What is your Payload?

[eldermike]

The only possible thing I can think of is a denial of a warranty claim if your truck damage was due to an (proven) overloaded condition.

I think that's about it.

For what it worth:
If there were laws on the books we would all be hitting the scales on the interstate and paying the fines. I can't imagine any state not wanting to cash in on this.

The RV lifestyle is still mostly personal responsibility driven. That might change at some point down the road because I am sure there are plenty of folks that want others to do what they have decided is correct and safe. And when you get enough of those you get new laws.

[Camper_bob]

Originally Posted by tjpolsin

The only possible thing I can think of is a denial of a warranty claim if your truck damage was due to an (proven) overloaded condition.

How about the insurance claim? I wonder if the insurance company would demand the weights and measures of the setup. Say for example, you're in a collision, you injure the other party, you were significantly overloaded, your insurance finds you willfully neglectful and refuses to cover anything, and you're stuck covering the injured party's costs, and your own costs.

Heaven forbid someone was killed in the accident, then you could have a civil case against you? I wonder if there are any cases out there like that? Seems like it could happen... More likely to be against a commercial operator as that's where the big money probably is.

My dad rents commercial trucks and has to address weight tickets all the time as part of his job. 9 times out of 10 (or more), the operator of the rented commercial truck didn't understand the weight specifications and were in fact overloaded and ticketed. I've never heard of a personal vehicle being weighed, but the "weight police" (troopers who enforce commercial vehicle weights) carry portable scales in the back of their Tahoes. They will weigh a commercial rig right there on the side of the road. Again, never seen or heard of it for non-commercial haulers (RVs & such).

[eldermike]

Originally Posted by Camper_bob

How about the insurance claim? I wonder if the insurance company would demand the weights and measures of the setup. Say for example, you're in a collision, you injure the other party, you were significantly overloaded, your insurance finds you willfully neglectful and refuses to cover anything, and you're stuck covering the injured party's costs, and your own costs.

Heaven forbid someone was killed in the accident, then you could have a civil case against you? I wonder if there are any cases out there like that? Seems like it could happen... More likely to be against a commercial operator as that's where the big money probably is.

My dad rents commercial trucks and has to address weight tickets all the time as part of his job. 9 times out of 10 (or more), the operator of the rented commercial truck didn't understand the weight specifications and were in fact overloaded and ticketed. I've never heard of a personal vehicle being weighed, but the "weight police" (troopers who enforce commercial vehicle weights) carry portable scales in the back of their Tahoes. They will weigh a commercial rig right there on the side of the road. Again, never seen or heard of it for non-commercial haulers (RVs & such).

True enough in commercial, no argument there at all.
However, there is not a single case to be found anywhere that I can find that involves a light duty truck that deals with these numbers, and I have asked this question on several web sites.

My issue is the way this stuff gets discussed as though it's a legal thing. It's not.
But we should stress the responsibility and safety issues and common sense.

People are leaving Grandma at home and putting the cat in a kennel because of a CAT scale and a marketing sticker. That's foolishness IMHO.

Just don't do stupid stuff, that's what the sticker should say. IMHO

[RoscoW]

Originally Posted by tjpolsin

The only possible thing I can think of is a denial of a warranty claim if your truck damage was due to an (proven) overloaded condition.

*****
As an aside, the ONLY difference between my 2010 ram 2500 and a 2010 ram 3500 SRW is the rear spring pack.

The frames, axles, brakes, engine, transmission are all the same.

The 2500 has a max payload of 2270#. The tow rating maxs out at 12,500 with a diesel, auto trans, and a 3.73 rear end.

With only a change in the rear spring pack, the 3500 has a max payload of 2990#. The tow rating with the same 3.73 rear end is 13,750#

I would get an extra 720# of payload and an extra 1250# of tow capacity - with just a change in spring pack.

But if I swapped out the springs myself, a RV dealership would still only recognize my 12,500 tow capacity - as that is what is listed on the build sheet for my truck.

**************
Tim

I'm in the same boat on the other side of the equation, I have a 1500 Mega Cab, built completely on the heavy truck (2500, 3500) chassis with the only difference being a lighter rear spring pack (3 springs vs 4 in the 2500). My door sticker says max payload is 2328 lbs.

Ross..

[eldermike]

The Weight Game: Understanding Pickup Classes--And Where They Came From - PickupTrucks.com News

Good read on the history of pickups. Notice the comment on the lack of engineering or regulatory body with respect to payload claims.
Also notice that the first of the "tons" trucks were 20 to 40 horse power. And this was back when truck sales were based upon replacing real horses in the military.

Not that many years ago people pulled campers, horse trailers and race car trailers with trucks and cars that were no where near the sticker weights we have in todays trucks. There was no internet, and we lived though it.....amazing luck I am sure.

[ADK]

Originally Posted by goducks

The F350 can be ordered with the 10,000 GVW. That would put it near the F250 diesel in payload.

FWIW, I read an article on Pickuptrucks.com about a 2013 I(IRC) F250 6.7 King Ranch that had a 1972lb payload. A 10,000lb GVW F350 would be about the same.

^ this is a key point. the 10,000 GVW is an option on the F350's. Same truck either way, but capped legal rating. I believe this helps out to avoid commercial use requirements.

I do not have this cap option and GVW is 11,500. Cat scale weighing with just me is about 8,000. Giving me about 3,500 lbs payload.

