How concerned are you about your trucks payload

[Castaway]

I have spent the last month looking at ACTUAL PAYLOADS for a Ford F150 Lariat, the largest that I have found is around 1650 lbs. We pull a 25ft FC with front twins and our tongue weight is around 950 lbs which would leave us with only 700 lbs for 2 passengers(total weight ~ 550 lbs) and any cargo. Am I the only one who is concerned about being over loaded and either getting stopped and weighed or else being in an accident and sued for being to heavy?

I know that getting a 250 would solve my problem but we only tow 2 times a year and the truck is our daily driver.


Gary

[kscherzi]

The weight distribution hitch will move some of the hitch weight back onto the trailers axles, probably somewhere between 100 and 200 lbs.

[BigAl]

do you really need 4x4 and moonroof? Don't know if those are options you want but they are heavy and reduce payload. Actually every option reduces payload. I have been driving since 1968 and have never had a 4 wheel drive vehicle. Only the last two had limited slip diff. I have only gotten stuck in snow twice in all that time. Seems everyone wants 4x4 but I wonder how many ever make use of the feature.
Things to think about.
For what it is worth I am going to get a powerboost which also reduces payload but eliminates the need for a generator. This will also be my daily driver.

[n2916s]

In 120,000 miles towing my Airstream pretty much all over the lower 48, I have never seen or heard of anyone ever being pulled over and weighed. An urban legend.

As to being sued. Well, lots of folks worry about it but in all my years on the Forum, no one has ever actually posted a single example of it happening.

I am under just by the skin of my teeth but wouldn’t sweat being over a mite…

[KCCO]

Honestly not concerned - lots and lots of people blowing smoke about the hazards of payload, and no one has ever produced 1 shred of evidence that anyone cares but people on these forums……

Honestly though. I’ve talked to family members that drive semis, friends that have campers, and friends that are state Highway patrolman - very few of them knew what payload was, even fewer cared.

The ONLY reason I ever worried about payload, for a short time, was when I let these forums get me all riled up about it……

[majorairhead]

My payload is 3,111 pounds. No worries at all. Pack 'er in, load 'er up, throw a bit on top, and head out.

[Ray Eklund]

Gary. Many travel trailer owners are towing, just at or below perfection. As long as you have the hitch set so that you have NO Sway... you are among the many.

I towed a 23 foot Safari with a 2006 4.7L Toyota, the small pickup just prior to the Tundra models in 2007. It was border line towing, but no sway. Just sitting down in the rear end.

With the tow vehicle brakes and the trailer's brakes set, it is the stopping that is important. All tow. It is the stopping that counts.

The 2008 5.7L towed it fine, although towing a 25 foot International... again, the rear end sat down. The hitch was an Equalizer with the 500# bars. No matter how I reset the hitch, it would sit down in the rear of the pickup. Adding more Weight Distribution just made the towing stiffer, is the term I would use.

If you can set the hitch so the Airstream is level, the tow vehicle sitting down some in the rear... that may be the best you can do. These earlier 5.7L Tundras had Leaf Springs and both sides were FLAT.

With the 27 foot International... went to the F350 4x4 Diesel. I Tow on the Ball and easily adjusted the hitch, using a ruler and both vehicle and trailer tow level.

Sway of the trailer being towed is a no go.

The tow vehicle squatting some with the leaf springs flat, seems to be standard. Coil Springs may not be better and some owners add hardware to lift the rear end of the tow vehicle.

Pickups are now designed for... comfort driving.

If you are hauling a Generator, or two, lots of fresh water, bicycles, motor scooter, weight lifting weights.... you get the idea.

"Frugal loads of necessary items is best." Heard that before.

The ONLY way to know by those traveling the opposite direction would be your headlights are in their face. They will flash their headlights. If you flash yours, they will be even brighter. That is the BEST indication of the tow vehicle's rear end is down.

Measure the distance from the center of the fender wells on all four wheels.

Attach the trailer. Remeasure. Then you have your anwer. If the fender wells remain the same distance to the ground... perfection.

I checked Never Worry. I have excess capacity. I can haul more, but do not.

[field & stream]

Interesting poll but, the “never worry about it” response will be impossible to interpret.

That response will be checked by folks with opposite mindsets and behaviors: those who have little or no regard for the payload issues, and those who respect payload specs and have made certain that their tow vehicles have plenty of margin.

For example, I take the payload spec seriously for a number or reasons, but I never worry about it because I have a small trailer and a substantial tow vehicle.

