What is the real payload capacity of our trucks???

I don't mean to beat a dead horse here, but I recently discovered some information that may make or break my truck's ability to go camping later this summer...

I have the infamous sticker that reads "Modifications to this vehicle have reduced the original load carrying capacity by 290 lbs." The key words here being "original load carrying capacity." According to the Tacoma brochure that I have, the payload for my truck is 1295 lbs, which would be the "original load carrying capacity." Subtract from this the 290 lb sticker, and my new payload is 1005 lbs, or so I thought.

I got to thinking, how is the payload calculated? It is the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (5450 lbs) minus the curb weight (4155 lbs as stated in the brochure). It occurred to me that my curb weight may be slightly different, so I took it to a scale to see. With a full tank of gas, my truck weighed 4380 lbs. The only "extras" that were in / on my truck was a child's car seat (10 lbs) and a folding hard tonneau cover (35 lbs maybe). In other words, my truck weighs in at 180 lbs more than what's stated in the brochure (225 lbs when accounting for the child seat and tonneau cover). Perhaps this is due to options on the truck such as TRD package and tow package?Therefore, I need to subtract 4380 from the GVWR of 5450 to get my new payload of 1070 lbs.

This is where my question comes in, and it is something that I have suggested in other threads. If this 290 lb sticker is representative of options that have been added to my truck, then my real payload would be 1070 lbs. However, if it is not, and I am supposed to further subtract 290 lbs due to perhaps weak springs that aren't up to the task of supporting the claimed weights in the brochure, then my real payload is 1070 - 290 = 780 lbs. This is a big difference, and will dictate whether or not my truck is capable of taking the family camping in August with a 19' camper.

If anybody can shed some light on this, I'm all ears!

 

Anybody?

 

try to get the TSB for the rear leafs (do a search for rear TSB)
or just get an

$220 add-a-leaf kit for 1995-2023 toyota tacoma - 21.5" short AAL set with isolator pads and square bend u-bolts

add-a-leaf kit (toytech,deaver,etc...)
or spend a lot of $$ and get some timbren or air assisted 'shocks'
thats about all you can do for better towing.

and all that about the weights.. don't they calculate vehicle weights dry? meaning no fluids at all. so subtract your gas weight, what's it? 7 lbs a gallon?

 

With the 3 leaf suspension it's about 5lbs. With the 4 leaf TSB suspension it's just over 1000lbs.

 

All I know is that it sucks ass...

 

lol. But kinda true. I run the TSB springs and the Timbren setup (and 1.5" blocks, but those don't affect load). Get the TSB springs if you are concerned about carrying a load, but they are NOT the end all be all.

 

Regardless of what the GVW is and all that technical talk and number crunching...

You have a brochure that states what the load carrying capacity is supposed to be... and your truck has that goofy sticker that says its been reduced to 290lbs?? That's a bunch of BS.

When you bought the truck, did they tell you that the capacity was reduced before you signed the papers? If not - then they didn't disclose that information to you (and legally, they should have).

Take the truck back and tell them you didn't get exactly what you paid for - according to the brochure. Tell them you want the TSB leaf springs because you're NOT happy with the fact your payload was reduced and you weren't told about it upon purchase.

(or something to that affect. FIGHT THEM. That's BS! You should be getting everything that's stated in the brochure). You paid a lot of money and you want exactly what you paid for in the brochure.

 

When you weighed the truck, were you sitting in it? Do you weigh about 225 lbs?

 

What's the tongue weight of the trailer DRY (Unloaded) then add about 100# to that. That's considered payload as well. Just do as I do though and put everything in the trailer and try to keep the bed empty. It will definitely impact your ability to load up the truck for sure though.

As for that sticker.. you may have hit upon something I haven't seen in the threads. The sticker may be a result of factory installed options being added to the dry curb weight of the truck which is why some people have the sticker and some don't. It would also explain why some people have different numbers on that sticker.

Ultimately though.. load up your trailer.. use a weight distribution hitch and go weigh everything as setup to go before you leave for your trip. As long as you're not over your GVWR on the truck (by much) you should be OK. Just take it easy and don't try and win any races.

 

Nope. Truck weighed 4380 with a full tank of gas. The only extras that were in the truck that weren't in it when I bought it was the child's seat and tonneau cover.

Therefore, I'm thinking my payload is 5450 (GVWR) - 4380 (empty weight) - 290 (weak spring deduction) = 780 lbs. That's a far cry from the 1295 lbs that Toyota advertises in the brochure.

 

Good idea, except it's a trailer I'm renting. I'll be driving about 12 hours before I pick up the trailer, then it's another 1.5 hours to my destination. However, several areas of the highway I'll be driving on with the trailer are quite narrow, with no shoulder and about 1000' - 2000' dropoffs. I guess you could say that's why I'm being so cautious. The last thing I want to do is pull a trailer on a road like that when I've quite possibly exceeded certain limitations of the truck.

 

Exactly...

From 780 lbs, I have to subtract:

200 lbs me
115 lbs wife
135 lbs son 1
30 lbs son 2
239 lbs trailer tongue weight

This leaves me with a whopping 61 lbs for all of our camping gear / cooler / etc.

I'll probably take my truck back to the local dealer and explain the situation. However, I'm fully expecting that they'll argue that 1) I haven't had any problems yet, so they're not going to perform the tsb, or 2) the tsb doesn't include the 09's yet.

I know there are advantages and disadvantages to each option, but if I'm looking at possibly lifting my truck in the future, would an aal be the best option at this time?

 

We have a winner!

 

I estimated this pallet to weigh between 1000-1200 lbs all together. Although I am not sure how accurate that measurement was.

Granted I only drove about 2 miles home but it had no problems moving the load. Truck has the TSB done to it and did not bottom out the bump stops. Not sure if i could recommend doing it all the time. But I had no problems getting it home.

 

May Seem a little fishy considering its my first post.
(Will do a full intro later on)

My father and I put a pallet of cement in our DB 07 Taco.

The suspension bottomed out.
(Looked like it was bagged)

A few creaks and noises were heard.

But we drove about 2.5 miles like that.

So for actual payload capacity:
60 lbs bags x 56 = 3360 lbs
2 fully grown adults= 350 lbs
Total: 3710 lbs not including the gas, actual weight of the truck or tools in backseat.

I personally think GVWR ratings are like ladder ratings: severely underrated.

Hell, I fitted 4 adults and gear in my 280z and it was fine. (Its capacity is like 450 lbs)

If your over the weight by 100-200 lbs I don't think you will have any problems.

Honestly what average person (Non-Trailer) looks at GVWR when going on a roadtrip person

(Disclaimer: I am not responsible for any damages incurred from following my statement)

 

We forklift skids of fertilizer or lime into our '10 all the time. These skids weigh exactly 2,000 lbs each (+/- 50 lbs). The axle almost touches the bump stops, and taps them while driving sometimes. We drive over rough terrain and distances of several miles on field trails. Haven't had any problems.

We have the 3 leaf springs.

You'll be fine. Stop worrying. Load the truck up and just make sure you are not resting on the axle bump stops. Make sure your tires OK and drive 55.

 

I have a 08 prerunner trd offroad with tsb springs
If i tryed to haul a ton (2000lb) it affect anything or can this truck handle it?
Drive is about 15 stop go traffic.
Only mods i have is airfilter and catback