Concerns about being overloaded

[HammaMan]

Sweet! So the tow package is mostly just gadgetry?

Most of the F150's have the C4 hitch native -- it's the rear structural member of the frame. Ford has made the build process overly complicated intentionally as most people don't dive into package details. Take the FX4 package on the powerboost. It adds a button on the dash, a cheap skid plate and a sticker. It's 95% pure profit as it's a fixed package price.

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[Buyer2021]

I have spent the last month looking at ACTUAL PAYLOADS for a Ford F150 Lariat, the largest that I have found is around 1650 lbs.

Careful selection of options is the key, IMO. I drive a Lariat SCab, 4x4 EB, 7050 GVWR, it's got a carefully considered list of options that I'm very happy with and a sticker payload of 1848#:

I tow a 5500#GTWR 5th wheel RV trailer.

The pin weight + total of my in-bed hitch is ~900# (all confirmed by CAT Scale), so I'm left with ~950# for people and cargo in the truck. I'm fine with that, I'm aware of the limit and respect it but it doesn't cramp my traveling needs.

• If ya want more / heavy options, yer gonna make the payload trade off, it's as simple as that.
• If ya want to carry more stuff than the payload rating will allow ya gotta figure out how to put it in the trailer while respecting the trailer's weight and balance requirements.
• If you can't manage both of those, then yep, its time for a SuperDuty.

 

[bgalakazam]

Sweet! So the tow package is mostly just gadgetry?

No, they get you over 7,000 lbs towing legally and add some stuff. See this thread for more details. https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/thr...ass-iv-vs-tow-vs-max-tow-updated-doc-v4.1188/

 

[Dietz5285]

Careful selection of options is the key, IMO. I drive a Lariat SCab, 4x4 EB, 7050 GVWR, it's got a carefully considered list of options that I'm very happy with and a sticker payload of 1848#:

I tow a 5500#GTWR 5th wheel RV trailer.

The pin weight + total of my in-bed hitch is ~900# (all confirmed by CAT Scale), so I'm left with ~950# for people and cargo in the truck. I'm fine with that, I'm aware of the limit and respect it but it doesn't cramp my traveling needs.

• If ya want more / heavy options, yer gonna make the payload trade off, it's as simple as that.
• If ya want to carry more stuff than the payload rating will allow ya gotta figure out how to put it in the trailer while respecting the trailer's weight and balance requirements.
• If you can't manage both of those, then yep, its time for a SuperDuty.

I would thrilled to get that payload, the only options I would add is Deployable running boards and B&O Unleashed while removing the Bed Utility package

 

[Buyer2021]

I would thrilled to get that payload, the only options I would add is Deployable running boards and B&O Unleashed while removing the Bed Utility package

Note mine is a SCab w/7050# GVWR on 145"WB; IIRC when you go to a comparable SCrew the GVWR gets bumped to 7150#, but I don't think (haven't actually compared) that fully offsets the extra weight, even sticking with 145"WB and the shorter-bed, so that chips a bit off the net available payload.

Note, too, mine is the now-gone 'base 500A' Lariat, so a few less 'standard options' than the now available 501A/502A Lariat ..... more 'chips' off that net available payload.

I suspect (again, haven't actually compared) that deployable boards + B&O would also chip-off a bit more even without the bed utility package (mainly the weight of the power up/down tailgate stuff on my Lariat).

It's surprisingly easy to 'chip-away' ~200# (or more) of payload with trim-level and various options, then find yourself back to ~1650 (or less) instead of ~1850. Ya gotta pick your priorities and exercise discipline accordingly.

My 'target' was to at least meet the 1729# payload rating of my 2005 SCab 2WD XLT, picking up 4WD and some conveniences along the way. I used the eSourcebook payload calculator mentioned by @Aron in a previous post to help guide my order spec. If nothing else that calculator and options weight table gives a fair guide to relative trade-offs, IMO.

For me the end result in hard numbers was darned close that calculator estimate (and a bit better than the trusty old XLT, so 'mission accomplished' ). I'll admit I was holding my breath for months and let loose a huge "yahoo!" when Chip at Granger Ford texted a pic of my actual as-delivered payload sticker.

Good Luck!

 

[Dietz5285]

Who is getting stopped and weighed in the US? FWIW, if you don't drive like a maniac and look ship-shape, IMHO, no one is going to bother you.

What about if you not paying attention and the vehicle in front suddenly stops and you rear end it? Or if someone pulls in front of you on the interstate?

 

[Buyer2021]

What about if you not paying attention and the vehicle in front suddenly stops and you rear end it? Or if someone pulls in front of you on the interstate?

There's all sorts of prudent reasons to respect manufacturer rating limits, and no shortage of folks who say they've exceeded 'em without bad consequence.

Flogging the hypothetical and / or anecdotal scenarios gets one no where, IMO.

This olde phart suggests ya just gotta do what feels right for you, you're the person behind the wheel of your rig.