[t2daniel]

2799! This is about 1000 lbs more than my F150 which was around 1700 lbs. When I look at how the F250 is built vs the F150 I am surprised that the F250 isn't rated higher. Everything is significantly bigger and stronger. I would guess if I towed at the max of my F250 ratings every day for 10 years the F250 would take it as it is more of a work truck and is designed to take that kind of usage. I wonder if the F150 would do the same under similar conditions. Don't get me wrong, I loved my F150, but the 2 units are so vastly different in construction. Soooo much more steel in the F250!

[gtsum2]

Originally Posted by t2daniel

2799! This is about 1000 lbs more than my F150 which was around 1700 lbs. When I look at how the F250 is built vs the F150 I am surprised that the F250 isn't rated higher. Everything is significantly bigger and stronger. I would guess if I towed at the max of my F250 ratings every day for 10 years the F250 would take it as it is more of a work truck and is designed to take that kind of usage. I wonder if the F150 would do the same under similar conditions. Don't get me wrong, I loved my F150, but the 2 units are so vastly different in construction. Soooo much more steel in the F250!

I agree. Big big difference. My 2013 ram 1500 weighed 6180 with me in it and full tank. My 2014 ram 3500 weighs 8700 with me in it and full tank. The cummins adds a lot of weight but almost a ton more steel on the hd truck. And it makes a big big difference

[njdanmc]

2012 Ram 2500 SLT 5.7 crew cab 6'4" bed. Payload is 2,398lbs.

[sugarray]

Mine is 27??, just looked today and forget.

[sugarray]

Originally Posted by sugarray

mine is 27??, just looked today and forget.

2761

[Paintinfool3]

Well I wonder if it gets added into the equation when a truck has been done by a conversion company like Centaurus .... I don't know what extra weight gets added but I am sure it is some and mine just has the factory sticker in the door. Did the factory make these stickers knowing it was going to a conversion company and accounting for the added weight to be installed by them?

[RedHorse1]

I think the sticker represents the vehicle when the manufacturer is done with it.

[gtsum2]

Originally Posted by RedHorse1

I think the sticker represents the vehicle when the manufacturer is done with it.

That is my understanding as well

[Northern Jay]

My 2007 Silverado 3500HD SRW XC LB is rated by door sticker for 3742LBS. i find it adequate for all of our toys. tiz a 6.0 gasser, and performs very well.

[Subaru297]

Originally Posted by Paintinfool3

Well I wonder if it gets added into the equation when a truck has been done by a conversion company like Centaurus .... I don't know what extra weight gets added but I am sure it is some and mine just has the factory sticker in the door. Did the factory make these stickers knowing it was going to a conversion company and accounting for the added weight to be installed by them?

The sticker will represent the payload as the truck is weighed after it rolls off the assembly line. You would have to weigh your truck to get an accurate number for your remaining payload after the additions.

Even my truck is down from the doorjamb sticker a couple hundred pounds after it gets the usual treatment of undercoating, spray in bedliner, and toneau cover. Dealer added vs factory added options will also reduce payload.

I find it very interesting how big the range of payload is for all these trucks. I bet a lot of the 3/4 ton diesels pulling a big 5th wheel are overloaded a fair bit.

Cheers

[goducks]

3/4 ton trucks may be over the GVW but most aren't over the RAWR. That's the thing with 3/4 ton compared to 1/2 ton. When a 1/2 ton reaches GVW it's usually at RAWR too and vice versa. With 3/4 tons you can hit the GVW pretty quickly with a 5th wheel but still have quite a bit left on RAWR. It just depends on how you play the game.

[blderman]

Originally Posted by goducks

3/4 ton trucks may be over the GVW but most aren't over the RAWR. That's the thing with 3/4 ton compared to 1/2 ton. When a 1/2 ton reaches GVW it's usually at RAWR too and vice versa. With 3/4 tons you can hit the GVW pretty quickly with a 5th wheel but still have quite a bit left on RAWR. It just depends on how you play the game.

That is a good point. It's pretty ridiculous that it has to be so complicated. However, I was just looking at the specs for Ram Trucks. A 2500 Crew Cab Long Bed has a rear GAWR of 6,200lbs. The empty weight on the rear axle is 4,000lb so that only leaves 2,200lbs to max out the axle. Payload capacity is approx 2,000lb. So it's not all that much better than a 150. Stepping up to a 3500 is where the difference is really big.

[goducks]

Originally Posted by blderman

That is a good point. It's pretty ridiculous that it has to be so complicated. However, I was just looking at the specs for Ram Trucks. A 2500 Crew Cab Long Bed has a rear GAWR of 6,200lbs. The empty weight on the rear axle is 4,000lb so that only leaves 2,200lbs to max out the axle. Payload capacity is approx 2,000lb. So it's not all that much better than a 150. Stepping up to a 3500 is where the difference is really big.

Wrong on the empty rear weight. It's between 2850-3000lbs. My 12 2500 CTD is right at 2950lbs with the B&W 5th hitch in and 1/2 tank of diesel. Not sure where you're getting the 4000lb empty stuff.

Read here.

http://www.ramtrucks.com/assets/towi...ing_charts.pdf

[blderman]

Originally Posted by goducks

Wrong on the empty rear weight. It's between 2850-3000lbs. My 12 2500 CTD is right at 2950lbs with the B&W 5th hitch in and 1/2 tank of diesel. Not sure where you're getting the 4000lb empty stuff.

Read here.

http://www.ramtrucks.com/assets/towi...ing_charts.pdf

Cause I've owned (2) Ram 2500 now and they both were 3800-4,000lb empty on the rear axle. Not sure why yours is so light.