Tow Guide
Select your tow vehicle below to see which Airstreams it can safely pull. Pick a year, make, and model to get its towing capacity, then browse the matching inventory.
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Select your vehicle's model year.
Understanding RV Weights
Towing safely comes down to knowing a handful of numbers. Here is what each of the terms on a weight sticker actually means.
- Dry Weight / Shipped Weight
- The weight of the RV as it leaves the manufacturer, excluding passengers, cargo, fluids, dealer-installed options, or aftermarket accessories.
- Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)
- The actual total weight of the RV at any given time, including its dry weight plus passengers, cargo, and all liquids.
- Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)
- The maximum allowable weight of the vehicle or RV when fully loaded, including passengers, cargo, fluids, and accessories.
- Cargo Weight
- The combined weight of everything added to the RV, such as passengers, food, clothing, gear, fluids, and personal items.
- Tongue / Hitch Weight
- The downward force applied by a trailer’s tongue or coupler onto a conventional or bumper-style hitch on the tow vehicle.
- Pin Weight
- Commonly associated with fifth wheels, this is the weight transferred from the trailer’s king pin to the hitch mounted in the bed of a truck.
- Payload Capacity
- For trucks, this is the maximum weight that can be safely carried in the bed. This includes the fifth-wheel hitch, pin or hitch weight, and any additional cargo or accessories. Always verify payload limits with the vehicle manufacturer.
- Maximum Towing Capacity
- The highest total weight your vehicle can safely tow. This includes the RV’s GVW plus the weight of passengers, cargo, and fluids in the tow vehicle.
Still not sure what your vehicle can handle? Our team matches tow vehicles to Airstreams every day — get in touch or browse our inventory to get started.
