Payload vs Truck Camper Loading

[John Perz]

Mike, re your latest article about GM’s Truck Camper Loading Sticker:

Payload – as I know you know – includes all passengers as well as all of their extra clothes, food, cooking gear, bedding, etc. Since the truck is rated for 5 passengers, and since GM has to assume you might be actually sometimes carry 5 (200 lb.) passengers, I’m guessing the Truck Camper Loading Sticker is GM’s way of saying that even though the payload is 2,100 lbs, No, you can’t put a 2,100 lb. (dry weight) camper on it.

Regards
John
I don't like to make plans. They cause the word "PREMEDITATED" to get used in court!
DON'T FEED THE VULTURES!
My Body is a Temple! Ancient, Crumbling, Probably Cursed . . .

[Mello Mike]

That’s exactly right, but the number used to calculate the cargo weight rating figure is 150 pounds per occupant (750 pounds in this case).

[ardvark]

Man, isn’t that redundant? The owner’s manual normally spells out how payload is calculated and the real issue is given the average male weighs just a tick under 200 pounds and the average female comes in at just under 170 pounds, the whole thing is strange. So where does that leave you?

Wife and I take the truck with a full tank of gas and weigh. Then we load the way we travel and weigh again. Anything else is hit or miss in my opinion. Wonder if most folks know how easy it is to weigh at a truck stop? That way we have an actual weight to compare to our axles, tires, and even our GW.

Steve and Andra
2012 F350 6.2 gasser SRW LB
Fab Fours front and rear in case we run into a rhino
2019 Northstar Laredo SC

[Freespool]

I think Steve is on the right path here and I could not agree more about the redundancy of providing two stickers with vastly different numbers. The GVWR and the weight listed in the door jamb would be sufficient to use as a guide, they are both hard numbers that police and insurance company’s would recognize. The sticker in the clove is completely subjective and based on a random scenario that could vary by as much as 1000lb’s.

I think the whole reason behind dual stickers is simply to make every effort to CYA against any type of claim that might come up in the event of an accident.

Not that it matters much but I was thinking about old truck momentarily when I suggested crew cabs will hold 6 passengers. I forgot about that center storage box, in most cases 5 people would be the max legal amount.

[Richard and Kay Dalton]

I had recently inquired about traveling in my 2013 F-350 super duty long bed with a 1992 model 1140 SD “Idle Time” truck camper on it. Which I believed weighed only 2400# dry. Which I thought gave me an extra 1000# to spare.

I was abruptly surprised today when I drove onto the scales. The truck camper has a full tank of water, fuel, liquid propane,no grey water, food, clothing, two ai 2000 watt generators, gasoline, extra water, two dogs my wife and I for a weeks travel into New Mexico from north Texas.
The scales were a real fright to me. The total combined weight of truck and cargo is 10,982#
The maximum weight the truck can be is 10,500#!
According to Ford motor company. A real dellima as I was totally dumbfounded.
I learned you cannot increase carrying capacity but you can put air bags, coil springs over shocks and extra leaf springs. None actually increase capacity but make for smoother ride.
My understanding is if I am over weight which I currently am, yet it does not show when looking at truck as it is not down on its axles or springs. It does not sway or lean when at highway speed.
And have a mishap, my insurance, warranty and legal position would be voided.
That is scarey!
How can I correct this without trading for a fifth wheel?

Richard m.Dalton, jr
http://www.daltonarts.com
Text 940-257-5180

[Richard and Kay Dalton]

Addendum to truck campers which overload trucks. I understand from knowledgeable authorities, to get around overloads you buy “overload permit” makes you legal.
Then you add overload springs, coil spring shocks and air bags for comfort.
It scares me knowing you can’t upgrade cargo capacity. You just buy permits.
Added these are reason truck camper manufacturers make 5000# truck campers, like arctic fox, lance.
That may be why truck campers are not popular in Texas.
State of Texas does not require registration or licensing of truck campers. I think I see how they get under the table revenue in lieu of.

[Richard and Kay Dalton]

Upon later discussion with former Department of public safety trooper, he says that if you aren’t commercial, just an rv they treat you just like a farmer in Texas. They don’t bother with you.they have a saying DFWF
(Don’t f—-k with farmers)

[Greg]

I have seen F350 stickers for 8 ft beds over 4100 payload. Then with the camper package on that truck the camper certification is around 3600 pounds. Only reason I can think of is the potential sway in top heavy trucks anD the safety issues.

[ardvark]

Sticker reflects manufacturer rating and options on each individual truck. They do not reflect anticipated effects of loading as manufacturer would have not way to know that. 🙂

Ardvark

Steve and Andra
2012 F350 6.2 gasser SRW LB
Fab Fours front and rear in case we run into a rhino
2019 Northstar Laredo SC

[Greg]

I was mentioning the camper certificate rating which is different than the pillar sticker. At least on Ford trucks with the camper package.

[ardvark]

yes, becasue the camper package automatically adds in the weight of 150 pounds for each of five passengers and possibily other loading factors such as tie downs although this latter point is unclear.

Here’s a link to a discussion going on now in a different forum:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1629080-max-payload-no-towing-slide-in-camper.html

Lots of truck camper folks in the slide-in forum there. 🙂

Steve

Steve and Andra
2012 F350 6.2 gasser SRW LB
Fab Fours front and rear in case we run into a rhino
2019 Northstar Laredo SC

[Greg]

I’m on that one also

[ardvark]

Greg,

Here is where I always end up in any discussion about camper weights and truck ratings; it is all smoke and mirrors on the part of both the truck manufacturers and the camper manufacturers. I say that because I believe each one want to make their product look like something it is not.

The truck builders post weights that seem like they are tied to nothing more than a fog generator. Not axle ratings, not wheel ratings, not tire rating, just fog.

Then you have what seems like a majority of camper manufacturers who want to capture a potential market of as many truck owners as possible to they post weights without installed options than make the buyer try to calculate the real weights and only a few mark the center of gravity on their campers. Like really, you can’t weigh it when it is complete and check the balance point. Those things are just not that hard to do!

In my case with a F350 SRW long bed gasser, a fair size truck, hauling a Northstar Laredo SC, a relatively small hardbody camper, when fully loaded with our bike rack, water, etc. we are actually about 100 pounds over the rear axle sticker weight for our truck.

Now I’m not afraid of that and I don’t think the axle is going to break or anything, but the whole weight situation P*** me off! Just another example of “let the buyer beware”.

Ardvark

Steve and Andra
2012 F350 6.2 gasser SRW LB
Fab Fours front and rear in case we run into a rhino
2019 Northstar Laredo SC

[Author]

Posts