Recent preparation for towing a TT has got me checking numbers. According to Ford, my GVWR is 9,900 and my payload is 2,930 (2002 F-350 4X4 crew cab SRW Long wheel base AT 7.3) . This would indicate a curb weight of 6,970 and I have read differing opinions if that includes fluids and fuel. If it includes fuel then I am even worse off than I thought. A recent CAT scale weigh shows me at 8,860 with a full tank, people, luggage tools, camper shell and everything else I could think of (see pic). Weights are actual on most items and estimates on those things not easily weighed however I tried to estimate high. My tires are about 14 lbs heavier each than the stock ones and I guessed at 10 lbs each for the Lariat wheels over the stock wheels for a total of 96 lbs. I went over everything carefully and even considering minor inaccuracies I cannot account for about 400 lbs. Any ideas on this, could it be that the actual delivered curb weight differed that much?

 

My f250 ext. cab lb weighs 7,200 or so dry so your crew cab weighs more than that. As long as you don't excede your axle ratings you will be fine.

 

Because you don't have an in bed camper, just stay within the axle and tire ratings and all will be well.

I am sure you are planning on it, but a good WD hitch system will help a lot.

 

It doesn't matter what the factory posted for payload, they were figures to make a truck look attractive to buyers, all manufacturers stretch the figures this way. As Sous said it's what ends up on your axle that counts. The only truck that left the factory with those figures was the stripped down base model that had a seven stone driver!

 

My regular cab is 7680 lbs without the camper, with a fiberglass camper shell. That leave about 1,100 lbs "payload" in my 8,800 GVWR truck... By the time I get my OUO track-bars on this will be a 1/2 ton pickup.

For what it's worth, with the camper loaded and 2 people, I sit about 9,700 lbs. It's pretty top-heavy but seems to drive fine at that weight.

 

Luggage 60 pounds? When I was flying a lot, I had to struggle to keep each bag below 50 pounds. My suitcase and my toolbox weighed 49 pounds each.

Do you have a bed liner? Any other accessories you may have forgotten about (air bags or winch)? I wonder if those figures included the spare tire.

 

One small suitcase for a weekend trip for two. Bed kit figured at 125 lbs....basically 2 layers of carpet and two shelves, one wood, one steel. Was wondering about the spare myself.

 

Passengers lying about their weight?

 

 

I know I will be OK with the TT's we have been looking at, just surprising how fast a 1 ton truck loads up. Curiosity mostly got me when I started weighing stuff. Makes me wonder about some of the rigs I see flying down the road behind 1/2 ton trucks and SUVs with 5 people and a dog in them.

 

 

Oh, wait, what? You actually want Air Conditioning in your truck? That adds 44 lbs to the front axle, unloads the rear axle by 3 lbs... so subtract 41 lbs from your 2,930 lb payload capacity.

You've got to be kidding. You want running boards so you can step up into your cab? Add 47 lbs to your front axle, add 29 lbs to your rear axle, so subtract 75 lbs from your 2,930 lb payload capacity.

Oh my gawwd. XLT trim? Seriously? Such decadence. Add 89 lbs to your front axle, add 4 lbs to your rear axle, so subtract 93 lbs from your so called 2,930 lb payload capacity.

No. Way. LARIAT trim? You've got an oil well in your back yard? Add 117 lbs to your front axle, add 19 lbs to your rear axle, so subtract 136 lbs from that 2,930 lb payload capacity that you were roped in with.

Shut up. Off Road Equipment package? In a 4x4? That's a surprise. Add 41 lbs to your front axle, add 27 lbs to your rear axle, so subtract 68 lbs from your 2,930 lb payload capacity.

I could go on, but you get the idea. The payload capacity is based on an absolutely stripped, minimum configuration, bare bones base model with zero options other than required equipment mandated by FMVSS laws, with one driver weighing 150 lbs.

Adjustable pedals? Subtract 5 lbs from the payload capacity.

Even the factory receiver hitch, which is considered by Ford to be "Recommended" equipment for towing, but not "Required" equipment for purposes of publishing payload capacity, means that you need to deduct an additional 49 lbs from your 2,930.

It isn't you or your stuff.

It is the misleading marketing of the industry.

It all adds up.

 

Makes ya wonder how any of the crew cab OBS even made it down the road with a full cab of people, full tank, and anything in the bed/hitch

 

I did the same calculations in the 1980s and 1990's. A crew cab 4x4 single rear wheel long bed of the OBS era could only carry 1,200 lbs. Ford didn't offer a dually in the 4x4 crew cab, and Ford didn't offer a crew cab in the 4x4 dually.

Centurion and Quigly made a few bucks in the 90's providing what truck buyers wanted that Ford didn't build. Centurion even built the precursor to the Excursion. That changed when Ford greatly expanded the options with the introduction of the 1999 Super Duty. But what didn't change a whole lot was the net carrying capacity rating of a single rear wheel crew cab 4x4 diesel. Definitely an improvement over the OBS, but the real payload capacity rating improvement came when Ford offered the 4x4 crew cab with dual rear wheels.

 

Ain't that the truth. 4x4, power everything, A/C, diesel engine, bigger tires, tonneau cover, gages, switches, etc., add up quick. 8800 lbs GVWR and my truck tips the scales at 7760 lbs (full tank, empty bed, empty cab, and no driver). That's 4400 lbs on the front and 3360 lbs on the rear. Add me and you're looking at 8K on the road before adding anything or hooking up.

That leaves me 800 lbs by the numbers but just over 2700 lbs left on the rear axle (for some reason 6084 lbs sticks in my mind for rear GAWR). My wheels and tires are rated to take more than the axle so aren't an issue (3750 lbs for each tire and 3400 lbs for each wheel).