,500 kg, GCM 5,850 to 6,000 kg, GVM 3,000 to 3,100 kg
- [Isuzu MU-X](https://towlimits.com/vehicles/isuzu-mu-x/): braked towing 3,500 kg, GCM 5,900 kg, GVM 2,700 to 2,800 kg
- [Ford Ranger](https://towlimits.com/vehicles/ford-ranger/): braked towing 2,500 to 3,500 kg, GCM 5,400 to 6,400 kg, GVM 3,150 to 3,350 kg
- [Toyota HiLux](https://towlimits.com/vehicles/toyota-hilux/): braked towing 2,900 to 3,500 kg, GCM 5,800 to 6,300 kg, GVM 2,950 to 3,500 kg
- [Toyota LandCruiser 300](https://towlimits.com/vehicles/toyota-landcruiser-300/): braked towing 3,500 kg, GCM 6,750 kg, GVM 3,280 to 3,380 kg
- [Toyota LandCruiser 70](https://towlimits.com/vehicles/toyota-landcruiser-70/): braked towing 3,500 kg, GCM 7,010 kg, GVM 3,510 kg
- [Nissan Navara](https://towlimits.com/vehicles/nissan-navara/): braked towing 3,500 kg, GCM 6,250 kg, GVM 3,190 kg
- [Toyota LandCruiser Prado](https://towlimits.com/vehicles/toyota-landcruiser-prado/): braked towing 3,500 kg, GCM 6,600 kg, GVM 3,100 to 3,200 kg
- [Mazda BT-50](https://towlimits.com/vehicles/mazda-bt-50/): braked towing 3,500 kg, GCM 5,850 to 6,000 kg, GVM 3,000 to 3,100 kg
- [Kia Tasman](https://towlimits.com/vehicles/kia-tasman/): braked towing 3,500 kg, GCM 6,200 kg, GVM 3,250 kg
- [Mitsubishi Triton](https://towlimits.com/vehicles/mitsubishi-triton/): braked towing 3,500 kg, GCM 6,210 to 6,250 kg, GVM 3,070 to 3,200 kg
- [Which utes and 4WDs can really tow 3,500 kg? Payload compared](https://towlimits.com/vehicles/towing-3500kg-payload-compared/)
- [Compare two tow vehicles side by side](https://towlimits.com/vehicles/compare/): braked towing, GCM, GVM, payload and payload left at full tow for any two variants

## Guides

- [Why a 3,500 kg towing capacity often isn't 3,500 kg](https://towlimits.com/guides/gcm-towing-capacity-trap/): How GCM limits what your ute or 4WD can really tow, how to work out your own figure, and what you can do about it.
- [How to weigh your caravan and tow vehicle at a weighbridge](https://towlimits.com/guides/how-to-weigh-caravan-weighbridge/): A step-by-step method for weighing a caravan or trailer setup at a public weighbridge, and how to turn three readings into GTM, ATM, towball download and GCM.
- [ATM, GTM, GVM, GCM and tare explained, with one worked example](https://towlimits.com/guides/towing-weights-explained/): What every Australian towing weight term means, where to find it on your plates, and how the numbers fit together for one ute and caravan.
- [Trailer brake and safety chain rules in Australia (2026)](https://towlimits.com/guides/trailer-brake-safety-chain-rules/): When a trailer needs brakes, when override brakes stop being allowed, when you need a breakaway system and how many safety chains, under VSB 1 Revision 6.
- [Overweight caravan: fines, risks and how to check you're legal](https://towlimits.com/guides/overweight-caravan-fines/): What counts as an overweight caravan or tow vehicle in Australia, the fines we could verify, the other risks, and how to check your own setup.
- [Can you tow on L or P plates? The rules in each state](https://towlimits.com/guides/towing-on-l-and-p-plates/): Whether learner and provisional drivers can tow a trailer or caravan in each Australian state and territory, from official sources, checked October 2026.
- [Towing speed limits in Australia: the rules in each state](https://towlimits.com/guides/towing-speed-limits-by-state/): WA caps every towing vehicle at 100 km/h and NSW caps most ute and caravan setups at 100 km/h. What each state's official source says, checked October 2026.
- [How much towball weight should a caravan have?](https://towlimits.com/guides/how-much-towball-weight-caravan/): As a guide, 8 to 10% of the caravan's loaded weight, up to your vehicle's and towbar's limit. What WA's Safe Towing Guide says, with examples and how to check yours.
- [Do you need towing mirrors in Australia? The rules explained](https://towlimits.com/guides/towing-mirrors-rules-australia/): If your caravan or trailer blocks your view of the road behind and to each side, you need extended towing mirrors. What the road rules say, with sources.

## Reference

- [Towing terms glossary](https://towlimits.com/glossary/)
- [Rules, sources and method](https://towlimits.com/sources/)
- [About](https://towlimits.com/about/)
- [Full text of every guide, for AI assistants](https://towlimits.com/llms-full.txt)