I've read lots of posts and know that to find my towing capacity I need to look at payload...so for a 2015 F150 I see what payload amount the promo stuff says when "properly equipped"...so where do I find the actual payload of a given truck? Different dealers seem to not even understand this and all tell me differently. I have had the dealer (out of town from me) send a picture of the door sticker and I see the front and rear GAWR (33225 lb and 3800b), the GVWR (6800 lb) but don't know how to arrive at the payload...2015 XLT, 4x2, Supercrew, 145 wheelbase, 3.5 ECO, 3.55 axle, max tow package but no heavy duty payload package, 18" wheels. The towing specifications form on Ford's website states the GCWR at 17,000 and tow capacity at 11,900...the camper I am looking at has a hitch weight of 373 lbs, with GVWR of 4573, but I am curious as to how much more I could tow safely were I to get something bigger.
Just trying to see how many pounds I could pull safely with this truck...I have spent enough time on this forum to be able to name the people who will bash my question with sarcastic comments, so please save yourself some time if that is you but feel free to help out. Thanks

 

Your payload is the difference between what your GVWR is (6800lbs), and what the truck weighs. Any weight you add to the truck, including drivers and passengers, wife's purse, whatever... come off of that payload. So in your case, you shouldn't exceed #6800, fully loaded. Also, you're not supposed to exceed the weight rating on the front or rear axles individually.


if you look at the tire pressure sticker in the door jamb, it will have the payload rating on it.

 

The fact that your dealer wasn't smart enough to send the picture of the sticker that says PAYLOAD on it should tell you something.

 

Like the other two responses say - tell them to send a picture of the sticker that has the payload capacity on it!!







You can see the stickers on my truck - the top one is the "safety certification label" and has the GVWR and GAWRs on it, as well as the rear axle info down on the bottom; the second sticker has the tire pressures on it, and also the payload capacity ("combined weight of passengers and cargo should never exceed xxxx lbs").


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The payload capacity on the tire pressure sticker is still an estimate.


To determine the actual payload capacity available for hitch weight, you must weigh the wet and loaded tow vehicle, including driver, passengers, pets, tools, jacks, campfire wood, hitch components, a full tank of gas, and anything else that might be in the tow vehicle when towing.


Subtract the weight of the wet and loaded tow vehicle from the GVWR of the tow vehicle and the answer is the maximum hitch weight you can have without being overloaded.


Divide that max hitch weight by 0.15 (15%) and the answer is the maximum GVWR of any travel trailer (TT) you want to tow with that tow vehicle.


Divide the hitch weight by 0.18 and the answer is the maximum GVWR of any smaller (27' or less) fifth wheel (5er) RV trailer you want to tow with that tow vehicle. Use 0.20 for medium-size 5ers of 28 ' to 32'. Use 0.22 for 5ers longer than 32' but not a "luxury" or toy-hauler 5er. Use 0.24 for larger luxury 5ers or toy hauler 5ers over 31' tip to tail length.

 

^ and once you have done the math, throw it out the window and go tow that 30,000 lbs trailer like there's no tomorrow
Don't forget to over-inflate the tires too!

 

Thanks for the help! I just got a picture of the sticker texted to me..."The combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed: 1870 pounds"

 

Ooooohhhh, Smokey. You're gonna take a flogging over this one for a while I think. As long as it takes the heat off of guys like me for a bit I guess

 

lol, all in good fun... we have towed some pretty hectic loads while I was growing up in France... just didnt have internet to brag about it...

 

I saw that thread too.. Wow some people are above common sense huh?