Calculate max payload/hauling capacity & maximum towing capacity of your truck. Fast, easy, & free!

[@mamadukes3n3]

This is the most informative video on this subject on KZbin. Thank you for producing something that answers all of our questions on payload/towing capacity/tire ratings in such an easily understood manner! You've really contributed to the safety of us all. Thanks again!

[@jaybird7132]

The only person, on all of youtube, who could explain this. Congratulations and thank you.

[@19merkez79]

Thank you! It was very informative and easy to understand. :)

[@patrobosky4641]

So glad I found this information, thanks

[@patriciapage3997]

This was very helpful in understanding how to calculate these figures.

[@stevesmith8125]

Good info. I'm preparing to take our truck and travel trailer to the CAT scales. The tire info is something new for me. I'm learning all the time. We are new to RVing. Thanks.

[@drewdoestrucks]

I want to make a video about using cat scales too! It’s intimidating for a first time user.

[@chadb14]

This is the video I have been searching for. Thank you for doing this.

[@cdawgRJ]

What an amazing video! I’m looking to purchase my first camper and this is extremely helpful

[@drewdoestrucks]

Thanks. Check out my camper video playlist, I have tried to make a few other videos that are mostly things I wish I’d known when I bought our first camper. Maintenance, winterizing, upgrades, repairs.

[@drod103]

You’re awesome ! Perfect explanation

[@lifeontheroad_]

Actually a good video. So many do not understand how to safely tow with their vehicle. I was hoping you would hit on axle weight rating for front and rear.

[@drewdoestrucks]

I can’t get people to understand what gcwr and gcwr are, I was trying not to get super in the weeds.

[@smartdummy5751]

I was having a hard time understanding tongue weight. this equation helped me understand tongue weight: empty truck weight (including standard equipment, fluids, lubricants, etc.) + trailer weight = x tongue weight = x - empty truck weight tongue weight is basically how much your trailer weights in a scale without anything in it.

[@drewdoestrucks]

No, that’s not quite correct. To obtain the tongue weight, you weight the entire rig which gives you front, rear, and trailer axle weight. Then reweigh the truck without the trailer which gives you front and rear axle weight. Add your front and rear axle weight from the initial weigh in and subtract the front and rear axle weight from the truck alone weigh in. The difference will be your tongue weight. The tongue weight is only the weight of the trailer that sits on the ball of the truck. The weight that is transferred through the tongue of the trailer (the tongue is the front part with the coupler on it that sticks out from the trailer). Do you want me to do a separate video where I go over how to calculate the camper weight, tongue weight, etc?

[@smartdummy5751]

@@drewdoestrucks so you basically pull in the truck with the trailer attached onto the scale only weighting the truck (if it's a commercial scale, the trailer would be sticking out). Then take the weight we got from that scale and subtract the curb (in this case, let's say this includes all fluids and standard equipment) weight of the truck from that scale value. This would equal or tongue weight. Right?

[@smartdummy5751]

In my owners manuel, my curb weight includes all fluids and standard equipment. I imagine this is the original weight of the vechile when it was pulled out of the factory ready to be driven. Does 'fluids' include a full tank of gas? (In my case, it's 19.5 gallons) or do we have to add weight / gallon of gas when calculating things like payload and gvwr? The reason why I ask this is cus some videos don't include the fluids and standard equipment in the curb weight. They treat them as being separate. The fluids and standard equipment become part of the payload and the curb weight is basically a bare truck with no fluids or anything else. Thanks.

[@drewdoestrucks]

@@smartdummy5751 Ford says it’s with fluids, but it’s just an estimate. They don’t actually weigh every vehicle with every option. Steel wheels vs alloy wheels, an optional 150 lb winch, dual alternators, glass sunroof, etc. The way a truck is optioned can drastically alter its curb weight.

[@drewdoestrucks]

@@smartdummy5751 did you watch the video? I go over how to weigh your truck and trailer and then how to weigh just the truck. The scale gives you the weights for front rear and trailer axles. I think you’ll find the video best answers your question on whether or not the trailer should be “sticking out” and etc.

