925 pounds really?

[Bourget117]

Going Into purchasing my 2026 JT Sahara I knew it wasn’t going to have the rock crawling or towing capabilities that the other models have. I’m fine with that.
But what I didn't know is how low my payload capacity is. 924 pounds. If I put four people in the truck including myself, I can forget about putting anything in the bed.
I know whatever stamped onthe door from the factory can’t change legally. But is there a way I can increase capacity with maybe tires, shocks, or springs?

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[ChrisNLA]

Going Into purchasing my 2026 JT Sahara I knew it wasn’t going to have the rock crawling or towing capabilities that the other models have. I’m fine with that.
But what I didn't know is how low my payload capacity is. 924 pounds. If I put four people in the truck including myself, I can forget about putting anything in the bed.
I know whatever stamped onthe door from the factory can’t change legally. But is there a way I can increase capacity with maybe tires, shocks, or springs?

You can put as much as you want in the truck and nobody is going to know unless you accidentally kill a family of four in it, then they reconstruct the entire crash scene, weigh every part that was scattered all over the highway, and then try to pin the cause on the weight of the vehicle specifically.

But anyways - springs with a higher spring rate and firmer shocks (like a Bilstein 5100, or similar) will help it carry more weight within reason. Air bags can help, too.

I have had 800 pounds of brick in the bed of mine (mostly behind the rear axle center line), plus my toolbox full of junk (~100), myself (215), and a trailer behind mine all at once (~1500 pounds with ~150 on the tongue I'd guess) and a full tank of fuel - basically sitting on the bump stops. Truck was fine.

Mine is a Sport S / Max Tow with a sticker at 1,437 pounds.

Not to mention, every stock Rubicon or Mojave headed to the trail for the weekend is loaded past its GVWR. That's just how it is

Not legal advice

 

[Bourget117]

I hear what you’re saying. But I’m not looking to load up the bed with a pallet of bricks. I’d just like to increase some capacity without rebuilding the entire jeep. Yours will always be more heavy duty than mine because you have the wider axles. if I can increase mine with some Bilstein 5100s and if needed some better springs without ruining my ride comfort then I’ll be happy.

 

[ChrisNLA]

I hear what you’re saying. But I’m not looking to load up the bed with a pallet of bricks. I’d just like to increase some capacity without rebuilding the entire jeep. Yours will always be more heavy duty than mine because you have the wider axles. if I can increase mine with some Bilstein 5100s and if needed some better springs without ruining my ride comfort then I’ll be happy.

The wider axles don't add anything for weight capacity exactly - they're intended to provide more towing stability by making the truck wider.

The 5100s ride rougher than stock by a small amount (personal experience). Increasing spring rate may do the same as well. The shocks won't do anything by themselves other than help control the weight moving around - but won't help with the truck squatting.

If you like the way the truck is now, adding bags inside the rear springs is a nice route. Leave the air pressure low when unloaded, shoot some air in when you need some assistance. Change the shocks to help control the movement. That's the route I would go if I was hauling heavy a lot - but 800 pounds of brick was the exception, not the rule.

 

[fourfa]

Heavier duty springs and shocks will help a lot. Outside of strict legality, it’s not really that complicated. People here have overloaded plenty and figured out what breaks - short answer, not much until you start hitting off-road obstacles at speed

 

[Bourget117]

Heavier duty springs and shocks will help a lot. Outside of strict legality, it’s not really that complicated. People here have overloaded plenty and figured out what breaks - short answer, not much until you start hitting off-road obstacles at speed

I’m starting to think I should have just gotten a Mojave and called it a day.

 

[fourfa]

Mojave doesn’t have better payload or drastically stiffer springs, not sure how that helps?

 

[Bourget117]

Mojave doesn’t have better payload or drastically stiffer springs, not sure how that helps?

Then I’m just gonna have to create my own fix with a combination of springs, shocks and/or air bags.

 

[azmojave]

This could be your solution to keep your smooth ride when unloaded

 

[40x40]

Then I’m just gonna have to create my own fix with a combination of springs, shocks and/or air bags.

well, one idea might be to get three extreeeeeeeeemely slender friends to avoid the 924 lb issue, if that is a concern. or just say dilligaf and enjoy your sahara!

 

[Bourget117]

This could be your solution to keep your smooth ride when unloaded

This seems promising.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Going Into purchasing my 2026 JT Sahara I knew it wasn’t going to have the rock crawling or towing capabilities that the other models have. I’m fine with that.
But what I didn't know is how low my payload capacity is. 924 pounds. If I put four people in the truck including myself, I can forget about putting anything in the bed.
I know whatever stamped onthe door from the factory can’t change legally. But is there a way I can increase capacity with maybe tires, shocks, or springs?

I guess you didn't do any research and bought without knowing about what you bought. Be happy - mine has 100 lbs. LESS than yours.

Then I’m just gonna have to create my own fix with a combination of springs, shocks and/or air bags.

That will not increase your payload capacity. You need to do some reading back several years here. You can't can't change springs and say there, I fixed the payload issue.
It's about a lot more.

Good luck if you overload it and lose control in an emergency.

Mojave doesn’t have better payload or drastically stiffer springs, not sure how that helps?

Mojave is a HEAVY TRUCK for a JT. Payload is based on many things - including the weight of the truck. More options, steel bumpers, winch, power this and that, you lose payload.

In a way, it's really unreal we are visiting this all over again, and again, someone bought a Jeep without doing any homework at all - bought the WRONG TRUCK.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I run airbags - they have no impact unless I air them up for towing.
I never tow more than the rating and stick well below it.
I did haul well over payload in one of them and it was spooky, center of gravity going around a curve with railroad tracks had me wondering.

Tires - you need to go SMALLER, not bigger. The Sport Max Tow has the smallest tires in the JT line for a GOOD REASON.
You need to have the same gear ratio and tire size to keep the RPM in the proper band for heat rejection and so on.
Springs will prevent sag - but you may also lose some stability in an emergency.

Look to the max tow for tips on how Jeep did it - gear ratio, SMALL tires, dual rate springs in the rear, and they kept the weight of the truck down - anything you add to the factory configuration drops your payload down even farther.
Do not go bigger tires - go SMALLER tires.

 

[Metalhead]

I hate to say it but you should have gotten a sport s with max tow. My payload capacity is 1738lbs. I am setting up my gladiator for overlanding and am trying not to overload my jeep. I found a truck yard near me with a scale and for 15 bucks I get my jeep weighed once I have it fully loaded. I know people say all the time that people go out overloaded all the time. I don't want to be one of those people.

 

[Bourget117]

I hate to say it but you should have gotten a sport s with max tow. My payload capacity is 1738lbs. I am setting up my gladiator for overlanding and am trying not to overload my jeep. I found a truck yard near me with a scale and for 15 bucks I get my jeep weighed once I have it fully loaded. I know people say all the time that people go out overloaded all the time. I don't want to be one of those people.

I didn’t get the max tow because I have nothing to tow. I just didn’t realize the payload capacity of passengers and all their stuff varies so much between models.

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