Driving at payload capacity ??

[Spaceman Spiff]

I have a new F150 with a payload capacity of 1600 lbs... with all the water, batteries, canopy shell, etc it looks like I'm going to be pretty darn close to the max (I'm currently at 1500 lbs with my estimates, on the safe side; haven't actually weighed it). 

Is this going to be really dangerous or hard to drive if I'm at Ford's "max"?  Or does Ford underestimate it for there own liability?  

There's not a whole lot I can cut from my system except for maybe 75 lbs of battery, 100 lbs of water, the 40 lbs spare tire, and driving around on half a tank of gas- 80lbs, or kicking out the presumed hypothetical 150 lbs woman I included.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned is that since you are so close to GVWR you need to worry about the weight ratings for the front and rear axles (GAWR).  You can be under the GVWR and still overload (usually) the rear axle.  This should be on the same sticker that GVWR is on.  Harder to estimate GAWR; you will probably have to get it weighed to know where you are re: weight on rear axle.

As to the other things:  You never, ever want to exceed the weight rating of your tires.  Very bad things can happen very fast.  The brakes should be able to handle weight close to max GVWR, but you will want to give yourself more margin (more distance between you and the car ahead, slow down and  avoid bumps, corner slower, ... ).  Springs can be 'helped' (overload springs, air bags, etc. will level the truck but won't increase GAWR).

You can think about moving the battery to the engine compartment if there is room.  Water in the front of the box (do you need 12 gallons?).  If you are going to boondocks I would not be without a spare.  I like a full tank of gas.  Hypothetical women don't way anything.

I have a pop-up camper on the back of my pickup that weighs 1250 lbs fully loaded for 14 days boondocking; your estimate might be heavy.

 -- Spiff

 

[Svenn]

Maiden voyage completed- about 500 miles on interstate and country roads. I have load range E tires now. I can definitely tell a difference- it's a lot bumpier and I feel out of control if I go too fast around corners. Braking distance is reduced, engine works harder up hills than before I loaded up.

I guess the real question is whether these inconveniences are due to being overloaded or would exist regardless even if I had a F-250. I don't like having to worry and plan about where I fill up with water.

 

[Almost There]

Maiden voyage completed- about 500 miles on interstate and country roads.  I have load range E tires now.  I can definitely tell a difference- it's a lot bumpier and I feel out of control if I go too fast around corners.  Braking distance is reduced, engine works harder up hills than before I loaded up.  

I guess the real question is whether these inconveniences are due to being overloaded or would exist regardless even if I had a F-250.  I don't like having to worry and plan about where I fill up with water.

What is the recommended air pressure for the tires and what do you have them inflated to?

And how overloaded is the vehicle??

 

[Svenn]

^I'm not sure about the pressure, are you saying that maybe the bumpiness is due to them being over-inflated?

It's about 150 lbs over on the rear axle, 100 lbs under on the front axle. In total I appear to range a hundred or so pounds below or over max payload depending how much water/gas/food/friends I have.

 

[Almost There]

^I'm not sure about the pressure, are you saying that maybe the bumpiness is due to them being over-inflated?  

It's about 150 lbs over on the rear axle, 100 lbs under on the front axle.  In total I appear to range a hundred or so pounds below or over max payload depending how much water/gas/food/friends I have.

Very definitely the tire inflation affects how the road feels beneath you.

I found a very interesting way to determine proper tire inflation for the load -

Take a piece of sidewalk chalk and a small broom to a parking lot. clean the stones/litter off of a stretch in front of your vehicle. Put a wide chalk line across both tires on one axle. Drive forward and then examine the chalk left on the pavement.

A smooth, clear imprint of the each tire chalking will show you what you've got.

Missing at the edges - tire if over inflated and riding on just the middle of the tread.
Missing at the centre - under inflated and you're riding on the sidewalls.

Repeat for the other axle.

I like my tires a little hard but not over inflated - it gives a harder ride to be sure but it cuts down on tire wear caused by under inflating them. The tire centers and quick lube shops seem to be notorious for under inflating the tires. I'm constantly having to make them put more air in to keep them at MY desired inflation.

 

[highdesertranger]

being over inflated is relative to the weight on the tires. you can be under your max psi and if your vehicle is light you could be over inflated for the conditions. do a test like Almost There laid out. that will give you a better idea. load range E tires have a stiffer side wall so will ride a little stiffer no matter what. if you feel like you have lack of control in corners you might need new shocks. how old are your shocks and are they quality shocks? highdesertranger

 

[akrvbob]

You're so close to the limit that the odds of a catastrophic failure are fairly low. However, there is a much more likely problem.

Nearly every part in the system is being pushed to it's max 100% of the time. So a part that might last 200K miles will fail at 100K (or earlier?) instead. Premature wear, tear and failure will be the norm for the vehicle. That's why 3/4 and 1 tons weigh more and cost more, all those critical parts are bigger, heavier and are designed to handle that weight and last 200K miles.

