F150 Platinum Payload

[DaleBenson]

What would be the likely physical consequences to occasionally exceeding payload capacity by, say, 200 to 400 lbs. in my scenario? No need to comment on ethical, moral, or legal consequences. Say for example that I've loaded up the Platinum to the limit with the 450 lbs. described in my previous post. We're cruising around the beautiful USA just enjoying the heck out of life. But then, with several weeks left on the road before our planned return to base, I find a large chunk of beautiful wood that I want to bring back to the shop. It weighs 40 lbs. but I throw it in the back of the truck. Then a week later we find a stack of cast iron pots at a flee market. Another 50 lbs.! Then the copilot spots a pretty rock that would nice in her garden. 75 lbs. (). By the time we reach home we're carrying 200 lbs. of extra stuff. What are the dangers with this? Would it be tire issues that could not be dealt with by adjusting inflation? Would it be issues related to drive control that could not be dealt with by reducing driving speed?

[kscherzi]

What you'll really need to do once you get your truck is to load your trailer for camping and take it to CAT scale at a truck stop. There you'll finally get some hard data. What matters is axle loads. Payload is just a approximate substitute. The manufacturer comes up with this number by making some assumptions on how a owner will load and distribute that load up to or near the axle limits. These are listed on the yellow sticker.

I measured my truck and trailer, adjusted the hitch, and measured again. I'm under by about 70 lbs on the rear axle. So I can add a few things more but not much to the truck. Personally I would try to not exceed limits by much. Certinally less than 100 lbs.

If I wanted to get some heavy rocks, pots, or wooden art I might instead look for a way to carry it inside the trailer where I'm probably 800 lbs under its maximum weight rating.

[jonnyo]

as someone already mention, loading the trailer instead of the truck box would be a better idea as long as you don't pass the limit of the trailer.

but most likely, exceeding the payload of the truck by a few pounds will most likely not do much at all. But the bigger the payload, the harder on the truck so expect higher maintenance cost...more part of suspension and drive train breaking and need replacing etc.

when company makes rating...they do build some buffer into those. But it s a little tricky to start using that buffer.... it s pushing the limits.

[J. Morgan]

Originally Posted by rostam

........And, a test program conducted for US DOT-NHTSA – using an Airstream trailer – concluded that transferring large amount of added load to the TV’s front axle was undesirable from the standpoint of stability."

I figured that out for myself experimenting with my WD.

My truck handles better with quite a bit more weight than this process will allow on my TV's rear axle.

IMHO, a little extra weight on the rear axle makes for a safer and more stable combination.

This becomes even more apparent on wet roads. The weak link for jackknifing is the TV rear axle. "By the numbers" might be a rough starting point, but tuning the setup for stability and comfort is the goal that we should reach for.



Talis gentium ceciderunt.

[J. Morgan]

Overloading by 200 to 400 pounds over "payload" will have essentially have NO wear and tear consequences so long as your tires are up to it, you use WD, and your vehicle is stable going down the road.


Talis gentium ceciderunt.

[Gsmblue]

Interesting thread and comments. I am looking at getting the same vehicle!

On the limited research I have done, it is clear the Platinum can be specced up to 1700lbs payload. Actually this is defined on the window stickers as "7050# GVWR package" from what I can tell.

I am seriously looking at the Lariat as this will get up to 2300# payload or so..

I did talk to the local dealer yesterday, but they did not seem to understand my questions on configuration...

Following thread with interest

[rostam]

Just be aware that auto manufacturers publish the MAX payload for a vehicle with no options/accessories. The actual payload is on the yellow sticker on the driver side door jam. Make sure you base your decision on that number (which is usually several hundreds pounds less than the published MAX payload).

[jonnyo]

Originally Posted by Gsmblue

Interesting thread and comments. I am looking at getting the same vehicle!

On the limited research I have done, it is clear the Platinum can be specced up to 1700lbs payload. Actually this is defined on the window stickers as "7050# GVWR package" from what I can tell.

