Originally Posted by mstang66guy

You can't. Ford rates all 5.4, screw, 6.5 bed, 3.55 trucks the same payload rating. The fact that it is a plat trim brings the rating down. Whoever you talked to at Ford has no idea what they are talking about. The 1480lb figure is the payload for a 157" flareside truck. They are just going on their website and looking at the numbers there, which are for the "base" truck. b/c your truck is a plat it is heavier than the base truck meaning less payload ability.

Originally Posted by dbossman

Several days back, I fired off a couple emails to see if I could get an answer from the F150 engineering team. Got a response last night. It confirms that the figures posted on the Ford web site are maximum potential payloads. You must subtract the weight of options to get to the actual payload rating for a specific vehicle. The actual payload rating for a vehicle is documented on the Tread Act label on the door pillar.

Unfortunately, if you have a 157 wb 4x4 KR (or probably similar configuration), your payload is about 900 lbs, not 1500 as the dealer might have told you.

I think it would be nice if they could combine the high end features (of a Lariat, KR, or Platinum) with a more capable payload, but they dont offer that.

Here is the actual response:

************

Thank you for the inquiry and sorry for the slow response. As you might imagine, we offer a variety of payloads in the F150 line-up. The payloads are usually aligned to provide the most capability for the segment or series for the customer group that needs the most capability. For example, lower trim series are usually purchased for work trucks where maximum capability is required. For higher trim series vehicles, we will trade reduced payload for more features and options. Thus, payloads on F150 trucks can range from 875 lbs. to 3030 lbs. This is consistent with our competition where GM ranges from 874 lbs.* to 1909 lbs., Toyota from 875 lbs.* to 1990 lbs., and Dodge from 790 lbs.* to 1910 lbs.

Thus, in a 157" wheelbase 5.4L 4x4 truck, payload can range from 875 lbs. to 1430 lbs. In your particular case, you have a 157" 4x4 King Ranch which adds 540 lbs. of features and options resulting in a payload in the 900 lb. range.

The competition does not offer 157" wheelbase vehicles. However, in the 145" crew cab variant of a 5.4 4x4, payloads with standard equipment are comparable to Toyota and better than Chevy and Dodge:
Ford - 1560 lbs.
Toyota - 1495 lbs. to 1585 lbs. (depending on model selected)
Chevy - 1336 lbs.
Dodge - 1330 lbs. to 1430 lbs. (depending on model selected)
Given similar option weights, which would be expected, the competition would have similar payloads. A Silverado Crew Cab 4x4 with maximum options shows a 640 lb payload based on the weight calculator on their website. However, we have no way to verify that this is what would be shown on their Tread Act Label.

*minimum payloads based on F150 option weight content for competitor models due to unavailability of competitor OEM data.

Again, thanks for the inquiry and we hope this addresses your question.
Jeff Lewis (JLEWIS8)
P415/U22X Vehicle Engineering Manager

Originally Posted by Bsimmer3000

This is my point. As i have said im lucky because im well below my payload rateing anyway. But if i was a truck buyer and looked into these trucks. I goto Ford.com and build and price a platinum. When i ajust the truck to different engines, Diffs and bed lengths the Payload figure on the right changes. This happens on all the trucks if people hadnt noticed. So the figures goes to 1500lb payload as built. Now call ford and ask them the same thing. They give you the exact numbers. Call a dealer and they also give you the same numbers. Call a guy high up in Ford he also cheks his system and paper work and he also says the same figures. When i told them all that the door sticker said 900lb they all said that it's incorrect sticker. Now when 5 sources from Ford say one figure and it's infact another then i dont think thats right. They should post what these trucks can really carry.

But it still dont expalin the extra weight the platinum has over a lariat that is built exactly the same. The main difference in the platinum what i could see being more sprung weight would be the alloy power running boards. But from what i have found out these are lighter or exactly the same as steel running boards. So somewere on the platinum weight is being eaten up. 300-400lb of weight.

What do people think the extra weight comes from on the platinum to make it's payload so much lower than a lariat of similer spec?

I would love to know this.

Originally Posted by dbossman

Dude, you are missing the forest for the trees here.

The people who are tellling you 1500lbs are simply (and dangerously) wrong. The Ford web site is very misleading, unless you understand that the numbers published are max POTENTIAL payload capacities. Apparently the people you are taking to don't understand this.

The Build Your Vehicle website is not adjusting the payload based on the detailed options like heated/cooled seats, bed step, moon roof, running boards, wheels/tires, stereo, etc.

The sticker on the pillar is apparently a legal requirement mandated by the TREAD act which was instituted following the Firestone tire issue. Google it. Its highly unlikely Ford would make a mistake on this.

I have asked the engineer to locate an ordering guide / reference that would help us understand the weight of each option, so that we could see exactly what is bringing down the payload. When I hear back from him, I will post what I get.


Tim

Originally Posted by fonefiddy

I'm not hell bent on defending the F250, just stating facts.

A F150 w/4.10's will only get 14-15 MPG also.

Sure, they're rated at 18-19. But in real world driving, there are only a few peeps that are getting 17.

I haven't read of anyone doing any hand calulations in the MPG thread, either. Peeps are saying the computer is accurate. I'm sure it is fairly accurate. But real hand calculations will prolly show a slight drop.

Originally Posted by Bsimmer3000

I know what everyones saying about stuff increases weight and this is what im trying say about the figures being misleading. Everything, even fords paper work points to the these trucks being able to carry more than they can. For me not a problem but if you bought a lariat, King ranch or platinum thinking you could tow 9600lb then you would be pissed of if it couldnt. Like i said on a previous post about the max trailer tow as well. You get the increase in tow capacity and the way the paper work and site makes it look you can tow just over 11000lbs but your payload cant even handle 9000lb at 10% tongue weight with you in the cab. So it's pointless to get max trailer tow on most of these kitted out trucks as well. The site and ford infomation should make this clear to buyers and the weight should ajust to changes in the spec when you build it. I got a feeling there's going to be many f150's well over there rated capacity as no one ever pays attention to the payload rateing stickers.

Originally Posted by Power Kid

It would be nice when I go to build & price tool if when done, it would give me the max payload based on how I configured it. I'm sure if we went to a dealer and asked we'd get a blank stare...

Originally Posted by crs

I don't know how much weight it adds to the platinum but I believe the platinum has a thicker windshield and thicker firewall then any of the other models.

I have an 09 Lariat Screw 2wd. The tire sticker reads 1545 lbs at 35PSI. The tires are rated 2271 lbs at 44PSI. If the max loading of the tires are directly proportional to the air pressure then at 35 PSI the truck could handle 7226 lbs. My trucks GVWR is 7100 lbs. The GVW of the two axles added together is 7300. Theese numbers are very close. They seem to have the recommended air pressure of the tires and the tire load rating tied to the GVWR of the truck. So my tires are rated at 9 more PSI. Could simply adding more pressure increase the payload but effect the handling and the ride? By the way the tires are P rated 18". But they are capable of more weight then the truck.

Originally Posted by MisterCMK

How many of you actually think about your payload capacity when you are putting people/luggage/whatever in your truck (within reason, we are not talking about a 3k lb pallet of seed here)?

Originally Posted by cpdorroh

I certainly don't, unless it is really starting to squat. Like somebody said earlier, I would bet that if you were in an accident, 99% of people would not even think to question if you were over your payload capacity.....unless it is blatantly obvious....like having pallets of bricks stacked on each other or something rediculous like that.