By buying a 1/2 ton, and loading it like a 1 ton, in the long run you are going to pay more than the price of a 1 ton by replacing all those parts multiple times plus the labor.
Bob

 

[Svenn]

It's a 2016 F-150 so the shocks are new.

Alright well I guess I'll drive this F-150 for about a year and if I'm still doing the vandwelling lifestyle I'll upgrade to a F-250. That way when I sell the F-150 all the components will still be in relative good shape?

This just really sucks because I can't transfer the same canopy I spent so many hours putting a sunroof, bathroom, shower, wiring, etc in, and I'll have to waste so many thousands of dollars and time on a new one (not to say there aren't a ton of improvements I'd like to make). I was lucky this year and came into some money and I don't know if I'll still be doing well next year or not.... guess I could buy a used F-250 and used canopy if I get a good buyer for the F150

 

[akrvbob]

The premature failures are probably years away, I'd be tempted to keep it just know in 10 years or so you will need a bigger emergency fund. Bob

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Maiden voyage completed- about 500 miles on interstate and country roads.  I have load range E tires now.  I can definitely tell a difference- it's a lot bumpier and I feel out of control if I go too fast around corners.  Braking distance is reduced, engine works harder up hills than before I loaded up.  

E-rated tires have stiffer sidewalls so they will be 'bumpier'.
Feel out of control how?  Understeer (felt like I am going to keep going straight)?  Oversteer (back end wants to come around)?  Lean (feels like I am going to roll over)?  Each of these have different solutions.
Braking distance is easy to adjust for: go slower and give yourself more room to stop.  Brakes being adequate for downhills is harder: go slower, stop to let brakes cool down often, use your transmission to help keep you slow.

I guess the real question is whether these inconveniences are due to being overloaded or would exist regardless even if I had a F-250.  I don't like having to worry and plan about where I fill up with water.

I have a Ram 2500 with a 1260 lb (loaded for 2 weeks) camper and have no problems with handling.  I just can't get my head around your canopy weighing in at 1600 lbs. loaded.  My 8 ft camper, loaded with 2 weeks supplies for one person and one dog weighs in at ~ 1260 lbs.  Probably my definition of 'canopy' is wrong?

How much water do you carry?  Water is about 8 lbs a gallon.  A lot of guys I know with big campers fill just before camp (as close as they can).  Carrying more weight than you have to costs money.

^I'm not sure about the pressure, are you saying that maybe the bumpiness is due to them being over-inflated?

Only testing will tell.  Lower tire pressure will give a softer ride, but you do not want to reduce tire pressure too much so that the tires wear funny.  Under inflated tires will wear on the edges and are more prone to sidewall damage.  Overinflated tires wear in the middle of the tire.

Alright well I guess  I'll drive this F-150 for about a year and if I'm still doing the vandwelling lifestyle I'll upgrade to a F-250.  That way when I sell the F-150 all the components will still be in relative good shape?  

This just really sucks because I can't transfer the same canopy I spent so many hours putting a sunroof, bathroom, shower, wiring, etc in, and I'll have to waste so many thousands of dollars  and time on a new one (not to say there aren't a ton of improvements I'd like to make).  I was lucky this year and came into some money and I don't know if I'll still be doing well next year or not.... guess I could buy a used F-250 and used canopy if I get a good buyer for the F150

Will your canopy fit on a same year F-250? (I don't know Ford trucks well).  Possibility of transferring your canopy to same year 3/4T?
Ford has a 'payload package' for the F-150.  Look and see what is included in that package and see if some of those mods will work for you.
You will not make your F-150 into a 3/4 ton but there are some things that can be done to make driving it safer and more enjoyable.

 -- Spiff

 

[Svenn]

Spiff- I got to 1600lbs pretty easy because I think I may be the first person ever to put a full, self-contained bathroom in a canopy/cap/shell, rather than the conventional truck 'camper.' There's a lot of crawling and tight spaces lol. The canopy itself is 200, passengers are 300, fuel is around 100, water is 200, batteries are 300, plywood is another 200, generator, toilet, shower, mattress, etc it all adds up fast.

Unfortunately no, F-250s are a few inches higher and wider.

 

[ccbreder]

Have you weighed the complete truck and camper? As example, My B250 with me, my camper build, including water and batteries weighs 5640 pounds. My max vehicle rating is 6400 pounds. You may meet the GVW but have too much of it on the rear axle. That would make it very difficult to handle.

 

[muddy]

Spiff- I got to 1600lbs pretty easy because I think I may be the first person ever to put a full, self-contained bathroom in a canopy/cap/shell, rather than the conventional truck 'camper.' There's a lot of crawling and tight spaces lol. The canopy itself is 200, passengers are 300, fuel is around 100, water is 200, batteries are 300, plywood is another 200, generator, toilet, shower, mattress, etc it all adds up fast.  

Unfortunately no, F-250s are a few inches higher and wider.

This is fascinating, got any pictures of your setup? What sort of shower/toilet are you using for that?