what did they do to give it an extra 600lbs of payload?

 

If I had to guess......... I'd say they changed the rear springs.

 

Every truck comes with Mean Maureen and her twin sister Helda?!?

 

Stiffer springs would be my guess, too.

 

makes you wonder why did they even do that. out of all the lightnings sold, who actually puts stuff in the back, and if you even do, who actually puts heavy stuff in there to max it out? im sure people put stuff in the back, but not the type of stuff that may scratch it or dent it up. my guess would be most people who buy these trucks buy them cause of how they look and/or how fast they go. or simply cause its a cool truck. although i have seen one L here in NJ that the guy uses it for work, its a silver 2000 with a cap on the back and ive seen him driving around with wood hangin out the back, lol.

 

I'm one of those sinful people that actually use the L as a truck.

I live in the middle of nowhere. This means traveling up to 360 miles round trip, with the bed loaded. This load is usually anything from groceries, to 1000 lbs. of 1/4" thick steel materials. I also haul two 55 gallon drums of gasoline from time to time.

I have not scratched or dented her. I have found out that it doesn't take much over 300 lbs. in the bed to make the headlights high enough to **** off alot of other drivers. It does not matter if you put that weight at the front of the bed either. I suspect that this is why they went to heavier springs, and increased the payload capacity.

I will most likely swap my rear springs for the '03 ones. People really get mad when you flash your brights back, to show that you're on low beams.

My Freight

Notice L.A. drop look.

 

"makes you wonder why did they even do that. out of all the lightnings sold, who actually puts stuff in the back, and if you even do, who actually puts heavy stuff in there to max it out? im sure people put stuff in the back, but not the type of stuff that may scratch it or dent it up."

[SS] Call me a 'one percenter'... I've moved using my L, picked up ***** loads of lumber from Lowes with it, been to some of the most back@$$ country gun ranges with it, and hauled my lawn tractor home in the bed- of course, I *HAD* to do an acceleration comparison with the lawn tractor on board, I dropped .1 0-60 (ok, I had the wife with me too...)

 

Just hauled a load of bricks this weekend. 1200lbs in the back (only 2 miles) Would have liked to have the increased capacity.

Coldie

 

if i had one, nothing would be going in there, except maybe a mattress for when me and the girl admire the sky on a nice summerlike night Mike

 

I have a feeling the extra payload capacity was not given to the lightning specifically, but to all of next years F150s, which would just so happen to include the lightning.

 

Use mine as a shop truck. Hauls whatever. I would like the extra hauling capacity as well. It can then haul more and still haul a$$.

 

I wouldn't mind a bit more capacity, tongue load and equipment in the bed puts me right at the limit if not a bit over.


StanB

 

I use mine like a truck too. It was the only way I could sell my wife on it. I alternate between pulling a boat and utility trailer. The bed doesn't get used that often- that's what the trailer is for. I've hauled rocks, top soil, lumber, etc., etc. Try that with a Corvette!

 

Sure, I use mine as a truck, too. In my case it's more of a suburban pickup. I frequently use it to haul groceries, mulch, topsoil, cement, bike gear. I rarely approach the 800lb capacity, though; usually 200-600lb. IMO if you regularly exceed 1000lb in the bed you bought the wrong truck.

ymmv of course.