Interesting info on payload...

[Flybob]

Originally Posted by Jim in Florida

My trailer dealer would not let me off the lot with the trailer without a 400lb margin between the pin weight of the trailer and the payload rating on that sticker. Traded a 1 month old 2500 for new 3500. (long story).

Jim

WOW That's a good dealer. Most will tell you your 1/2 ton will tow anything on the lot.

[larry2c]

I'm with FlyBob - that is the most informed dealer I've heard of! We've bought two TT's from dealers and in both cases they went straight to the manufactures spec sheet for my vehicle, found the max trailer weight on that chart for my configuration and proclaimed "your golden!" I even mentioned the cargo capacity to one guy and he got that deer in the headlights look so I let it drop

[RET.LEO]

Without a doubt a 3/4 ton pickup rules for carry capacity.
My Dad had a livestock feed store. All we used was 3/4 ton pickups. I would haul 80 fifty pound bags of feed (4,000 lbs) in the bed of our trucks 2wd & 4wd for 45 miles twice a day, five days a week. Never had a tire or suspension problem. Pulling a trailer is one thing, actual carry capacity is way less. We always considered 1/2 ton trucks as "city trucks, gentleman trucks" 3/4 ton pickups were work trucks.

[walaby]

Payload is the most relevant number. Towing capacity doesn't mean much except advertising.


I've not heard of anyone who gets up to towing capacity without first meeting or exceeding payload.


For 5ers, the most relevant number for many of us is Rear Axle Weight Rating.


Mike

[5picker]

Originally Posted by Scrapper

GXPWeasel1, it's easy to get your rigs weight on a single platform scale you find at most grain elevators and scrap yards. Talk to the scale operator and explain what you want to do. Most are glad to help.


1) Stop with only your steer axle on the platform to get your steer axle weight.
2) Continue until both the steer axle and the drive axle are on the platform. This gives you the TV weight with the hitch weight.
3) Subtract the steer axle weight from the TV weight (so 2 minus 1), and you have the weight for your drive axle.
4) Continue on the platform to get your gross combination weight (GCW).
5) Subtract the TV's weight from the gross combination weight (so, 4 minus 2) and you have the weight of the load on the trailer's axles.

If you want the weight of the TV follow steps 1, 2 and 3 without the trailer connected.

X2 and I'll add many landscape places have scales and on a slow mid-week afternoon, they are HAPPY to scale you for a $5 bill.

We also have places around here that sell coal and stone by the ton. They too will scale you.

[67L48]

Most 3/4 ton diesel trucks are going to be 2,100 - 2,500 lbs of payload. They are severely payload limited. You can make good arguments about the artificial nature of this, but the numbers are the numbers.

9,500+ lb 5er is probably putting 1,900 on your pin. Add 100 lbs for the hitch. That’s 2,000 lbs. Add in your 700 lbs of in-the-cab weight. 2,700 lbs without so much as a stick of wood in your bed. Highly likely you’re over payload/GVWR for that truck. I’m sure it pulls great; you’re over specified weight ratings.