What this calculator does
Winch size works out recommended winch pulling capacity from vehicle weight and a safety factor. Enter your own figures above and the answer updates as you type: nothing is fixed in the code, so the result reflects exactly the numbers you supply.
The formula this calculator evaluates is printed under the tool and explained below, so you can check the working by hand or reuse it in a spreadsheet.
The formula
FormulaRecommended capacity = vehicle GVWR × safety factor (commonly 1.5×)
The inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Vehicle weight (GVWR) (lb) | A number, measured in lb. Starts at 5000. |
| Safety factor | A number. Starts at 1.5. |
Worked examples
Every figure in the tables below is produced by this page’s own calculator at build time, so the numbers and the tool always agree. Select any row to load that scenario.
How the answer changes with vehicle weight (gvwr)
Every other input is held at the calculator’s starting values while vehicle weight (gvwr) varies. Select any row to load that scenario into the calculator.
How the answer changes with vehicle weight (gvwr)