Posted this in 2 truck forums, got several replies but haven't gotten an answer to how they determine that yellow sticker weight, so I thought I'd post here where all the experts reside. Help me understand..... How do they determine truck weights in addition to just putting it on a scale. My '13 XLT Screw HD Eco came with the yellow sticker saying it has a 2172 payload capacity & it has a GVWR of 8200 lbs. According to the sticker, 2172 - 8200, the truck weighted 6028 lbs when it left the factory. I took it to the only scales within 130 miles (sand & gravel scales) right off the lot the same day. Full tank of gas (36gal) and me (220#) and no dealer added extras. The weights were front axle 3520, rear axle 2680, total was 6200 lbs. That's a 172 lbs difference. Now that only leaves 2000# of payload not 2172 the sticker says. ????? How did they determine that this truck only weighed 6028 lbs at the factory? Do they have a body that only weighs 150 lbs in there driving and only 19.5 gallons of gas? Cuz adding the other 70 lbs of body and 16.5 gallons of gas would add the other 172 lbs. Mystery to me. Milo

Well I sure hope the 172# isn't going to kill your plans, but you could load the rear axle to the Max, but that is only 2,160#. Sure not much wiggle room even in a max/max F150! :SIf I loaded my Ram, to the rear axle rating, I would be about 1,500# over GVWR. :B

Manufacturers usually figure driver weight of a 14 year old girl, and use a scale that is probably a little more accurate than the quarry down the road. I've had my current truck on 3 different scales (rock yard, at the dump, and highway inspection), and the difference was in the hundreds of pounds. I took my previous truck ('97 half ton GMC) to a local $5 scale and it weighed 7200 empty, went to the CAT scale at the truck stop the next day and it was 5900 (me, full fuel, in bed tool box, and fiberglass camper shell). The CAT scale said 6700lb hitched to my trailer, which was still less than the other scale said I was empty. To have one vary a couple hundred pounds is no big deal (to me). There will be a percentage of error, and a light duty truck will be hard to read because you are pulling onto a scale that has the ability to read in excess of 25k pounds per axle or pad.

First, you are 70lbs over the 150# they use to calculate weight. So you're down to 102.Do you have any aftermarket accessories? Or extra stuff in the cab or box?Edit*** great post about scale discrepancy.

I have seen Oregon DOT scales vary by 200lbs. Never sweated it much as my truck, pretty much the same as yours, provides plenty of payload for my trailer and gear.Good luck,Stu

Help Understanding How Factories Detemine Truck Weights

BenK
Explorer
Feb 01, 2016
milo wrote:
Posted this in 2 truck forums, got several replies but haven't gotten an answer to how they determine that yellow sticker weight, so I thought I'd post here where all the experts reside. Help me understand..... How do they determine truck weights in addition to just putting it on a scale.

They have a large data base that has every option specification listed
and one item is it's weight

Then the computer adds up all of the options and adds it to the curb
weight.

That is the shipping weight and the basis for the yellow label

Must be accurate because it is the basis for payment to the shipper,
who charges by weight vs distance (my guess)

As told by a manager who retired from one of the US OEMs. He might
comment on this. Keith?

My '13 XLT Screw HD Eco came with the yellow sticker saying it has a 2172 payload capacity & it has a GVWR of 8200 lbs. According to the sticker, 2172 - 8200, the truck weighted 6028 lbs when it left the factory. I took it to the only scales within 130 miles (sand & gravel scales) right off the lot the same day. Full tank of gas (36gal) and me (220#) and no dealer added extras. The weights were front axle 3520, rear axle 2680, total was 6200 lbs. That's a 172 lbs difference. Now that only leaves 2000# of payload not 2172 the sticker says. ?????
How did they determine that this truck only weighed 6028 lbs at the factory? Do they have a body that only weighs 150 lbs in there driving and only 19.5 gallons of gas? Cuz adding the other 70 lbs of body and 16.5 gallons of gas would add the other 172 lbs. Mystery to me.

Milo
BenK
Explorer
Feb 01, 2016
Forgot to add...that the OEMs use a very special trailer for the tow ratings, MTWR

Wish someone would repost that picture, as can not find it using the search function here

The trailers are flat bed with no frontal above the TV.