 

[Grafx36510]

There's all sorts of prudent reasons to respect manufacturer rating limits, and no shortage of folks who say they've exceeded 'em without bad consequence.

Flogging the hypothetical and / or anecdotal scenarios gets one no where, IMO.

This olde phart suggests ya just gotta do what feels right for you, you're the person behind the wheel of your rig.

To build on the old phart, just remember that what feels right to you may just get you in trouble since you are the one behind the wheel.

 

[WhiteLightningnshitshadow]

I have spent the last month looking at ACTUAL PAYLOADS for a Ford F150 Lariat, the largest that I have found is around 1650 lbs. We pull a 25ft Travel trailer with front twins and our tongue weight is around 950 lbs which would leave us with only 700 lbs for 2 passengers and a dog (total weight ~ 550 lbs) and any cargo. Am I the only one who is concerned about being over loaded and either getting stopped and weighed or else being in an accident and sued for being to heavy?

I know that getting a 250 would solve my problem but we only tow 2 times a year and the truck is our daily driver.


Gary

lol getting stopped and weighed? Where are you even at that they do this?

I really feel like the payloads are super conservative. If they aren't conservative, it's absolutely pathetic that a full size truck only has 5-600lbs more payload than my tiny CX30.

 

[imnuts]

If I were towing a trailer, especially for camping and driving extended distances, I'd certainly be concerned with payload and weight ratings. As it is now, I think about payload but don't really concern myself with it. If I'm overloaded while hauling stuff for DIY projects (and I have been a time or two), it's for a few miles at most and low speeds.

 

[Polo08816]

I have spent the last month looking at ACTUAL PAYLOADS for a Ford F150 Lariat, the largest that I have found is around 1650 lbs. We pull a 25ft Travel trailer with front twins and our tongue weight is around 950 lbs which would leave us with only 700 lbs for 2 passengers and a dog (total weight ~ 550 lbs) and any cargo. Am I the only one who is concerned about being over loaded and either getting stopped and weighed or else being in an accident and sued for being to heavy?

I know that getting a 250 would solve my problem but we only tow 2 times a year and the truck is our daily driver.


Gary

If you're within the legal payload limit but want the F150 to handle towing/trailering better, I would consider the following:
1. Heavy Duty Payload Package rear leaf spring (this won't increase your legal limit but it seems all else equal the HDPP trucks have anywhere from 500-750 lbs higher of a rear axle weight rating)
2. Load Range E highway all season tires that are more effective at combating sway
3. More robust suspension setup: Bilstein 6112 + 5160

I doubt that all of that would cause a 1/2 ton to ride worse than a HD pickup. It will be slightly stiffer and you'll likely have a bit more NVH.

 

[Wakevictim]

https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/thr...p-from-alaska-to-virginia-2021-3-5-eco.11724/

I did a 5500 mile road trip from Alaska to Virginia with no issues. Did a thread with all the information.

 

[BoostedSushi]

....

Also, if exceeding payload is a real concern for you, I would highly suggest looking for the Onboard Scales option. It won't get you the exact vehicle weight down to the pound, but it seems to be fairly close, at least in my experience.

Thanks for sharing this document. I just pulled it up and did an estimate of my payload with the truck I've ordered ('23 F-150 Platinum 4x4 PB) and it cuts about 300 lbs. of payload weight. The weight of some of these options raises eyebrows, such as the spray in bedliner. If I'd known that, I may have opted to not get it!

I'm estimating a payload of about 1,477 lbs based on the document. A 334 lbs. reduction thanks to niceties.

We're planning to buy our first travel trailer after we get used to the truck's size, and I'm new to towing, so I just want to make sure we aren't putting ourselves (or anyone else on the road) at risk by being outside the thresholds of the truck!

 

[HammaMan]

Sweet! So the tow package is mostly just gadgetry?

Depending on trim the tow package could simply be the TBC. The powerboost comes with a lot of things as part of its package so you end up way over-paying for a lot of the 'extras'. The 'tow package' on the powerboost is the TBC. The max tow swaps out the axle and rear brakes alone, despite the factory axle and brakes already able to handle loads that exceed what the PB is capable of. There's a sweet spot with the powerboost config that basically makes its package 'free' when you're already going to get a lot of features. Things to NOT get on a powerboost is the tow package, max tow package, FX4 package. The TBC is ~$200 to add (forscan bit flip turns on the other features), max tow springs springs and additional cooling are already in it, as is the 3.73 locking rear when 4WD is spec'd.

As to what the spec actually is, well every time I play with ford configurator, things seem to change. It's hard to nail down a moving bar.

 

[dhrandy]

As someone that was rearended by a tractor trailer last year while towing a travel trailer, I stay withing all the raitings. I have a 4x2 Lariat with a payload of 1920. I ordered the way I did to get the higher payload. I only tow a travel trailer about once a month for 5 or 6 months.

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