Tires (the weakest link)

Bedlam wrote:
I have destroyed off road vehicle rims pushing a vehicle over rocks and logs, but have not broken a rim on the road. This is not to say it does not happen - I have seen a cast rim fail in front of me when a truck turned to pull into a parking spot and considered him lucky that it was not at speed. There also pictures posted here of steel rims separating from the vertical center, so don't think that steel gives you more reserve capacity. Method rim models like the 305 NV HD or 701 HD are rated at 4500lbs.

If you need the ability to air down for flotation, These 4k lb rated LT tires with upgraded rims may be for you. If you need a high capacity tire that is more puncture resistant and longer wearing, the move up to 19.5's is worth it and about the same cost.

^ What he said. Have seen the odd failure or 2 of OEM light truck rims and have also worked in an industry that uses HD pickups as (often abused) tools for 25 years, including personally hauling things that I would never recommend as prudent to anyone.


To the OP's point of...
" To be clear, I am talking about their real capacity, not the rated capacity. I could never find an official rating above 3600lb, which makes sense since the GAWRR is 7050 lb. Seems like most components on these trucks are overbuilt to account for the inevitable abuse and dynamic loading that owners throw at them."
...I fully believe this to be a true statement and believe that large mfgs (like auto mfgs) carry ALOT of liability (obviously) and with that will and do design critical components with a high liability if they fail (like rims) to withstand a certain degree of stupid human tricks above and beyond their rated capacities.
Right wrong or indifferent, I am comfortable dipping into that "factor of safety" a little bit, not totally out of ignorance, but somewhat out of understanding of engineering principle and somewhat out of practical experience and others' experiences.

Again, not a recommendation, but rather sharing an opinion.

If going for dual duty, daily driver and heavy hauler and fully rated 4000lb or more tires and wheels that could double as something comfortable to drive on empty and the ability to air down for different conditions, I would 100% get Method HD wheels and any number of 3900-4000lb rated light truck tires.