TowSifter
◆ Towing Guides

Know before you tow.

Straight, sourced explainers on the terminology, gear, and laws behind safe towing — the context the spec numbers assume you already know.

Terminology

Towing Terminology, Decoded: GVWR, GCWR, Payload & Tongue Weight

The weight ratings that actually govern what you can tow — in plain English, with the math that ties them together.

Laws

Trailer Brake Laws by State: When Your Trailer Needs Its Own Brakes

The weight at which each state requires trailer brakes — sourced from the actual statutes and DMV pages, with every state we couldn't cleanly verify flagged.

Hitches

5th-Wheel vs. Bumper-Pull vs. Gooseneck: Which Hitch Type for What

How the three main trailer connections differ in capacity, stability, and the truck they demand — and why HD trucks publish higher gooseneck ratings.

Look up a specific vehicle's tow rating →