Ford Super Duty Payloads

[MtnGuy]

Wanting to do a bit of new truck dreaming, I picked up a 2015 Super Duty brochure. Under "maximum capabilities", even though the F450 has an increased GCWR and trailer towing rating, the payload is less than the F350, by almost a ton. What the heck ?? The body stats seem to be the same, so I am guessing that the F450 has a heavier frame that eats into the empty weight ?? Or because the F450 only comes with an 8' bed, maybe the F350 GVWR is being calculated with the 6.75' bed ??

From the brochure:
F350 Maximum Payload is 7260 lbs.
F450 Maximum Payload is 5450 lbs.

Any other ideas ??

[mlangdn]

I only have a 2011 brochure and the difference there was about ~800 lbs less for the 450. I wasn't looking for a 450, so I didn't notice. The 450 only comes in the long bed for that year, and both the 350 and 450 go down in payload for the extra length.

I did buy a 2013 F250 and the brochure says the maximum payload for my style was 3250. It is actually only 1831. What the brochure fails to mention is that payload goes down as options are added. Mine is a Lariat with nearly every option known to man. That's why the payload is way less than the brochure.

[Ramrod79]

The f-350 weight could be the regular cab dually long box 2X4, where the 450 is a cc 4X4.

[ferguson65]

*edit* Ramrod beat me to it!


I'm going to venture a bit of a guess here. The claimed "max" payload is based on a stripped down truck, that I know. You can buy a regular cab, 2wd, dually, gas F350 pickup. The F450 pickup only comes in a diesel CCLB 4x4, while you can still get the xl interior, its not going to shed a ton of weight from a loaded platinum.

[MtnGuy]

Originally Posted by ferguson65

*edit* Ramrod beat me to it!


I'm going to venture a bit of a guess here. The claimed "max" payload is based on a stripped down truck, that I know. You can buy a regular cab, 2wd, dually, gas F350 pickup. The F450 pickup only comes in a diesel CCLB 4x4, while you can still get the xl interior, its not going to shed a ton of weight from a loaded platinum.

Ah, that might be it.....diesel vs. gas engine.

[jimmyt11664]

Turbo is different from the F350 less hp/torque. Other than that I don't have a clue. Interesting subject.

[jonrjen]

Originally Posted by jimmyt11664

Turbo is different from the F350 less hp/torque. Other than that I don't have a clue. Interesting subject.

Sometimes that is not the entire truth in the rating of powertrains. Once a truck reaches a certain weight limit the rating of the engine is simple set to a new perimeter of measure which will paint a different picture of results. It can be as simple as the HP/TQ rating is taken at a different RPM than a lighter truck.

[ferguson65]

Originally Posted by jimmyt11664

Turbo is different from the F350 less hp/torque. Other than that I don't have a clue. Interesting subject.

That does apply to the F450 and F550 chassis cabs. The F450 pickup is the same engine/ turbo/ratings as the F250/350.

[Lefty59]

I remember discussing this with the Ford salesman when I bought our F350.

I have the 2014 Super Duty brochure in hand and notice that the F350 with a payload of 7,260 is a DRW Regular Cab 4x2 137" WB with a max GVWR of 13,500 (lighter frame and suspension components?) while the F450 is a Crew Cab DRW 4x4 172.4" WB, max GVWR of 14,000.

The table for maximum payload Weight Ratings that allows comparison based on SRW or DRW, cab type and wheel base bears this out. There the DRW F450 Crew Cab 4x4 172.4" WB payload is 5,880 and the DRW F350 4x4 Crew Cab 172.4" WB is 6,670 (max GVWR of 14k). That's a difference of 790 lbs.

However, the F450 comes standard with the 6.7L diesel and on the F350 the diesel is optional. I suspect the F350 payload stated is for a gasser. Add the optional diesel engine to the F350 and you will lose some of the indicated payload capability.

When I was shopping, I found quite a few F150s with higher payload label ratings than many of the F250s due to gas vs. diesel engine.

Confusing? Yes. Misleading? Yes. Untrue? No. Factually, the numbers stated are correct.

[Lefty59]

One additional thought...the table lists the maximum payload capability but the stickered payload capability is likely (or certainly) going to be less since the maximum payload stated is achieved by using a truck with few if any options.

I told the salesman that despite the specifications stated in the brochure, if the door sticker didn't state a payload capability of 3,000 lbs or better to not bother showing me the truck as I wasn't interested. Saved a lot of time even though it did limit the number of trucks to choose from.

shopping!

[j free]

the 450 is a heaver truck but using the same engine and transmission. That will affect the tow weight. In 07 chevy had the same issue between the 2500hd and the 3500hd the 2500hd out towed the 3500hd by 600lbs because the 3500hd had more vehicle weight that took away from towing with the same size motor and transmission.

[Mattpopp]

Do not compare 2014 and earlier Fords to 2015 and newer. Numbers have changed alot between them. Especially the F450's between 14 to 15, not even the same pickup, not by a long shot. 2015 F450 actually sits on a 450 chassis for 2015.

2011 to 2014 F450 is basically just a F350, more like a F355. Bigger breaks, slightly different front axle and I think one more leaf in the rear. Everything else is the same between the 450 and the 350 for those years.

[taken]

You are reading it correctly. This has been discussed on FTE. The lower payload on an identically equipped F450 is due to the new heavier frame on the 2015's. The weight of the heavier frame and other HD enhancements on the 2015+ take up some of the payload.

[M&K Hoffman]

IMHO OP seems to be comparing apples to oranges.