Short answer None of them can carry a full payload while towing 3,500 kg. Of the dual-cab utes and wagons listed here, the Toyota LandCruiser 70 leaves the most, up to 860 kg above kerb weight, and the Toyota LandCruiser Prado the least, as little as 240 kg. That has to cover the towbar, accessories, passengers and luggage. Towing 3,000 kg instead frees up between 50 and 400 kg on the best variant of each.
Payload left when towing 3,500 kg
"Payload left" is what the vehicle can carry above its kerb weight while towing: towbar, accessories, people, dogs and luggage. Dual-cab utes with a factory tub and wagons only, sorted by the most room on the best variant. Masses in kg.
| Vehicle | GCM | Left towing 3,500 kg | Left towing 3,000 kg | Variants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota LandCruiser 70 Most room: GXL, 4x4, Wagon, 2.8L turbo-diesel, automatic | 7,010 | 765 to 860 | 815 to 910 | 4 |
| Toyota HiLux Most room: WorkMate, 4x4, Double-Cab Pick-Up, 2.8L turbo-diesel, automatic, GVM upgrade option | 6,300 | 428 to 695 | 478 to 1,095 | 11 |
| Mitsubishi Triton Most room: GLX, 4x2, Double Cab Pick-Up, 2.4L bi-turbo diesel, 6-speed automatic | 6,210 to 6,250 | 560 to 695 | 610 to 793 | 8 |
| Ford Ranger Most room: XL, 4x4, Double Cab Pick-Up, 3.0L V6 turbo-diesel | 6,200 to 6,400 | 510 to 685 | 681 to 870 | 11 |
| Nissan Navara Most room: SL, 4x4, Dual Cab Pick-Up, 2.4L bi-turbo diesel, 6-speed automatic | 6,250 | 524 to 624 | 664 to 764 | 4 |
| Kia Tasman Most room: S, 4x2, Dual Cab Pick-Up, 2.2L turbo-diesel, 8-speed automatic | 6,200 | 463 to 574 | 713 to 824 | 6 |
| Mazda BT-50 Most room: XS, 4x4, Dual Cab Pickup, 2.2L turbo-diesel, 8-speed automatic | 5,850 to 6,000 | 287 to 539 | 587 to 839 | 10 |
| Isuzu D-Max Most room: SX, 4x4, Crew Cab Ute, 2.2L turbo-diesel, automatic | 5,850 to 6,000 | 330 to 520 | 630 to 820 | 10 |
| Ford Everest Most room: Active, 4x4, Wagon, 2.0L turbo-diesel, part-time 4x4, 10-speed automatic | 6,250 to 6,350 | 285 to 505 | 385 to 555 | 8 |
| Toyota LandCruiser 300 Most room: GX, 4x4, Wagon, Diesel | 6,750 | 310 to 450 | 360 to 500 | 8 |
| BYD Shark 6 Most room: Performance, 4x4, Pick-Up, 2.0L turbo-petrol plug-in hybrid | 6,650 | 375 | 425 | 1 |
| Isuzu MU-X Most room: LS-M, 4x2, Wagon, 2.2L turbo-diesel, automatic | 5,900 | 205 to 355 | 305 to 415 | 8 |
| Toyota LandCruiser Prado Most room: GXL, 4x4, Wagon, 7 seats, 2.8L turbo-diesel with V-Active (48V), 8-speed automatic | 6,600 | 240 to 270 | 290 to 320 | 6 |
Worked out as the lower of GCM minus the trailer and GVM minus a 10% towball download, minus kerb weight. Only dual-cab and wagon variants rated to tow 3,500 kg are counted; cab-chassis variants are left out because their kerb weights don't include a tray. Each vehicle's figures and source are on its own page.
Does towing a lighter trailer help?
It depends on which limit you hit. If the GCM is the limit, every kilogram you take off the trailer can go into the vehicle, so 500 kg less trailer frees up 500 kg. If the GVM is the limit, a lighter trailer only helps through its towball download: 500 kg less trailer at 10% frees up just 50 kg. That's why the 3,000 kg column moves a lot for some vehicles and hardly at all for others.
Why the numbers are so small
A 3,500 kg towing capacity tells you the heaviest trailer. It doesn't tell you the vehicle can be fully loaded at the same time. That's the job of the GCM, the most the loaded vehicle and loaded trailer may weigh together. Take 3,500 kg off the GCM and what's left is the most the loaded vehicle can weigh. On most utes that's far below the GVM.
Take a ute with a 6,000 kg GCM and a 2,000 kg kerb weight. To tow 3,500 kg it can weigh no more than 6,000 − 3,500 = 2,500 kg, leaving 500 kg. A towbar, a canopy, a fridge, two adults and two kids can use that up before anyone packs a bag. Our guide on why a 3,500 kg towing capacity often isn't 3,500 kg goes through it step by step.
How to use this table
- Add up what you'll carry in the vehicle: towbar, accessories, every passenger and the luggage.
- Compare it with the "left" figure for the trailer weight you plan to tow. If you're over, you need a lighter trailer, less in the vehicle, or a vehicle with more room.
- Check your own vehicle's compliance plate, then put your real weights into the how much can I tow calculator.
- Before a big trip, weigh the loaded rig at a public weighbridge. The weighbridge guide shows how.
Common questions
- Which ute can tow 3,500 kg fully loaded?
- None of the vehicles on this page can carry its full payload and tow 3,500 kg at the same time. The Toyota LandCruiser 70 leaves the most room, up to 860 kg above kerb weight, according to the maker's published GVM, GCM and kerb weight.
- Why can't a 3,500 kg rated ute tow 3,500 kg with a full load?
- Because of the GCM, the most the loaded vehicle and loaded trailer may weigh together. GCM minus 3,500 kg is the most the loaded vehicle can weigh, and on most utes that's well under the GVM.
- How much payload do I need for a family and a caravan?
- Add up the towbar, every accessory, each passenger, the dogs and the luggage, then compare it with the payload left at full tow on this page. Weigh the loaded vehicle at a weighbridge to be sure.
- Does a GVM upgrade let me tow more?
- Not on its own. A GVM upgrade raises how much the vehicle can carry, but if the GCM stays the same, the total of vehicle plus trailer can't go up. Some upgrades raise the GCM too; check what yours certifies.
Your own vehicle's plate wins. Figures change between model years and with options, GVM upgrades and accessories, and your towbar has its own ratings. This page uses a 10% towball download for planning; your caravan may differ.