Forum Discussion

Gene_K_2's avatar
Gene_K_2
Explorer
Mar 26, 2021

Cargo Rating

I've wondered if a truck's cargo rating wouldn't be more useful to people shopping for travel trailers than payload. For those unfamiliar Cargo Rating = Payload minus 150 lb per available seating position. For instance a 2,000 lb Payload Regular Cab would have a 1550 lb Cargo Rating and a Bench Seat Crew Cab an 1100 lb Cargo Rating. Seems like it would help people who often think Payload is Cargo Rating (ie how much can I carry in the bed).
  • Over thinking to fall into a rat hole...

    Big picture are the main ratings...GVWR, FGAWR and RGAWR

    The main one of concern in this discussion is RGAWR, but do not ignore the other two

    RGAWR the main concern because most all things loaded into, onto a pickup is behind the drivers door rear edge. Thus most of that weight will be on the rear axle.

    That is their ratings system and if don't believe in ratings nor their systems... do whatever and own the situation in either regard
  • Gene K 2 wrote:
    Cargo Rating is usually what they use for specifying truck campers but as far as I know it's officially a cargo rating.


    I've often wondered if something wouldn't work to minimize the misconception that payload was the amount you can put in the bed (without regard to occupant weight). Like anything else that's been tried (like "tow rating" instead of just GCWR and GVWR) it would likely just create more problems.


    At least with Ford, they list the truck camper rating...not a "cargo rating"
  • Gene K 2 wrote:
    Cargo Rating is usually what they use for specifying truck campers but as far as I know it's officially a cargo rating.


    I've often wondered if something wouldn't work to minimize the misconception that payload was the amount you can put in the bed (without regard to occupant weight). Like anything else that's been tried (like "tow rating" instead of just GCWR and GVWR) it would likely just create more problems.


    Thanks Gene...........

    Now it makes sense why the payload (3460 lbs) rating on my truck is more than the camper weight rating (2724 lbs). I found the camper info on a sticker in the glove box, and it refers to the cargo weight. Learned something new. 736 lbs difference and a reason why.
  • Cargo Rating is usually what they use for specifying truck campers but as far as I know it's officially a cargo rating.


    I've often wondered if something wouldn't work to minimize the misconception that payload was the amount you can put in the bed (without regard to occupant weight). Like anything else that's been tried (like "tow rating" instead of just GCWR and GVWR) it would likely just create more problems.
  • wing_zealot wrote:
    Never heard of Cargo Rating before. I can do the math for myself a lot more accurately than 150 lbs per seat. My truck has 5 seats, 95% of the time only 2 are in use.

    The sticker on the door of my truck clearly says "The combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed _______". Seems pretty clear to me.

    X2
  • I think they have moved away from cargo ratings. I haven't seen it listed last few times we bought. While you could back calculate it, it's more limiting.

    Example a family of 4 with a 4 door 6 seat pickup. Assuming a couple of 50lb kids a 200lb husband and 150lb wife, that's 450lb of payload used vs 900lb used by your cargo assumption. You just lost 450lb of usable payload to the assumption working off your cargo rating calculation.

    Really unless you are trying to push the truck to the limits, it doesn't make much difference and if you are pushing to the limits, false passenger weights you will never see don't make sense if you need that last 450lb of payload.

    If you read the sticker on the door, it's quite clear what is included in payload.
  • I always thought that cargo was any item in the truck (people, dog, gravel in the bed, tongue weight, pin weight, whatever) that made up payload. Never knew there was a difference between payload and cargo rating. Too many numbers with too many meanings for most people I think.

    To me, the only numbers that mean anything are GVWR, FAWR, RAWR, and GCWR. When weight ratings become a concern for whatever reason, the scale is the only answer.

    For a read that includes explanations for all of the acronyms that we commonly run into, check this out from Curt.
  • How is cargo rating any different than max camper rating in pickups per say....
    Then if you have 6 peeps in said crew cab pickup that ave 175-200 per. Your chewing 1200 lbs of people weight vs 900. Yes been there did that done that when I had at the time, spouse, 4 adult sized teens and myself. Reality all I cared about is total payload!

    Marty
  • Never heard of Cargo Rating before. I can do the math for myself a lot more accurately than 150 lbs per seat. My truck has 5 seats, 95% of the time only 2 are in use.

    The sticker on the door of my truck clearly says "The combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed _______". Seems pretty clear to me.
  • Changing the "system" we have now would be difficult if not impossible IMO. Informed truck buyers are few and far between...and the newbies always want to buy the truck first.

About RV Tips & Tricks

Looking for advice before your next adventure? Look no further.25,108 PostsLatest Activity: Feb 12, 2025