I am seriously looking at the Lariat as this will get up to 2300# payload or so..

I did talk to the local dealer yesterday, but they did not seem to understand my questions on configuration...

Following thread with interest

your spec are wrong. the publish number in window sticker is unfortunutly not accurate vs the weight of the vehicle after installation of all trims and option.

you wont find a platinum at 1700. more in the 1400-1550lbs

and a lariat as a hard time reaching 1600-1800

for 2300lbs, you need a xlt with no options, 156 wheelbase and the special heavy payload option that ford only produce at the end of the year. They are extremely rare and not available on dealer lots.

once again, nothing beat looking at the door job stickers...that s where the true info can be found... I suggest you look at this dealer that post pictures of door job to show true payload.... it s a very eye opening exercices

http://www.hannafords.ca/new-invento...2&model=F-150&

[Gsmblue]

Cheers Jonnyo - Luckily I am about 12 months out from a decision, lots of time to get educated

[Gsmblue]

One of the numbers that interested me is on the follow link supplied earlier:

http://www.ford.com/trucks/f150/specifications/payload/

If you go to the bottom and look at:
Super crew
3.5L ecoboost
156.8in wheel base
4x4

This seems to be correlated to the GVWR of 7850#
with a max payload 2650#.


THAT is the option that interested me most... If/when I do buy a truck - I would be happy to order and wait to get that kinda option..

The 2013 Expedition EL I have today is 1387# payload and 7720# GVWR - as per my door sticker..

[kscherzi]

Originally Posted by J. Morgan

Overloading by 200 to 400 pounds over "payload" will have essentially have NO wear and tear consequences so long as your tires are up to it, you use WD, and your vehicle is stable going down the road.


Talis gentium ceciderunt.

Not so sure its all that good an idea to simply assume there's a generous amount of over engineering built into payload ratings. Many rear axles have a GVWR close to 4,000 lbs so 400 lbs over is 10%, statistically significant. Personally I wouldn't do it, and if I did, only for a short drive and at slow speed. But each to your own.

Consider this, if you were approaching a low bridge with a sign stating 9 feet of vertical clearance, should one just assume there's a safety factor in that number and it should be okay to pull that 10 foot high Airstream under it at 50 mph?

[J. Morgan]

Verticle clearance is one of those things that is uncompromising, it is what it is without exception or mitigation.

"Payload capacity" is a bit more subjective, and can be mitigated with additional equipment like weight distribution hitches and tires that carry a greater capacity. (Note, with W/D, all of the tongue weight is not on the back axle of the tow vehicle)

What I posted in the above comment was not blind assumption, but derived from decades of experience with small vehicles/towing.

In spite of what is drummed into us by this modern culture, there is room for the oft despises pragmatism.


Talis gentium ceciderunt.

[rodsterinfl]

I was wrong on the longer bed not allowing for more payload weight. Your best payload rating in the upper models is the Lariat 3.5L 3.55 max tow 6.5' bed crew cab 2wd 2900# followed by the Platinum same config but 2260# The dealer should know why.

[jonnyo]

Originally Posted by Gsmblue

One of the numbers that interested me is on the follow link supplied earlier:

http://www.ford.com/trucks/f150/specifications/payload/

If you go to the bottom and look at:
Super crew
3.5L ecoboost
156.8in wheel base
4x4

This seems to be correlated to the GVWR of 7850#
with a max payload 2650#.


THAT is the option that interested me most... If/when I do buy a truck - I would be happy to order and wait to get that kinda option..

The 2013 Expedition EL I have today is 1387# payload and 7720# GVWR - as per my door sticker..

this chart numbers are for the XL and XLT trucks.

as a generalisation.... take those numbers -800lbs to get a Lariat payload

if you want a platinum...take about -1000lbs off

of course, there are other variable in play but that will give you a idea of what is on dealer lots

[BTB]

I believe that there is also a "Max Payload" package available - check that out. My local dealer clearly didn't know about this, and he confused the "payload package" with the "trailer package". So beware - as often said on this forum - most dealers/sales people just don't know about this stuff.