Weights placed to optimize tongue percentage and handling, etc
BenK
Explorer
Feb 01, 2016
This comes up all the time...and most who have not gone through this
before...go away to not talk about this again...deny and argue...or
some actually understand how this works-especially those who went
out and actually weighed their TV

Pure marketing with some reality sprinkled in...meaning how else can
the OEMs do this and still be competitive with the public who believes
the marketing data as gospel...AKA "King of the Hill" or "mine is
bigger than yours"

Reality, as how else can they provide a manageable level of rows/columns/etc

Meaning if they listed every option on a row with a column for the
various ratings.

Like a row for 4x4 and columns for MTWR, Payload, GCWR, etc

Then a row for 4x4 & AC and columns for MTWR, Payload, GCWR, etc

Then a row for 4x4 & AC & power seats/windows/locks and columns for
MTWR, Payload, GCWR, etc

and so on, and so on, and so on...betcha that would be dozens of sheets
and even more confusing than what we have now...where they define or
put into context with the fine print

This is my Suburban, as I've actually weighed it at a county weights
and measure certified (their sticker for that year) to be accurate
enough for commerce (sell by weight and charge money for that weight)

That 5,250 Lb CURB is on the California DMV data base and is provided
by GM, the OEM of my GMC Suburban. Against the VIN number.

These Calif SMOG test reports are official state documents and are
also legal documents that I'd use if I need to prove anything about
the data on my SMOG test/registration/etc

Have noodled what options I'd have to unbolt, cut out, etc in order
to get my Suburban down to the listed 'curb'...There wouldn't be any
carpet, sound insulation, 4x4, AC, automatic, etc, etc, etc

"Test Weight" is the 'curb' weight, not the actual...again, have
actually weighed it at a county weights and measure certified scale
at my local garden center

BenK wrote:
My Suburban GMT400/1996 was before the weight stickers on the the newer
TVs door...

So here are my numbers:

5,250 curb
8,600 GVWR

3,350 lb cargo/payload over curb

My 2014 smog certificate...note that this is an official state
document and the info supplied by each OEM for that VIN...
mysub mysuburban mysubsmog mysmog

mysubGVWR mysubdoor mysubdoorlable doorlabel subdoorlable

Mine weighs in around 7,200 at the local garden scales, county
weights&measure certified, with me (180) and toolbox (+200) and misc stuff (+50)

Also has full up option package, SLT, 4x4, big block, and over sized
wheels and tires

8,600 minus
7,200

1,400 lbs cargo/payload

All with a 6,000 RGAWR...that AAM rates at 10,000 GAWR. The 6K GAWR
GM lists is around 2,000 more than most 'half ton' TVs

Oh...also ordered the F60 option...which is the 1 ton front snow plow prep package
My FGAWR is 4,250 and near most half ton's rear GAWR.

And here is the glove box RPO code label listing every option that
my Sub left the factory with...plus I've added lots of stuff...how
many pages would the matrix listing each and each combo of options
take to list MTWR, GCWR, etc...

mysubrpo suburbanrpo mysuburbanrpo

{edit}...here is my 1980 Siliverado C10 Big Ten (1500HD of it's era)
and note the 'curb' vs GVWR

Ditto what would I have to unbolt/cut-out/etc to get it down to 'curb'

mytrucksmog mysilveradosmog trucksmog silveradosmog

Actual weight at the dumps...me (180), nephew (180), bed cap (~250),
over sized tires/wheels, tools, extra coolant, extra oil, etc, etc

This scale also had the county weights and measure certified sticker

mytruckweight truckweight silveradoweight truckdumpweight

vs it's door ratings label

mytruckdoorlabel truckdoorlabel mytruckgvwr truckgvwr
shum02
Explorer
Feb 01, 2016
Weighed at the local dump my truck with me and 3/4 tank of fuel was dead on(+/-20lbs) at it's 8000lb recorded weight. My '07 F150 was dead on as well using the same scales.

Think most manufactures do a pretty decent job weighing them as they're leaving the production area.
rhagfo
Explorer III
Feb 01, 2016
v10superduty wrote:
milo wrote:
Alrighty thanks for all your replies....

drittal ...no extras & no dealer add-ons as stated in the original post.

dshelly ... Don't have a problem ... was just curious bout how they got weighed.

goducks10 ... Great suggestion, but don't really need a DRW as tour little truck tows our little bread box just perty good alright.

