Let's talk about Payload. How many of you exceed it?

I recently ordered a new ATC 2015 toy hauler, the lightest (5000lb) I could find that would fit my SXS.
I didn't think much about looking into numbers as its less than half the max towing capacity of the truck. We currently have a little 18' (21' overall) travel trailer with a GVWR of 4000 pounds, which we regularly exceed...

Out of curiosity I stopped by the scales today on the way back from a camping trip.
With 300 pounds in the bed, my wife, 1 year old, 60 pound dog, and myself (200lb) in the cab the truck weighed 7700 pounds with the trailer connected. That's 100 pounds over GVWR of the truck according to the door jam sticker. Rear axle was 4100 pounds, also 100 over it's rating.

This was with a proper WDH setup.

Pretty hard to believe a little 4500lb travel trailer can "max" out the truck.
Especially when it pulls it like it's nothing. 6000' passes with 6% grades, cruise control set at 65 with no problems, no raising temperatures of any kind, etc.

So I'm curious, how many of you know how much payload you're putting on the truck, and how many of you are exceeding it?
I plan to exceed it even further with the new trailer, I'm doubtful it will create any problems but time will tell.

 

With my trailer, my scale says 500 lbs and my hitch weighs about 125 lbs. with all my stuff and things I have added to the truck like covers, running boards and heavier wheels, I am probably close to the 1,390 lbs number that I have. I still have to get to a scale and confirm the contents weight.

It is better to run a tongue weight of more than 10% of the trailer weight for stability. So lightening the tongue weight by moving contents back is not good for stability but will help the payload.

 

Go out some where fully loaded , drive at highway speed and slam on the brakes. If you are comfortable with the stopping distance you are good to go!! Its all about being able to stop it

MY boat is 6000 and I tow it at 70 MPH

 

Oooo yea baby. 200lbs bumper, 120 of winch and lights, 35in tires on light wheels (11lbs more than stock), running boards, decked system 200lbs, topper 200lbs, 2 big car seats 30lbs each, lift kit- 30lbs let’s say, roof rack 80lbs, and I’m sure I’m leaving some stuff out. Our camper is 3,400 wet and with the bed loaded and air bags pumped to 45 it tow’s like a dream with a do35 off-road hitch.

truck weights 7,600 at the scales with just me in it

 

What is your tongue weight? I try to keep it at 10%. I regularly tow a car trailer at about 8000 lbs. 800 lbs tongue weight + 100 lbs hitch + myself (200 lbs) and passenger (130 lbs) leaves about 200 lbs to GVWR with a full tank. Rear axle is usually at 3500~3600 lbs after hooking up the load bars. I try not to carry anything in the truck if I’m towing. I’ll throw everything in the trailer.

 

I’m currently at a camp ground and judging by the 20% tongue weight of 5th wheels, I’d say every half ton here is over payload. Your set up wouldn’t concern me at all. I feel the numbers are crazy when a Honda Ridgeline or ford maverick has a higher payload than most full size truck.

 

It’s funny how we are seeing the same kinds of threads in the 3rd gen forums as the 2nd:

“I’m over payload; is this ok?”
“I thought MPG would be better than this.”
“How can I fix my bouncy ride?”

Fully brand new truck from the ground up, same Toyota problems

The fine print with the Ridgeline is that while the door jamb may say 1500 lb, the bed can only handle 1000 lb of that total payload.

 

No manufacturer is gonna post the true payload number which is higher than the number on the sticker.

 

There are a few things about the new Tundra that disappoint me and cargo weight capacity is a big one. One the website it says 1800 lbs but your door sticker says 1350 lbs. I would load the heavy stuff in the rear of the toyhauler and when you load your SXS put that puppy as far back as you can. I did put air bags on mine as well as load range E all terrain tires which I know doesn't change anything when it comes GCWR but made the truck ride better. This is what my truck looked like with 1400 lbs in the bed, pretty
sad if you ask me. I wouldnt worry about 100 lbs over weight.
.

