I have a 2016 XLT 4x4 with a 5.0, and want to tow my camper (which weighs 5875 and has a hitch weight of 715) and put my Kawasaki Teryx in the box (which weighs about 1500). I'm assuming I should install some load leveling shocks, but I'm not sure what brand / model. Your thoughts and recommendations would be appreciated.

 

What’s your payload, I almost bet my beer money your gonna be over.

 

What you probably should have is a bigger truck. Even if that's a wet and loaded hitch weight, you're talking about 2215 pounds of payload used without a driver or any passengers or additional cargo. There should be a yellow sticker on your driver's B pillar indicating the factory rating for payload ("Cargo and passengers not to exceed ... pounds"); what does that read?

To figure out how far beyond your truck's ratings you are, I'd start by weighing it with a full tank of fuel, perhaps with the Teryx in the bed, at a truck scale. Figure out where that puts you at relative to GVWR and axle weights, and then you can figure out if it's worth modifying your truck to handle at or above its ratings, or if it makes more sense to buy a truck rated to do what you want to do. From an engineering perspective, you could probably start swapping and upgrading components to the point where your truck seems handle okay with that much weight, but unless you already have 2200 pounds of payload, my guess is that a cost-benefit analysis would suggest that trading it in for a bigger truck is the most cost-effective route forward. Based on where my XLT comes in with 6600 pounds of cargo trailer, I'd guess that the Teryx alone is going to put you close to rear GAWR and the trailer is going to put you way over it. I'm willing to push the envelope a little, but being substantially over an axle limit sounds scary to me.

Also, is that a wet and loaded number for hitch weight on the camper, or is it a brochure number? Lots of folks here have found that the brochure numbers diverge substantially from the real world when they start filling up propane tanks, upgrading batteries, filling water tanks, etc.

 

The towing capacity is 12,200, and the payload capacity is 3270. The Teryx actually weighs 1349, but I added 150 for fuel and tool box. The 5875 is the trailer's shipping weight. I would estimate I'll be carrying a few hundred pounds of camping equipment and food.

The truck carries the Teryx with no problem, and tows the trailer with no problem. I've just not done the 2 together yet.

I was considering trading up to an F250, but thought I might be overreacting.

 

if the loaded weight of that TT is 5,875, with a WDH on the light end you've got 765lbs tongue weight. At the top end over 880lbs. I'm figuring your '16 XLT 4x4 has around 1,700lbs of payload. So the reality is, you can either tow the TT and have passengers in the cab

or you can haul the kawi with just you in the driver's seat.

If you do both, you're busting payload by a good margin, and probably rear axle rating as well.

What does 'busting payload' mean? It means you've exceeded the gross vehicle weight rating for the truck. A big no-no.

 

There ain't no way in hell your specific truck's payload is 3,270. Under 2,000 for sure, probably under 1,800lbs is my bet.
go look at the door sticker. "Cargo carrying capacity"

now, if you have a HDPP....that's a different story all together.

 

Unlikely. Post a picture of the yellow sticker in your drivers door jamb please.

 

OK. Sticker says weight of cargo and occupants should not exceed 1980 lbs. Does that include tongue weight? I'm guessing it does.

On the other sticker, it says GAWR Front = 3525 lbs, Rear = 3800. Is that the combined total for truck + cargo + occupants?

 

Unfortunately your in f250/350 land because your already 300 over payload and that’s without you and whatever else gets thrown in the truck.

 

I guess I wasn't overreacting. Thanks guys!