Alternate Route has a blog up on a subject that has long been a hot-button topic with me: Payload ratings of vehicles, and that they are waaaaaay too low, at least for most super-sized McAmericans.
The government requires that vehicles allow for 150 pounds per person. ONE-HUNDRED-AND FIFTY-POUNDS! ...And that doesn't include luggage, gear, groceries, etc.
Think about that, and then apply that formula to your own situation. Is your car overloaded when you pack up the family and head off for wherever? Unless, you fall into that small minority of "skinny" families, or own a truck, SUV or minivan, I bet you're are exceeding your vehicle specs. Even if you own a "truck" of some sort, you still may be overweight, as many of them are rated rather low for payload. The boxy and very cargo-friendly Honda Element (yes, a truck) is rated to carry only 800 pounds; that's people and gear.
Or take for example 265-pound Ron Larson of Henderson, Nev. He and his 150-pound wife were unaware of the limitations of their Cadillac XLR two-seater with a 362-pound payload capacity. "If the dealership knew there was a weight restriction, they should have told us," he says. And the information should be on the window sticker, not the door frame, he says. BINGO, we have a winner!
Another related long-time hot-button topic for me has been the fact that most people who tow are completely unaware of of trailer brake ratings, and how vastly they differ from "advertised" tow ratings that the manufacturer advertises.
Okay, so your vehicle (fill in the name of your tow vehicle _________) is rated to tow (fill in the advertised tow rating _________) poundsâbut only if it has trailer brakes. I guarantee you if you go to your owners manual it will state that if you don't have trailer brakes, it most likely can't tow more than 1000 pounds. Some vehicles, like full-size GM pickups will go up to 2000 pounds, but even so, that's a far cry from what GM advertises.
Now spec-savvy readers here at Straightline may already know this, but I bet the odds are that Fisherman Fred, who lives down the street, and tows a 2800 pound boat/trailer combo doesn't know that. In fact, I bet he doesn't even have a clue...
Frankly I think vehicle sales brochures should be required by lawâBY LAWâto state the payload as well as the braked and unbraked tow ratings on their specs page. Buyers should know this stuff up frontâbefore they buy a new vehicle; not after, as this info could well alter their vehicle purchase choice.
Oh, and what got ModBob (and me) started on this topic? An article on USA Today (here).
Okay, so your vehicle (fill in the name of your tow vehicle _________) is rated to tow (fill in the advertised tow rating _________) poundsâbut only if it has trailer brakes. I guarantee you if you go to your owners manual it will state that if you don't have trailer brakes, it most likely can't tow more than 1000 pounds. Some vehicles, like full-size GM pickups will go up to 2000 pounds, but even so, that's a far cry from what GM advertises.
Now spec-savvy readers here at Straightline may already know this, but I bet the odds are that Fisherman Fred, who lives down the street, and tows a 2800 pound boat/trailer combo doesn't know that. In fact, I bet he doesn't even have a clue...
Frankly I think vehicle sales brochures should be required by lawâBY LAWâto state the payload as well as the braked and unbraked tow ratings on their specs page. Buyers should know this stuff up frontâbefore they buy a new vehicle; not after, as this info could well alter their vehicle purchase choice.
Oh, and what got ModBob (and me) started on this topic? An article on USA Today (here).
estreka says:
07:46 AM, 10/ 1/07
Whew. I only weigh 140 lbs.
vvk says:
07:47 AM, 10/ 1/07
If you want a higher payload, buy a small or midsize car or station wagon. Trucks, SUVs, crossovers and minivans often have extremely dismal load ratings. I don't know how exactly that works but it seems to me that some vehicles are simply too heavy for their chassis. A good example is first generation Ford Explorer. It looks tough but has maximum payload of just 750 lbs. That means that for all its bulk and cargo space you can only have at most 4 adults with NO LUGGAGE in it safely. Compare that to Ford Escort of the same era with its maximum payload of over 1000 lbs. That's a very significant difference. Or take Honda Ridgeline. It is huge and deadly (to a small car) but has a maximum payload rating of about 1500 lbs. Compare that to a much more car-compatible Honda Odyssey that has a maximum payload of 2000 lbs -- 1/3 higher than tough-looking Ridgeline.
ateixeira says:
08:04 AM, 10/ 1/07
Another well kept secret - 4WD models usually have less payload than their 2WD counterparts, because they are heavier. Unless the suspension and tires selected are beefier to compensate, they actually offer less payload!
rsholland says:
08:10 AM, 10/ 1/07
Actually, the Ridgeline's payload compares very favorably with other mid-size pickups.
More to the point are some full-size 1/2-ton pickups that have payload ratings 1400 pounds or less. I recently saw an '08 Tundra with less than 1400 rating. I think it was a Limited 4WD double cab, but I wouldn't swear to it.
flicmod says:
08:49 AM, 10/ 1/07
All the more reason for automakers to put their car lines on a diet. Vehicular obesity sucks.
ahightower says:
09:08 AM, 10/ 1/07
I know a guy with a Chevy 2500 pickup, diesel. He hs a 15,000 lb. fifth-wheel trailer. I asked him if his truck was sufficient for that load, he said "sure it is, the GVWR is 17K." Yikes.
rsholland says:
09:22 AM, 10/ 1/07
Not GVWR, but GCWR if you're including the trailer. His GVWR is likely 8600 – 9200.
ahightower says:
12:51 PM, 10/ 1/07
Right.
billt9 says:
04:32 PM, 10/ 1/07
850 lb is plenty for a family sedan.
That's 4 x 180 lb guys = 720 lb people + 130 lb luggage bags.
Any popular sedan, crossover, SUV, has appropriate payload capacity.
rsholland says:
08:29 PM, 10/ 1/07
Depends on the family, and certainly not enough if you've got 5 (not 4, but 5) 200+ pound people—which is not that uncommon.
firstwagon says:
12:27 PM, 10/ 2/07
There isn't even one 200 lb person in my family, never mind 4 or 5.
rsholland says:
01:48 PM, 10/ 2/07
Your family is an exception.
firstwagon says:
06:45 PM, 10/ 2/07
Not really, I'm just not an American. :)
I am close though at 6'2" 195 lbs.
I thought through my circle of friends and neighbours and I only know a couple people over 200 lbs (and 1 is 6'5").
I don't know a single family with more then one 200lb person.