The stupid thing is though that people thing the platinums have a low payload and towing capacity but the Dodge Ram has a GVWR 400lbs lower than the F150's. I wouldnt like to see what one of them has as a payload when fully loaded like a platinum. They would have a payload of 500 pounds. Thats why that have such a crappy tow rateing also.

 

Isn't this why these are called half-ton's?

 

Maybe because I have the max trailer package, but my payload sticker is 1203# on my fairly loaded up FX4.

Lux Pack - moonroof - NAV - 20" wheels - etc

 

It used to be that way. Some can hold over 1 ton now. People do seem to forget they are half tons.

 

Yep the "half-ton" used to mean something. Not so much anymore, but still sort of delineates the differences - http://ask.cars.com/2008/08/half-ton-three.html

 

I think the answer is:
a) Lawyers
b) semi-floating axle vs. full floating axle of 250+


Here is an example of the stupidity:
According to pickuptruck.com 2007 HD shootout, a gm 2500 gasser is 1,300lbs lower curb weight than a F250 gasser. And while the Ford has a higher GVW of 9,600 vs 9,200it will still be able to legally handle less tougne weight due to it being heavier in the first place. Yet the funny part is which unit would you want towing a 12,000lb 5th wheel with a side wind? The heavier Ford hands down.

 

I've had about 1500 pounds of brick in the bed of my '99 without it being on bump stops and it was fine. Forget about the sticker.

 

It may have a lower GVWR, but it has a similarly lower curb weight. A fully loaded Laramie crew cab 4x4 (their fanciest truck) has a 1248# payload rating with 20" rims.

When it's tow rating, it's all about the mighty ford having higher ratings. But when the rating isn't so hot, then the sticker doesn't matter

 

With the built in "safe guards" of GVW & GCW Ford can dang near make the tow rating anything they want... Don't matter as there is no way to get there w/o exceeding other ratings.

 

I completely disagree with you! I have a loaded out Lariat Crew cab 4x4 with 3.73 gears, and 18" wheels. Sunroof, heated mirrors, heated seats, auto climate control, premium stereo, nerf bars, tonneau cover, and dual exhaust. I also have heavier load range E tires on it. The weight of the truck with me sitting in it and a full tank of gas is just over 5800#. The new 09's have been lightened up and their payload is lower. I don't have the stupid sticker on my door jamb. I have had well over 2000# in the bed of this truck and it doesn't even phase it! I hook up my travel trailer with an 1100# tongue weight and have no issues. FYI, my buddies 03 and my other buddies 07 doesn't have this stupid sticker either. The only information that is pertinent on that sticker is the max tire inflation of the tires that are on the truck. There is nothing on that sticker about curb weight, there is also nothing on that sticker about axle ratio (yes that also determines capacity). Also, there are no laws about weights on private passenger vehicles..... I have checked. My truck is registered to 8000#GVWR. I cannot go to 7000 because the GVWR is 7200# The tow ratings are set by the manufacturer as a performance rating. If you exceed these ratings, your truck is not going to disintegrate. I have seen many old trucks on the road that are loaded to the hilt on a daily basis and they are still out driving around with 200,000 miles on them. With the bogus payloads that are on these new trucks (09) I would be overloaded the way my truck is sitting in the garage right now. I have 400# of tool boxes in the bed and just went and picked up 500# of mortar mix. The truck didn't even squat. I have put 68,000 miles on this truck with no issue. These trucks are built like a brick. You're not gonna hurt it! A 9000# TT has a tongue weight of well over 1000#. Ford put an 11,500 tow rating on the truck..... granted this is a stripped down XLT HD version. Even with all the beels and whistles, you still have almost a 10,000# tow rating....... How do you tow a trailer with a 1000#+ tongue weight and not go over your cargo capacity? You can't. Load one up with 80# bags of concrete mix and tell me how many bags are in there before the rear end drops....... you will find that it is WAY over 1000# Load it up and forget about it. It's a Ford..... it will take it all day long and come back for more.

