We are in the process of trying to buy a new TV and want to make sure we get more payload than we now have with our Navigator. We are looking at 3/4 ton trucks and the Ford F-250 we test drove had a payload of 1968 on the door sticker. The salesman said that the payload was just for the cab of the truck but I told him I didn't feel comfortable with that answer so he went and got a manager. The manager said the same thing. I'm still not comfortable with that answer. My husband has now decided to buy a GMC Sierra 2500 and I need to settle this sticker/payload question before we head out for a test drive on Friday because he will probably want to buy that day. Any help would be appreciated.

They're both full of it. The sticker is for the full payload of the truck.

"The salesman said that the payload was just for the cab of the truck."Ridiculous....! Does that mean then that you can put 1968 lbs. in the cab and still have the entire bed of the truck for cargo like a load of bricks or the pin weight of a 5th wheel and still be ok???Ridiculous.

Thank you. I couldn't make any sense out of what they were saying but I thought I should clarify here just in case I was mistaken.

They have an odd sense of humor.

2oldman wrote:They have an odd sense of humor.It IS April 1st after all.

Door Sticker Payload Question | Good Sam Community

48 Replies

JIMNLIN
Explorer III
Apr 07, 2015
jaycocreek wrote:
This ratings game actually started in 1828 before trucks were even invented by a French engineer.On this forum most everyone is payload minded but the federal government uses classes aka 1-8 with class 2 being where most 1/2 and 3/4 tons fall. Then there is u-haul who's requirements are for towing a car trailer that your tow vehicle weighs at least 80% of the max trailer gvwr.

So welcome to the world of the internet and opinions.:)

Depends on what type internet forum your on determines opinions.
If your some type of truckers/haulers website and want to start up with a one ton DRW truck pulling a heavy GN trailer the payload sticker is never mentioned. Its simply not any thing legal.

All trucks out here before a certain date depending on brands and models, have no tire placard (payload sticker).
RV forums ........ opinions/comments are in every direction and some are down right :h .
jaycocreek
Explorer II
Apr 06, 2015
This ratings game actually started in 1828 before trucks were even invented by a French engineer.On this forum most everyone is payload minded but the federal government uses classes aka 1-8 with class 2 being where most 1/2 and 3/4 tons fall. Then there is u-haul who's requirements are for towing a car trailer that your tow vehicle weighs at least 80% of the max trailer gvwr.

So welcome to the world of the internet and opinions.:)
BubbaChris
Explorer
Apr 06, 2015
Star Gazer wrote:
Hi Chris,

If you get the 3.73 rear end you can get up in the 7400 tow range, but again you must check the GVWR to make sure.

I have the 3.31 rear and it does a fantastic job with my Casita, actually like it better than the 7.3 PSD. But I would not want to pull a heavier full profile TT with it, maybe an airstream.

Dean

Dean,

I'm good for now with what you provided. I'm not seriously shopping, just filing away information as the season gets started.

If I had to guess about what my next RV would be, a 5th wheel is more likely than a bigger TT. But we'd need at least another year or two out of this one before I start down that path.

Two of our semi-local RV dealers have had "shows" in other retailer's parking lots recently. So I walked through most everything on display. I found some of the front-living room 5th wheels interesting. It was also educational to see how most of them that had kitchen islands without sinks were actually on wheels and could be moved.
Mike_Up
Explorer
Apr 06, 2015
BubbaChris wrote:
APT wrote:
If payload is your concern and you prefer the Ford, why not the F350? Should have about 1400 pounds more payload for the same equipment as that F250 you looked at. Unloaded ride should not be affected. Cost should be about $500-800 more for the same equipment. You may prefer to order as in my area single rear wheel 1-tons are not stocked as much as 3/4 tons.

I read this too quickly the first time through. The important point you made is "same equipment" which will be really hard to do.

I was visiting my local Ford dealership a few weeks ago and was amazed to see an F350 in the showroom with only ~2,000 lbs of payload after all the factory options.

Yep a coworker has a 2011 F350 Lariat FX4 diesel loaded with only about 1950 lbs payload. He got mad at me for calling his truck a wussy. :B He only tows his race car so he should be fine.

