Chris Auffenberg

While most truck drivers focus solely on their vehicle’s towing capacity, the payload figures are equally important. We’re brushing up on what exactly payload capacity is, why it’s so important, and how to calculate your max payload. Read this blog by Chris Auffenberg Family of Dealerships in Farmington, MO.

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How Do I Calculate My Truck’s Max Payload?

While towing capacity refers to how much weight you can safely haul behind your vehicle, payload capacity refers to how much weight you can safely carry inside the cabin and on the truck bed. To calculate your max payload, you will need to know your truck’s curb weight and gross vehicle weight rating.

Curb weight is a measurement of how much your vehicle weighs with no passengers or cargo inside. It’s not always the same as what is listed in your model’s specs if you have added on any aftermarket accessories. Next, you will need to find your gross vehicle weight rating. This is the maximum amount of weight your vehicle can hold including the weight of your vehicle plus any liquids, passengers, cargo, etc.

To calculate your max payload, subtract the curb weight from the gross vehicle weight rating. That’s how much available weight can be safely added to your vehicle in the form of passengers, accessories, cargo, etc.

Max Payload and Towing Capacity

If you are planning on towing anything behind your vehicle, it will affect your max payload. Your payload weight needs to account for the tongue weight if you are towing anything, which is about 15% of the overall weight of the item you are towing because of the weight and pressure put on your hitch.

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Your payload weight can also have an impact on your towing capacity. If you load up your cabin with cargo, even if the weight doesn’t exceed your gross vehicle weight rating, you will not be able to safely tow as much as you could with an empty cabin.