Concerned about payload

[thestrangebrew]

Hey all,

Looking at an F150 ecoboost xlt 4x4 for a TV and came across one that has the 7350 pkg, 3.55 electronic slip with tow pkg, int. brake controller. The GVWR is 7350, but payload is only 1212 on it. We're looking at getting a Roo 19 so I'm confident this truck will handle it fine, but the payload seems kind of low for this vehicle. What do you guys think?

[DaveandSue]

Towing with a 1/2 ton------where did I put that popcorn

Just kidding.I tow with a weak kneed Ram 1500.

[thestrangebrew]

Originally Posted by DaveandSue

Towing with a 1/2 ton------where did I put that popcorn

Just kidding.I tow with a weak kneed Ram 1500.

Oh come on now lol

[markb5900]

Payload is in the bed, not what you are towing.

[thestrangebrew]

Originally Posted by markb5900

Payload is in the bed, not what you are towing.

Initially that's what I thought, but I also swore I read that hitch weight and weight of passengers counts against payload. Can't seem to find the stuff I read though.

[AquaMan]

I think you would be fine with a Roo 19, but it would also depend on what you wanted to haul in the bed of your truck. If it's normal camping gear I think you're fine. If you want to put a large quad in the bed and fill in around it with firewood, along with a spouse, a couple kids, and a dog in the cab ... maybe not.

[AquaMan]

Originally Posted by markb5900

Payload is in the bed, not what you are towing.

The tongue weight is subtracted from the payload.

[thestrangebrew]

Originally Posted by AquaMan

I think you would be fine with a Roo 19, but it would also depend on what you wanted to haul in the bed of your truck. If it's normal camping gear I think you're fine. If you want to put a large quad in the bed and fill in around it with firewood, along with a spouse, a couple kids, and a dog in the cab ... maybe not.

Nah just normal camping gear/ice chests which if needed could be put in the TT. No quads or anything like that. Prob. just bikes TBH. Not even firewood.

[davel1971]

Originally Posted by markb5900

Payload is in the bed, not what you are towing.

no, payload is what's in the cab and in the bed. Put a load of good size people in the cab, you don't have much left for cargo

[markb5900]

In simple terms, I think you are correct, But that roo can't have much more than a 3 or 4 hundred pounds TONGUE weight, so subtract that from payload as to what you haul.

[DaveandSue]

Had to make a funny on the first post.IMHO you will be fine IF you watch what goes in the trailer that will affect tongue weight.Also load up and go weigh it.Have what you'll have when you travel.Have fun with it.

[thestrangebrew]

Originally Posted by markb5900

In simple terms, I think you are correct, But that roo can't have much more than a 3 or 4 hundred pounds TONGUE weight, so subtract that from payload as to what you haul.

Rockwood site says 344 lbs dry hitch weight, so I'd guess about another 100lbs. So 1212-444 = 768 for passengers and cargo? I think that would work. I'd say I have about 450 lbs between the 4 of us in passenger weight.

[Herk7769]

This is a lot easier than you think these days.
The factory puts the max GVWR on a sticker on the door pillar.

Fill the tank, load up the family and put whatever gear you plan on carrying IN the truck; in the truck. Drive down to your local scale and weigh your truck.

SUBTRACT that weight from the pillar GVWR. This is the maximum tongue weight based on your remaining payload.

THEN divide that remaining payload by 0.125 (the optimum towing tongue weight - 12.5% of trailer weight) and you will get the target properly loaded camper weight you can tow.

If your remaining payload is 1212 pounds, divide 1212 by 0.125 and you get a camper weight of 9696 pounds.

If your actual loaded weight gives you less payload your camper selection gets limited.

FYI - for travel trailers (not 5th wheels) the MINIMUM tongue weight is 10% and the MAX is 15% of trailer weight with about 12.5% optimum for handling.

NEVER buy a camper using the minimum tongue weight percent as your selection criteria. You most likely will be unable to load it that light in the first place and the sway may be so severe you will need to get a more stable tow vehicle anyway.

[campingwilliamsons]

I would guesstimate your actual tongue weight to be 500-600 lbs, depending on how the trailer is optioned, how much gear you put in the front storage areas, how big your propane tanks and batteries are, etc... That means you are going to be looking at a weight distributing hitch (per Ford). Ford calculates payload as GVWR - wet weight of the truck as it left the factory (assuming a full tank of fuel) with nobody in it. So 1212 - 600 lbs (TW) - 50lbs (WDH) = ~562 lbs left for people and cargo. I like to keep about 700 lbs for people and gear, but you can probably work with 562 lbs.

[MtnGuy]

Originally Posted by thestrangebrew

Initially that's what I thought, but I also swore I read that hitch weight and weight of passengers counts against payload. Can't seem to find the stuff I read though.

That is correct. What ever the 2 truck axles add up to is the gross weight of the truck.

We pull a camper with a 700 lb. tongue weight, and after adding the camper, camping supplies in the bed, a generator, the missus and me, plus a 85 lb dog, we are within about 100 lbs. of our GVWR (2006 F150 with a 7200 GVWR). But I will say the truck does great with all of that.

[AquaMan]

Originally Posted by MtnGuy

That is correct. What ever the 2 truck axles add up to is the gross weight of the truck.

I don't think that's always the case.

[MtnGuy]

Originally Posted by AquaMan

I don't think that's always the case.

AquaMan, I am open to other ideas on that.

[dustman_stx]

Your truck will have no problem hauling a Roo 19 even being fully loaded with people and gear.

[dustman_stx]

Originally Posted by MtnGuy

What ever the 2 truck axles add up to is the gross weight of the truck.

This isn't actually an accurate statement. Every truck sticker I've ever seen, the GVWR has been lower than the combined axle ratings.

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by AquaMan

I don't think that's always the case.

Agreed, my GAWR front = 5,500 pounds and my GAWR rear = 9,350 pounds but my GVWR is only 12,300 (instead of 14,850) pounds. I know that some are willing to exceed GVWR as long as their under their axle ratings (and some are willing to exceed those, as long as they're under their tire load capacities and so on).

That said, I think the advice given so far is pretty right on. Herk, I'm not sure that the OP has bought his truck yet, so a trip to the CAT scales could be difficult.

Otherwise, anything in/on the truck goes against payload. Don't forget about traveling comforts- food, snacks, drinks, electronics, games, books, child seats, booster seats, bed cover, bed topper, the weight of the hitch, running boards, etc., etc. My truck's add-ons and my family eat up 1,200 pounds of our payload right out of the gate (doesn't help that I'm "big boned" ).