Payload Ratings are a farce
Spent months shopping for a new Superduty, ended up ordering one that fit our criteria- XLT, Powerstroke, 3.55 rear-end, Camper package, fifth wheel, etc. We were debating back and forth between a F2...
Forum Discussion
Dutch Oven Man wrote:
Let me preface by saying I'm not an engineer, but I'm pretty mechanically mindedand a mathematician by trade, so I deal with numbers all day. What Ford does is not possible in the math world; there is not a realistic combination of numbers that keep you within specs on any of these trucks. It's like they have a group of engineers that come up with the GVWR, and different group that comes up with the Tow Ratings, a separate group that comes up with Payloads, another GCWR, etc...Then, after everyone comes up with their own numbers, they independently send their numbers to the printer for the various technical and promo material and door stickers without ever consulting each other.
If you look at just tow ratings, you will be way over somewhere else. If you hit your max GVWR, you will probably be way over in Payload. If you stay within payload, you will not even be close to the max of any other number. Even with a F450, I'm not sure you could hit the max in any of their stated numbers and not be over in some other number.
Use common sense, use the stated numbers as a guide, but don't drive yourself crazy trying to come within the right combination of numbers. It's like trying to hit all of your ideal numbers that your doctor says are "perfect"- you will be miserable trying to hit all your numbers and you will still be deficient in something!
If you actually take the time to read through all of Ford’s towing guide, it is very informative, describes precisely how they determine TWR and defines key definitions for consumers. The problem is most will never get past the TWR chart or the TV commercials. Consumers need to educate themselves before they purchase equipment, it’s not difficult but does take a bit of time and effort. There is no industry wide standard for determining the GVWR of a vehicle, manufacturers can do what they want. Some will set GVWR just to insert the vehicle in a particular class. Some tests under SAE j2807 require the vehicle be loaded to GVWR and/or RGAWR so it does contribute to TWR in some ways.
