What is my REAL payload capacity?

[Starstreams58]

Hello,

I have perused some of the posts on this subject but am still somewhat uncertain as to whether the truck/camper combination I'm considering is realistic.

I have a SRW 2021 RAM 3500 Laramie 6.7L diesel that shows a payload rating on the door sticker of 3,855 lbs. However, the truck was highly modified by the previous owner to include heavier rear springs (not sure of the rating) and airbags, presumably for carrying/towing a heavier camper. It also has larger wheels and tires (20' and 315 all terrains).

I'm interested in buying a new Cirrus (NuCamp) 920 hard sided camper (no slides) with an advertised dry weight of 4,361 pounds. Using the rough rule of thumb of an additional 1,000 pounds for liquids, equipment, people, etc., this would put me at (roughly) 5,500 lbs.

My predicament is that I've seen manufacturer payload charts for this model showing a payload of 7,200 pounds (SRW), presumably a total bed/cab combination.

So, handling issues aside, am I within the acceptable limits for this combination?

Thanks.

 

[Hoopy Frood]

First off, air bags do not increase your carrying capacity, they are for leveling the load.

That would be one monster of a truck if it had a payload of 7,200 lbs. I have a long bed Ram Tradesman Cummins dually , and it's payload is less than 6,000 lbs. Where did you see that payload capacity?

You just have to remember: whatever "improvements" are done to the suspension, wheel changes, air bags, etc. will not increase the strength of the frame.

 

[JKellerJr]

Hello,

I have perused some of the posts on this subject but am still somewhat uncertain as to whether the truck/camper combination I'm considering is realistic.

I have a SRW 2021 RAM 3500 Laramie 6.7L diesel that shows a payload rating on the door sticker of 3,855 lbs. However, the truck was highly modified by the previous owner to include heavier rear springs (not sure of the rating) and airbags, presumably for carrying/towing a heavier camper. It also has larger wheels and tires (20' and 315 all terrains).

I'm interested in buying a new Cirrus (NuCamp) 920 hard sided camper (no slides) with an advertised dry weight of 4,361 pounds. Using the rough rule of thumb of an additional 1,000 pounds for liquids, equipment, people, etc., this would put me at (roughly) 5,500 lbs.

My predicament is that I've seen manufacturer payload charts for this model showing a payload of 7,200 pounds (SRW), presumably a total bed/cab combination.

So, handling issues aside, am I within the acceptable limits for this combination?

Thanks.

To answer your question, Absolutely not. That is way to much for that truck, and that's coming from a guy that isn't all that worried about the sticker weight. There is zero chance you won't be overloading those tires. That's a dually load all the way. You'll overload the sticker weight on a lot of dually's.

I have never seen a SRW truck with a 7200 payload rating. Maybe a standard cab dually 2wd. Most duallies run in the low to mid 5k range.

 

[DougW9876]

Your REAL payload capacity is what it says on the door sticker, 3855 lbs. Tires, airbags or springs are not going to change it, there are a whole lot more pieces and parts of the truck that go into that rating.

 

[triplethreat]

Hello,

I have perused some of the posts on this subject but am still somewhat uncertain as to whether the truck/camper combination I'm considering is realistic.

I have a SRW 2021 RAM 3500 Laramie 6.7L diesel that shows a payload rating on the door sticker of 3,855 lbs. However, the truck was highly modified by the previous owner to include heavier rear springs (not sure of the rating) and airbags, presumably for carrying/towing a heavier camper. It also has larger wheels and tires (20' and 315 all terrains).

I'm interested in buying a new Cirrus (NuCamp) 920 hard sided camper (no slides) with an advertised dry weight of 4,361 pounds. Using the rough rule of thumb of an additional 1,000 pounds for liquids, equipment, people, etc., this would put me at (roughly) 5,500 lbs.

My predicament is that I've seen manufacturer payload charts for this model showing a payload of 7,200 pounds (SRW), presumably a total bed/cab combination.

So, handling issues aside, am I within the acceptable limits for this combination?

Thanks.

The quickest answer to your question....
1. Find the GVWR of YOUR truck.......it's on the door post sticker information.
2. Take the truck to a CAT scale and weigh the truck....just have it loaded the way you would have it loaded for a trip...passengers, etc
3. Deduct the scale weight of the truck from the GVWR on the sticker. That will tell you how much available payload you have left to put something into the truck .....a pallet of bricks, a truck camper, a load of mulch or firewood........whatever

So GVWR minus the actual weight of the truck = remaining payload capacity. Ignore any/all spring changes/air bags, etc

And as a side note, with the tires/wheels having been changed out from the stock one, find out the tire load rating capacity at the sidewall psi number and determine if they even have enough capacity to now take the truck all the way to the GVWR.....listed on the door post.

