Payload Ratings and Campers

[Mike Ellis]

After seeing some of the messages from folks about overloaded trucks, relatively small payloads etc for even 1-ton trucks, I have been trying to find out the payload / camper certificate ratings for the various truck models. Here is what I have found so far in various threads about overloading, perhaps some of you can post numbers for your trucks if they are not already on the list, please be sure to specify transmission and rear end ratios. I would really like to see how the Duramax GMs and the new Fords stack up against the DC products.



The data on the '97 Dodge 3500 is known correct, I took it out of my own manuals and camper certificate... !



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1992 Dodge CTD ????????????????

GCWR... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... . = xxxxxx lbs

GVWR... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... . = 8,510 lbs

Max Trailer... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... = xxxxxx lbs

Max Payload... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... = xxxxxx lbs

Camper Cert (Cargo Wt. Rating)... ... . = xxxxxx lbs



1997 Dodge 3500 Club Cab Dually 2wd CTD 5spd 3. 54

GCWR... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... . = 20,000 lbs

GVWR... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... . = 10,500 lbs

Max Trailer... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... = 13,800 lbs

Max Payload... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... = 4,440 lbs

Camper Cert (Cargo Wt Rating)... ... . = 3,277 lbs



1998 Chevy 3500 Crew Cab Dually ??? ??? ???

GCWR... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... . = xxxxxx lbs

GVWR... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... . = xxxxxx lbs

Max Trailer... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... = xxxxxx lbs

Max Payload... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... = 3,512 lbs

Camper Cert (Cargo Wt Rating)... ... . = 2,950 lbs



1999 Ford 350 Crew Cab Dually 4wd PSD ??? ???

GCWR... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... . = xxxxxx lbs

GVWR... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... . = xxxxxx lbs

Max Trailer... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... = xxxxxx lbs

Max Payload... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... = xxxxxx lbs

Camper Cert (Cargo Wt Rating)... ... . = 2,814 lbs



1999 Ford F350 Crew Cab SRW 4x4 PSD ??? ???

GCWR... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... . = xxxxxx lbs

GVWR... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... . = xxxxxx lbs

Max Trailer... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... = xxxxxx lbs

Max Payload... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... = 3,865 lbs

Camper Cert (Cargo Wt Rating)... ... . = 1,800 lbs



19xx Ford F350 Supercab SRW 4x4 ??? ???

GCWR... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... . = xxxxxx lbs

GVWR... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... . = xxxxxx lbs

Max Trailer... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... = xxxxxx lbs

Max Payload... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... = 4,165 lbs

Camper Cert (Cargo Wt Rating)... ... . = 2,400 lbs

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

The problem with that Mike is that you are going by the book numbers that DC gave you on the weight of your truck, which are ficticious to say the least. The concern people have is what the true capacity is, not what dream some engineer had when he made up the specs! Your manual CLAIMS that the 2wd club cab dually with a CTD weighs only 6,060 lbs - #ad
. That's an exageration to say the least! To be a useful comparison I think you'd have to go by actual weights of peoples trucks, JMHO.

 

[Mike Ellis]

Yeah I hear ya Steve, it's a tough call to make. If DC understates the weight of the truck, how accurate are the GVWR, payload, etc? Are they calculated, measured based on testing, or just conservative SWAGs to avoid legal pitfalls?



Since we don't know what these values "really" are, I figure the book values are as good a comparison point as any. They may understate the trucks weight but if the GVWR and camper certificates are "legally binding" at least a guy could weigh his truck for real and then figure out how much breathing room he has before breaking the law.



My primary goal is to have a truck that I can haul my big gooseneck trailer with, that can also haul a big honkin' camper in the bed without being squashed to flinders. If one of the others can do it lots better than my '97 CTD it would sure be useful to know. It would also be nice to know if the other manufacturers "fudge" the numbers the same way Dodge does (i. e. , does Ford under or overestimate the weight of their trucks???)

 

[dresslered]

You should be able to get a "Camper Application Guide" from the dealer stating these exact weights. What the sales brochures state are very much misleading! What they don't come out and tell you is that when you add items like the diesel, Quad Cab, 4x4, rear seat, camper special, etc. , these items are actually subtracting from your payload rating. I was horrified when I received my "fully equipped" one-ton only to find a payload capacity rating of 2772-lbs when I was expecting 4,600-lbs. Now this number in itself isn't totally accurate either. Since I have a rear seat, it is assuming that 3-160 lb. adults are seated back there at all times. The best thing to do if planning on carrying heavy loads is to weigh your truck and be sure that you don't exceed the tire and/or axle ratings. An exhaust brake is also a must for heavy loads.