Sanity check for 96 F250 payload calculation

**Avean777** · 07-26-2022, 10:48 AM

I just bought a 96 F250 HD and on the pink slip the unladen weight is 4630 and the GVWR is 8600.
So payload should be 8600 - 4630 - 180 (my own weight) - 250 (hitch weight) = 3540 lbs. Which means I can tow a fifth wheel between 14000-17700 lbs.
3540 * 4 = 14160
3540 * 5 = 17700
It just seems a high for an older F250 and I want to make sure I'm not making a simple mistake before I start towing.

Thanks.

**Hoopy Frood** · 07-26-2022, 11:02 AM

Delete

Whoops, I did some further research and it would appear that weight is probably about right. Very sorry about that. Reading too fast.

**MoonShadow_1911** · 07-26-2022, 11:05 AM

Originally Posted by Avean777

I just bought a 96 F250 HD and on the pink slip the unladen weight is 4630 and the GVWR is 8600.
So payload should be 8600 - 4630 - 180 (my own weight) - 250 (hitch weight) = 3540 lbs. Which means I can tow a fifth wheel between 14000-17700 lbs.
3540 * 4 = 14160
3540 * 5 = 17700
It just seems a high for an older F250 and I want to make sure I'm not making a simple mistake before I start towing.

Thanks.

What's the times 4 and times 5?

The resulting number you came up with is the potential PAYLOAD capacity of the truck. which means that you also need to minus any other passengers, tools, miscelaneous stuff, in that number. For instance:
8600--4630=3970
3970-300=3670 (This is for two average size adults. Don't ask me what "average size" means. It's just a number they through out there.)
3670-100=3570 (This is for "tools" and other miscelaneous stuff; like soda, washer fluid, anti freeze, actual tools, Kleenex, etc.)

This leaves you with a PIN WEIGHT of 3570 lbs that you can safely carry. (Even this number seems too big for that age of a truck, but I digress.)

The CALCULATED pin weight is 20%-25% of the GVWR of the fifth wheel. For instance, my 320MKS has a GWVR of 13995 lbs, which means my pin weight is between 2799 and 3499 lbs, when the coach is fully loaded.

Hope this helps. Also, there are a bunch of threads that come up when searching for payload capacity or CCC.

**xrated** · 07-26-2022, 11:37 AM

Originally Posted by Avean777

I just bought a 96 F250 HD and on the pink slip the unladen weight is 4630 and the GVWR is 8600.
So payload should be 8600 - 4630 - 180 (my own weight) - 250 (hitch weight) = 3540 lbs. Which means I can tow a fifth wheel between 14000-17700 lbs.
3540 * 4 = 14160
3540 * 5 = 17700
It just seems a high for an older F250 and I want to make sure I'm not making a simple mistake before I start towing.

Thanks.

No Guessing = Weighing it at a CAT scale. And remember, you're talking about a truck that is 26 years old.....suspension, driveline, maybe the wheels and a host of other things that can affect what the original GVWR was....8600 lbs

**JKellerJr** · 07-26-2022, 11:41 AM

Originally Posted by MoonShadow_1911

What's the times 4 and times 5?

He just went at it the opposite way x4 payload=25% , x5=20%

I agree, the truck weight seems way off. I would want to see what the scales said.

**Avean777** · 07-26-2022, 11:51 AM

Also, the F250 is a standard cab, long bed, 7.5L, 2 wheel drive.
But we'll see what the scale says tomorrow.

**jkwilson** · 07-26-2022, 12:01 PM

Originally Posted by Hoopy Frood

Are you sure about that truck weight? That seems exceptionally low, seems as though it should be up around 6,000 lbs., not 4,000 lbs. If it were me, I'd take it to the scales and get an actual reading. But you're right about that payload being way high, and your math is correct, it's just that the numbers you're working with are suspect.

Very typical truck weight in the pre-Super Duty days

**Avean777** · 07-26-2022, 12:04 PM

I like the sound of that.

**Avean777** · 08-01-2022, 12:49 PM

So the unladen weight came in at 5320!

8600 (gvwr) - 5320 (unladen weight) - 250 (hitch weight) = 3030 lbs (available payload)

Which means this truck can tow:
low end (25%): 3030 * 4 = 12,120 lbs
high end (20%): 3030 * 5 = 15,150 lbs

**jkwilson** · 08-01-2022, 01:19 PM

Originally Posted by Avean777

So the unladen weight came in at 5320!

8600 (gvwr) - 5320 (unladen weight) - 250 (hitch weight) = 3030 lbs (available payload)

Which means this truck can tow:
low end (25%): 3030 * 4 = 12,120 lbs
high end (20%): 3030 * 5 = 15,150 lbs

Don’t forget you need to deduct the weight of passengers, your hitch and any gear you put in the truck from that 3030lbs. And that’s only pin weight. You could be limited by GCWR or RAWR.