Why Vanilla Hauling Drives You Insane
RimWorld's carrying capacity determines how much weight a pawn or animal can haul or pack in caravans. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about increasing carry capacity – from vanilla mechanics and recent official changes to the best mods (and their compatibility) that let your colonists, animals, and even vehicles haul more. We've organized this toolbox-style guide into clear sections with up-to-date information (RimWorld 1.5, 2024/2025). For efficient caravan formation strategies, also check our caravan hitching spot guide.
📦 The dream: perfectly organized storage that vanilla hauling makes nearly impossible to maintain
Base Game Carrying Capacity
Key Mechanics
- • On-map Hauling vs. Caravan Carrying: Colonists carry one stack at a time when hauling on-map, but use full capacity in caravans. For caravan organization tips, see our hitching spot guide.
- • Default Capacities: Humans have 75 kg inventory capacity but only contribute 35 kg to caravan capacity.
- • Caravan Formula: Caravan capacity = 35 kg × body size (human body size = 1).
Affecting Factors
The base carry stat (75) scales with a pawn's Manipulation and Body Size. Injuries reduce capacity while bionics can increase it. A pawn with 50% manipulation would have ~37.5 kg capacity, while a fully bionic human (125% manipulation) could have ~94 kg.
🏗️ Efficient storage layout with designated zones - but vanilla hauling makes this a nightmare to maintain
Recent Updates (Last 18 Months)
- RimWorld 1.4 (Biotech): Integrated new pack animals into the base game. Mechanoids now can act as caravan haulers. For managing multiple colonies with caravans, see our second colony guide.
- RimWorld 1.5: No direct changes to carry weight mechanics, but continued integration of Vanilla Animals content.
Mods to Increase Pawn Carrying Capacity
Carry Capacity Fixed
Makes pawns use their full carrying capacity stat in caravans, effectively more than doubling limits (from 35kg to 75kg for humans). Pairs well with our caravan formation strategies.
Enhanced Carrying Capacity
Highly configurable mod with sliders for mass and bulk multipliers. Excellent Combat Extended support.
Dynamic Carrying Capacity
Uses a non-linear formula to scale capacity based on sqrt(CarryingCapacity) × (1 + log(BodySize)) for more realistic results.
10x Carrying Capacity
Multiplies the default carrying capacity by 10 (from 75kg to 750kg for humans). Simple but extreme solution if you just want to eliminate weight limits.
Comparing Stat Boost Mods
| Mod Name | Human Capacity | Configurable | CE Support | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanilla | 35kg (caravan), 75kg (stat) | No | - | Base game value |
| Carry Capacity Fixed | 75kg | No | Yes | Uses full stat for caravans |
| Enhanced Carrying Capacity | Variable (user-defined) | Yes | Yes+ | Best CE integration, very flexible |
| Dynamic Carrying Capacity | ~43.3kg | No | Limited | Uses sqrt formula for realistic scaling |
| 10x Carrying Capacity | 750kg | No | Partial | Extreme boost, can be unbalanced |
Hauling Behavior Mods
The Hauling Problem
Increasing carry capacity won't help much if your colonists only carry one stack at a time. In vanilla, pawns will typically only haul a single item or stack per trip, regardless of their carry weight limit. For optimizing hauling routes and base organization, check our colony layout guide.
🏭 Optimized warehouse layout - what you could achieve if hauling actually worked efficiently
Pick Up And Haul
The essential quality-of-life mod that allows pawns to pick up multiple items into their inventory and haul them in one trip. Pawns fill their inventory up to their weight limit before returning to stockpiles.
Key Features:
- Pawns will haul multiple stacks at once up to their carrying capacity
- Works with haul urgently commands
- Respects weight limits (pairs well with capacity mods)
- Only applies to player-owned humanlikes by default
Other Hauling Mods
- While You're Up / While You're Nearby: Makes pawns haul things when it's convenient as they're moving around. Pairs well with Pick Up And Haul.
- Common Sense: Another QoL mod that improves AI decision making, including some hauling behaviors.
- Stack XXL: Not directly a hauling mod, but increases stack sizes so pawns can carry more per stack. Consider this if you want fewer hauling jobs overall. For specific hauling scenarios like steel slag, see our slag hauling guide.
📦 The reality: overstocked chaos that vanilla hauling creates - this is why you need mods!
Backpacks & Equipment
Another approach to improving carry capacity is through equipment: wearable items or implants that raise a pawn's mass capacity. These are item-based solutions that give specific pawns a carrying boost.