[Acheron2010]

Got the 2500HD and never looked back.

[Fungus]

Originally Posted by field & stream

Interesting poll but, the “never worry about it” response will be impossible to interpret.

That response will be checked by folks with opposite mindsets and behaviors: those who have little or no regard for the payload issues, and those who respect payload specs and have made certain that their tow vehicles have plenty of margin.

For example, I take the payload spec seriously for a number or reasons, but I never worry about it because I have a small trailer and a substantial tow vehicle.

^Yes!!!

It is a common problem with most surveys; but among the professionally engineered surveys it is usually an intentional choice of questionable question wording.

[ROBERT CROSS]

I'm under axle & tire loading limits, What me worry?

Bob
🇺🇸

[JohnandDonna]

Just go with an HD truck and you will be just fine. And if you get Air Suspension both your truck and AS will be level. We use a 2020 Ram 2500 MegaCab with the 6.4 Hemi and 4.10 rear end with air suspension to tow our 2020 International 30RB. And we use a Blue Ox weight distribution/anti sway hitch with 1000 pound bars. Everything is level and stable. Makes for a great towing experience.

[Andy543]

Originally Posted by Castaway

I have spent the last month looking at ACTUAL PAYLOADS for a Ford F150 Lariat, the largest that I have found is around 1650 lbs. We pull a 25ft FC with front twins and our tongue weight is around 950 lbs which would leave us with only 700 lbs for 2 passengers(total weight ~ 550 lbs) and any cargo. Am I the only one who is concerned about being over loaded and either getting stopped and weighed or else being in an accident and sued for being to heavy?

I know that getting a 250 would solve my problem but we only tow 2 times a year and the truck is our daily driver.


Gary

I think the greatest concern about being overloaded is, what happens if you are involved in a serious accident? It doesn't matter if you're at fault. If you're operating a trailer they're going to check your weights. Seeing the way our legal system works, if you are knowingly overloaded you're in serious trouble. You could face a financial wipeout or even prison time if the accident is bad enough. To avoid this, you should always follow the guidelines set by the tow vehicle and trailer manufacturers.

[Slimpockets]

I was worried enough about it that I didn’t get a lariat. I’m not worried about a lawsuit at all but I didn’t want to overload my truck that I plan on keeping. F150XLT 4x4 MPP came in with 2496# of payload.

[GettinAway]

I don’t, and I won’t worry about it. Some folks think being under the door sticker number makes everything ok. I think the payload number is fuzzy, and gets even more fuzzy when you make changes to your TV. If you get in an accident while towing, my guess would be that payload will be way down the list as to the cause of the accident. KCCO above summed it up very well. To tow two times a year, and drive a big truck the rest of the year just doesn’t make sense to me. Or even worse, cram yourselves into a smaller trailer to meet a door sticker..

[Castaway]

Originally Posted by Andy543

I think the greatest concern about being overloaded is, what happens if you are involved in a serious accident? It doesn't matter if you're at fault. If you're operating a trailer they're going to check your weights. Seeing the way our legal system works, if you are knowingly overloaded you're in serious trouble. You could face a financial wipeout or even prison time if the accident is bad enough. To avoid this, you should always follow the guidelines set by the tow vehicle and trailer manufacturers.

My wife and I have the same concerns. in today's litigious culture it seems irresponsible to knowingly drive an overloaded vehicle

[propchef]

Originally Posted by Andy543

I think the greatest concern about being overloaded is, what happens if you are involved in a serious accident? It doesn't matter if you're at fault. If you're operating a trailer they're going to check your weights. Seeing the way our legal system works, if you are knowingly overloaded you're in serious trouble. You could face a financial wipeout or even prison time if the accident is bad enough. To avoid this, you should always follow the guidelines set by the tow vehicle and trailer manufacturers.

Good luck proving either of these. Do you really think they'll scoop up the mess from the highway and weigh it? How far do you have to be over? Any amount? 5%? 10%? 50%?

[Saluda372]

In our area we love 4 wheel drive and our sun roof.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by propchef

Good luck proving either of these. Do you really think they'll scoop up the mess from the highway and weigh it? How far do you have to be over? Any amount? 5%? 10%? 50%?

100%...get it out of the way is the first priority.

Bob
🇺🇸

This dude or dudette was totally rong but I doubt they had to weight it to prove it.

[Andy543]

Originally Posted by propchef

Good luck proving either of these. Do you really think they'll scoop up the mess from the highway and weigh it?

Yes, in a fatal accident. I've heard of it being done.