how do they rate a truck payload capacity

[Rand]

Originally Posted By: chevyboy14
well every single thing i have found states that gvwr is the total weight a vehicle can safely weigh. including all payload people fluids ect but does not include trailers. i dont know why ford would reinvent the wheel on this


Brand new f150 ford trucks cant haul 4500lb in their bed.

if it quacks like a duck looks like a duck.. it obliviously isnt a duck right? its SUPERMAN in duck camouflage.

we will leave out things like the REAR axle is rated at 4000lb or so when new and in perfect condition... plop 4500lb in there and see what happens.

I am trying not to be mean but man this is like explaining to Forrest gump here.

 

[Dakota1820]

even if you are right which frankly if you are that means ford is dumb as [censored] for changing what is suppose to be a rating commonly understood and used across all brands. but any way even if your right why is my gvwr higher on my 93 2wd 302 5sp than it was on a 2wd 92 302 auto. the logic doesn't add up if manuals have less why does this one have more than comparable auto's???

 

[Dakota1820]

Originally Posted By: Rand
Originally Posted By: chevyboy14
well every single thing i have found states that gvwr is the total weight a vehicle can safely weigh. including all payload people fluids ect but does not include trailers. i dont know why ford would reinvent the wheel on this


Brand new f150 ford trucks cant haul 4500lb in their bed.

if it quacks like a duck looks like a duck.. it obliviously isnt a duck right? its SUPERMAN in duck camouflage.
we will leave out things like the REAR axle is rated at 4000lb or so when new and in perfect condition... plop 4500lb in there and see what happens.

I am trying not to be mean but man this is like explaining to Forrest gump here.


that doesnt answer it at all why ford would make gvwr mean gcwr when NO ONE ELSE DOES THAT!!! why does everyone else use the proper terms for the proper ratings except ford? that doesn't make sense. if you are right people will look at that tag look up the definition and assume they can haul 4000 lbs. so either your wrong or ford is stupid. but my question remains if the manuals are not rated to pull as much then why is mine at 8650 when my 92 2wd 302 auto was at 6500 or so. they were both gvwr so what gives??? either your right about fords meaning gcwr=gvwr and your wrong about manual ratings over auto's or vise versa . you cannot be right at both. the number is right in front of you .

 

[yonyon]

Does your 93 show a much higher rear GAWR than the 92? If so, then it should be able to pull and carry more weight.

Are the brakes bigger? If it does then it should be able to stop more weight, but if not then it can't.

Does it weigh more? You'll need a heavier truck to tow more, but springs, shocks, and yes a swaybar will help you steer a heavier trailer somewhat.

The GVWR isn't some magic number below which you can haul all day driving like you're in a sports car. Neither is it some magic number that, once exceeded, means you'll destroy the truck or crash and be burned alive.

THE GVWR is a number that you need to be aware of so that you can avoid breaking laws against operating overloaded. It's also a very general guideline as far as what you can do with the truck without having a problem.

Real world practical limits depend on how you're loaded and the specific driving conditions. Weather and roads permitting, you can exceed the GVWR by a bit without having a problem if you're careful about how you do it. You can also wear things out or create a safety hazard with a lighter load if you're sloppy or overly aggressive.

 

[01rangerxl]

Directly from the 1992 brochure...

 

[Dakota1820]

those numbers make sense but if the ford brochure shows that gvwr means what it states then why on my tag is it refered to as gvwr and its 8650? thats where i am lost. i think 4000 in the bed is a lot but i also think 4000 towing capacity is [censored]. neither makes very good sense. i dont disagree that 4000 payload is a [censored] ton. i disagree with the idea that ford changed the definition of gvwr . the 6000 range was what i was used to seeing on previous fords not 8000+

 

[hattaresguy]

Look at those old numbers its really amazing how far trucks have come in 20 years.

As much as I like those older trucks and grew up around them when they were new, a brand new truck will whip them every way possible.

Especially in the power department, compare the old 302 at what 200hp on its best day 20 years ago, to the new 5.0 V8? Ha the V8 pulls!

 

[hattaresguy]

Originally Posted By: chevyboy14
those numbers make sense but if the ford brochure shows that gvwr means what it states then why on my tag is it refered to as gvwr and its 8650? thats where i am lost. i think 4000 in the bed is a lot but i also think 4000 towing capacity is [censored]. neither makes very good sense. i dont disagree that 4000 payload is a [censored] ton. i disagree with the idea that ford changed the definition of gvwr . the 6000 range was what i was used to seeing on previous fords not 8000+


Dude you have a 20 year old truck, maybe sometime in the past two decades it was repainted or hit and someone stuck on the wrong sticker, who knows. 4k pounds sounds about right for that truck, they didn't have a lot of power or brakes so your not going to be able to keep up with a new Ecoboost powered F150 and drag around 10k pounds.

But I do know if you try to load the living heck out of it like you seem to think you can, you will break something, and hopefully not hurt anyone in the process.

Old stuff isn't as good as new stuff, a 4k pound axle in 1993 may not be a 4k pound axle still 20 years later after who knows how much use; metal fatigues. To drive older vehicles a little bit of mechanical sympathy isn't a bad thing.

 

[eljefino]

I find it hard to believe some authority with jurisdiction let this slip: the NHTSA, EPA, or any of the 50 state DMVs or highway patrol/ weigh stations.

