Work out the towing kit you actually need
Most towing pages give you a number. You cannot bolt a number to your truck. Pick your loaded trailer weight and get the actual list of parts — hitch class, ball, ball mount, brakes, weight distribution — each one with the published rule it comes from.
Start with your trailer weight
Tow 1,000 lb — Class 1Tow 1,500 lb — Class 1Tow 2,000 lb — Class 1Tow 2,500 lb — Class 2Tow 3,000 lb — Class 2Tow 3,500 lb — Class 2Tow 4,000 lb — Class 3Tow 4,500 lb — Class 3 + WDTow 5,000 lb — Class 3 + WDTow 6,000 lb — Class 3 + WDTow 7,000 lb — Class 3 + WDTow 8,000 lb — Class 3 + WDTow 9,000 lb — Class 4 + WDTow 10,000 lb — Class 4 + WDTow 11,000 lb — Class 5 XD + WDTow 12,000 lb — Class 5 XD + WDTow 14,000 lb — Class 5 XD + WDTow 16,000 lb — Class 5 XD + WD
Or start with your vehicle
2026 Chevrolet Silverado 15002026 Chevrolet Silverado EV2026 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD2026 Chevrolet Colorado2026 Chevrolet Tahoe2026 Chevrolet Suburban2026 Chevrolet Traverse2026 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD2026 GMC Sierra 15002026 GMC Sierra 2500 HD2026 GMC Sierra 3500 HD2026 GMC Canyon2026 GMC Sierra EV2026 Nissan Frontier2026 Nissan Pathfinder2026 Ram 15002026 Ram 25002026 Ram 35002026 Ford F-1502026 Ford F-250 Super Duty2026 Ford F-350 Super Duty SRW2026 Ford RangerAll vehicles →
The three things that trip people up
- Two different "Class" systems. Class I–V is the trailer's weight. Class 1–5 is the hitch's rating. They share numerals and do not line up. The side-by-side tables →
- Tongue weight comes out of payload, not towing capacity. It is the usual reason a truck that is "within its tow rating" is actually overloaded. How to calculate it →
- One tow number per model is a lie. The Silverado 1500 spans 8,700–13,300 lb on the same badge. By configuration →
Common questions
What do I need to tow a trailer?
At minimum: a hitch rated at or above your loaded trailer weight, a ball that matches your coupler, a ball mount rated past your tongue weight, safety chains and lighting. Above roughly 2,000 lb you also need trailer brakes and a controller; above 5,000 lb you need a weight-distributing hitch with sway control.
How do I know my towing capacity?
By configuration, not by badge. The same model can vary by thousands of pounds depending on engine, axle ratio, cab and bed. Look up your exact configuration — and remember your payload, on the door-jamb label, is usually what runs out first.