Bill

[MarkFinATX]

[QUOTE=dkottum;1762596]

Originally Posted by jonnyo

the realistic tongue weight will be in the 1100-1200 lbs range..."

You have to be careful loading the Airstream as well as the truck. Your Airstream Manual will have a warning to never exceed 1,000 lbs tongue weight, "1100-1200 lbs range" exceeds Airstream specs.

If you must follow weight limits, then you must follow them all.

Also, Airstream hitch weight can be and often is reduced to effectively increase tow vehicle payload capacity. Our tongue weight goal is 10% of maximum FC 25 Airstream or 730 lbs.

Just to make it more fun, the ProPride o.p. mentioned is mounted on the Airstream tongue so it looks like tongue weight; but when slid into the truck receiver the head and stinger are carried by the truck, doesn't look like tongue weight.

More fun. So then I have 730 lbs tongue weight and transfer 20% of that back to my trailer axles, it appears I am under the 10% minimum tongue weight mandated by Airstream. But perhaps the weight of my ProPride adds enough to solve the riddle.

Another thought we have. When we put 1400 lbs payload mostly in our truck bed we have lightened steering and braking going down the road. When we add 1400 lbs truck and tongue weight load, then distribute that load to front and rear truck axles (as well as trailer axles) with our w.d. hitch the truck's steering and braking are much better in this payload configuration. The truck feels much safer with the Airstream payload, than with no trailer and the load in the bed of the truck, weighing heavily on the rear axle and lightly on the front axle.

Do truck payload limits take these different payload configurations into consideration? No. Do we lose sleep nitpicking payload numbers? No. Are we aware of payload numbers, balance and load positioning when loading and setting our weight distribution? Yes.

We use top quality equipment, get it set up properly, never exceed axle and tire weight limits, and use experience with our rig, reason and common sense to ensure we are always traveling in the safest manner.

Once again DK you've gotten to the heart of the matter and given a fantastic explanation. We're one of the couples who fell in love with the Pendleton and sold our 2016 Sport 22 FB, max weight 4500 lbs. trailer and gear, single axle, that towed beautifully behind our fairly loaded 2015 F-150, Lariat, Supercrew, short box, V-8 gasser w/ 20 inch tire/wheels, Michelin (LTX M/S, 275/55 R20) and factory tow package. Truck GVWR is 6800 lbs.- leaving 1784 lbs. for payload. The Pendleton is a whole different ballgame. She has a Gross weight rating of 7800 lbs., and a tongue weight (published) of 923 lbs.

Unit Base Weight (w/LP & w/o options, water & cargo) (lbs.) 6,523
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (lbs.) 7,800
Net Carrying Capacity (NCC=GVWR-UBW) (lbs.) 1,278

27' 8"; 28 ft. in the literature but they call it a 27FB- Basically an Eddie Bauer all decked out with Pendleton design and Nat'l Park decals. Nice interior, dual AC. We added the electric awning, solar and backup camera. Love the power stabilizers. Sendel 16" alloy wheels with Michelin LT 225/75/R16's (added the DILL TPMS and Centramatic wheel balancers) aired up to 80 psi.

So... with a max tow weight from the Ford chart at 10,100 lbs. (3:55 rear end w/ lockout) that puts the ideal tongue weight at about 1000 lbs. Using this math it leaves me 784 lbs. of "stuff" in the truck and 1,278 lbs. of stuff in the AS. That's a bunch of weight until I start adding up the basic "static weight" of options: Tonneau cover- 100 lbs., Honda 3000i- 130ish, water, gas for generator, tools etc. Now add the grill (grills in our case) and all of that "campsite junk" plus the added weight of the Hensley Arrow Hitch Apparatus (HAHA). I really doubt we'd ever have 1200+ lbs. in the Airstream, but it all adds up. I'm not really sure where to set the tire pressure in the TV, pillar rating says 35 PSI, tire shows 44 PSI max.

