Payload Sham

I'll start off by sharing I reserved a 2024 Tundra SR5 Crewmax due to be delivered here in the next 2 weeks. I fell in love with the Solar Octane color and the TRD package and was excited to bring it home. I preparation, I've been living in the forums educating myself on all things 3rd Gen Tundras. It took me until this last week to learn the listed payload on the Toyota listing is wildly inaccurate. Whereas the site lists 1800lbs I'm learning it's coming in significantly lower on the sticker. This is my first new vehicle purchase and I had no idea of how this was "a thing" across the industry.

The whole intent behind purchasing the Tundra for our family was to ideally be able to upgrade our current travel trailer. The models we've been considering come with a hitch weight of 620-815lbs. Between my wife and I and two boys we'd be flirting with going over the limit.

The only reason we had this assumption was based on our dealership. I know, shame on me for trusting the sales rep. Even after bringing this up, their comment was how the truck is expected to tow 11k lbs and how they "wouldn't worry about it" because Toyota knows better and knows owners intend to pull a trailer with gear and a family.

I'm completely deflated because even with all the quirks I've been excited for the truck.

I can't believe that I'll need to start this process all over again with GM, Ford, Chevy etc. Not even sure where to start. Just disappointed.

 

You're not the first to have this issue. I'm bummed for you, but for where to start I'd try here https://www.tundras.com/threads/tow-ratings-guide-how-to-be-safe.39211/

There's loads of info and the more you learn the better your ability to pick what you need will be.

Also, no salesman is worried about anything more than getting your money. Don't trust them in any industry.

 

Plenty of ultra light campers out there. Not sure why you are going for a 30' camper. I mean if that is your expectation maybe you should be looking at a diesel

 

One more thing, the camper/trailer companies do the same crap with hitch and dry weights. They are all heavier than they say.

 

Again my fault, but our sales rep had us so focused on the towing capacity which we thought opened up new doors on other trailers.

Size wise, for most of the bunkhouse models that also have a couch they are all coming in at that weight/size.

 

Dammit. I'm still not ready to part with it..

Thank you so much for the reference point here! Ill take a look and recrunch numbers to make sure it's a nogo.

Thanks again

 

I was surprised when our SR5 Crewmax came in with a 1400 pound payload door sticker (lower than expected).

Purchased the 2022 Tundra for towing a 4900 pound travel trailer with 480 pound tongue weight. The Tundra works fine for that weight of trailer and tongue weight, but I did install a Timbren suspension enhancement system because of rear end sag. We come in under both axle maximum weights, more than 300 pounds under TV GVW with two souls on board, camping gear and trailer connected to TV.

With your future trailer having the tongue weight and trailer weight you mentioned, I would go with a 3/4 to 1 ton TV.

 

The TRD Pro is a lousy choice for towing anyway due to being leveled.

 

It's not a Pro.

 

Does Toyota list actual payload capacity anywhere on their website? I haven't been able to find anything other than their "up to" marketing numbers. A chart showing capacities for each cab/box/trim level would be extremely helpful. It's a tad inconvenient to have to order a truck and wait for it to come in before finding out if it will meet your needs.

 

They do, but that's somewhat the point of this thread in saying it's useless. It's not even a good basis knowing it's inaccurate. In most cases by a couple hundred pounds.

 

I'm not sure where, but there are lists with cab and trim payloads. They still aren't accurate because there are a slew of different options and packages. The only way to get an idea of actual payload is to look on the door jamb sticker of the actual truck. Weighing the truck is even better.

 

On the upside of the Tundra's load capacity, if you take the actual curb weight (in my case) and subtract from the Tundra's GVW the Tundra actually has more load capacity than listed on the door tag of 1400 pounds.

CAT scale results for our 2022 SR5 2WD Crew Cab Tundra's new curb weight after installing accessories. I did not document accessory weights during installation. Installed Toyota side rails, Toyota folding hard bed cover, Toyota bed mat, Toyota Mud guards, and Timbren SES rear suspension kit.

Weighed the Tundra with all contents removed, accessories installed, full 32 gallon fuel tank, and no occupants.

Subtract new Curb weight from GVW to learn new payload. Very surprised by the results:

GVW 6990 pounds - New Curb weight 5440 pounds = 1550 pounds.

Toyota was very conservative with the payload weight of this vehicle.

Reading Truck on payload and towing capacities:

https://www.readingtruck.com/calculating-your-trucks-maximum-payload-and-towing-capacity

 

Trailer Toad dolly, problem solved!

 

Yup. That's the best solution if payload is the only issue you are running into. Kicking myself for not suggesting that! @Mad_Max

 

My bad.

 

No worries. I'd be lost trying to figure out the Canadian trims/options and stuff. So weird that it's done so differently.

 

I got too hung up on payload but these 3rd Gens can handle a lot more than their book values. Nothing lasts forever so put it to work.

Here’s a 1/2 cord of green oak firewood. (At least 2,000lbs) plus a 300lb bumper & winch and two adults. Almost 200% of the rated payload and I drove 200 miles without even noticing it. If this was a 2nd Gen it would’ve literally broken in in half. @hagrid

 

Nobody is saying it will explode the first time it's overloaded. It just causes extra wear and can eventually break it.

We all saw the dodge 1 ton that broke its frame from being overloaded. It took 20,000 miles, but it broke. An anecdotal load of wood not causing immediate failure doesn't change the fact that it's overloaded.

 

Today was Cat Scale Day and here's how to kill your truck's payload.
There's no need to say that the Tundra's payloads suck, every Tundra owner knows that; anyway, my 2018 SR5 DC sticker has a GVWR of 7,100 lb and a payload of 1,320 lb, I tow a 25' Freedom Express trailer dry of 4,140 lb and a max of 6,200 lb .
Toyota GCWR Owner's Manual is 15,900 lb for MaX towing 9,700 lb
So far, so good?
Well no! Just by loading my truck with +300 lb of cargo and its payload is already 1413 lbs.
The purpose of this demo is to once again show that you will kill your truck's payload before reaching the max towing. See my Cat Scale reports from today.
Cheers
Phil

 

Trailer Toad dolly or similar will get you to max tow weight without going over payload.

 

I understand all that. That’s why I said nothing lasts forever.

 

1/2 cord... You must sell firewood for a living.

 

Here's CAT scales results towing a 4940 pound travel trailer with 480 pound tongue weight with my 2022 Crew Cab SR5 2WD Tundra:

 

That's true of all half tons and has been for a long time.

 

Are you working for Toyota now?
In the picture it doesn't look like a half cord (2' x 4' x 8'), it looks like it's been cut, split, & stacked for awhile (so not green) and might be around 1,000 lbs?
But it is nice to see you're able to get some work done with it

 

Good eye! In the pic you'll see firewood in the background; I wasn't done loading.

Two, the stuff at the top has been seasoned for about a year, but the stuff on the bottom is absolutely green.

 

Trying to decipher your numbers and one stands out. Your fuel weight should be in your curb weight not your payload. Us 38 gallon crew do have a reduced payload sticker on the door but do have the option, like aircraft to carry a reduced fuel load and trade that for increased payload. As long as the GVWR isn't exceeded you're good.

 

½ ton = 1000lbs.

Wurdz iz haarrrrrd.

 

Nope. The 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton, and 1 ton class names came about forever and ago and were how much the old trucks could carry as payload. We've moved well beyond that, but the naming convention didn't evolve with the capabilities of newer trucks. The class names are just holdover and actually mean precisely dick these days.