Guess the best way to find out would be to go directly to one of the factories and see ...huh!

Thanks any way

Milo

In my mind you are questioning the number that is a "Fixed/known" one. The weight of the truck.
The real question is usually...how do the manufacturer determine the GVWR number?? This is the one that changes with application of magic pixie dust in some cases. :W

The weight of the truck they list is really the "empty" weight as it leaves the factory based on standard equipment.

Way back when I ordered my truck, we had a chart that shower 3 figures for every individual option (even tutone paint)

It went something like ......
total weight/front axle weight/rear axle weight.

A rear bumper for instance was an option and would lower front axle, increase rear and total weight.

It was so absurd back then cause every F250 had the same GVWR of 8800 lbs.
So a reg cab 4x2 5.4 gas had payload of about 4500 lbs but a Crewcab 4x4 diesel only had about 1800 lbs!
No wonder folks questioned the numbers.

V10superduty, I think you hit the nail on the head!!
When my 2001 was built Ram had one GVWR for all 2500, didn't matter if you ordered a Camper Package with bigger springs and tires still 8,8,00#.

Now days Holy Moley!!! :S
I think I looked at the 2015 F150 status sheet once or twice and like ten to fifteen different GVWR, increases in the 50# range for differences.

Looked at a Ram spec sheet also and saw much the same thing. No wonder people get confused.

The "Yellow" sticker is another piece of the confusion, just the payload as built more or less, but it doesn't have Front or Rear GAWR, OR GVWR on it that still requires looking at the VIN sticker.
v10superduty
Explorer
Feb 01, 2016
milo wrote:
Alrighty thanks for all your replies....

drittal ...no extras & no dealer add-ons as stated in the original post.

dshelly ... Don't have a problem ... was just curious bout how they got weighed.

goducks10 ... Great suggestion, but don't really need a DRW as tour little truck tows our little bread box just perty good alright.

Guess the best way to find out would be to go directly to one of the factories and see ...huh!

Thanks any way

Milo

In my mind you are questioning the number that is a "Fixed/known" one. The weight of the truck.
The real question is usually...how do the manufacturer determine the GVWR number?? This is the one that changes with application of magic pixie dust in some cases. :W

The weight of the truck they list is really the "empty" weight as it leaves the factory based on standard equipment.

Way back when I ordered my truck, we had a chart that shower 3 figures for every individual option (even tutone paint)

It went something like ......
total weight/front axle weight/rear axle weight.

A rear bumper for instance was an option and would lower front axle, increase rear and total weight.

It was so absurd back then cause every F250 had the same GVWR of 8800 lbs.
So a reg cab 4x2 5.4 gas had payload of about 4500 lbs but a Crewcab 4x4 diesel only had about 1800 lbs!
No wonder folks questioned the numbers.
milo
Explorer II
Feb 01, 2016
Alrighty thanks for all your replies....

drittal ...no extras & no dealer add-ons as stated in the original post.

dshelly ... Don't have a problem ... was just curious bout how they got weighed.

goducks10 ... Great suggestion, but don't really need a DRW as tour little truck tows our little bread box just perty good alright.

Guess the best way to find out would be to go directly to one of the factories and see ...huh!

Thanks any way

Milo
Golden_HVAC
Explorer
Feb 01, 2016
If you had been standing beside the truck when the weight was checked, it was probably within 75 pounds of the factory sticker. So changing the fuel level will get it to the factory weight exactly, on that scale.

Like stated above, changing to another scale might change the weight by 100 pounds or more.

If you needed a truck with exactly 2,200 pounds or a little more, then you could have selected a truck with a 3,000+ pound cargo rating, and then be sure that you would not be over the GVWR with the trailer you planned on towing, even if you decided to bring along a generator, some extra firewood, or something else.

Good luck with your new purchase.

Fred.
brholt
Explorer II
Feb 01, 2016
The yellow payload sticker assumes full fluids and the truck otherwise completely empty. My guess is the difference between the 172 and your weight, 220, is just scale error.
goducks10
Explorer
Feb 01, 2016
Get a DRW and don't worry about it. :)