Payload Capacity: C'mon, is it REALLY Important?

[FirstFord]

I've seen a lot of discussion and debate regarding payload/towing capacities on this forum, so this may tickle some curious responses...

[All photo credits go to eBAUM'S World ( https://www.ebaumsworld.com/pictures/20-photos-of-absolutely-overloaded-pickup-trucks/87704108/ ) and Pinterest]

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[Davexxxx]

"Just because you can, doesn't mean you should."

 

[Gros Ventre]

That last picture wit the wheels out and at an angle tells the story...

 

[Snakebitten]

Can't help but note that none of those examples represent someone fudging their Payload Capacity by a couple of hundred pounds.
I don't know what the engineering safety margin actually is, but I'm convinced it exists.

 

[24STX5.0]

Holy smokes! Ebaumsworld. That takes me back to about 2003.

 

[Davexxxx]

Can't help but note that none of those examples represent someone fudging their Payload Capacity by a couple of hundred pounds.
I don't know what the engineering safety margin actually is, but I'm convinced it exists.

No idea what auto manufacturers use but in civil engineering, specifically geotechnical engineering, we generally used a design margin of safety of 1, meaning things were designed to be double what was needed.

BUT, that is under lab conditions and you never get lab conditions in the field. Materials, temps and humidity are different, workforce skill levels are different etc.

So, not to be considered that everything is over built. The design is overbuilt to accommodate the variable short comings, that will exist in the field. Also, to keep us out of court, which is a very real business risk.

 

[Gros Ventre]

Don't forget shock loading...

 

[Davexxxx]

Don't forget shock loading...

Yeah, I worked on a couple of "Earthquake Proof" structures. Mainly hardening hospitals, a few bridges and high rises.

There is no such thing as Earthquake Proof. Earthquake Resistant, yes. How much, depends on your wallet. Very similar to "Hurricane Proof". Expected normal+ some amount of wind and snow loads are taken into account as a matter of course but there is a difference between hardening for a cat 3, vs cat 5.

Same goes for flooding. Places that never went that high in some long period, can get overcome. Seems to be happening more often. At least partly a function of increased development of impervious surfaces upstream, without adequate storm water system sizing and detention.

 

[Brent@ANParts]

I'm less shocked by the overloaded trucks than I am about eBaumsWorld still existing! That's a name I've not heard in a long time, a long time...

 

[Gros Ventre]

When it comes to overloading... It is important to recall that in the end the load is transmitted, when rolling, through a thin lubricant film. The lubricant and sizing of the bearing is designed for the expected full load. If you overload then the film becomes thinner and thinner. eventually, either through simple weight or shock transmission, the shaft will touch the bearing surface. Once that happens, some of the metal is sheared off and the life of the bearing is now short. Overload at your peril.

 

[NMMIKE]

Can't help but note that none of those examples represent someone fudging their Payload Capacity by a couple of hundred pounds.
I don't know what the engineering safety margin actually is, but I'm convinced it exists.

The problem is that there is probably 0 safety margin because of the formulas used to calculate payload. The formula uses 150 lbs. per person and for a family of four with two small children that may be OK. But how often have U seen 4 adults that average 150 lbs per person? This is America, and that would be totally unAmerican to have four adults weighing that little And not to mention if U have more than 4 passengers ??

 

[Snakebitten]

The problem is that there is probably 0 safety margin because of the formulas used to calculate payload. The formula uses 150 lbs. per person and for a family of four with two small children that may be OK. But how often have U seen 4 adults that average 150 lbs per person? This is America, and that would be totally unAmerican to have four adults weighing that little And not to mention if U have more than 4 passengers ??

I'm old. I grew up in rural east Texas and I road in the bed of trucks, stood up in the front seat of cars (no seat belts or car seats back then) and I don't think there were yellow stickers on the door jamb?

I'm convinced my dad, grandpa, and neighbors were more aware than I was of whatever the intended limits of Payload might have been, but I am absolutely certain that they overloaded those trucks on many occasions. And admittedly, I think they broke stuff on occasion. ? (I remember lots of flat tire events in my childhood)

But these modern trucks are simply marvels. The fact 5 "fat" adult men can actually sit inside of one simultaneously? ??? Nobody could have imagined!
And the modern truck will still accelerate, brake, and the tires will hold air even if that 5th fatty took the Payload beyond the yellow sticker.

 

[NMMIKE]

I'm old. I grew up in rural east Texas and I road in the bed of trucks, stood up in the front seat of cars (no seat belts or car seats back then) and I don't think there were yellow stickers on the door jamb?

I'm convinced my dad, grandpa, and neighbors were more aware than I was of whatever the intended limits of Payload might have been, but I am absolutely certain that they overloaded those trucks on many occasions. And admittedly, I think they broke stuff on occasion. ? (I remember lots of flat tire events in my childhood)

But these modern trucks are simply marvels. The fact 5 "fat" adult men can actually sit inside of one simultaneously? ??? Nobody could have imagined!
And the modern truck will still accelerate, brake, and the tires will hold air even if that 5th fatty took the Payload beyond the yellow sticker.

U grew up in a different world in the Piney Woods of East Texas. People were lean , mean and drank their Lone Star, Pearl LIght, and falstaff whilst driving (no open container law back then) with a Marlboro hanging out of their sunburned lips and headed to the local barbecue shack for a snack. Plus with all that hard work in the high humidity extreme summer heat, people could not attain weights exceeding 150 lbs.

The negative effects of exceeding Payload will be long term and the timing will depend upon extent of overload and the duration. And U cannot ignore the safety effects of overloading. While driving, the overload will lighten the load on the front wheels effecting steering, handling and breaking. And don’t ignore the “Tail Wagging the Dog” if U can just imagine a grossly overloaded trailer going down a steep mountain and the trailer starts getting squirrelly what will happen next?

 

[Snakebitten]

How in the world do you know East Texas Big Thicket living in the 50's/60's so accurately? ??

My grandpa and daddy were preachers though. So it was uncles and neighbors drinking the Falstaf. ?

Seriously though (kinda. I can't do real serious very well) I actually do tow/haul pretty consistently. Multiple RV's and various trucks. I know what you are getting at. I'm just saying that for ME personally, if I can get the weight balanced and distributed properly, I absolutely have and will cross that stamped number, if you know what I mean. Probably not for some interstate or cross country jaunt, but for a weekend at the beach or lake?

(Isn’t likely to happen these days though since I recently added a ~5000# Payload F350 to the family fleet)

 

[Aonarch]

In all seriousness, my Wrangler Rubicon is a whooping 850 lbs of payload. Insane.

F150 is 2000 lbs.

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