Truck payload and towing capacity—you’ve probably heard these two phrases at some point. Maybe an advertisement for a new Ford Super Duty F-250? Or when a salesman told you the towing capacity of a truck. These two concepts are so common that understandably, many drivers think they mean the same thing. In reality, they’re quite different. Using them interchangeably could even be costly, leading to damage to your truck.
Read on to get a better understanding of these truck terms and why it is necessary that you know the difference between the two.
Truck Payload and Towing Capacity Defined
Understanding towing capacity isn’t tricky. The meaning of the 2 phrases can be drawn from looking a little deeper at the two individual words.
Maxing out a Truck’s Payload. Something you shouldn’t do.
Truck Payload: Truck payload is all about carrying. Not carrying behind, but carrying inside. Payload refers to the weight of all the extra stuff you might pile into your vehicle or its bed. Whether it’s 500 lbs. of junk you’ve thrown in the backs or the weight of your buddy in the passenger’s seat, if it is inside and not behind the vehicle, we are talking about “Truck Payload”.
Towing Capacity: (pulling something behind) + capacity (max amount) = how much weight a truck can safely pull behind it.
Don’t forget, a trailer hitch has its own towing capacity (Hitch Class). This hitch is a triple ball mount with a hook. Photo: L Baures
Note: Pulling (behind) is the keyword with this definition.
What’s With the Mix-Up
The reason so many of us confuse the terms truck payload and truck towing capacity is that they are based on the same two things: the truck’s Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), suspension, and how durable its frame is.
Also, the word carrying can make things confusing. Technically, when you are towing a load behind your truck, you are ‘carrying’ it. This is why it is important to remember that it is what is inside, not following, that payload refers to. Imagine a mother carrying her child in her arms versus pulling him behind her in a wagon. This is the difference between payload and towing.
Payload vs. Towing: Real Numbers
Going back to the Ford Super Duty mentioned above. Can you guess the towing capacity of this truck? 21,000 pounds. But what about the truck payload? This number comes in at just 3,550 pounds. Huge difference, right?
Payload vs. Towing makes sense when we go back to the “carry inside” versus “pull” explanation. A mother might have trouble carrying a 30-pound toddler in her arms for a long distance, but pulling him in a wagon wouldn’t be that difficult.
What Does It Matter?
Now that you know the difference, you might be asking, what does it matter? For starters, ignoring either the towing or payload capacity is one of the worst mistakes you can make. Both towing capacities and truck payload limits are set by manufacturers for a specific reason. Staying under the limit stops you from doing serious damage to your vehicle. If you don’t know these limits, how can you prevent these costly mistakes?
Finding your vehicle’s towing capacity is as simple as knowing the VIN. Payload limits can be calculated using simple math. You start with your vehicle’s gross weight rating. Then subtract the curb weight (how much it weighs on its own with nothing extra added). Check out the formula below:
Voila! Now you know the difference between towing capacity and payload. As well as how much you can carry behind your truck and in its bed. Remember, your vehicle has these limits for a reason, so don’t exceed them.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles announce a $4.5 billion plan to build a new assembly plant and add production to existing U.S. plants.
FCA says ” …next step in Company’s U.S. industrialization plan, announced in 2016 to expand Jeep® and Ram brands.”
A new FCA assembly plant is planned for Detroit. According to Automotive News, it’s not a done deal yet. FCA is currently working with the City of Detroit to acquire around 200 acres of land.
Preparing for hybrids
Mack Avenue Engine plant will re-open with a $1.6 billion investment. This will be the manufacturing site for the next generation Jeep Grand Cherokee, a 3rd row SUV and a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). This plant would potentially provide 3,850 jobs. Assuming land aquisitions happen.
An overhaul of this plant means it’ll be the first new assembly plant in Detroit city in nearly 30 years.
The rendering is of the new Mack Avenue FCA Assembly Complex once the company invests $1.6 billion to convert the two plants into the future assembly site for the next-generation Jeep® Grand Cherokee, as well as an all-new three-row full-size Jeep SUV and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models, adding 3,850 new jobs to support production. Photo render: FCA.
Mike Manley, Chief Executive Officer also says, ” It allows Jeep to enter two white space segments…and will enable new electrified Jeep products, including at least four plug-in hybrid vehicles and the flexibility to produce fully battery-electric vehicles.”
Modernizing and re-tooling Jefferson North
The Jefferson North FCA Assembly plant gets $900 million to modernize and retool. This is where the Next generation Jeep Grand Cherokee’s and Dodge Durango’s will be built. Jefferson North is will create around 1,100 new jobs.
Jefferson North plant, Photo: FCA
Warren Truck plant prepares for new Jeep
Warren Truck Assembly, Photo: FCA
The 3.31 million square feet plant currently produces RAM 1500’s. Moving forward, FCA is investing $1.5 billion in the plant to produce the all-new Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer. Warren Truck will also have the capability to electrified counterparts and produce RAM Heavy Duty trucks creating 1,400 new jobs.
Production of Jeep Wagoneer’s and Grand Wagoneer’s will start in early 2021.
1984 Jeep Grand Wagoneer. The Jeep Grand Wagoneer was originally produced from 1963-1991). A 4WD station wagon that was the successor to the Willys Jeep Station Wagon.
Warren Stamping is to get $245 million and Sterling Stamping $160 million and 80 new jobs further supporting production.
FCA’s total commitment to investing in the U.S. will reach nearly $14.5 billion since 2009 along with 30,000 jobs created.
“I actually came to Northwest College on a rodeo scholarship and I rodeoed professionally for 6 years and then just kinda stuck in state.”
Horses in Cody, Wyoming. Photo: Matt Wilson (Mw8355 at en.wikipedia), Hobart College [Public domain]
What did you do in rodeo?
“I rode saddle bronc horses actually.”
How long have you worked in the automotive industry?
“I’ve been in the auto industry about 6 years.”
What is your favorite part of the job?
“I’d have to say the diversity of it. I mean, just…everyday is inconsistent. Every day is a different day in the car industry. It changes so much and you talk to so many different types of people.”
How would you describe your day job to a child?
“I more or less help people get in to vehicles.”
What is your biggest achievement?
“Um. I’d have to say, so far is being able to get in the chair I’m currently in at my age. I got into the car industry fairly young and to get into the sales manager role at 25 was a pretty big accomplishment for myself.”
Growing up as a child, what did you want your career to be?
“I always wanted to rodeo for a long long time, but uh, growing up, I realised that’s a young mans sport. So that dreams now fizzled.”
When you aren’t working, what are you doing?
“Usually, I’m somewhere outdoors with my wife or my son. We like to go boating (it’s a big past time for us), skiing, anywhere outdoors with my family.”
What kind of music do you like?
“Almost everything. Rap, country and rock mostly but almost everything.”
How about your favorite food?
“Ooh. Anything Mexican.”
Do you have a favorite movie line?
“Ah. I don’t really have a favorite movie line. Anything from Hot Rod. I can’t really give you one.”
Given the chance, who would you like to be for the day?
“Donald Trump. Chris LeDoux would be a good second.”
What is the craziest thing you have ever done?
“uh.” Jace Salutregui laughs, “I rode bulls. I mean that’s pretty crazy enough right?”
Did you get stomped on?
“Yeah, several times actually. By horses and bulls.”
Tell us, what was your first car?
“Oh it was a 91 Chevy 1 ton dually.”
If money was no object, what vehicle would you own?
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