What does the HDPP include
Flaccid Member
Joined: Sep 2016
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From: Maine
Again, I ask: what configuration gives you a real axle gross weight rating of 4500? I’ve yet to see this. You can say it’s rated for this, or for that, but when your truck’s sticker says rGAWR 4000lb... you are rated at 4000 4500.
My XLT 302a had a rear axle of 4000. My lariat HDPP is 4800.
I fixed your quote; it's wrong. The standard 9.75 rear axle is rated, by its manufacturer, for 4,500 pounds. The end. I'm not saying it; Ford is.
You can't change the sticker. Or, well, you can, even legally, but to do it legally requires Ford to re-evaluate your vehicle. Commercial buyers do it all the time. But I'm not arguing that.
What I'm saying is that your effective payload is limited by your lowest-rated component. Everything between your payload and the Earth contributes to your effective payload. If I upgrade the frame, the leaf pack, the axle, the wheels, the tires, and anything else that would help me manage the additional weight of that load (sways, shocks, airbags if you want)... and I leave the sticker, well, my effective payload will likely increase. And if I want to spend the money, Ford can and will put a new sticker on it to increase my rated payload. I'm just not interested in doing that.
I'm never going to overload my truck. Not because I'm frightened of a sticker, but because I don't want to endanger myself, my truck, whatever I'm hauling, nevermind the people I'm sharing the road with. But to increase my margin of safety, I've upgraded the components that limit my payload, and the ones that make sense to do. All of those components are rated higher than their OEM HDPP equivalents, and as an added benefit, they're a fraction of the cost.
Could I have spent more and purchased a truck that's inferior in every way except for, what I can tell so far, is 300 lbs in additional actual payload capability? Sure. But I don't need that. It's possible the difference is greater than 300 lbs, but at this moment I'm using the axle as the weakest link. It could be the frame; I'm not sure.
It's worth noting that Ford didn't make the HDPP because people were clamoring for a 1/2-ton truck with 2800-lb payload. They did it so that they can say that Ford offers the highest payload of any 1/2-ton truck. It's marketing.
Google "Half Ton Payload," and here's your first match:
Now go find me that truck, with that payload, in the configuration I want, and I'll buy you one.
Anyway... I don't have much else to say about it. If you absolutely must have an F150 with almost (but not quite) the payload of the least-capable F250... the HDPP is for you. But most people that care about payload will be buying the F250. And if you want to increase your F150's capabilities, there are ways to do it that are far more cost-effective and less limiting than the HDPP.
Last edited by DeltaNu1142; Oct 24, 2018 at 08:39 AM.
5 Year Member
Joined: Aug 2018
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I fixed your quote; it's wrong. The standard 9.75 rear axle is rated, by its manufacturer, for 4,500 pounds. The end. I'm not saying it; Ford is.
You can't change the sticker. Or, well, you can, even legally, but to do it legally requires Ford to re-evaluate your vehicle. Commercial buyers do it all the time. But I'm not arguing that.
What I'm saying is that your effective payload is limited by your lowest-rated component. Everything between your payload and the Earth contributes to your effective payload. If I upgrade the frame, the leaf pack, the axle, the wheels, the tires, and anything else that would help me manage the additional weight of that load (sways, shocks, airbags if you want)... and I leave the sticker, well, my effective payload will likely increase. And if I want to spend the money, Ford can and will put a new sticker on it to increase my rated payload. I'm just not interested in doing that.
I'm never going to overload my truck. Not because I'm frightened of a sticker, but because I don't want to endanger myself, my truck, whatever I'm hauling, nevermind the people I'm sharing the road with. But to increase my margin of safety, I've upgraded the components that limit my payload, and the ones that make sense to do. All of those components are rated higher than their OEM HDPP equivalents, and as an added benefit, they're a fraction of the cost.
Could I have spent more and purchased a truck that's inferior in every way except for, what I can tell so far, is 300 lbs in additional actual payload capability? Sure. But I don't need that. It's possible the difference is greater than 300 lbs, but at this moment I'm using the axle as the weakest link. It could be the frame; I'm not sure.
It's worth noting that Ford didn't make the HDPP because people were clamoring for a 1/2-ton truck with 2800-lb payload. They did it so that they can say that Ford offers the highest payload of any 1/2-ton truck. It's marketing.
Google "Half Ton Payload," and here's your first match:
Now go find me that truck, with that payload, in the configuration I want, and I'll buy you one.
Anyway... I don't have much else to say about it. If you absolutely must have an F150 with almost (but not quite) the payload of the least-capable F250... the HDPP is for you. But most people that care about payload will be buying the F250. And if you want to increase your F150's capabilities, there are ways to do it that are far more cost-effective and less limiting than the HDPP.
Flaccid Member
Joined: Sep 2016
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From: Maine
That might be part of it, but I think the bigger reason is marketing. They make the truck, sure. And if you look hard enough, you can buy one. But it’s more important to Ford to be able to say they have the highest payload rating of any half-ton truck than it is for them to actually sell them. If they wanted to sell more of them, they’d make more of them.
