Hello, I bought a 2011 F250 with the 6.2L gas engine, and 3.73 rear axle (Specifically the 3E locker) around a year ago, it originally came with a 5thwheel in the bed, I am attempting to find a good 5thwheel trailer, I can successfully find 5th wheel trailers within my towing capacity, but not my payload capacity, with a calculated tongue weight of 18% on a 12,000 LB trailer, I get around 2160 LBs of tongue weight, within the payload capacity I see claimed on this brochure of 3,250 for a crewcab 4x4 with the short wheelbase, however as I add the additional cargo of my pickup, it quickly exceeds the payload capacity of my pickup, with an expected total payload weight of 3990LBs, including the weight of the 5thwheel hitch, and tongue weight.

My question is, is there any way to increase my safe payload capacity to carry this amount of weight, I know it will not change the rated capacity of the truck, however, I am more interested in what's safe than what the rated capacity states, essentially various people have stated to me that the bottleneck in payload capacity is the suspension/factory tire load capacity, and upgrading those two components will increase the safe payload capacity.

Is this true? Will a suspension upgrade, and higher weight capacity tires, increase the payload capacity to a safe amount? I will have my Air Zenith system installed by this coming week, so I will be capable of running Air helpers for my suspension, I know they say they don't increase payload capacity, but if it is true a suspension upgrade will increase my payload capacity, an air helper theoretically would help, correct?

I have what I assume to be around 800lbs of tools/toolbox on my truck, and an expected 880 lbs of people/personal cargo that will weigh on my payload capacity, this was factored into my total expected payload weight of 3990lbs, this does not assume liquids such as fuel, if that is not already factored into the brochure listed payload capacity.

I cannot find a axle capacity rating on the rear, it seems the tag has rusted to a point of being illegible, but the brochure states it has a 6200lb capacity, and the F350 SRW has a rear axle capacity of 7280LBs.

 

To get your actual Payload number, there should be a yellow sticker inside the driver side door jam, you can't go by the brochure, that is most likely a 2 wheel drive and no extra cab. As for increasing your payload on your truck, no matter what you do you can't increase your payload rating. I would suggest looking for a ultra light fifth wheel with a pin weight of about 1200 to 1400 lbs . Grand Design has the 150 series of Reflection 5ers
Mark

 

I did look again and I found the location of the payload tag, I don't know how I missed it all those times I looked, I figured it simply wasn't listed on the vehicle, it is partly worn away but it does state a maximum payload capacity of 2600LBs, I think I kept missing it because most people say it's a colored tag and mine is white on a white frame, still it's embarrassing that I missed it all this time.

With a payload capacity of 2600 any 12000 LB trailer will have a rough tongueweight of 1800 LBs (@15%), leaving only 800 LBS of payload capacity? That's barely enough for 4 people of average weight, that seems low, but if that's the rating, that's the rating.

But there isn't any way to increase the safe loading capacity? I know it wouldn't be the official payload capacity, but to make sure there isn't any damage to the vehicle? I had read where some people said that they added additional leaf springs to their pickups and increased the safe payload capacity. If not, then I will just look at smaller trailers, like the ultralight 5thwheel trailers, I don't need a huge trailer, but I would like it to be a 5thwheel.

But strangely enough the payload capacity I quoted from the Brochure did specify it was for a CrewCab 4x4, I'm not arguing with you that it's not correct, but it seems strange that it's listed specifically there as having one payload capacity, and the real vehicle has another, maybe it's a difference in trim? I have an XLT, they may be basing it off a lower trim version (I think XL is lower)

 

That published payload capacity is for a basic truck. In this case, a 4x4 crew, short box. It is also the most basic trim level with smallest engine. So XL with 6.2L. It does NOT take into account any extras. Bigger engine, more weight. Diesel adds around 700#. Add the spray in bedliner +80lbs, add the fifth wheel prep package, +100lbs, add running boards +++, add tonneau cover +++ etc.... Now, upgrade to Lariat, or KR and there is another couple hundred pounds for heated seats etc. Add a tailgate step or mudflaps or box link and there is a few pounds. It doesn't take long and everything has a weight. Ford is notorious for publishing the best case weights. They used to have a site that you could enter a VIN# into and it would give you all the sticker values but that has been removed.

You asked, if you can increase payload capacity. As was mentioned, No, you can't legally increase payload. No one here is going to tell you that changing tires or adding a leaf to the spring will allow you to legally carry more. I have hauled a fifth wheel with a F150. Granted it was a small one with a dry pin weight of 900lbs. I am getting a new RV and hence upgrading trucks to a F250. Should I have gone with a F350. Could have but then I would be thinking "should have gone dually".

Good luck.