[@MajTom-wd2yt]

If everyone did this BEFORE hitching up we'd all be safer on the road. I noticed at 6:45 the screw loop attachments for your safety chains. I used the same kind until I had a separation and came a whisker away from a total TV trailer separation. The threads failed and it was wide open. BSTS

[@drewdoestrucks]

These are threadlocked and torqued on there. They’ve currently been on so long I doubt they would come off. I only use these for two really small very rarely used trailers that both use 1 7/8 ball and chains are too small to fit the regular attachment points, but you’re right, anything there is a potential point of failure and that’s the last defense against separated trailer. I use those more often to hook up my breakaway cable as they go to an independent hole from the safety chains. The “hammerlock” style are probably a better choice for anyone considering something similar. As you found, if they aren’t fully threaded they have a fraction of their rated strength. I separated one while lifting a motor once years ago because the threads were not fully engaged.

[@Podcastforthewin]

Dude, thank you for this video man..

[@dakotastorey8188]

This is awesome information! Thank you for this video!

[@northlander4370]

I took my 2021 F150 Lariat with a full tank of gas and nothing else in it to my local dump scale , i jumped out and got a weight of 5470 pounds , my GVWR on the truck is 7050 ,the door jam sticker says i can carry 1649 pounds , with a full tank i believe my actual GVWR is really 1580 pounds . i tow a 20ft camper with a tonque weight of 420 pounds , with my wife and i in the cabin an my generator ,(100 pounds) and spare gas for the gen ...about thirty-five pounds plus sometimes i carry a fifty pound jug of fresh water i believe it doesnt take long to exceed the limits of my truck .

[@drewdoestrucks]

That tongue weight sounds suspiciously light. That light or claimed weight would be easy to check with a bathroom scale. Something you can use to verify it for sure is to use a cat scale and then drop the trailer and reweigh. Then you can get your actual tongue and trailer weights. I did a video on that as well if you’re interested. I’ll add the link to the description.

[@northlander4370]

@@drewdoestrucks i hear you ...the tonque weight is off the spec sheet...the trailer is a 2019 highland ridge open range 20fbs..you can search if you like. I recently sold that camper and ordered a new 2022 rockwood mini lite 2205s

[@rorotkt16]

Depend on your wheel & tires as well you could increase your tow capacity

[@drewdoestrucks]

I discuss tires in the video if you watch through to the end. Unfortunately there’s nothing you can do to increase your tow capacity, but poor tire choice can decrease it. Thanks for the comment.

[@PatrickDcoldest]

Great Video!! THANK YOU!!

[@chadoneal6188]

Fantastic video explaining this in the detail that is needed!

[@PirateMTH_ToddH]

Great video.

[@ptcclatlptcclatl1683]

The payload capacity for a Ford includes a full tank of fuel and excludes the weight of the driver and passengers. Read and understand your vehicle manual to be safe.

[@drewdoestrucks]

Unfortunately they use the same sticker/numbers for a wide variety of models. The only way to know for sure is to weigh it and do the math. Publishing the number with no passengers is a joke. Hard to drive very far with no driver.

[@FreeBlackConservative6859]

@@drewdoestrucks 👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾Absolute facts my brother! I usually hit the scales with a full tank of fuel and a full crew on hand just to be safe. It's better to be safe and under weight than over and put out of service.

[@akashpatel8888]

thx bhalu

[@gillcal]

Great job.

[@rictech1325]

Great video ....

[@TeresaGonzalez-r2q]

Lopez Betty Harris Matthew Taylor Shirley

[@bauernoslrac]

In your explanation at time 4:11, you say your truck can "only safely carry 2,490 pounds, and that includes you trailers tongue weight." So if your tongue weight is 800 pounds, does that mean you can only safely carry 1,690 pounds (2490-800)?

