What Is GCWR?

Jason Fogelson 06/12/2024 8:00am

Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) is the maximum allowed weight of a vehicle, its maximum payload, and an attached trailer and its maximum payload. GCWR and GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) are closely related, as GCWR is GVWR plus trailer weight with the trailer’s maximum payload. Vehicle payload includes cargo and passengers.

Knowing a vehicle’s GCWR is critical when towing. All public bridges and many public roads have maximum load ratings. Exceeding these ratings is unsafe and illegal, so confirm your rig’s weight before embarking on a journey with a trailer and keep your total weight below your vehicle’s GCWR.

See also GVWR, Payload, Towing Capacity

Jason Fogelson

Jason Fogelson is the Managing Editor of Publication Operations for Cox Automotive Inc. He works with the editorial team to ensure everything you read on Kelley Blue Book is factual, grammatically correct, well-written, and relevant. Jason contributed to KBB for years before joining the staff in 2022 as part of a long career as a freelance automotive journalist and editor for magazines and websites. His first book, “100 Things for Every Gearhead to Do Before They Die,” was published by Reedy Press in 2016. Jason was President of the Motor Press Guild (MPG) for two terms and is a member of the Automotive Press Association (APA), the Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA), and the International Motor Press Association (IMPA). He lives near Ann Arbor, Michigan, with his wife, dog, two cats, motorcycle, and van. He’s always on the hunt for an inexpensive roadster to fill an empty slot in his garage.
More From Jason