 

[ajg617]

Your REAL payload capacity is what it says on the door sticker, 3855 lbs. Tires, airbags or springs are not going to change it, there are a whole lot more pieces and parts of the truck that go into that rating.

It is less than the sticker because you must also deduct everything you put in the truck (fuel for some manufacturers, humans, pets, tools, etc., and some dealer installed options even though they appear as factory installed on the delivery sheet - spray in bedliner and running boards in our case for example) Our Laramie sticker is 4014. We lose over 600lbs of real payload with DW and I, dog, some tools, emergency equipment in the truck. Puts our real payload around 3400.

 

[huntr70]

Hello,

I have perused some of the posts on this subject but am still somewhat uncertain as to whether the truck/camper combination I'm considering is realistic.

I have a SRW 2021 RAM 3500 Laramie 6.7L diesel that shows a payload rating on the door sticker of 3,855 lbs. However, the truck was highly modified by the previous owner to include heavier rear springs (not sure of the rating) and airbags, presumably for carrying/towing a heavier camper. It also has larger wheels and tires (20' and 315 all terrains).

I'm interested in buying a new Cirrus (NuCamp) 920 hard sided camper (no slides) with an advertised dry weight of 4,361 pounds. Using the rough rule of thumb of an additional 1,000 pounds for liquids, equipment, people, etc., this would put me at (roughly) 5,500 lbs.

My predicament is that I've seen manufacturer payload charts for this model showing a payload of 7,200 pounds (SRW), presumably a total bed/cab combination.

So, handling issues aside, am I within the acceptable limits for this combination?

Thanks.

No, no, no no NO!

 

[DougW9876]

It is less than the sticker because you must also deduct everything you put in the truck (fuel for some manufacturers, humans, pets, tools, etc., and some dealer installed options even though they appear as factory installed on the delivery sheet - spray in bedliner and running boards in our case for example) Our Laramie sticker is 4014. We lose over 600lbs of real payload with DW and I, dog, some tools, emergency equipment in the truck. Puts our real payload around 3400.

You DW, dog, tools and emergency equipment don’t reduce the payload, that are part of the cargo which uses part of the payload. They will limit the amount of payload available for other cargo.

 

[JKellerJr]

Here is a good example of what can happen when you grossly overload a vehicle.

https://www.truckcamperadventure.co...-pavels-overloaded-and-broken-ram-3500-frame/

I'm not sure if a truck could be loaded much worse

 

[JPS350]

I'm living in the half ton world and it pains me to tell someone with a 1 ton diesel they need a bigger truck, but so be it. As mentioned above, weigh it and subtract that from your gvwr. Here's a link to the towing and payload chart. You'll notice all the trucks with the payload you would need are drw.

https://www.ramtrucks.com/content/d..._HD-3500-D2_Trailer-Tow-Weight-Chart_MY21.pdf

 

[ajg617]

Per FCA, "Payload = GVWR – Base Weight". But the sticker number on the truck can be fictitious and good luck trying to find the base weight. The Point of Origin weight (Laredo, TX) for my truck was 7852lbs. The GVWR is 12,300. I authorized no dealer installed accessories. So why wouldn't the payload be 12,300-7852=4448 rather than the 4014 on the sticker? Either way, I'll measure real or available payload on a CAT scale. I prefer to not exceed available payload plus a couple hundred lbs margin of error (if you travel with partially full black/gray/FW tanks) to insure I am well under the sticker which is an estimate and in my case 434lbs questionable.

 

[triplethreat]

And again......The available payload is...........GVWR, minus what the truck actually weighs at the time you are going to use it. An example that I sometimes use it this. My available payload can vary by 426 lbs sometimes. Why? It depends on whether or not my 60 gallon aux. tank is empty or full. It's no different if you are talking about extra diesel fuel, a wheelbarrow full of firewood that you threw in the bed of the truck, or if you have added a crossbed toolbox and have it loaded with stuff. It all takes away from the payload sticker number, which like someone already stated, may actually be less than what the sticker says it is. That ^^^ is why you use the GVWR minus the actual weight of the truck to determine how much AVAILABLE payload you have left!