[@drewdoestrucks]

You tongue weight is deducted from your payload. So, yes. This weight technically includes the weight of your passengers as well. A common fifth wheel with 2,000 lbs pin weight and 14,000 lbs overall weight would probably have even my diesel f350 over its payload, even though still within its tow capacity.

[@jerrylewis5989]

Chaola !

[@raylaux8295]

Tounge weight should subtract from that 19.6K Tongue/pin weight is payload. 5th wheel hitch weigh too. 5'er with a 2,000lb. pin weight dry won't fly after you load the trailer and add more weight to the truck with your wife. LOL

[@drewdoestrucks]

Yes, as I said in the video that 19.6 weight is total weight. The tongue weight gets added to the payload, as I discussed in the video, but it doesn’t get subtracted from the trailer weight. Ie, you can’t magically tow a 20,000 lb trailer by shifting 900 lbs to the tongue. I think this is fairly straight forward.

[@jackas1583]

Thanks a lot.

[@RayPray-w1t]

Anderson Steven Moore Helen Miller Jose

[@DusyehdXhshdh]

Harris Scott Anderson Robert Robinson Brenda

[@eh3aneh3an61]

😂😂😂

[@seanjackson1888]

Great Video, and thank you!!!!

[@kenblair8268]

Thanks Drew for a clear explanation, and understanding, of all things involved in proper and safe towing. 👍👍

[@sergeantschlumpf6368]

mmm interesting

[@robjohn6943]

Awesome, very helpful.

[@TheCriticalChris]

Should empty weight or curb weight include the weight of the driver & passengers?

[@drewdoestrucks]

Typically we have a pretty good idea of what we weigh, so you can do it either way, as long as you pay attention. If you go camping with 3 other dudes my size you could easily add 1000 lbs to your truck and send it over weigh. In my case I weighed my truck with myself and my kids because my wife was at work when I did it! I have more on this subject in the works so stay tuned for a second video on weighing up.

[@Karlife04]

Easy to understand. Thank you.

[@FreeBlackConservative6859]

Very Very helpful bro! You definitely broke it down in layman's terms with a calculator on hand lol vs Just blurting out numbers and letters the a new truck owner would barely understand👍🏾

[@drewdoestrucks]

Thanks I am glad people feel like this is understandable. I don’t understand why it’s not a big number in red somewhere on a sticker since I feel like it’s important, but you basically have to jump through a couple hoops.

[@FreeBlackConservative6859]

@@drewdoestrucks lol Facts tho

[@williamirizarry1113]

Now here you have a VERY important video that most likely many people probably overlook. If you get into an accident, and people get hurt or even die, you will probably be liable. Thank you!

[@kec2528]

I thought the payload sticker on the door included a full tank of gas but not any aftermarket add ons. Curb weight does not. Probably wrong though.

[@drewdoestrucks]

Ford actually just got fined millions. Turns out in determining payload: "In calculating the maximum payload capacity of its vehicles, the investigation found, Ford employed a truck configuration it did not actually intend to sell to individual buyers - one that omitted such standard items as the spare wheel, tire and jack, radio, and center console (which was replaced by a mini-console).” Like I say in the video: to be sure, just weigh it. Ive yet to have one within a few hundred lbs of what it “should” be.

[@xaviergosselin8464]

Thank you

[@mikemrha9013]

Thank you

[@Na0uta]

the max payload includes weight of a full tank of gas and not occupants. those labels are not nessasarly unique, but will be really close to what you are allowed to do. yes it might be over or under by 100 lbs. But that's just some margin of error when you are looking at 6k to 10k in weight. ford has a comprehensive chart and guide for determining your payload and weight on their website.

[@drewdoestrucks]

I’ve weighed enough trucks that I can tell you while that’s what ford says, the reality is hundreds or even a thousand lbs off. My diesel excursion was around 1000 lbs heavier than the sticker said it should be. I posted a link on another comment to ford getting caught claiming towing and payload weights of trucks that didn’t exist: combinations to make them super lightweight to artificially inflate their capacity. The only way to know for sure is to weigh them.