Confused about payload
Mountain Pass
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 142
Likes: 3
I started a thread a few weeks ago asking for people to share their payload stickers. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ad-rating.html
Depending on what you want to live with in an F150, you can get into the low 1800 lb payload range with an STX, 157" wheelbase, max tow truck. I think there is an XLT in there that has a similar payload as well. I think if you want more than that, you need to configure a truck with the heavy duty payload package. You probably aren't going to find one of those on a lot anywhere.
If you are looking on cars.com, autotrader, etc. for F150's, I've found you can do a keywoard search for "Max Trailer Tow" (Exact match if it gives you that option) and that will generally do a good job of weeding out the trucks without that package. For whatever reason, the "Max trailer tow package" is one of those items that all the dealers seem consistent in listing in their descriptions, so a keyword search will catch it.
Depending on what you want to live with in an F150, you can get into the low 1800 lb payload range with an STX, 157" wheelbase, max tow truck. I think there is an XLT in there that has a similar payload as well. I think if you want more than that, you need to configure a truck with the heavy duty payload package. You probably aren't going to find one of those on a lot anywhere.
If you are looking on cars.com, autotrader, etc. for F150's, I've found you can do a keywoard search for "Max Trailer Tow" (Exact match if it gives you that option) and that will generally do a good job of weeding out the trucks without that package. For whatever reason, the "Max trailer tow package" is one of those items that all the dealers seem consistent in listing in their descriptions, so a keyword search will catch it.
New User
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
I spotted a thread on another Ford truck forum that was about payload. I think it was called "post your payload". It as been running for a number of years. On it is an Excel spreadsheet with several hundred trucks, options on the truck, trim level,, etc. I think it covers about 5 model years.
FTE Community Team
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 10,725
Likes: 1,496
I don’t think the axle ratio is as important today as it was in the past. Today, with the 10-speed transmission and tow/haul mode....axle ratio will only be a practical consideration in the sense that it will change due to the specific packages you choose (like max tow).
I wouldnt dicount a truck for your use because of the axle ratio. It’s so easy to lock out gears and first gear is low enough no matter which ratio the truck has in the axle.
I wouldnt dicount a truck for your use because of the axle ratio. It’s so easy to lock out gears and first gear is low enough no matter which ratio the truck has in the axle.
1st: 4.700:1
2nd: 2.990:1
3rd: 2.150:1
4th: 1.800:1
5th: 1.520:1
Ten years ago (with the 6-speed):
1st: 4.171:1
2nd: 2.344:1
3rd: 1.521:1
. . . so a deeper low and 66% more ratios to get to the same 1.52x:1 halfway through the range . . . and the F150 engines of 2009 generally had lower torque peaks at much higher RPMs than today's engines.
FTE Community Team
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 10,725
Likes: 1,496
I spotted a thread on another Ford truck forum that was about payload. I think it was called "post your payload". It as been running for a number of years. On it is an Excel spreadsheet with several hundred trucks, options on the truck, trim level,, etc. I think it covers about 5 model years.
New User
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
I am guessing this might be the one your thinking about. It has lots of great information.
Help us build a database of payload capabilities: https://www.f150forum.com/f82/post-your-payload-332538/ Spreadsheet of payloads: https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resi...nt=file%2cxlsx
Help us build a database of payload capabilities: https://www.f150forum.com/f82/post-your-payload-332538/ Spreadsheet of payloads: https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resi...nt=file%2cxlsx
Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
I think it would be great (and pretty easy to do) if Ford added the weight of options to its Build & Price tool, and showed the truck's weight and available payload as you went along. Then you'd know, or at least be really close, while you were doing the build.
Conversely, I may actually see if I can make a spreadsheet to do the same thing: input cab/bed/engine/drive and select options to see what your approximate payload will be. I may be able to tie the GVWR and towing capacity in too. I think this'll be a fun little project!
Can someone point me to Ford's fleet guide PDF where they list the base and option weights?
Thanks,
-John
Conversely, I may actually see if I can make a spreadsheet to do the same thing: input cab/bed/engine/drive and select options to see what your approximate payload will be. I may be able to tie the GVWR and towing capacity in too. I think this'll be a fun little project!
Can someone point me to Ford's fleet guide PDF where they list the base and option weights?
Thanks,
-John
Junior User
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
Having owned a 08 yukon Denali xl the payload was just under 1400 lbs. The f150 you are looking at must be a well optioned truck to only have 1600lbs available. I got very lucky on mine with 1893lbs of payload with a 157wb and max tow. When ford dropped weight they also strapped GVWR across the board. Also the 157wb trucks with the HP frame also run the same curb weight as the previous generation trucks.
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Lead Driver
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 5,873
Likes: 357
From: Mts. S. of San Francisco
My 2018 F150 3.5EB, 4x4, SCREW Lariat FX4 is loaded with most of the options including 360 camera, Max Tow and power running boards. The payload sticker says 1595 lbs.I found a reference somewhere on here that gives the weight for all the options. I added them up and subtracted this from the theoretic maximum and got 1600 lbs so you are correct. If you know your trailers loaded hitch weight this is the number you apply to your payload. For instance my Lance 2185 GVWR is 6000 lbs but the hitch weight is 940.No it doesn't leave me much payload even though my tow rating is 11500 lbs.
That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.
FTE Community Team
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 10,725
Likes: 1,496
Agree. It's a little scary to me that they race for the biggest tow rating while lightening the tow vehicle and nearly ignoring the part where you might want to take a reasonable amount of people and stuff along with your trailer. If they were marketing F150's to people that use it as a car OR go by themselves to haul a loaded trailer with an otherwise-empty truck that'd be different.
Junior User
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
You're right but it always comes down to a trade off. Tow rating is about more than payload of course. I have been towing travel trailers for 25 years and I found early on I don't want to tow anyware near my tow rating. I was towing a 5,000 lb trailer with a 96 Explorer. Banging right up against the tow rating meant excessive wear on the whole powertrain and brakes. I had to put a transmission in it at 120,000 miles. Now i'm towing 6,000 pounds against a 11,500 lb tow rating so I have lot of margine. It pulls and stops like a dream with no handling issues. I am often running right up against my payload but I have a WD hitch and it does'nt worry me much.
Junior User
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 55
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By the way,I know I could solve the payload issue with an F250 but I don't want to take the gas milage hit. My F150 with the 3.5 EB gets 12.5 mpg towing that 6,000 lb trailer on flat ground. My previous Expedition EL with the 5.4 towing this same trailer never got better than 10.5 and sometimes much worse.
Junior User
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
Agree. It's a little scary to me that they race for the biggest tow rating while lightening the tow vehicle and nearly ignoring the part where you might want to take a reasonable amount of people and stuff along with your trailer. If they were marketing F150's to people that use it as a car OR go by themselves to haul a loaded trailer with an otherwise-empty truck that'd be different.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 5,873
Likes: 357
From: Mts. S. of San Francisco
That's true. The RV sales guy/gal brags about the light weight of a particular trailer and you notice they are just talking empty weight. To add to it, they only factor in 10% tongue weight. In reality, most trailers are at 75-80% of gross, and the tongue weight is more like 12-15%.
FTE Community Team
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 10,725
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It's a shame so many of these are on the road overloaded, underbalanced, with folks driving who have never heard of a scale or learned any physics. I saw two just on my way home from work today. Of course I can't know their weight by a quick glance, but I can tell that they both had no weight-distributing hitches, their hitches low, nose of truck and back of trailer high, rear tires of the truck squashed like they are at 20PSI, front suspension stretched almost all the way out, frantically reaching for that one bump that releases them from the burden of touching the ground . . . 