Curb weight is one of those numbers that is always included in a vehicle’s specifications but may not capture your attention unless you are towing a car. And while an automobile’s weight has much to do with its fuel economy, curb weight isn’t included on new-car window stickers, aka Monroney labels.
Also listed on a vehicle’s spec sheet is the car’s gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR). Unlike the curb weight, you can find your car’s GVWR on the compliance label affixed to the driver’s door jamb.
Yet another spec-sheet measurement is the vehicle’s payload or passenger/cargo capacity. It’s the weight of passengers and stuff your car can transport in a single load.
All three of these unique weights are important in one way or another. Read on, and we will sort it all out for you.
What Is Curb Weight?
Curb weight is generally considered the total weight of an empty vehicle with its standard features and all the fluids required for its operation, including a full tank of gas. However, there is no industry standard or government-regulated method for calculating curb weight.
One reason curb weight is important is the more a vehicle weighs, the more energy it burns when driving. So, curb weight is a significant factor in fuel economy, along with the car’s engine efficiency, wind resistance, and so forth.
Knowing the curb weight is essential if you are preparing to tow or haul a car. Any vehicle used for towing or hauling has maximum limits on the weight it can safely tow or haul. You must determine if the car you will tow or haul weighs less than the limit.
What Is Payload Capacity?
Also known as passenger/cargo capacity, payload capacity is the maximum amount of weight a car, truck, or SUV can safely transport. In other words, the payload is the combined weight of cargo and people a vehicle transports at any one time, including the driver. For example, if you and your passenger weigh a total of 300 pounds and your car’s payload capacity is 1,200 pounds, you can also have 900 pounds of stuff in the car.
Carmakers engineer a vehicle’s suspension, steering, and related components for optimum performance up to the stated payload capacity. Exceeding that weight limit can not only overstress suspension and other chassis components but can also render the vehicle unsafe to operate.
What Is Towing Capacity?
Towing capacity often comes up in any discussion of vehicle (mainly truck) weight limits.
A vehicle’s towing capacity is the maximum weight it can pull behind it. Although most automobiles have a posted towing capacity, it has more to do with the vehicle’s structure and its engine’s output. If you own a Ford F-150 Crew Cab with a towing capacity of 14,000 pounds, 14,000 pounds is the maximum load it can safely tow.
That towing weight includes the combined weight of the trailer and the weight of whatever is loaded on the trailer. For instance, in our F-150 example, if it’s towing a boat, the maximum weight of the trailer, boat, and whatever you’ve loaded into the boat can’t exceed 14,000 pounds.
What Is the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating?
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) is the combined limits of curb weight, options, aftermarket accessories, payload capacity, and the tongue weight of any trailer hooked up. Note that the tongue weight is not the weight of the trailer and its load. Instead, it is the percentage of the trailer weight resting on the trailer tongue.
The GVWR is a safety number. Operating a vehicle beyond its GVWR can harm its components and pose a danger on the highway.
Your vehicle’s spec sheet should have the GVWR listed. However, you can find the GVWR on the compliance label that the factory sticks on the driver-side door frame. The appropriate air-pressure settings for the tires are often included on the same label.
How to Determine Your Car, Truck, or SUV’s Curb Weight
The simplest method for finding your vehicle’s curb weight is to look it up on the Internet. Search for its year, make, and model along with the term “curb weight” or “specifications.” Your efforts will reward you with several links to the vehicle’s specs.
Alternatively, you can lift the GVWR information from the driver-side door frame. Then, if you somehow know the payload or passenger/cargo capacity, simply subtract it from the GVWR. It’s just math.
