Tow Capacity Is it a combination of the frame, engine, brakes, suspension, etc?

[jimbo]

Hello all - I'm curious as to what determines a vehicles tow capacity? There's obviously a big focus on towing capacity on a lot of new vehicles now, so I'm just wondering how a vehicle's tow capacity is figured.

Is it a combination of the frame, engine, brakes, suspension, etc?

It's a little strange how a Chevy Silverado truck, for example, can increase it's tow capacity by 2K lbs or so, from one year to the next with seemingly very little changes from one year to the next. Or, why can Ford's F-150 tow more than a dodge with a bigger engine that has more torque and more HP?

So what determines a vehicles tow capacity?

Jim