The invention relates to load-based vehicle operating control, the vehicle may be a hybrid vehicle. The hybrid vehicle includes an engine and an electric machine, both capable of propelling the vehicle. The electric machine is electrically connected to a high voltage traction battery. The state of charge of the battery can decrease if the battery is used to power the electric machine, and can increase if the electric machine supplies power to the battery via regenerative braking. Constraints are placed on the vehicle such that the battery operates within a preferred operating window, defined between minimum and maximum state of charge thresholds. At least one controller is programmed to alter the preferred operating window of the battery in response to various vehicular activities, such as when the vehicle is towing another object, or when the vehicle weighs above a certain threshold due to contents within the vehicle, for example.