Trying to understand payload

camp-n-family wrote:
You are correct except for the gas. Payload will usually include full fluids. You could load the truck up with everything you plan to take, fill the tank etc and go to a scale. Subtract the scale weight from your GVWR (should be 7200lbs for that year Tundra) and you'll have the exact weight for payload left over.

Be careful with hitch weight numbers too. Make sure you don't use "dry" or brochure weights as they are for an unloaded trailer and don't include options, propane, batteries etc which all increase the tongue weight. If you can't get an actual hitch weight when loaded then you should estimate the trailers weight and take 12-15% of that for tongue weight. Some people will also use 12-15% of the trailers GVWR for their calculations. That way if you're ok at max, you'll be ok at any trailer weight under that.

Oh my Gawd! My dry weight on my trailer is 5,628 and I called StarCraft and they told me the hitch weight was 718. Are you saying that if I add 1,000 pounds inside the trailer that some of that 1,000 (12-15% of it) must also go on as hitch weight? Because if that is what you are saying then I would have to subtract 130 pounds more from the payload? Lets see...1580 (claimed payload) -150 (me)-120 (dogs)-130-718 (tongue weight). That leaves 462 and I don't even know what the receiver and ball weigh or what else I might put in the truck. I am kind of light on travel but still.