Maybe the logic of the door sticker is more applicable to passenger cars because the payload is much smaller. And I could see using the door sticker GVWR to help a customer in which tire to select and I believe that is what happened here. He was using the same method of door sticker for tire selection and applying that to what the lift could safely operate.

 

IMO, using the car's gvwr is a simple way for tire shops to cover themselves. For example: Say the employee reads the gvwr on the sticker, it's within the lift's capacity so he/she lifts the car. The lift breaks. It's discovered the car was overloaded beyond its gvwr. IMO, the car owner is now in trouble. Using the gvwr sticker is easier than having a certified scale at the tire shop or expecting a tire changer to evaluate whatever load may be in a car.

Personally, I blame Ford for making a light duty truck too heavy for its weight class and I blame customers for buying it. Build/buy a truck that is, in many respects, a medium duty truck and then become frustrated when it doesn't fit in the light duty class. That's why we have 3/4 ton trucks that technically have less than 2000 lbs payload but are actually capable of hauling more. Then we get into long arguments over legal weight limits of a 3/4 ton truck. Bigger, more powerful, etc but doesn't fit its weight class... silliness....

My 2002 3/4 ton's gwvr is 9200 lbs, it has 3000 lbs payload and is an extend cab, long bed diesel. Guess Ford (and others) forgot how to fit trucks into a class.

 

There's a lot more to unpack here, but if you went to a chain store to do anything other than a stock tire swap, that was your first mistake.

As said above, they're tied to what they can and cannot do, and corporate makes them stick to it. You could potentially have enough weight in your truck to put it AT the GVWR, so they're not allowed to put it on their hoist, just in case something breaks - you can't sue them for damage to your vehicle that way. They aren't allowed to put certain size tires on your truck, they have to be rated to match your truck (I ran into this, wanted to put some load range D tires on an F350 non-dually because I had them, a chain store would NOT do it). So on and so forth.

Not being able to jack the truck up and do the work is a new one, I've never actually heard of that before - there have been countless times when I've seen them lift my truck one corner at a time to do tires, but I'll admit I'm not familiar with every chain store and their policies.

Couple that with the fact that they don't necessarily hire people who know stuff about tires or even cars. The front desk people are hired to make a sale, and to try to up-sell you on stuff (hey your tie rod end has a little wiggle, here's a quote for us to fix it, it isn't bad but do you want us to do it now?), and they're taught how to compare tire ratings to vehicle ratings. The shop guys don't necessarily know much about tires either, they're taught how to operate the equipment and that's about it, if they can lift a tire/wheel combo and don't mind getting dirty they're pretty much hired. That's how you end up with ridiculous amounts of weights to balance the tire instead of breaking it back down, rotating it 90°, and trying again. Sure there will be one or two who are actual mechanics who might know something but that's about it.

So I DO understand your frustration - I've waited at a LOT of tire stores over the years and seen a LOT of different things. But in this day and age of chain tire stores (like any other chain store), most of those people are just there to collect a paycheck, they likely don't know anything, or very little, about tires because they haven't been trained and frankly don't want to be experts on tires. This works for the chain stores because it lets them pay the employees less and makes them easier to replace.

Is it right? I'd argue no. Does it make the customer's experience considerably poorer? Absolutely. But with how few mom and pop stores are left, do they care? Absolutely not, they've got you over a barrel and there isn't much you can do about it.

 

I get it. The store I usually use, and have a fleet account at, don't install customer supplied tires so I was left to find one. I failed the first two times and come to find out the first two are owned by the same corporation. lol. Its America and I firmly believe a business can run anyway they want and the consumer is free to make their own choices. Things like this happen just another day.

 

I’m glad I can at least get my trailer squared away again. It’s been sitting like this for more days than I care. 😂

 

Likely because "curb" weight is volatile and very dependent on any changes to the vehicle from the time it leaves the manufacture the curb weight can change, GVWR on the other hand is fairly static, and has both taxation and safety tied to it.

Example currently my truck's curb and GVWR are essentially the same, that was not true the day I bought it.

 

Living in a small town, I have to say I'm fortunate with my 2 tire shops, one for my personal trucks I have been using for 20+ yrs, nice discount for cash, if I'm in town on a Sat. morning I can run by and help them balance and rotate my tires, they know I'm somewhat **** retentive with my rims and trucks and he doesn't mind me helping and watching them as they do it, of course I have built a reputation/friendship with him over time.
For my F550 work truck, I have to use Sullivan's Tire, as we have a Fleet mgmt Co Element, and they, Sullivan's have been great, I work from my home/truck and they understand I have a lot of $$ equipment/tools/test sets and a pewpew in my truck, so they allow me to pull my truck in for tire work, oil changes and fuel filters and not leave it sitting unattended. that being said, however, I will say, IME, a good amount of the tire kids/guys... are not always the brightest bulbs on the string, OR are just starting out and don't have a lot of experience/knowledge yet.

 

Well ford says my trucks curb weight is around 6500 as equipped. The <10,500# package I got with my truck from the factory would mean id have to add 4100# to meet the GVWR. Where am I hiding 4100# where it can't be seen?

 

Im going to try to hunt down a mom and pop type shop maybe. But I won't hold my breath. I don't do a ton of business with tire shops but I do have a fleet account at a well known shop that is usually good to go. But they were unwilling to help with this project due to corporate policy. I live in a small town but not small enough lol

 

Don't kill the messenger, I was just offering an opinion,
Also my 4100# ain't hiden' from nobody

 

No hate. I didn’t have ill intentions when I wrote my response. That is a valid point you laid out.

 

Agreed - unless they have a scale there is no way for them to know how much the truck weighs sitting there.

 

FYI @Quad Racer, I weighted my 24 F350 7.3 CCSB Lariat at a Cat Scale. The truck had about 3/4 tank of fuel and a couple of odds and ends, no more than 100 lbs. Came in at 6880.

 

I agree. But a professional person that works on vehicles should be able to get closer than +/- 4000 #. Its their company policy and its just not a good one IMO. But like I told the manager today, they can feel free to run their business anyway they see fit. But as an educated consumer I shy away when I feel a person isn't up to snuff on their said profession.

 

Thanks for that. Ill assume Im fairly close to that until I can get it weighed.