Cargo weight vesus pay load
I am trying to get clear on the figures while we are searching for our new TV. On the door sticker there is a seperate sticker other than the one that shows you the total weight and front/rear axel...
Forum Discussion
As mkirsch says, take the truck to a scale and weight it and then subtract that from the GVWR (on sticker) to get the actual payload weight. Do not use the payload weight shown on the door jamb sticker to base your buying or towing decision on. The payload number is always going to be higher than the actual. Our actual available payload weight is 1,000 lbs lower than what the sticker says it is.
Never use manufacturer's stickered or advertised payload (or cargo carrying capacity) or dry weights for anything. You'll get yourself in trouble in the end if you don't watch it, unless you want to tow overloaded. Actual payload capacity is just important as the towing capacity if not more so, and esp. in the case of towing a 5th wheel. For a 5th, you'll probably need to look at the rear GAWR too.
On the other side of the coin, don't believe the "1/2 ton towable" label being flogged now. If you fall for, they'll tell you that your 1/2 ton can tow pretty much anything. KZ for example now has a new "1500" designation for their 5th wheel Durango model line and is advertised as "1/2 ton towable". They are saying you can tow a 34' 5th wheel with 10,800 lbs GVWR with a 1/2 ton. Actual pin weight would likely be up around 2,000 lbs. I'd like to see them list some 1/2 ton trucks with actual payload capacities and RGAWR that can handle that. Even if you go by their dry hitch wt. of 1380 lbs, that would cut a lot of 1/2 tons off the list. Even our 3/4 ton couldn't handle this 5th wheel. But it's not just KZ doing this. It's crazy out there now...
Never use manufacturer's stickered or advertised payload (or cargo carrying capacity) or dry weights for anything. You'll get yourself in trouble in the end if you don't watch it, unless you want to tow overloaded. Actual payload capacity is just important as the towing capacity if not more so, and esp. in the case of towing a 5th wheel. For a 5th, you'll probably need to look at the rear GAWR too.
On the other side of the coin, don't believe the "1/2 ton towable" label being flogged now. If you fall for, they'll tell you that your 1/2 ton can tow pretty much anything. KZ for example now has a new "1500" designation for their 5th wheel Durango model line and is advertised as "1/2 ton towable". They are saying you can tow a 34' 5th wheel with 10,800 lbs GVWR with a 1/2 ton. Actual pin weight would likely be up around 2,000 lbs. I'd like to see them list some 1/2 ton trucks with actual payload capacities and RGAWR that can handle that. Even if you go by their dry hitch wt. of 1380 lbs, that would cut a lot of 1/2 tons off the list. Even our 3/4 ton couldn't handle this 5th wheel. But it's not just KZ doing this. It's crazy out there now...
