What is my REAL payload capacity?

[Riverbug]

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.

Okay, no offense intended. I read your line "You DW, dog, tools and emergency equipment don’t reduce the payload" and interpreted that as maybe you thought payload was different than cargo since those things are cargo that count against available payload. My apologies, was just trying to help.

 

[ajg617]

Okay, no offense intended. I read your line "You DW, dog, tools and emergency equipment don’t reduce the payload" and interpreted that as maybe you thought payload was different than cargo since those things are cargo that count against available payload. My apologies, was just trying to help.

You aren't incorrect. RAM refers to "weight of occupants and cargo" (sure seems equivalent to CCC to me) on the sticker - nowhere does RAM use the word payload on any sticker. My concern was any implication that someone can go and get a trailer that puts 3500 lbs on the pin or in the truck because the TV sticker says 3500lbs which is how I interpreted the use of the adjective REAL.

 

[triplethreat]

I like to use the term "available payload capacity" That of course, is a floating number. An example of that might be a truck with a 10,000 lb GVWR, and the truck weighs 7000 lb. The available payload is 3000 lb. Now you load it up with a passenger or two, some firewood in the bed, and add your portable generator back there too. Total weight of all of that is say....600 lbs. Your available payload capacity now becomes 2400 lbs.......and if you have a trailer with a pin weight of 2500 lbs, that you are getting ready to drop onto the hitch, you are 100 lbs over your payload sticker number, and therefore over the GVWR of the truck.

 

[ajg617]

I like to use the term "available payload capacity" That of course, is a floating number. An example of that might be a truck with a 10,000 lb GVWR, and the truck weighs 7000 lb. The available payload is 3000 lb. Now you load it up with a passenger or two, some firewood in the bed, and add your portable generator back there too. Total weight of all of that is say....600 lbs. Your available payload capacity now becomes 2400 lbs.......and if you have a trailer with a pin weight of 2500 lbs, that you are getting ready to drop onto the hitch, you are 100 lbs over your payload sticker number, and therefore over the GVWR of the truck.

Payload is an interesting word - not on my TV or RV sticker and no reference to it on DOT or FMCSA sites except in the context of interstate commerce or equivalence to "weight of lading". And CCC seems to be referenced on the same sites only in the contexts of Motorhomes and RVs. Wonder if GM or Ford stickers actually use the term payload? As mentioned, I only care about what is available as in your example. TV sticker was only meaningful when I was looking at what I could haul and if the TV minus some knowns (fuel, people weights, etc.) was sufficient.

 

[triplethreat]

Payload is an interesting word - not on my TV or RV sticker and no reference to it on DOT or FMCSA sites except in the context of interstate commerce or equivalence to "weight of lading". And CCC seems to be referenced on the same sites only in the contexts of Motorhomes and RVs. Wonder if GM or Ford stickers actually use the term payload? As mentioned, I only care about what is available as in your example. TV sticker was only meaningful when I was looking at what I could haul and if the TV minus some knowns (fuel, people weights, etc.) was sufficient.

OK.....how about this...."Anything/Everything that goes in/on the vehicle that wasn't there when it was built!"

PS, the abbreviation on the door sticker would be: A/ETGI/OTVTWTWTWB

On second thought, that ^^^ may not work. It's got 17 characters just like the VIN does!

 

[retired_engineer]

Payload is an interesting word - not on my TV or RV sticker and no reference to it on DOT or FMCSA sites except in the context of interstate commerce or equivalence to "weight of lading". And CCC seems to be referenced on the same sites only in the contexts of Motorhomes and RVs. Wonder if GM or Ford stickers actually use the term payload? As mentioned, I only care about what is available as in your example. TV sticker was only meaningful when I was looking at what I could haul and if the TV minus some knowns (fuel, people weights, etc.) was sufficient.

The Fords I've owned say Tire and Loading Information. The actual description says something to the effect that the weight of all occupants and cargo cannot exceed nnnn lbs. That being said when I talk to people to ask what their payload sticker says I ask that they look for the "yellow payload sticker on the driver's door pillar" and qualify that it might not say "payload". When walking folks through the calculations I use the term "available payload" or "payload available" to specify what is left to handle the trailer tongue or pin weight.

To me knowing where to look on a particular vehicle in-order to find the various weights is part of the learning process of towing a trailer. It would be nice if auto and RV dealers would walk customers through this but at least there are forums such as this one where folks can get the correct answers. Though sometimes it is too late to prevent the damage.

 

[Spartacus]

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!

Thank you sir for rethinking this, for you, your family and others on the road.

 

[JPS350]

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.

Yeah, I wondered that myself. That thing is a monster. Maybe you could just ask the salesman

 

[Hoopy Frood]

Yeah, I wondered that myself. That thing is a monster. Maybe you could just ask the salesman

Yeah, the immediate answer would be "Whatcha got?"

 

[JPS350]

And sometimes you just have to experiment a little yourself. Below is a pic of the all important question, "How many bales of hay can you haul in a early 2000's Dodge Dakota?" The answer was 50 that day. Luckily the farm was only a couple of miles away and I left none on the road. My farmer friend said matter of factly, "Can't do that with a Ranger." That was a tough little truck. I hauled a lot of firewood out of the woods with it, as well. The tow police (and maybe the police) would have been all over me. I'm maybe a little smarter with age. I couldn't stack them that high these days, anyway.

 

[Boogiejack75]

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.

There have been some ridiculous replies to this post. Loaded weight of the trailer has been estimated at 5500 lbs. 13 % of this would yield 715 lb tongue weight. With 3855 payload from the door sticker, the OP would be golden. My guess is that you wouldn't know the trailer is back there. I believe that the OP is confusing towing capacity with payload capacity. Tow on my friend, tow on. You will be fine.

 

[Second Chance]

There have been some ridiculous replies to this post. Loaded weight of the trailer has been estimated at 5500 lbs. 13 % of this would yield 715 lb tongue weight. With 3855 payload from the door sticker, the OP would be golden. My guess is that you wouldn't know the trailer is back there. I believe that the OP is confusing towing capacity with payload capacity. Tow on my friend, tow on. You will be fine.

Look before jumping... it's a truck camper and not a trailer.

Rob

 

[Boogiejack75]

Look before jumping... it's a truck camper and not a trailer.

Rob

Okie dokie. I stand corrected.

 

[goducks14]

FWIW The 7000 lb number is for the SRW RAWR. For a DRW it's 9750. Most TC buyers use the RAWR. If they didn't then no one could buy the big campers.

 

[BWSTGDS]

For occasional hauling, 3-6 times a year for a family vacation on-road and in-state or neighboring states, sure, it can be done with the mods you've mentioned, AND 19.5" wheels/H-rated tires, HD shocks. Would also recommend better brake pads, such as EBC yellow stuff.

For extensive travel, I would not haul that load with that truck, regardless of mods.

I carried a heavy Host Everest camper on my previous 2000 F350 occasionally for a few summers, but had the mods, including upper/lower torklift bumpstops/wedges, independent airbags over the spring perches, vision 19.5" wheels/H-rated Toyo M143 245/75R19.5 tires, Rancho 9000 adjustable shocks. I was right at the sterling 10.5" rear axle weight rating of 9750lbs though.