Understanding GVWR and payload..

[jaycocreek]

There have been a ton of post lately about how much can my truck carry or will my truck haul this..And there isn't a "sticky" to explain it and opinions vary alot lately..

So,how does it work?

I assume if you have a payload of say 4600#(I'll use mine as an example) that you cannot just put a 4600# TC on it because the payload changes as passengers and accessories that were not on the widow sticker change...

So my 4600# payload goes to 4400# when my son and his better half get in(400#) and it changes again when I ad my tools and other things I need,anything including cup holders change the GVWR if even slightly..

Is this right and is there a consensus of a number to subtract from GVWR/payload for the average RV/TC user like 1000# added to the dry weight of a TC seems to be the standard.

[Bedlam]

I think I saw a few F150 configurations that had higher payload than the rear axle capacity, but typically this not the case on the HD trucks.

[d3500ram]

twodownzero wrote:
.... I can load my otherwise empty truck to capacity (GVWR) without adding a single pound to the front axle. Trucks are made to carry and haul loads with their rear axles.

I believe that if one were to put the weight solely on the rear axle (none on the front) as alluded then might the rear axle rating would be exceeded?

[twodownzero]

Artum Snowbird wrote:
4600 # payload means the absolute maximum you can put on the truck, assuming a perfect side to side and front to back balance, so that none of the capacities would be overloaded. Dropping a camper that weighs more behind the rear wheels than ahead of the rear wheels means your rear axle is overloaded. Carrying a load of steel that sticks out over the front means your front axle is overloaded. Everything needs to be considered individually as it's never just perfect.

This is BS. I can load my otherwise empty truck to capacity (GVWR) without adding a single pound to the front axle. Trucks are made to carry and haul loads with their rear axles.

[JIMNLIN]

op wrote:
Is this right and is there a consensus of a number to subtract from GVWR/payload for the average RV/TC user like 1000# added to the dry weight of a TC seems to be the standard.

Short answer is no as everyone loads their camper with different items...or amounts.
You won't get a consensus on any thing where it come to weights on a rv forum.
The only forums where everyone agrees is on a haulers forum where everyone agrees DOT method (example)...one ton SRW pickup trucks actual payload is all placed in the bed over the rear axle. A 7050 RAWR weighs 3060 lbs = 3990 lb payload.
We don't get a consensus on DOTs method.....on any rv website.

[BillyBob_Jim]

.

[SidecarFlip]

I thought 'payload' was a fat payment book...:p

[Kayteg1]

Bedlam wrote:
Weight limits can be broken down in to two categories: Regulatory and Engineering. ..

I call the 1st taxable rating and that is what labels on the truck show.
For some reasons lot of members pay property taxes at 1/4 of their house actual value, but can't understand how the same principle works on the truck.

[stevenal]

Payload is not the same as cargo.

Payload=Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)-Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)

Cargo Weight Rating=Payload-150*number of seat belts.

[jaycocreek]

That's really weird because GMC Motors says just the opposite on passenger weight being included..

GMC Motors wrote:
Knowing both your vehicle’s gross vehicle weight and gross vehicle weight rating allow you to quickly calculate how much you can safely carry. For example, take a look at the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 4WD double cab with the EcoTec3 4.3L V6. The gross vehicle weight rating for this particular model is 7,100 pounds†. The weight of the Sierra itself is already 5,216 pounds. By subtracting the weight from the GVWR, you can determine this particular Sierra can carry about 1,884 pounds without exceeding its maximum weight rating.

That doesn’t necessarily mean you can universally carry 1,884 pounds of cargo in its pickup box – the weight of passengers within the cab also needs to be factored into the GVWR. If you have two 200-pound passengers climb into that same Sierra, it now has an available capacity of 1,484 pounds.

It's important to always abide by the GVWR specifically set for your GMC truck or SUV. In the course of vehicle development, professional engineers have extensively pushed these vehicles to their limits in order to keep you, your passengers, and your belongings safe and to avoid damage to your vehicle. Staying within these limits helps your truck, trailer, and travel remain safe.

I guess each vehicle is different,it appears..

And..Who in the heck weighs 150# besides women and teenagers..(laffin)

[Bedlam]

We can get into changing sprung verses unsprung weight too. If you go with heavier tires and wheels are you really reducing payload since it is not loading the axle, suspension or frame any greater? If I went with a shorter but heavier tire, I wouldn't even be taxing the brakes any more than before...

[bighatnohorse]

From the 2019 Ford brochure:

Cargo Weight Rating shown in chart is maximum
allowable, assuming weight of a base vehicle with
required camper option content and a 150-lb.
passenger at each available seating position

From page 9: 2019 Ford Brochure
This information is published in the "Ford Super Duty Pickup Truck Trailer Towing Selector" guide - as it has every year for over a decade.

It means that the cargo (payload) rating includes 150-pounds(68.04 kilos) in each seat.
In practical terms, this means that you can add 150 pounds of payload for each person that you remove from a seat.

The way it works is this:
Ford assumes that each seat will be occupied with a person weighing on average of 150 pounds.
If you were to remove everyone except the driver, you would gain payload (150 pounds for each person removed).
If you were to remove the AC unit, you would gain payload rating.
If you were to remove the rear tailgate, you would gain payload.
If you were to remove the nerf bars, you would gain payload.
If you were to remove the front drive shaft (from 4-wheel drive) you would gain payload.
ETC, etc, etc.

If you ADD an extra spring, you would lose payload rating.
If you ADD bump stops, you lose payload.
If you ADD SuperSprings, you lose payload.
If you ADD a bigger Sway bar, you lose payload.

Anything added to the vehicle will reduce it's payload rating.

[Bedlam]

Weight limits can be broken down in to two categories: Regulatory and Engineering. You can choose to exceed under first one and possibly be fined if your actual vehicle weight is over your registered weight. If you exceed the second one, you will have accelerated wear and at some point failure.

If you load a vehicle in such a way that it will adversely affect its handling, you can be liable in an accident but it does not matter if you are within or over either of these limits. The burden of proof would have to show that your loading contributed to your lack of control.

[jaycocreek]

Grit dog wrote:
I think they should take all the payload stickers off trucks and make people figger it out.

Would force the interwebs discussions in an interesting direction anyways!

How would it be different than it is now?

The payload number is the number given fresh out of the factory with only the factory installed components..So you still have to weigh the truck as is, empty, before weighing it with the TC on to get the actual payload number for that truck..

So many frequent posters forget that if your payload is 5000# and you put two 200# people in it and a 100# dog,your payload just dropped to 4500#..

Then it's simple math...Truck weight as weighed prior to loading TC minus GVWR equals available payload at that time..

[Grit_dog]

I think they should take all the payload stickers off trucks and make people figger it out.

Would force the interwebs discussions in an interesting direction anyways!