Any tire pressure setting advice is welcomed!

I like the primer on total weight loading. I will change my overall distribution in the future. Installed and adjusted the Haha myself, and have only driven a total of 500 miles. I know the debate goes on and on over 1/2 ton or 3/4 (total brake horsepower and torque) but I am way impressed with the overall handling and being able to transfer some weight to the front axle.

That being said, and this being the largest, heaviest trailer I've ever owned I feel the F-150 gasser is at the upper range of its capabilities. Struggles? No. Works hard? Yup. Oh, and add the 36 gallon capacity tank to the weight load too. Sometimes I wish I had just bought the F-250 diesel. I have a friend with a 30 ft. Flying Cloud with that truck and he thinks he'd be happier with the half ton. Maybe we should just trade???

[silverlabs]

2015 F150 4x4 Platinum fully loaded
3.5 EB Engine
5.5 foot bed
Payload 1527

I know you asked for 2016 information but thought that I would throw mine in anyway. Pull a 2015 28FC with a ProPride hitch. With Retrax cover which I have a rack on it for carrying bikes, then the misc items in the bed of the truck(cooler, toolbag, Honda 2000 Gen, general supplies) and two road bikes, we use up most of the available payload in the truck. That is with the transfer of weight with properly setup WD. The 28 has one of the heavier tongue weights of the Airstreams and then you add on the ProPride, it's up in the 1200+ range. Have all of the numbers after scales but just not handy at this moment.

The truck has pulled beautifully in the over 20,000+ miles we put on it last year, but after a lot of thought and consideration decided to make a change to upgrade to a different TV and just returned from ordering a new 2017 F250 Platinum. Main item wanted was the beefed up brakes and payload to make the tow even more comfortable in the Rockies and other mountain passages.

Good luck with your decision. The F150's (Had a 2011 Platinum as well) treated us very well but as we travel further and for longer periods the upgrade made sense.

Chuck

[Arcticfox]

Originally Posted by Gsmblue

One of the numbers that interested me is on the follow link supplied earlier:

http://www.ford.com/trucks/f150/specifications/payload/

If you go to the bottom and look at:
Super crew
3.5L ecoboost
156.8in wheel base
4x4

This seems to be correlated to the GVWR of 7850#
with a max payload 2650#.

How does one figure out what trim level this truck would have? Its my understanding that the HD Payload Package is not available on most higher trim packages. I think the highest is Lariat, but I'm not sure. Can anyone confirm this?

I would be very happy if I could get a new F150 with the HD Payload and have a Payload of 2650 LBS. That would be about a thousand LBS high than I have now with my 2014.... amazing!

I have looked high and low here in Canada to try and find a dealer who has one of these F150's with the HD Payload packages on their lot but I cannot find one. It would be great to find one and ask them to send you a photo of the door sticker so one could confirm this is possible.

Cheers
Doug

[DaleBenson]

I am SO happy to receive everyone's input. Thank you all so very much.

Originally Posted by MarkFinATX

... We're one of the couples who fell in love with the Pendleton ...

We also bought a Pendleton (#72).

Originally Posted by silverlabs

... but after a lot of thought and consideration decided to make a change to upgrade to a different TV and just returned from ordering a new 2017 F250 Platinum. ...

After a LOT of reading and research, we, too, just ordered a 2017 F250 Platinum for the very reasons you mention.

[muskypicker]

We have actually been looking at getting a 2016 F150 3.5L Ecoboost...settled on the Lariat without the moonroof. Going to pick it up on Saturday.

It was really tough finding a Lariat with a payload over 1700#. Really hard. While the HD payload package is offered on the Ford website, it doesn't actually exist in real life yet, so we found out. Read somewhere that Ford has delayed production of this package on the Lariat.

The top package with the (killer) moonroof dropped the payload down to around 1550#, which was too low for us. Best of luck in your search.

We also test drove the F250, which was a great truck and had a ton of power. But...my wife was so scared of it's size, so won't drive it. F150 it is.