If you aren't going to snow plow or get a truck camper, I think a Heavy Duty Payload package F150 may be a good choice. With the max tow package and Ecoboost, your power to weight ratio isn't much worst than a F250 diesel. If you aren't going to pull a travel trailer much heavier than 8500 lbs (limited by 1150 lbs hitch rating and 13% of total trailer weight), or a 9,000 lbs 5er with no more than 20% pin weight, you will likely do good.
Mike_Up
Explorer
Apr 06, 2015
Pwac1968 wrote:
We are in the process of trying to buy a new TV and want to make sure we get more payload than we now have with our Navigator. We are looking at 3/4 ton trucks and the Ford F-250 we test drove had a payload of 1968 on the door sticker. The salesman said that the payload was just for the cab of the truck but I told him I didn't feel comfortable with that answer so he went and got a manager. The manager said the same thing. I'm still not comfortable with that answer. My husband has now decided to buy a GMC Sierra 2500 and I need to settle this sticker/payload question before we head out for a test drive on Friday because he will probably want to buy that day. Any help would be appreciated.

That's very low for a F250. I just looked at one that was a Crew Cab 4WD XLT 6.2L w/3.73 locker. Loaded with 2833 lbs payload on the door jam yellow tire loading sticker!

If you want a Diesel, you should be looking at F350s as that will eat a lot of your payload with it's heavy weight. Myself, you couldn't pay me to get a diesel. If the trailer is that heavy where I need a diesel, I better be living in it and then it would be a motor home.
wvcampers
Explorer
Apr 05, 2015
I have a 2011 F350 SRW CC 4X4 short bed 6.7 diesel 3.55 rear. The payload by the yellow sticker is 3459lbs. It has the snow plow package and the camper package and the 11,500lb GVW package. My truck also has the 4X4 off road package and is a Larait whith the sunroof. Not a stripped down version. There are other options out there without going to the DRW. Just shop around or order what you want.
Star_Gazer
Explorer
Apr 04, 2015
Hi Chris,

If you get the 3.73 rear end you can get up in the 7400 tow range, but again you must check the GVWR to make sure.

I have the 3.31 rear and it does a fantastic job with my Casita, actually like it better than the 7.3 PSD. But I would not want to pull a heavier full profile TT with it, maybe an airstream.

Dean
BubbaChris
Explorer
Apr 04, 2015
Star Gazer wrote:
My 2000 F250 PSD 4x4 had a capacity of 1800lbs! What a joke for a big "Heavy duty" pick up truck. But it could pull a house.

My new Transit T250 has a yellow sticker that says 3450! Sounds amazing, but you have to read between the lines with new vehicles.

My GVW is 9000lbs, my tow capacity is 5700lbs, and my GCWR is 11,200lbs. Truck weighs 5500lbs.

Doing the math means that if I want to tow the full rating of 5700lbs then to stay within the GCWR I can't carry any cargo. If I carry a full load of 3450lbs cargo I can only tow 2250lbs.

So it is important to look at GCWR, cargo, and all the numbers to see just what you can/should be able to carry or tow in different combinations. I suspect that since the transit is a unibody construction it vs full frame it really limits it.

I am ok as I usually don't carry more than 2000 lbs and the casita max's out at 3000lb.

Dean

Dean,

Thanks so much for sharing your specs. I just spotted a full-sized Transit a couple of weeks ago and it got me wondering if one would be worth considering for us. Sadly not, but at least I found out without having to do the calculations you just walked me through.

Best regards,
Chris
Pwac1968
Explorer
Apr 04, 2015
Now that my husband has determined a dually will fit through our gate and under our carport, I suspect we will not run into any issues with our current TT and payload. Thanks for all of the advice!
rbpru
Explorer II
Apr 04, 2015
I think there are any number of F-150 and F-250 TVs loaded to their max cargo or more with their owners perfectly satisfied with their performance.

If you tow 4 to 6 trips a year and a couple of thousand miles total, chances are you will never notice the increased wear and tear on the TV.

The TV dealer knows the towing capacity of your model vehicle but would only be guessing at the max cargo. The dealer also has no idea of how much stuff you haul.

No matter how you slice it, the right TV choice is up to the buyer.