Gross Combined Vehicle Weight (GCVW) is the total combined weight of a fully loaded vehicle, including passengers, payload and everything in tow.

Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) is the total weight of a fully loaded vehicle, including passengers and payload – but excluding all towing.

Gross Trailer Weight (GTW) is the total weight of the trailer plus all the cargo in it.

The weight of a vehicle without any passengers or cargo, but including all necessary fuel, fluids and standard equipment.

The ratio between the revolutions per minute of the driveshaft and the rear axle. In general, a higher number offers more towing power; a lower number offers better engine efficiency. How does axle ratio affect my capability?

The downward force exerted on the hitch ball by the trailer coupler. In most cases, it should fall between 10 to 15 percent of the GTW.

The hitch assembly is mounted to the tow vehicle (most often to the vehicle frame) and includes a hitch receiver, ball mount adapter, hitch ball and wiring harness.

A Class V hitch mounted in the bed of a pickup truck, over the rear axle. The trailer connects to a ball socket with a pivoted coupling arm.

A heavy-duty trailer hitch that mounts inside the bed of a pickup truck. Instead of using a ball hitch, the trailer attaches via a coupling king pin that locks into a large horseshoe-shaped plate.

A locker, or locking differential, restricts the rotational speed of both wheels on an axle. Compared to open differentials, lockers are designed to offer increased traction on uneven surfaces.

Kayak trailer: 220 pounds

Car trailer: 2,800 pounds

Boat trailer: 300 – 1,512 pounds

Horse trailer: 2,400 pounds
(unloaded)

Canoe / kayak: 50 pounds

Motorboat: 2,000 pounds

Sailboat: 7,000 pounds

Racecar: 1,600 – 3,500 pounds

Sedan: 3,000 pounds

Station wagon: 3,600 pounds

Pickup truck: 5,500 pounds

Fifth-wheel trailers:
19,000 pounds (3,126 pounds trailer tongue weight)

Travel trailer:
5,000 – 12,000 pounds

Camping trailer:
3,000 pounds

Truck camper:
3,500 pounds (unloaded)

Cement mixer (6 cubic feet):
670 pounds

Cement mixer (1 cubic yard):
7,000 pounds

Stump grinder:
1,450 pounds

Plywood: 3 pounds / square foot
per inch of thickness

Gravel: 3,400 pounds / yard

Cement mix: 80 pounds / bag

Mulch: 500 pounds / yard

Sand: 2,600 pounds / yard

Pavers: 3,170 pounds / pallet
(624 pavers)

Rollback: 1,500 pounds

Stake bed: 1,500 pounds

Cherry picker: 2,000 – 5,000 pounds