What determines payloads?
I been wondering how do manufacturers determine pay loads? Are they determined by 1) the suspension 2) the frame 3) axle limits 4) tire weight load limitations 5) all of the above 6) or ot...
Forum Discussion
mkirsch wrote:
If you've been following this forum for long, you should know that payloads are arbitrary made-up numbers intended to scare you into buying a bigger truck. The manufacturers are lying to you, and anybody that tells you otherwise are "weight police" who get perverse pleasure from telling people what to do, or maybe they're paid agents of the truck manufacturers sowing fear and doubt among the masses to boost HD pickup truck sales.
Not sure if this is tongue in cheek or a serious post.
I'll address it as a serious post because it's flat out wrong. From personal experience in towing trailers for the better part of the last 25 years, the closer you get to the rated capacities (note the plural, tow rating is only one number that needs to be considered) of any tow vehicle the more it struggles to deal with the load in real world towing. In other words they are probably over rated for towing to max ratings on anything other than flat terrain for short distances.