 

I've got E rated tires and bags in the back as well, and I'm installing some stiffer Dobinson rear springs and Icon 3.0 shocks tomorrow.
Like you said, doesn't change the trucks GVWR but it will definitely help with how it tows.
I'm not really concerned about the larger trailer, just at odds with these seemingly extremely conservative payload/GVWR numbers on the truck.

 

Today's math problem: (no cheating)

½ Ton = ___lbs

 

This is the best advice I've ever read on the entire internet.

 

And when you get in an accident (Your fault or not), you can tell the judge and jury that its ok because you went out on a country road and performed your own safety testing.
You open yourself up to legal repercussions by exceeding these specifications. Not saying theyre reasonable specs...but theres that to consider as well.

 

Looks like the weight is more to the rear then over the axles but it could totally just be the pic

that’s one reason I wanted the auto load leveling rear, smooth as silk ride when unloaded and level when loaded , kinda have your cake and eat it too.

All that said I bet my 2016 tundra would sag just as much if it was loaded with that much weight towards the rear , but anyways , have a good 4th!!

 

Level is important to keep the rear suspension travel for comfort but load transfer to the front steer axle with a weight distributing hitch is way more important.

 

Seems straight forward to me. We had a 20' trailer we towed with our 4-runner, well within the weight limit. Came up on a corner and some bone head was passing in our lane and I couldnt stop us, just getting pushed down the road by the trailer ...no accident but ....next week I had a 1/2 ton Chevy in the driveway beside the 4 runner

 

Good old common sense

 

Just a little over loaded 2000# wood pellets. Past truck had 1666 for payload. I was hurting once the gas tank was under 1/2 it was so harsh. Had to cancle this years camping so Ill have to wait till next year to test out the platinum. My 2012 Tundra was more stable as a camper puller than whats pictured. 2012 tundra had 1200# payload.

 

sure, I’m confident Toyota has that right , haven’t had the chance to tow my boat yet but it’s super light and it will tow like a champ

So far pretty impressed what Toyota did with the platinum tundra this time around , it’s pretty awesome , let’s see how it goes

messed around with sport s+ today, holy shit , it takes off

 

About payload, do you look at the undistributed tongue weight or the distributed weight?

Distribution puts some weight back on the trailer axles, that's why I ask.

 

I recently (2 months ago) moved to acreage, and am now having to haul my own water, as we aren't on ANY city services. I figured go big or go home, so I now haul 950 gallons of water at least once a week, or roughly 8000lbs, plus weight of tank, plus weight of trailer. I figure I'm pushing 10,000lbs in all. Thankfully its not a very long haul, only about 10-15min, but the annoying thing is I go downhill empty, and then have to haul it full back up the hill. The trailer brakes are dialed in nicely, and I never feel like I'd loose control of her. That being said, I am not looking forward to hauling in the dead of winter (we moved to Alberta, so winters here are actually a thing). There's a scale near my house too... I should hit it one day full and just see what I'm actually doing. Kinda scared to though... lol.

I feel proud my truck is actually doing something now... and not just looking pretty.

***ignore this post. I completely glossed over the fact this is a 2022+ forum. lol***

 

Every single time there's a cold snap, this is the first thing I do, to make sure I know how good/bad the traction is. Makes perfect sense to do the same when hauling. I did this to dial in my trailer brakes actually, come to think of it.

 

People always know better than the folks who designed and built it and blow by the posted limitations. If they provided the actual limit those same people would know better and blow by it. Can't be possible that a half ton is light duty and most people bought the wrong vehicle for their intended use. That'd never happen.

 

100 lbs over a 7600 lb gvwr is only 1.3%. I think ull be ok

 

Answer: 1000 lbs of payload.

Modern ½ tons have bested their nominal capacity by 20%+ on average for the last 20 years yet morons all over the world continue to complain about it and demonstrate why we need “caution- this coffee is hot” stamped on your McDonald’s cup.

Fortunately for me there are still scales in every grocery store so I know exactly what I’m loading into to my oVerLaNDer.

 

There are a lot of people that don't think the physical bed capacity is the limiting factor for hauling.

 

Digitalwiz has a point.