The 20 lbs difference in payload is the spring code of the front axle versus the weight of the 4wd system. Your truck has PPAA springs. PP in front left/right, good for 3150# FAWR. Your friend's truck should have SSAA spring code which is good for 3450# in the front. This increases the GVWR by 250# or so despite 300# FAWR spec increase. The 4wd system and the elements that lift a 4wd truck a little higher weigh approximately 200#. This additional curb weight cancels out the increased GVWR leaving you with near identical payload stickers.

Your rwd truck has the same frame and rear suspension capabilities as the 4wd drive truck. The AA springs in the back are the softest in the F150 lineup and come with the 2.7 eco. They are good for 3350-3400# RAWR.

The user @mwl001 who shared their sticker in post #29 is a surprise to me, as those SSAA springs with 3850# RAWR should say SSBB or SSCC; I've never seen AA rated that high.

For reference, the following link shares a bunch of payload and gvwr / fawr / rawr stickers here: https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/thre...and-eb-pb.872/

 

I still dont get it if the 4wd springs are heavier plus the weight of the 4x4 parts how would that make the payload only 20 lbs less? weight is weight

 

Maybe in the payload calculation, only weight actually on suspension comes to play. Front diff is not on the suspension, yet part of it. Springs are on the suspension. Extra diff weight would play into towing capacity more than payload.

 

As you stated your friend's truck has a 6626# GVWR vs 6426# on yours. This increase is due to his front axle spring being different than yours, very likely 'SS' springs vs your 'PP' springs. A stronger spring compresses less distance as a function of weight. Ford puts the stiffer spring on the 4wd front axle to cancel out its additional weight so that the compression distance is similar to your springs on your slightly lighter front axle. This in turn increases the FAWR by ~300lbs which increases the GVWR by 200lbs (GVWR increase is lower because it is not a perfect 1:1 uprate by only increasing front axle weight rating).

If Ford put 'PP' springs on a 4wd drive this would compress the springs beyond the sweet spot they were targetting. If they put 'SS' springs on your truck then you would have less resting compression on the front. The benefit here is you'd have the higher GVWR of the 4wd truck without the extra curb weight translating to higher payload capacity. The negative here is your suspension would feel stiffer and more rigid decreasing ride comfort. That is generally what Ford is targetting with the different springs, same ride comfort qualities. That said, I think there is also motivation that the 2wd truck payload not exceed the 4wd truck. They charge more for 4wd and don't want to entice buyers to the cheaper 2wd because it has more payload.

 

One key word I wasnt focusing on was the R in GVWR thats a rating not a weight sorry I was confused and didnt even notice that so the different springs give it a higher rating which offsets the weight of the 4wd parts and doesnt take as much of the payload correct? I think I understand better if thats correct

 

Yeah that front frame and suspension is rated higher and they adjusted the gvwr up as well.

There is many factors that make the payload rating.

 

Yep, you got it. GVWR is the max weight the truck is rated to carry. The actual factory weight of the truck is considerably less and depends on options (moonroof for instance adds something like 150#). The difference between GVWR and your factory weight is your payload sticker. It might not be an exact difference though as the payload sticker also has to factor in the individual front and rear axle measured weights versus FAWR and RAWR. Ford doesn't disclose their formulas so the best us consumers can do is gather lots of data points from various builds of F150s and use that to infer their math.

 

For curiousity's sake I went looking for pictures of the front frame on a 4x2 vs 4x4 and found these comparables

• https://www.ebay.com/itm/16725316359...mis&media=COPY
• https://www.ebay.com/itm/16724094111...mis&media=COPY

They're awfully similar. If the 4x2 frame is part of the lower FAWR it's not really possible to tell from eyeballing it.

 

For typical private use you are to not exceed the gawr(s) or gvwr. You should be able to go to max gvwr or gawr, whichever's hit first, and not lose much vehicle stability etc whatever the owners manual says.

For commercial use under 26,000 combined gvwr’s (GCWR) truck and trailer, generally your Combo should not weigh over 26,000 total and you are not to exceed any gawr axle rating (that includes the tire ratings too). This is what I do but in my Super Duties, the F150s aren’t towing over 10,000 regardless if they are rated to (just doesn’t work well).

 

Many F150s with the 3.5s are towing 10K or even over and I have heard they do it fine I even see alot of 5th wheels being towed I keep mine within my payload and tow capacity and would not think of doing that but it is done