Payload guide
Payload vs. towing capacity
A trailer can be below the advertised tow rating and still overload the tow vehicle. Payload is often the reason.
Two different limits
Towing capacity limits the trailer weight the vehicle is rated to pull. Payload capacity limits weight carried by the vehicle itself. The payload value for your actual vehicle is usually found on the tire-and-loading label in the driver-door area.
What uses payload?
Driver and passengers, cargo inside or on the vehicle, accessories, hitch hardware, and trailer tongue weight all consume payload. A 700 lb tongue weight plus 550 lb of people and gear already uses 1,250 lb before other accessories are counted.
Use the vehicle-specific label
Brochure payload numbers may describe a lightly equipped configuration. Trim level, options, and installed equipment change the actual vehicle’s capacity, so the label on the vehicle is the better starting point.
Calculate remaining payload
Subtract passengers, vehicle cargo, hitch hardware, and measured tongue weight from the vehicle’s labeled payload capacity. Positive remaining payload does not by itself prove the combination is safe; all other ratings still apply.