You'd think in the last 20 years someone would have found this sticker and recalled the truck to print a new sticker and slap it on there. Especially after the firestone tire fiasco. Coincidentally the tires you have on there are good for 1984 lbs each. Add 'em all up, under 8k. The only way to break this barrier would be with a third axle... eg a trailer.

Surely GVWR was defined in law in 1993.

This is a sure puzzler.

 

[97f150]

I thought this truck was bought with the intentions of transporting exam projects to school? What motor are you building that weighs 2 tons?

 

[Dakota1820]

why do people read half of a thread and then comment? i bought the truck to haul tools , school stuff and any job i may get. i am not hauling anything over a couple thousand lbs yet that i know of but its a good practice to know the limits before doing something. i also know the sticker on the door matches the truck its vin is the same. i will be talking to ford tomorrow to try to figure it out. i also disagree with the idea that new trucks are better . engines are more powerful sure. but negligibly. they just cram turbos on them and stuff now. but yes engines are more powerful . tougher and take more abuse though no way. also trucks now days are so high up its hard to load them. back in the day trucks were more practical. bumpers were also stouter too. in some ways they are better in some ways not so much.comparing fair to fair the 4.7 dodge vs the 318 magnum. there isnt a difference in usability that is noticeable. that's just my opinion.but yes new engines have more technology and have better numbers but will they last as long? who knows

 

[Dakota1820]

i also dont have stock tires on it.

 

[ls1mike]

Go ahead try it with your truck. You are misunderstanding the ratings.

 

[ls1mike]

Went from an 89 GMC 1 ton 454 to a 2002 Silverado 3/4 ton. The 02 tows circles around the 89 with a heavier trailer. How old are you?

 

[Dakota1820]

how is it a misunderstanding ? gvwr is the total amount a vehicle can haul including its own weight and what not but excludes a trailer
GCWR is the total weight a vehicle can hold in the bed and tow behind ect.
my truck is 8650 gvwr. if my door tag is wrong its not me that is wrong its ford! i know what the terms are and i know 8650 is A LOT but it is what it says its either wrong or ford had a bright idea to change the meaning. either way i am not misunderstanding. but every other ford i had was around 6000 lbs and i remember my 88 ford manual and ford talked about gvwr and gcwr and the payload was about 1500 and towing was 6500 i think...... so this one is a little confusing. i will go to the ford dealer tomorrow and actually find out the truth. it would be nice to really know.

 

[Dakota1820]

i guarantee that's true. but i also think my truck is a better work truck than a new truck in some ways. like loading and unloading.

 

[01rangerxl]

Originally Posted By: chevyboy14
i will go to the ford dealer tomorrow and actually find out the truth.

I don't know what kind of information you expect a new car dealer to have on a 20 year old truck. They don't know what the payload is for it. They probably threw out all of the sales manuals and brochures for that truck 20 years ago, and a straight commission salesman that has been there a month will tell you anything he can to get you in a truck with payments, because he probably doesn't have a clue about payload.

This thread is just ridiculous at this point. Going to a new car dealer to have them confirm if your 20 year old truck has a higher payload capacity than any other 1/2 ton ever made? Is Missouri the real world?

You can request a build sheet from Ford (the company, not the dealer), but those are not guaranteed to be correct either. In fact, one I received for a truck I had previously had a long list of options it clearly did not have (overhead console, trip computer, numerous Explorer parts).

 

[01rangerxl]

Originally Posted By: chevyboy14
i also dont have stock tires on it.


Not relevant, since the sticker was put on the truck before the tires (we assume).

 

[bullwinkle]

Does your truck have a full-float rear axle (axle sticks out through the wheel) or a semi-float rear axle? That'll make the MOST difference on how much weight you can carry-but with the FACTORY 15" tires, there's NO WAY the 2 rear tires are rated over 4100 lbs.-now if you (or somebody else) transplanted a full float rear axle, 8-lug rims, 10 plys under there-then you would be able to handle more.

 

[Dakota1820]

The service dept can get the info. Its foolish to think they can't. Even though both Ford forums I am on said the truck gvwr is correct and does exclude trailer weight. I honestly think you just like hearing yourself. There is trucks rated to haul 3500lbs. But I find it comical that both Ford forums can give educated answers and on bitog its just nope no that's wrong and instead of discussing I am going to act like an [censored] about it. Seems for some people there is a trend there.

Originally Posted By: 01rangerxl
Originally Posted By: chevyboy14
i will go to the ford dealer tomorrow and actually find out the truth.

I don't know what kind of information you expect a new car dealer to have on a 20 year old truck. They don't know what the payload is for it. They probably threw out all of the sales manuals and brochures for that truck 20 years ago, and a straight commission salesman that has been there a month will tell you anything he can to get you in a truck with payments, because he probably doesn't have a clue about payload.

This thread is just ridiculous at this point. Going to a new car dealer to have them confirm if your 20 year old truck has a higher payload capacity than any other 1/2 ton ever made? Is Missouri the real world?

You can request a build sheet from Ford (the company, not the dealer), but those are not guaranteed to be correct either. In fact, one I received for a truck I had previously had a long list of options it clearly did not have (overhead console, trip computer, numerous Explorer parts).