 

Option for option they are very close in weight. You can get a platinum that is lighter than a lariat! It's when you start adding every option they make that makes your payload lower and the same goes for the Ram. When you start adding things like the Ram box and cargo manegment systems they soon start going up in weight.

 

This has been debated again and again and me and others have even spoken to people very high up in Ford who have also confirmed this. The payload sticker is correct in the capacity it is legal to carry. Again it is your GVWR-CURB weight=Payload How hard is that to understand. Every Vehicles sticker is based on it's options it has and is unique to that vehicle. Again it has nothing to do with the tires or any other part of the truck. It's all GVWR. My tires are rated at well over my GVWR so we all know it ain't the tires. We know it ain't the brakes as these things can stop a 24ft 11'000lb trailer with there own brakes let alone with 900lbs in the bed. We know it aint the frame as it stronger than it has ever been. Suspension is really not an issue as i think it would bottom out before it broke. I also don't know where you are getting your info as the screw is heavier this year compared to last!

 

That is exactly what the sticker shows as it left the factory with the exact equipment each vehicle has. Why throw it away? That's probably the most useful one for pickup owners.

I beleive all vehicles 2006+ have this sticker, maybe 2005. My 2007 Jeep Compass has one (925# payload) as does my 2008 Chrysler Town and Country (1150# payload). I checked the garage at work that has a bunch of manufacturer development vehicles. Every vehicle I checked which includes a BMW, some Ford, GM, and Chrysler vehicles all have this sticker.

FWIW, a Raptor had 900 pounds of payload, Supercab 5.5' bed.

See above. That's exactly its purpose, as it left the vehicle assembly plant.

Don't confuse tow rating with payload. The tow rating reduced by wheels size has nothing to do with rolling resistance of the tires, which has nothing to do with rim size. Also, from your other post, axle ratio does not affect payload. It does affect tow rating and axle rating/capacity does affect payload and tow rating.


Obviously.

Actually, the Supercrews are heavier. The regular and supercabs are lighter due to the lighter frame. However, the Supercrew got the benefit of lighter frame material, but the frame is longer and it supports a larger cab than 04-08 models. Maybe this is the fundamental point that supports your opinion that the whole reduced 2009 payload issues is not an issue, which is incorrect.

Since when has suspension compression become a legal measure of capability? I'm confused because your first post said not to exceed GVWR, then you say do it, load it up because it won't fall apart. Which is it?

I agree that F-150's suspensions have for at least the last 10 years handled GVW or more without looking stressed. I have personally had my truck 1500 pounds over GVWR for a short trip. The rear end was still not on the bump stops while stopped! I know what 1500 pounds in my bed looks like, so when I see other trucks that are squatting on the roads, I shake my head and stay away.

Great advise! That's exactly what the point of this sticker does, help people understand how much weight their vehicle can actually carry with the exact options they have.

All that said, there is no way you can legally increase payload or GVWR for any vehicle. The GVWR is a safety standard used to prevent overloading. Many components of the vehicle are designed to the specific GVWR, from engine power, cooling, transmission, axles, tire load, springs, shocks, brakes, bushings, frame, bolts that hold everything together, etc. Changing any of them does not legally increase payload, GVWR, or tow capacity. It only affects how the vehicle performs within its rating.

Would anyone like to perform an emergency double lane change maneuver 500 or 1000 pounds over GVWR? The GVWR is not designed for 99% normal driving conditions, so having X number of miles overloaded is not a valid point. Advising every idiot on the internet to exceed their vehicle's ratings is not wise.

 

Some truck owners get shocked when they learn of their truck's true payload capacity, thereby understanding the truck's towing capability (to stay within the payload capacity). Unfortunately for most, it's after the purchase is completed.

To say ignore the payload capacity on the tire pressure sticker and overload the truck to your heart's content unless the truck squats too much isn't the wise thing to do.

 

Considering your options, I'd say that's a great payload capacity.