jerry233

So, have the 2012 F150. 5L. with HD Payload all loaded up with pop up truck camper, fully gassed, maybe 20 gallons of water. Off for a 5 month road trip, one hopes, when I thought to drive over to the truck scales in town and see just what we're dealing with. Steer axle read 3900#, rated for a few hundred over that, drive axle 4560, also a few hundred under maximum. Gross weight 8460, panel says 8200 max. So I dumped 160# of water, and may try not to fill up tank to 36 gallon capacity.
However wife and dog were planning to come along on the drive so that adds another 200#.
What do you all think? We are of retirement age, fast and wild driving a few decades behind us. Though I do realize that s*** happens. Will be on interstate crossing to the east coast but then some rougher roads in Maritime Provinces of Canada come summer.
I am hoping Ford has some safety margin built into the recommended load ratings. Any thoughts?
Thank you from this first time poster.

93Cobra#2771

iTrader: (2)

You'll know it's there, but I'd roll with it.


I'd top the tank off too. Even if you only put 25 gallons in, that's only a weight savings of 60# (as is six pounds a gallon).

You could always look around and make sure you don't have extra items that need to come out.

Lets see some pix loaded and ready to go!

jerry233

Thanks for the encouragement. As for the extra items that could come out, I did mention that the wife and dog are quite insistent that they ride along.
Water is actually 8.34# per gallon, so filling to only 25 gallons would save me almost 90# but I guess it is only small change in the big picture.
Did attach image of our first time in the camper on the Oregon Coast last August.

jerry233

Cobra - Ah. Woke up thinking that while I knew that water weighs 8# a gallon was I wrong to assume that gas weighs the same. Thanks for the correction.

packplantpath

You could always take off the tailgate to save a few lbs. Not sure what it weighs though. Guessing pretty little.