What is truck payload

Is it the same thing as GVWR, and if not, how is it different? These terms can be confusing even for experienced truckers — imagine how they must be for beginners.

Fortunately, we will go over these terms in this article so you can better understand them. Curb weight is what your vehicle weighs when it is empty. Being empty means that your vehicle has nothing in it — there are no passengers and no cargo. There are no extra tires on the back or any tents on the roof, either.

It also means that your truck has all the seats installed and intact — they are included in the curb weight, just like the engine is. Include engine oil and brake fluids too. Dry weight differs from curb weight only slightly. Dry weight is measured when your truck is empty and dry — there are no fluids inside. In other words, your truck has an empty gas tank. The difference between dry weight and curb weight is not very significant.

It will depend on how big your gas tank is, but gas is only a fluid, and it does not weigh that much — even if you have a larger tank — in the greater scheme of things. You will not see dry weight used a lot for trucks.

The reason manufacturers do not use it often is that it can be very deceptive. Most manufacturers and dealers will use curb weight to help you understand how much each truck weighs. If another dealer or manufacturer uses dry weight instead, it can make the truck seem a lot lighter than other trucks when it is not the case — it is just the dry weight vs. Or does the vehicle have to be completely dry, with no fluids in it whatsoever, including brake fluids and oil?

Because of this grey area, you can have two dry weights for the same vehicle. The only place dry weight is used often is for motorcycles. Motorcycles have less fluid, so the difference is not that big. However, it is not used often for trucks. You will rarely see this term being used. It is even less common than dry weight. Neither dry weight nor shipping weight are used often. If you do see it, however, it is useful to know what it means.

Shipping weight is an alternative to the dry weight that manufacturers use to be a bit less ambiguous. It refers to trucks ready to be driven by potential customers after being moved off the assembly line. These trucks need to be in an operational mode. As such, they will have brake fluid, engine oil, and at least some fuel inside. Otherwise, it would not be operational.

As such, shipping weight is a little more than the dry weight but less than the curb weight — remember, curb weight is when the vehicle has a full gas tank. The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating will include the vehicle itself and any fluids such as fuel, brake fluid, and oil , the maximum amount of passenger weight the vehicle can have, and the maximum amount of cargo weight the vehicle can handle. Class 2 includes vehicles that have a GVWR of up to 9, pounds.

Class 3 includes vehicles that have a GVWR of up to 12, pounds. And so it goes on — each class includes vehicles with a GVWR of 3, pounds more. Knowing the GVWR of your vehicle is important as it will help you calculate other metrics and weight limits. Unlike the GVWR, this does take the trailer into account.

It refers to how much weight the axle of your truck can support. For example, if the trailer weighs pounds and the cargo and fluids weigh pounds, the gross trailer weight rating will be pounds. Why is this important? The gross trailer weight rating is important because it will impact the trailer tongue weight, which I will discuss in the next section. In turn, the trailer tongue weight will impact the payload capacity of the vehicle.

You will have to deduct this weight from the payload capacity of the vehicle. TW stands for Tongue Weight. Another way to refer to this is Trailer Tongue Weight. You might even see TTW used for this. However, they are both the same thing. A trailer that weighs pounds will exert a weight of around 50 to 75 pounds on the tongue of your truck. It is important to note that the trailer tongue weight is not set in stone. You have to consider the weight of the trailer itself and any cargo you load on the trailer.

Consider your other equipment. The correct trailer wiring harness and safety chains are also essential. Finally, verify that all tires have sufficient air, at least one conventional spare matching the other tires is present, and the weight is evenly distributed. So, there you have it. A primer about payload and towing differences with GVWR and tow tips are thrown in.

Meanwhile, be safe out there and practice towing before you hit the road. You must be logged in to post a comment. Check out our Jobs Board! Subscribe in a reader. Auto Trends Magazine Car reviews, industry news, and advice. Search for:. Related Articles. Author: Matthew Keegan.

He since moved on to learn a few things about coefficient of drag, G-forces, toe-heel shifting, and how to work the crazy infotainment system in some random weekly driver. You can figure out how much your truck can tow with another simple equation. For example, the Chevy Silverado can tow up to 9, pounds depending on the options you chose when you bought the vehicle. We at Rydell Chevrolet Buick GMC hope this comprehensive piece has cleared up any confusion you may have had about what payload capacity is and how it can affect your truck.

If you still have questions, get in touch or stop by and see us. We look forward to helping you find the best truck for your needs. What Is Payload on a Truck? Connect with us. Recent Blog Entries How many miles do pickup trucks last?