Last edited by DeltaNu1142; Oct 24, 2018 at 10:45 AM.
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I think the HDPP regular cab 2wd is more than a comparable F250 6.2L. You get more options in the F250 XL as well.
Thanks--but if you add up the MSRPs of the items I listed, you'll still come in way under the expense of the heavy duty payload package. HDPP adds a 10% thicker frame (I'd like to see verified weight ratings), a 6.7% stronger rear axle, and some slightly higher numbers on the payload sticker. That's great if you need that few extra pounds of rated capacity, but if you do, you're also limited to a very narrow set of truck configurations.
The package is probably meant for people planning on really working them or keeping them laden all the time. Little extra insurance over the long term.
Thanks--but if you add up the MSRPs of the items I listed, you'll still come in way under the expense of the heavy duty payload package. HDPP adds a 10% thicker frame (I'd like to see verified weight ratings), a 6.7% stronger rear axle, and some slightly higher numbers on the payload sticker. That's great if you need that few extra pounds of rated capacity, but if you do, you're also limited to a very narrow set of truck configurations.
Last edited by Joe Tom; Oct 24, 2018 at 11:28 AM.
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Ah, OK. I checked the payload ranges using an internet search, and the lowest F250 rating was 200 lbs higher than the highest HDPP.
Maybe. I don’t think a high-payload F150 is interesting to enough of the market to draw sales away from other F150 configurations. And what’s the price difference between an F150 XL HDPP and an F250 XL 6.2L?
That might be part of it, but I think the bigger reason is marketing. They make the truck, sure. And if you look hard enough, you can buy one. But it’s more important to Ford to be able to say they have the highest payload rating of any half-ton truck than it is for them to actually sell them. If they wanted to sell more of them, they’d make more of them.
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My reg cab f250 2wd payload is like 4,180lbs, last body style. I did it once with sheetrock (pretty much on the dot) that was hanging out the back some and it was a little too heavy in my opinion but did it.
Its not as efficient or comfortable around town like the F150 2wd XL is.
Its not as efficient or comfortable around town like the F150 2wd XL is.
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I special ordered the HDPP over the F250 6.7 for a number of reasons - smaller, more fuel efficient, price was a wash, HDPP had a higher payload sticker, and I really like the Gen 2 3.5 EB with the 10 speed. As optioned I ended up at 2406 payload with the 4800 RAWR - perfect for the load I tow. I've loaded it up to less than 200 left on RAWR, towing a 27' TH @ 8500 lb with DW, kids, and dogs, and it is smooth and stable with plenty of power. I do think the F250 would offer more headroom on capacity, but I don't tow 20,000 miles a year, so the HDPP was perfect for my needs. I've got 22,000 miles on it now and it's been a pleasure to own. There isn't another 1/2 ton that can do what it does.
Mike
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Joined: Aug 2017
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I looked at the F250 too when I was shopping for a new TV. My sweet spot is the SCREW Lariat 4x4 since I have kids and dogs, and I wanted more comfort than the XLT (which was my last config). In 2018 you could get the HDPP in a Lariat - I hear you can't for 2019.
I special ordered the HDPP over the F250 6.7 for a number of reasons - smaller, more fuel efficient, price was a wash, HDPP had a higher payload sticker, and I really like the Gen 2 3.5 EB with the 10 speed. As optioned I ended up at 2406 payload with the 4800 RAWR - perfect for the load I tow. I've loaded it up to less than 200 left on RAWR, towing a 27' TH @ 8500 lb with DW, kids, and dogs, and it is smooth and stable with plenty of power. I do think the F250 would offer more headroom on capacity, but I don't tow 20,000 miles a year, so the HDPP was perfect for my needs. I've got 22,000 miles on it now and it's been a pleasure to own. There isn't another 1/2 ton that can do what it does.
Mike
I special ordered the HDPP over the F250 6.7 for a number of reasons - smaller, more fuel efficient, price was a wash, HDPP had a higher payload sticker, and I really like the Gen 2 3.5 EB with the 10 speed. As optioned I ended up at 2406 payload with the 4800 RAWR - perfect for the load I tow. I've loaded it up to less than 200 left on RAWR, towing a 27' TH @ 8500 lb with DW, kids, and dogs, and it is smooth and stable with plenty of power. I do think the F250 would offer more headroom on capacity, but I don't tow 20,000 miles a year, so the HDPP was perfect for my needs. I've got 22,000 miles on it now and it's been a pleasure to own. There isn't another 1/2 ton that can do what it does.
Mike
To me (I have owned trucks all my life) the HD rides more like an old time truck, a little rougher but more planted. They are made to work but not at the expense of comfort.
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Here is one. Curb weight is 8300, max gross 10,000. I'll let you do the math.
https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...ab-test-review
Last edited by F175; Oct 24, 2018 at 05:19 PM.