Payload Emphasis
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5 Year Member
Joined: Jun 2017
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Payload Emphasis
Serious question here, looking to develop a factual consensus. Why is it that the overarching view of truck capacities is so payload centric on this forum?
By this I mean, for almost any other category of truck, Tacoma, heavy duty, etc., guys are going slightly over their trucks payload and not making a huge deal out of it. I am by no means advocating putting double your posted payload in your truck, but if your sticker says 1700lbs and you get up to 2000lb on board, I don’t understand the imminent danger ahead. Assuming you have a level vehicle (airbags or springs) and the stopping power is there, where is the issue. Legality is one thing, I get it. But that argument, however valid, aside, where else is the danger?
Not looking to start a war, just trying to understand.
By this I mean, for almost any other category of truck, Tacoma, heavy duty, etc., guys are going slightly over their trucks payload and not making a huge deal out of it. I am by no means advocating putting double your posted payload in your truck, but if your sticker says 1700lbs and you get up to 2000lb on board, I don’t understand the imminent danger ahead. Assuming you have a level vehicle (airbags or springs) and the stopping power is there, where is the issue. Legality is one thing, I get it. But that argument, however valid, aside, where else is the danger?
Not looking to start a war, just trying to understand.
5 Year Member
Joined: Aug 2016
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I don’t think it’s rhe payload per se... it’s the fact the payload is overloaded AND you’re towing a monster 9000lb trailer. The trailer already taxes the vehicle and the fact payload is exceeded just further pushes the truck to breaking point.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 230
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From: Ottawa ON
I think it is because the 2015+ F150s are very sensitive to payload. When I tow, I am right at the 1600lb limit of my 2016 when the tank is full (maybe a bit over) and I swear I can feel the difference when I burn off some of the gas...so I now only fill to 3/4 of a tank (saving 100lbs).
5 Year Member
Joined: Sep 2015
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I don't think anyone gets excited about throwing 6 extra bags of redi-mix in the bed and driving home from the Home Depot. Going 300 lbs over with a trailer at max tow capacity and driving 100's of miles at 75 mph is a completely different story. My impression of payload discussions on this forum is they are about how payload often limits tow capacity below whatever the rated tow capacity is, not a sermon on how dangerous it is to exceed the payload. Which it can be, depending on the circumstances.
Blunt
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 4,034
Likes: 1,086
From: Alberta, Canada
Good points as well. Remember that these are "half-ton" trucks that with current parts and tech put into them can now haul well over that, even 3/4 and 1 ton payloads can be had in a "half-ton" truck. This is the truck manufacturers really pushing the limits on what they can do. And like Sweetlou said, you have overloaded truck pulling 9000lb + trailers that weight twice as much or even more than twice as much as the truck that's pulling it.
Personally, I think referring them to 1/2, 3/4 and 1-ton trucks is no longer a valid name for them, but it's just never changed.
Todd is also correct, and it's something I usually bring up when people talk about trailer weight limits. Usually, you hit your payload limit before the trailer weight limit.
Personally, I think referring them to 1/2, 3/4 and 1-ton trucks is no longer a valid name for them, but it's just never changed.
Todd is also correct, and it's something I usually bring up when people talk about trailer weight limits. Usually, you hit your payload limit before the trailer weight limit.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2015
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I think it is because the 2015+ F150s are very sensitive to payload. When I tow, I am right at the 1600lb limit of my 2016 when the tank is full (maybe a bit over) and I swear I can feel the difference when I burn off some of the gas...so I now only fill to 3/4 of a tank (saving 100lbs).
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Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2017
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- If you don't tow, don't worry about the payload.
- If you don't haul, don't worry too much about payload, unless you think its too heavy, I'd double check the weight of that thing you're hauling against your payload number.
- If you tow, you darn sure better know your payload and weight of that thing you're towing.
- Devil is in the details
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2017
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It's not a Ford thing. It's a forum member thing. If those guys were on the Tacoma forum, they would say the same things on there.
All forums have their own characteristics, that is just one characteristic of this particular forum.
5 Year Member
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,031
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From: OBX
Because a ton of people think every trailer needs 13-15% tongue weight to be towed safely. With a 13% tongue weight you will not be able to hit stated max tow rating without going well over gcwr and probably gvwr (tongue weight + passengers/cargo + truck). A boat with 13% tongue weight is way way too nose heavy, with 5-7% being common and safe. This would let you get closer to gcwr without going over gvwr.
Implied liability and common sense should apply when you get close to either figure, and that means your trailer brakes better be in good working order as well because the truck is only designed to stop the gvwr.
Implied liability and common sense should apply when you get close to either figure, and that means your trailer brakes better be in good working order as well because the truck is only designed to stop the gvwr.