Guide · weight ratings
GVWR, GCWR and payload, explained
GVWR is the most your truck may weigh loaded; payload is what it may carry on top of its own weight; GCWR is the most the truck and a loaded trailer may weigh together. A 2026 Ford Ranger XLT SuperCrew 4x4 2.3L: GVWR 6,270 lb, payload 1,763 lb, GCWR 12,590 lb.
MakerSources: 2026 Ford Ranger Pickup Technical Specifications (01/13/26 V1.0) · 2026 Ford Ranger Towing Guide · 2026 Ranger Body Builders Layout Book R1
By 4wd.ai · Reviewed against the maker’s documents on
Every figure is the maker’s, from the document linked with it; how we read them: how we source the numbers.
01 / The ratings
Six numbers, one truck
- 1
GVWR6,270 lb
- 2
GCWR12,590 lb
- 3
Payload1,763 lb
- 4
Tongue weight750 lb
- 5
GAWR3,130 / 3,570 lb
- 6
Trailer rating7,500 lb
02 / Worked example
Towing 7,500 lb with a Ranger
- 1.GVWR minus curb weight: 6,270 − 4,462 = 1,808 lb. Ford’s published payload is 1,763 lb, 45 lb less. Use the maker’s figure, or your own truck’s door sticker.
- 2.Hitch a 7,500 lb trailer. At 10% of the trailer’s weight, the tongue puts 750 lb on the hitch, within the receiver’s 750 lb. Payload left: 1,763 − 750 = 1,013 lb.
- 3.Check the combination: GCWR 12,590 − trailer 7,500 − truck 4,462 = 628 lb.
- 4.The smaller number wins: 628 lb for everyone and everything in the truck, set by the GCWR.
| Trailer | Tongue (10%) | Left by payload | Left by GCWR | Your limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,500 lb | 350 lb | 1,413 lb | 4,628 lb | 1,413 lb |
| 5,000 lb | 500 lb | 1,263 lb | 3,128 lb | 1,263 lb |
| 6,000 lb | 600 lb | 1,163 lb | 2,128 lb | 1,163 lb |
| 7,000 lb | 700 lb | 1,063 lb | 1,128 lb | 1,063 lb |
| 7,500 lb | 750 lb | 1,013 lb | 628 lb | 628 lb |
03 / Your truck
Where to find your own numbers
Door jamb: certification label
Door jamb: tire and loading placard
Towing guide and owner’s manual
A truck scale
04 / By truck
Payload and towing, pickup by pickup
| Pickup | Max payload | Max towing |
|---|---|---|
| Ford Super Duty | up to 8,000 lb | up to 30,000 lb |
| Ram 2500 | 4,580 lb | 20,000 lb |
| Ford F-150 | up to 2,440 lb | 13,500 lb |
| Ram 1500 | 2,410 lb | 11,530 lb |
| Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | 2,260 lb | 13,300 lb |
| Toyota Tundra | 1,940 lb | 12,000 lb |
| Ford Ranger | 1,767 lb | 7,500 lb |
| Jeep Gladiator | 1,720 lb | 7,700 lb |
| Nissan Titan | 1,710 lb | 9,290 lb |
| Toyota Tacoma | up to 1,710 lb | 6,500 lb |
| Chevrolet Colorado | up to 1,684 lb | 7,700 lb |
| GMC Canyon | 1,640 lb | 7,700 lb |
| Nissan Frontier | 1,590 lb | 7,150 lb |
| Honda Ridgeline | 1,583 lb | 5,000 lb |
| Ford Maverick | 1,500 lb | 4,000 lb |
05 / Questions
Weight rating questions
Does tongue weight count against payload?
Yes. The tongue presses down on the hitch, so the truck carries it like cargo. On the Ranger above, a 750 lb tongue uses 43% of its 1,763 lb payload.
Is towing capacity the same as GCWR?
No. Towing capacity is the heaviest trailer allowed; GCWR caps the truck and trailer together. The Ranger’s 12,590 lb GCWR minus its 4,462 lb curb weight leaves 8,128 lb, but its trailer rating is 7,500 lb. Whichever limit you reach first is the one that counts.
Where do I find my truck’s GVWR?
On the certification label on the driver’s door jamb, with the front and rear axle ratings (GAWR). The tire and loading placard next to it gives the payload of your exact truck: "the combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed" a number of pounds.
Can I raise my GVWR?
Not with parts. The GVWR is the maker’s rating on the certification label. Heavier springs or air bags can carry a load more level, but they don’t change the rating.
06 / Keep going