Hey everyone, I know there have been quiet a few posts about things related to payload and weights and everything, it I couldn't quiet find my answer when I was searching. So, hopefully somebody can straighten something out for me. I do apologize if something very similar to this has come up. From what I understand my vehicles payload capacity is the GVWR minus the curb weight of the vehicle...right?Well I have a Jepp Grand Cherokee, and while I don't know the exact weight of my particular vehicle, ill assume it's the heaviest Grand Cherokee you can get, which according to Jeep is 5393 lbs. The GVWR rating is 6800lbs. So, if payload is the GVRW minus the curb weight, shouldn't the payload of the heaviest Grand Cherokee be 1407 lbs? Jeep lists the payload as only 1050lbs, which is way less. So, am I missing some or doing something wrong or am I right to find this a little confusing?Thanks for the help!

They may figure in a 200 lb. driver and full tank of fuel.

Generally speaking that would be correct, GVWR minus actual scaled weight, would equal payload. I am thinking this may not pertain to ALL vehicles, so if the tire loading sticker on your door says 1,050, that is what I'd go by. The sticker on your vehicle, is not generalized, but for that exact Jeep.Jerry

The curb weight only includes a full tak of gas and othe fluids, not a driver.

Realistically curb weight is kind of a figmant of someones imagination. In real life curb weight is loaded ready to travel. That number subtracted from the GVWR is how much in your case what tongue weight you can carry.

I guess I'm just not understanding why there is such a drastic difference between the listed payload and the gvwr mins the curb weight. According to jeep the heaviest a Grand Cherokee can be without a person or stuff is 5393. That's the weight of the heaviest model with all the options and extras. So, why isn't the payload for that car 1400lbs?

gvwr, curb weight and payload | Good Sam Community

18 Replies

LarryJM
Explorer II
Jan 25, 2017
Grit dog wrote:

At that, imagine the factors of safety designed into the vehicle components and don't obsess about a few......hundred lbs here or there.

IMO that is a VERY DANGEROUS ASSUMPTION. There are probably actual safety related design margins, but there are much more items like say drive shaft spline strength, u-joints, on and on that don't have the level of design margin built in that you are assuming.

Just your undefined "FEW HUNDRED LBS" can mean 100 to maybe 500/600 depending on an individuals definition which is totally SUBJECTIVE.

A couple of prime examples is the original cooling system for the 7.3L and the 4R100 tranny/TC system for the 7.3L. One requires a retro fit and the other is a well know "WEAK LINK" in the drivetrain. Neither of these IMO would classify as "SAFETY RELATED", but sure would ruin your day and cost a $$$$$$ if you ignored them or exceeded their original design concept/usage.

Larry
Grit_dog
Navigator II
Jan 25, 2017
Don't spend your time worrying about why your calcs don't match up exactly to the OE payload rating. It's not a big deal and you may never figure out the discrepancy.
By the rating, 4 large adults and a big dog in the back would overload it. Does that seem plausible?
Worry about tow rating and rear axle rating (assuming you're worried about your trailer weight and not just a hypothetical question).
At that, imagine the factors of safety designed into the vehicle components and don't obsess about a few......hundred lbs here or there.
Bedlam
Moderator
Jan 25, 2017
I see the GC with a payload of 1050-1350 lbs with a tow rating of 6200-7400 lbs based on configuration when visiting the US site and looking at the tow ratings section for Jeeps.
sam22
Explorer III
Jan 25, 2017
I guess I'm just not understanding why there is such a drastic difference between the listed payload and the gvwr mins the curb weight. According to jeep the heaviest a Grand Cherokee can be without a person or stuff is 5393. That's the weight of the heaviest model with all the options and extras. So, why isn't the payload for that car 1400lbs?
donn0128
Explorer II
Jan 25, 2017
Realistically curb weight is kind of a figmant of someones imagination. In real life curb weight is loaded ready to travel. That number subtracted from the GVWR is how much in your case what tongue weight you can carry.
sam22
Explorer III
Jan 25, 2017
The curb weight only includes a full tak of gas and othe fluids, not a driver.
MFL
Nomad II
Jan 25, 2017
Generally speaking that would be correct, GVWR minus actual scaled weight, would equal payload. I am thinking this may not pertain to ALL vehicles, so if the tire loading sticker on your door says 1,050, that is what I'd go by. The sticker on your vehicle, is not generalized, but for that exact Jeep.

Jerry
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Jan 25, 2017
They may figure in a 200 lb. driver and full tank of fuel.

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gvwr, curb weight and payload

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