Huge discrepancies
We have been looking at F-150s. Each time we find one that looks like a likely candidate, we call the dealership and ask about it, including the payload capacity. Four out of four people have given ...
Forum Discussion
RedRocket204 wrote:
When 2011 model year came around and Toyota fully adopted J2807, why is it that Toyota dropped their ratings on a virtually unchanged 2010 --> 2011 model year?
J2807 is meant to be a standard test to give comparable information. It provides some level of standard minimum requirements for the test vehicle.
First and foremost, the test requires the tow vehicle to add a passenger who weighs 150 lbs. That explains 150 lbs of decreased GCWR. It also requires the truck to include 70 lbs for hitch assembly. Now we are up to 220 additional lbs.
Also, the original requirements were that the truck used couldn't be a stripped down model, they had to use trucks that had any options with higher than 33% market penetration. That means that work grade trucks with minimal options and low curb weight cannot be used for the test unless they account for at least 33% of sales. My guess would be that Toyota used a base model truck to claim the higher numbers. Since they couldn't use that base truck because most trucks had heavier options, that is where the additional 200 or so lbs came from.
Remember a while back that people were outraged on here to find out that Ford and GM actually removing stuff like a spare tire in order to reduce curb weight and increase payload and GCWR? That's not allowed under the new standard.
Those 3 weight requirements EASILY explain 420 lbs of difference with no change in the vehicle at all. It sounds like after the test the Toyota still met its own requirements... they just subtracted the additional weight required by the test from their original number. Everything is still the same... its just required to carry more weight to achieve the J2807 standard.
I cannot find exact testing protocol, but the test also requires the truck to be able to meet standards for launching from a stop and accelerating while moving up a 12% grade. It requires that the brakes be tested to stop the weight and hold it back while parked. It tests the "structural performance for the vehicle and hitch or hitch receiver" and "combined handling performance – understeer and trailer sway".
Again... I don't know what the requirements of those test are. I don't know if they are pass/fail or if they actively compare different models to show that brand x stops better and handles sway better than brand y, etc.
