Are we really going to go through all this EVERY time the topic comes up? I mean what does it take to get a "sticky" around here?
By the numbers:
GVWR is fairly to completely useless number because it is not based on engineering as it is a taxable number.
Payload is a equally useless number as it is the remainder of the posted GVWR minus the weight of the truck. (all the campers weight is going to be on the rear axle.)
RAWR while a seemingly more meaningful number, it is based in the weakest link (lowest) of actual axle, rim and OEM installed tire ratings. Most SRW truck owners will notice that this value equals the number on the sidewall of their OEM tires x2.
In my case, the old 1997 95.8L gas powered F250 had a GVWR of 8800LBS and came with 16" tires and rims. Loaded ready for camping the entire rig weighed ~12000LBS.
Considering the tires+rims I bought it with were woefully under rated I replaced them all with 19.5" Vison Heavy Haulers (rated at 4500LBS) and Toyo M608Z's (rated over 5000LBS).
When I replaced the '97 with a 2017 6.7L (GVWR 10000) and got it setup to carry the camper I weighed the setup and was with in a few 100LBS of the OEM installed max ratings but after a quick 100 mile test drive I found that the sway was almost making me sea sick.
I carry ~4000LBS camper+gear (actual scaled weight) so it was a no brainer to upgrade my 2017 to the same rims+tires setup I had on my 1997. I did notice that the spring pack on the 2017 is weaker than what I had on the 1997 so I had Airbags installed so I could level out the headlights for driving at night.
For reference a quick Google search says that the Sterling 10.5" axle used in modern Ford trucks is rated 9750LBS.
- Mark0