📊 The caravan formation screen - where you realize how little your colonists can actually carry
Vanilla Apparel Expanded - Accessories
Adds craftable backpacks that significantly increase carrying capacity.
Mercer's Backpacks
An alternative to VE backpacks. Similar capacity boost but may require Carry Capacity Fixed to work properly.
Exoskeletons & Bionics
Various mods add exoskeleton frames and bionic enhancements that boost carry capacity:
- Industrial Exo Frame: +200-300kg carrying capacity
- VWE Heavy Weapons Exoskeleton: Moderate carry boost
- Combat Extended Tactical Gear: Increases bulk capacity
- Carrying Capacity Genes: Biotech genetics to boost capacity
Caravans, Pack Animals, & Vehicles
Pack Animals
| Animal | Carry Capacity | Speed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Horse | 84 kg | Fast | Excellent balance of speed & capacity |
| Muffalo | 84 kg | Medium | Great in cold biomes; produces wool |
| Elephant | 140 kg | Medium-Slow | Highest capacity; high food need |
| Dromedary | 73.5 kg | Medium | Good in hot biomes |
| Donkey | 49 kg | Fast | Decent speed, lower carry |
| Alpaca | 35 kg | Slow | Lowest carry; mainly for wool |
| Mechanoid | 70 kg | Varies | No food need; requires Biotech DLC |
Pro Tip: For long-distance caravans, horses are often the best choice. They move faster and carry a good amount. Elephants carry the most but move slowly and consume lots of food. For extreme capacity, bring both humans with backpacks and multiple pack animals. For caravan organization and hitching strategies, see our caravan formation guide.
🐪 Pack animals in their enclosure - your mobile storage solution when vanilla hauling fails you
Vehicle Mods
SRTS Expanded
Adds buildable dropships that allow rapid transport of massive amounts of cargo across the world map.
- Multiple ship tiers with increasing capacity
- Fast travel (hours instead of days)
- No food required for journeys
- Requires chemfuel for operation
Carryalls
Adds several types of VTOL aircraft inspired by sci-fi designs, specialized for cargo transport.
- Standard Carryall: General purpose shuttle
- Ox Carryall: Optimized for cargo capacity
- Vertigo Carryall: Troop transport with defensive capabilities
Giddy-up! Mods
Series of mods that allow colonists to ride animals both on the map and in caravans.
- Giddy-up! Caravan: Ride animals in world map travel
- Giddy-up! Battle Mounts: Ride animals in combat
- Giddy-up! Core: Base functionality for all modules
Upcoming: Vanilla Vehicles Expanded
The Vanilla Expanded team is working on a vehicles mod that will include trucks and other vehicles for hauling. Keep an eye on the workshop for this upcoming release (expected 2025).
Recent Updates & Community Highlights
Official Game Updates
RimWorld 1.5 Release
No direct changes to carrying mechanics, but integration of more content from mods into base game.
RimWorld 1.4 and Biotech DLC
Introduced mechanoids as caravan haulers. Mechanitor's bots can act as "pack mechs" that carry loot on the world map without needing food.
Pick Up And Haul Updated
Important mod update confirming compatibility with RimWorld 1.5.
Community Tips & Discussions
Scenario Editor Trick
Without mods, you can use the Scenario Editor to create a custom scenario with "stat multiplier: carrying capacity x200%" as a quick fix. This applies to all pawns but is a simple solution.
Pack Animal Selection
Horses are generally the best all-around pack animals due to their speed and decent capacity. In late game, consider using several elephants with pack specialists wearing backpacks and exoskeletons. For optimal base layout to support efficient hauling, see our colony design guide.
Ultimate Hauling Setup
For the most efficient hauling: Pick Up And Haul + Enhanced Carrying Capacity (x2 multiplier) + Large Backpack + Bionic arms = ~250kg capacity per colonist with ability to grab multiple items.
Carrying Capacity Mod Selector
Select your play style and preferences to get personalized mod recommendations:
Recommended Mods
Conclusion
Carrying capacity in RimWorld might seem like a minor stat, but it has a big impact on your colony's logistics. Whether you choose small tweaks or massive boosts, the community has provided a range of solutions to tailor this aspect to your liking.
Remember that balance is up to you. If you enjoy the challenge of managing limited carry weight, maybe only use a light boost or just Pick Up And Haul. If you're more about base-building and grand-scale operations, don't hesitate to amp up your capacity significantly. For comprehensive base organization strategies, check our colony layout guide.
Happy hauling, and safe travels on the Rim!