Tested out the payload capability with Mopar Lift

[DAVECS1]

Is the payload amount 1600lbs for the bed, or total payload including occupants?

My understanding is it is suppose to be 1600 for the bed, not complete GVW, but I am not 100 percent on that. Given that, I had the family on board at a conservative 500lbs so I should of been still in the ball park.

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[adbeck]

My understanding is it is suppose to be 1600 for the bed, not complete GVW, but I am not 100 percent on that. Given that, I had the family on board at a conservative 500lbs so I should of been still in the ball park.

I was thinking, and it would be a crazy thought, but if it was 1600 spread out evenly over the truck so it would actually make the tailgate weight lower

 

[DAVECS1]

What does that mean?

I have another post about this as I figured it would be a useful search for people in the future. Basically there is no structure in the tailgate panel around the latch handle. I slammed the tailgate like a guy does when things are a bit full, and the sheet metal on the right side of the handle caved in a bit. I was able to body work it back out. Be nice if a company made some armor or something you can actually put load on to close it.

 

[DAVECS1]

I was thinking, and it would be a crazy thought, but if it was 1600 spread out evenly over the truck so it would actually make the tailgate weight lower

When I was at the dealer, I remember seeing a display in the back of the bed that talks about all the features of the bed like the tailgate, tiedowns, and 1600lb payload. Maybe I remembered it wrong

 

[DAVECS1]

According to this, should be able to do 1500 in the bed.

 

[SwampNut]

I have another post about this as I figured it would be a useful search for people in the future. Basically there is no structure in the tailgate panel around the latch handle. I slammed the tailgate like a guy does when things are a bit full, and the sheet metal on the right side of the handle caved in a bit. I was able to body work it back out. Be nice if a company made some armor or something you can actually put load on to close it.

Ah. I was taught early on to close a truck tailgate by grabbing the top edge and pushing. I think in the quest to reduce weight, we are going to see thinner stuff anywhere possible.

As far as the weight, I believe "payload" includes EVERYTHING you add to it, plus a 150 pound allocation for the driver. So a second person, your onboard espresso machine, your winch, all that subtracts from payload. The bed load is payload plus 150 minus EVERYTHING you put into/on the vehicle. Towing is anything hung from the back. Fifth wheel would combine payload and towing.

 

[smlobx]

My understanding is it is suppose to be 1600 for the bed, not complete GVW, but I am not 100 percent on that. Given that, I had the family on board at a conservative 500lbs so I should of been still in the ball park.

Unfortunately this is not correct.
The payload includes everything that was not on or in the truck as delivered from the factory. So that includes all passengers and any additions that you add to the truck AND whatever is in the back.

 

[SwampNut]

On the topic of payload, I plan to put a motorcycle in mine, and wonder if I should consider helper springs or airbags. I searched the forum and didn't find any discussion on those. Opinions are welcome.

My bike is probably approaching 500 pounds with luggage and the gear that lives on it. It's an adventure bike (on/off road with big luggage, the Jeep of bikes). I will mostly take it on camping trips along with the travel trailer. It has a tongue weight of about 450 estimated, with weight distribution that balances it perfectly (zero sag). Not sure how the bike will affect that.

 

[DAVECS1]

Unfortunately this is not correct.
The payload includes everything that was not on or in the truck as delivered from the factory. So that includes all passengers and any additions that you add to the truck AND whatever is in the back.

I assume you mean all sprung weight additions, unsprung weight would not make sense. So the lift kit does not add payload, even though it affects payload capability, obviously. My payload assumption was due to the specification page from FCA listed above directly calling out payload. Ford and chevy dont do that. They give you VW and max VW and let you figure it out.

 

[Mikegcny]

I assume you mean all sprung weight additions, unsprung weight would not make sense.

It is any weight, doesn't matter where it is.

As long as that extra weight is pushing down on the road beneath the tires it counts towards the payload.

 

[WXman]

Payload refers to the weight applied to the vehicle. Wheels and tires are unsprung weight and don't affect payload.

If you have a listing of 1,200 lbs. payload on your door jamb placard, and you weigh 200 lbs, then your remaining payload is 1,000 lbs as soon as you step into the truck. If you then put a wife and 2 or 3 kids in the truck also, you're probably left with only a few hundred pounds of payload remaining. This is why the Max Tow package is so nice...it gives you enough payload for people AND cargo without removing any towing capacity.

On my Max Tow stock suspension, I put 1,300 lbs. of sand on the bed of the truck behind the rear axle, which isn't recommended but in my case was necessary, and my bump stops were not even as close to the perch as what the OP shows in that picture. That tells me that the Mopar accessory suspension does not have the same spring rate, and that is the very reason I used spacers to lift my truck.

 

[DAVECS1]

Payload refers to the weight applied to the vehicle. Wheels and tires are unsprung weight and don't affect payload.

If you have a listing of 1,200 lbs. payload on your door jamb placard, and you weigh 200 lbs, then your remaining payload is 1,000 lbs as soon as you step into the truck. If you then put a wife and 2 or 3 kids in the truck also, you're probably left with only a few hundred pounds of payload remaining. This is why the Max Tow package is so nice...it gives you enough payload for people AND cargo without removing any towing capacity.

On my Max Tow stock suspension, I put 1,300 lbs. of sand on the bed of the truck behind the rear axle, which isn't recommended but in my case was necessary, and my bump stops were not even as close to the perch as what the OP shows in that picture. That tells me that the Mopar accessory suspension does not have the same spring rate, and that is the very reason I used spacers to lift my truck.

Thanks this is good information to know. Man the lift springs look way more substantial than my stock springs. Maybe I will have to switch to spacers or use my trailer more. Bought 1200lb weight distribution hitch.

 

[LostWoods]

Thanks this is good information to know. Man the lift springs look way more substantial than my stock springs. Maybe I will have to switch to spacers or use my trailer more. Bought 1200lb weight distribution hitch.

Spring appearance is unfortunately no indicator of performance. The lift kit springs are likely going to be similar spec to the standard springs on rate so it's not surprising you're seeing squat. I saw similar results to the other poster with about 600lbs in the bed of my max tow - the truck lost maybe an inch if that.

I think you're on the right track going with stock springs and a spacer kit. That's probably where I'll end up unless someone like Eibach releases some more custom-rate springs.

 

[SwampNut]

So this is interesting. It's what shows up in my Mopar account. My payload shows as 1110, and apparently my ability to tow has been suspended!

 

[SwampNut]

It is any weight, doesn't matter where it is.

As long as that extra weight is pushing down on the road beneath the tires it counts towards the payload.

I disagree. The fact that there are various suspension options that change the payload on various vehicles tells us that this is an important factor. Unsprung weight wouldn't affect suspension. Although, you can't really change the unsprung weight by a huge amount without replacing things like axles, and now the entire capacity rating is out the window anyway.

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