Adding weight capacity to a TV

[Seattle_Lion]

As discussed in a prior thread, our TV (Ford F150) is near the edge or a bit over it in terms of payload due to the tongue weight of our TT. There are no power issues and the towing is fine.

Is there a modification we can make to the truck to add capacity? Right now we have 1250 lb. max. It would be great if we could increase that by 500 lbs.

How can we do it?

[rav]

when we upgraded our TT in 2010 I decided to get a 3/4 ton truck- it was as stated in another post "like night and day". I felt a lot more confident knowing that I could STOP the truck and TT, also we could take what we wanted with us.
I towed our previous TT with the 1/2 ton and it was right at the max- and I could tell, I didn't know how much until I got the 3/4 ton.
I would not mess with trying to upgrade the truck- go get the right truck for the job and maybe look at going a little bigger than you need, then when the time comes to upgrade (and it usually does. LOL) you will already have a truck to do the job. JMHO

[TomG2]

Manufacturers (and some on here) do nobody a favor when they repeat over and over that a half ton can tow 11,000 pounds and haul 3,000 pounds. As a starting point, what are your actual weights? Sometimes leaving some "stuff" at home, towing with empty liquid tanks, etc. can keep you in the comfort zone for your tow vehicle.

[Campfire_Time]

The real answer is that yes, you can increase the weight carrying capacity by replacing key components, not the least of which is springs and axle, though that will not change the manufacturer's rating.

As far as "legality" of tow ratings, that's a myth in this class of truck. Unless its obviously overweight no one is going to get a ticket for a trailer that's "slightly" overweight (ex., people tow 5vers all the time with half tons). In this litigious society we live in, I'd be far more concerned about personal liability and being sued by an injured party if I were involved in an accident and the PI hired by the plaintiff's law firm found out I was towing something over the manufacturer's rated capacity.

[Heavy_Metal_Doc]

I don't think I would ever bother to mess with suspension of a TV.
My mechanical philosophy is that if you are loading it down beyond what feels stable (or know you are over the MFR ratings), then you are also working the drive components harder than the MFR really intended.....just 'cause you put stiffer springs on top of a 1/2 ton axle to tow a heavier trailer does not mean the 1/2 rated bearings / gears will last in that kind of service.

[brulaz]

Heh, even regular F150's with 2000# payload have a pretty soft suspension, and it's worth while to upgrade it.

But the best bet, if you want the Ecoboost, is to get one with the HD Payload option, which does all that for you plus gives you the heavier 7-lug axle and wheels. Or, like others here have said, go all the way up to an F250 with the 6.2L V8.

I ran my Tacoma 300-500# overloaded for a year and a half before getting the F150. But that was just overloading the truck's GVWR. With the WDH I was always able to keep the RGAWR under its limits.

This was important to me as many years ago I was told to just add a an extra leaf to my sagging rear suspension and all would be ok. It was not. My rear GAWR was way over (I'm guessing by at least 500#) and eventually the rig lost a rear axle bearing and the whole curb-side rear axle/wheel pulled out. Luckily at low speeds and in town so I was flagged down. But imagine that at high speeds pulling a trailer?

So my gut feeling (and experience) is that if you're not over the rear GAWR, and only a few hundred over the truck's GVWR, you have some time to make plans for an upgrade.

[Chuck_thehammer]

I think it comes down to Legal issues...

A. truck was at max payload
B. truck was modified to go around max payload.
C. was truck changed to be safer.. or go around the law.

yes .. adding air bags, heavier springs. better brakes. trans cooler. stronger tires/wheels ETC... will make the truck better able to deal with the weight....

but you can NOT change the STRESSES the overall truck will have to deal with.
Frame and Front & Rear Axles, Brake mounts/brackets .

but I think you are being a little sensitive... try to remove stuff you DO NOT NEED.

[Bob_Landry]

While the ride may be made a little more comfortable, none of the above suggestions are going to increase any of the truck's capacities.

[donn0128]

Seattle Lion wrote:
We bought the truck in June and the TT later that month. When we bought the truck we didn't plan on owning an RV. Long story. We are not badly over capacity. It is a matter of a few hundred pounds if any. I just wanted to see if I could improve things a bit. The truck never bottoms out with the trailer, never has any overheating (transmission, oil, water, etc) even when climbing, and there is no serious sway (actually none most of the time). It just worries me that I am possibly over a bit.

Exactly the same mistake lots of us have made over the years. You basically have two choices. Change the tires, add air bags, maybe stiffer springs and limp along as is or, bite the bullet, swap the truck for the correct tool for the job, IE a 3/4 ton and go camping in comfort knowing that your not pushing the old truck beyond it's design capabilities.

[jerem0621]

Remember that your Braking Capacity on the tv is designed to carry your GVWR. That's really where the problem lies IMHO.

Will 25-100 lbs over kill your truck? Probably not, 500 is 1/4 of a ton extra load.

My best advice if it's a serious concern is to change vehicles. The half ton does fine loaded to rhe max. No problem. It was designed to operate at those capacities.

IMHO if you add springs etc to the truck and you exceed the Axle weights you should seriously look into upgrading the brakes too. Get some braded flex lines, cross drilled roaters, and some ceramic brake pads. That will help some.

Thanks

Jeremiah

[goducks10]

Assuming all things being equal and you just have softer springs then adding air bags or Timbrens will HELP your overloaded problem. Fact is though it could be an issue if you have a 3850lb RAWR as opposed to a 4050lb RAWR. I don't know what Ford does on the F150 as far as GVW goes, since it's not like there are F150 and F200's per say. In other words in the 3/4-1 ton world sometimes the only difference between the two is the rear spring pack. On an F150 I don't know what the difference between say a 7200 gvw and a 7650 gvw is in terms of springs.
Now the other catch is the weight sticker on the truck and whether or not you are okay with violating that.

[Seattle_Lion]

We bought the truck in June and the TT later that month. When we bought the truck we didn't plan on owning an RV. Long story. We are not badly over capacity. It is a matter of a few hundred pounds if any. I just wanted to see if I could improve things a bit. The truck never bottoms out with the trailer, never has any overheating (transmission, oil, water, etc) even when climbing, and there is no serious sway (actually none most of the time). It just worries me that I am possibly over a bit.

[old_guy]

I used to ask the same question, got the same answer as above only one thing more from a friend of mine. He told me if I wanted my 1/2 ton to tow like a 3/4 ton, I should have bought a 3/4 ton in the first place. a girl ran into the side of the truck and I used that as an excuse to buy my 3/4 ton and it towed like the saying," the difference in night and day". I will never buy another 1/2 ton unless I give up towing first.

[Vapor_Trails]

You can install an add-a-leaf rear spring and a class V hitch. The weak link in any 1/2 ton is the rear axle, though.

[camp-n-family]

There is nothing you can do to legally increase your payload. You can add springs, airbags, higher load tires and axles to make it more comfortable and maybe safer but none of them will increase your payload. You're still stuck with the same frame etc.