 

[Starstreams58]

Many, many thanks to all who responded--I obviously came to the right place! I will have the truck weighed to determine an exact payload (which I suspect is less than what's placarded considering all the aftermarket mods), but it appears I'm now in the market for a camper with an approximate dry weight of 2,500 lbs. (of which there are apparently very few long bed options). I'm not really interested in upgrading to a dually as I want some offroad capability that the existing truck offers.

I greatly appreciate everyone's wise counsel!

 

[JPS350]

If you have a cat scale anywhere near you, download the app and you can do it all while you sit in your truck. Just drive on carefully and stop easy. Keep your foot off the brake in neutral and don't set the parking brake and you'll get an accurate reading.

 

[Second Chance]

Many, many thanks to all who responded--I obviously came to the right place! I will have the truck weighed to determine an exact payload (which I suspect is less than what's placarded considering all the aftermarket mods), but it appears I'm now in the market for a camper with an approximate dry weight of 2,500 lbs. (of which there are apparently very few long bed options). I'm not really interested in upgrading to a dually as I want some offroad capability that the existing truck offers.

I greatly appreciate everyone's wise counsel!

[MENTION=59296]Starstreams58[/MENTION] -

Please check your inbox for a PM (private message).

Thanks,

Rob

 

[Riverbug]

You DW, dog, tools and emergency equipment don’t reduce the payload, that are part of the cargo which uses part of the payload. They will limit the amount of payload available for other cargo.

Just FYI, payload and cargo carrying capacity are interchangeable terms. Check Merriam Webster for the definition.

 

[ardvark16]

Sorry but 7000 pounds of payload is more than most duallies are rated for.
That’s a crazy amount of payload. I have a 2022 SRW F350 7.3 and my payload is just over 4000 so you are actually pretty good with the powerstroke giving you 3800.

 

[Scott'n'Wendy]

I'm living in the half ton world and it pains me to tell someone with a 1 ton diesel they need a bigger truck, but so be it. As mentioned above, weigh it and subtract that from your gvwr. Here's a link to the towing and payload chart. You'll notice all the trucks with the payload you would need are drw.

https://www.ramtrucks.com/content/d..._HD-3500-D2_Trailer-Tow-Weight-Chart_MY21.pdf

Makes me wonder what kind of truck could handle that camper. There can't be many capable of carrying that camper plus gear plus tools and people.

 

[huntindog]

Hello,

I have perused some of the posts on this subject but am still somewhat uncertain as to whether the truck/camper combination I'm considering is realistic.

I have a SRW 2021 RAM 3500 Laramie 6.7L diesel that shows a payload rating on the door sticker of 3,855 lbs. However, the truck was highly modified by the previous owner to include heavier rear springs (not sure of the rating) and airbags, presumably for carrying/towing a heavier camper. It also has larger wheels and tires (20' and 315 all terrains).

I'm interested in buying a new Cirrus (NuCamp) 920 hard sided camper (no slides) with an advertised dry weight of 4,361 pounds. Using the rough rule of thumb of an additional 1,000 pounds for liquids, equipment, people, etc., this would put me at (roughly) 5,500 lbs.

My predicament is that I've seen manufacturer payload charts for this model showing a payload of 7,200 pounds (SRW), presumably a total bed/cab combination.

So, handling issues aside, am I within the acceptable limits for this combination?

Thanks.

The first thing to understand is that larger tires do NOT increase the capacity of the truck. Just the opposite. Large tires are for looks. Many young guys have put 44s on their trucks only to find u joints and brakes need replacing in just a few thousand miles. Big tires put added stress on all of the running gear, so your tow rating needs to be DECREASED. The only part that is debatable is just how much it needs to be decreased...Basically, throw the factory numbers away and decide how much LESS to shoot for as your max. If things start wearing out or breaking fast, then you did not decrease it enough...This can get real expensive

 

[DougW9876]

Just FYI, payload and cargo carrying capacity are interchangeable terms. Check Merriam Webster for the definition.

Perchance you should best out your Merriam-Webster and look up reading for comprehension. I did not address CCC (Cargo Carrying Capacity). I was referring to your saying “It is less than the sticker because you must also deduct everything you put in the truck” which intimates the things placed in the truck reduce it’s payload rating, which is incorrect. Things placed in the truck will use part of the payload which will affect how much payload is left for other cargo which may be added.