How Much Can You Actually Load on a Towbar?
Hi, we often get a question. How much can I load in my IXTAbox? This article should clear up any confusion in this regard. When it comes to load-carrying capacity, there are two load limits in play, and they come from two different places. One is ours to state. The other is set by the manufacturer of your car.
1. What an IXTAbox is rated to carry
An IXTAbox weighs 30 kg in the 175 cm, 31 kg in the 190 cm and 32 kg in the 205 cm variant - box and fixation device together. That is what sits on the towball before you pack anything.
Loaded, the box and its fixation are built for up to 100 kg of cargo. It was crash-tested at VTI with a 75 kg load at 56 km/h and over 33 G.
2. What your car permits on the towbar
This one is not something we set. Every towbar has a permitted nose weight - the downward load the ball is allowed to carry, fixed by the vehicle manufacturer and the towbar itself.
You will find yours in three places: the owner's manual, the plate on the towbar, and the registration document. IXTAbox always prioritizes safety and hence we recommend you follow the lowest number in case you find conflicting numbers.
Here is where the cars our customers most often fit a box to actually land:
| Car | Permitted nose weight | Cargo you can pack |
|---|---|---|
| Tesla Model Y, 3, S | 100 kg | ~70 kg |
| Tesla Model X | 100 kg (90 kg Plaid) | ~70 kg (~60 kg) |
| BMW iX | 100 kg | ~70 kg |
| Volvo EX90 | 100 kg | ~70 kg |
| Polestar 4 | 100 kg | ~70 kg |
| Škoda Kodiaq | 100 kg | ~70 kg |
| Škoda Enyaq | 75 kg | ~45 kg |
Manufacturers' published figures, September 2026. They move with model year, drivetrain and the towbar fitted, so be sure to confirm yours! This table is just for a general idea. Cargo figures are for the 175; knock off a kilo or two for the 190 and 205.
The lower of the two is your real number
We always recommend checking both the numbers and choose the lower limit in the interest of safety. Take your car's permitted nose weight, subtract the box's own weight, and pack what is left up to the box's own 100 kg ceiling. If your towbar allows more, the box becomes the limit rather than the car: at 140 kg on the ball, an IXTAbox still takes 100 kg, well distributed.
Clearance is the other question we hear a lot. Here is a guide to see whether your boot still opens with a box fitted. And if you are still choosing rather than checking a box you already own, all three sizes are here: IXTAbox Pro and Classic.
