Does anyone know how payload and towing capacity limits are determined for the 04-06 F-150s and what is the limiting component? Is it only the springs in back? Or are the brakes incapable of stopping larger loads? Is the tranny going to suffer an early death? Maybe everything is designed to barely meet the factory limits?

The reason I'm asking is if I add-a-leaf to increase payload, should I also look into upgrading the brakes? I really want more payload for handling a truck camper that was recently offered to me for free!!, but I don't want to buy a superduty just to handle it.

Thanks in advance.

 

how much weight are you talking about?

In general regularly hauling more than the recommended limits will cause early and excessive wear

 

It weighs about 2300 lbs fully loaded. The HD payload F-150 would handle it. What is different about that truck?

 

bump

 

Wrong. First off, the heavy duty 150 will only haul about 2100 lbs max. You have to remember that when you load a camper, that is the empty weight of 2300. You will work that truck to an early grave by hauling that camper. When you load up that thing for a trip, you average about 250 lbs of extra stuff like clothes, cooking utensils, chairs... Plus, if you use the water tank(s), you add about 8.3 lbs/gallon of water weight. So, 2300 plus 250 plus 250 (30 gallons of water) = 2800 lbs plus family = GVWR way over. These add-a-leafs kits do NOT add payload to your truck. The payload is determined by the motor and tranny pulling it around, and not the suspension capabilities of your truck. They add stability to a load that meets the GVWR of the truck thus improving handling. Also, think of the high center of gravity in a turn even if you go very slow to your destination. My father hauls a 10.5 ft slide in camper on a duelly SD that weighs close to 3300 lbs fully loaded. That truck still gets a workout in the mountains. I think the best thing to do is get a SD or a pull behind.

 

payload SPECS for the 06 F-150 are as follows..

reg cab 4x2 144.5in WB with HD package can handle 3060 lbs in the bed and can tow 9900lbs..

supercab 4x2 163in WB with HD package can handle 2710 lbs in bed and tow 9500lbs..

hope this helps

 

Spence: Thanks for the rant, but I clearly stated 2300 lbs fully loaded, which includes water, gear, etc...

Uber: Thanks for the payload info

Anyone know what makes the HD trucks different? I know it is impossible to stump this board, so someone needs to step up w/ some answers.

Bigger brakes? better tranny? stronger springs (I would assume so)??

 

Require reg cab too

 

Payload numbers are not what you can carry in the bed.
For real payload you have to weigh your vehicle and subtract that from the GVW number on the sticker. Now from the result of that, subtract the weights of all the people and anything else you pu in the vehicle. That is your payload.

 

I think the manufactures under rate our trucks for payload capacity. My truck has a 7200 GVWR. If I subtract the weight of the truck/5850, that means I can only put 1350 pounds in the truck. So if we take 2-3 people with us, thats 600 pounds, fill'er up with gas, thats 250 pounds. Are you telling me I can only put 500 pounds in the bed of my truck??? Yeah right. We all know we go over that number many of times.

 

If you read the owners manual, that is exactly what they are saying. Would I put 2300 in the bed of my truck plus pasengers, etc, and expect to put a lot of miles on the vehicle with that setup. Absolutely not. Would I put 2300lbs in my truck and drive it 10 miles, yes.