Fightnfire
Moderator
It's a really interesting miss, by Ram if it pans out to be true. I expect a luxury half ton to be around 1100-1250 and the top of the line off-roaders to be around 1k-1100. What happened lol?
Uhhh..new 2026 Ram Limited. 897lbs of payload.
- Thread starter Fightnfire
- Start date
Electronics? That's my theory. I'd ask Ram PR, but I'd get the run around answer of options affect payload.
I've known Stephen for at least a dozen years. Real stand up guy and I suspect a great family guy. Howard is the grandfather I'd like to be someday. I have zero reason to doubt he wasn't telling the truth. If I lived closer, I'd love to do a Livestream with them sometime. It is actually a lot of fun when Howard and I get to talking. I suspect you guys would be rolling with laughter.
Fightnfire
Moderator
The Elmer's are great, I just meant if RAM doesn't say the sticker was wrong or yadda yadda etc.
I think I've been taking comments the wrong way lately for some reason. Sorry about that. I noticed I had a few over last weekend on YouTube that went the wrong way.
Just a lot of work stress at the moment. Bringing the new people on board is going to pay off big for my mental and physical health allowing me to take more time off (well, I hope that is what is going to happen), but man it is a lot of work getting everyone on board and rolling. Hoping the next few weeks it starts to get smoother.
I think the biggest difference is probably the suspension. When I switched to a coil truck, my payload dropped like a rock. I went from a 2003 Laramie to a 2011 Sport. Basically, they were identical otherwise.
BTW, I've sent out an email trying to track down this truck. I'm assuming it is in the press fleet somewhere in the country. If that doesn't work, I'm going to contact Ram. I want to see that door sticker.
TheDo114
Well-known member
Yeah coil springs tend to give more sag and not handle being over payload as well as leaf springs.
Here’s my truck with 1700lbs of water in the bed. It was fine, even off-road, but man was she squatting.
Rotten.dalton
Active member
Nothing to see here. Just print a new payload sticker and put any number that makes you happy.
Rotten.dalton
Active member
My 23 tundra limited’s payload was around 1400 lbs. Definitely disappointing for a full size truck that should be able to carry a family, their gear and the tongue weight of a 9k trailer.
TheDo114
Well-known member
My sticker is around the same. If I was running this loaded every week, I would be in a 3/4 ton truck.
I weighted my truck and compared it against the GVWR and I’m closer to 1600bs of actual payload, even with all of my stuff in the truck. I really don’t know why Toyota is doing that.
I know Tim did a video back in the day about that very topic, but a lot of people are finding that their payload sticker is being conservative on lower level trims and seems to be more accurate for higher level trims.
It’s weird that an sr5 has the same exact payload as a fully loaded limited that has a pano-sunroof and all of the options while both truck are sharing the same GVWR.
James-kd2cm
Well-known member
I wonder how much the air suspension takes away from the payload?
Fightnfire
Moderator
I don't think the air suspension should affect it at all other than a pure weight of the components vs. leafs etc. Payload is just a GVWR - Curb Weight equation. What's left is payload. So unless those components weigh significantly more than standard leafs, it shouldn't matter.
Air suspension is used in lots of vehicles with much higher GVWR than a half ton pickup. That shouldn't be a weak link for pure payload. It does negatively affect towing performance however.
James-kd2cm
Well-known member
I should clarify that I wouldn’t buy a truck with less than 1400lbs of payload. Wouldn’t suit my needs. I’d be overloading it all the time.
I’m sure there are many people that load up their vehicles and tow a big trailer and have never checked the payload.
I’m sure there are many people that load up their vehicles and tow a big trailer and have never checked the payload.
Saddle Tramp
Moderator
I'd wager that the average half ton pickup truck is the most overloaded class of vehicle on the road.
Fightnfire
Moderator
Might be some overlanding SUVs, specifically Toyotas and Jeeps, that give that a run for the money, lol.
Saddle Tramp
Moderator
You're not wrong.
TheDo114
Well-known member
I’d say you’re both right lol.
Anybody that uses a half-ton to do some work will most likely overload it.
Jeeps/4Runners have around 850-1000lbs of payload when leaving the factory, and that’s before they bolt-on hundreds of pounds of bumpers, rooftop tent, etc. to it.
Modern half-ton payload range is why I debated so long before buying my next truck. Do I go up to a 3/4 ton truck and suffer most of the year with poor fuel economy, and teeth shattering ride. Or do I try to shift some weight around and deal with being overloaded every now and then.
Anybody that uses a half-ton to do some work will most likely overload it.
Jeeps/4Runners have around 850-1000lbs of payload when leaving the factory, and that’s before they bolt-on hundreds of pounds of bumpers, rooftop tent, etc. to it.
Modern half-ton payload range is why I debated so long before buying my next truck. Do I go up to a 3/4 ton truck and suffer most of the year with poor fuel economy, and teeth shattering ride. Or do I try to shift some weight around and deal with being overloaded every now and then.
Rotten.dalton
Active member
Split the difference, get the 3/4 ton, but air down the tires until you need max payload/towing. Run the tires at 55-60 and your teeth will be very happy.
Fightnfire
Moderator
I feel like the ride in even unladen 3/4 tons has come so far in the last decade. Both my dad's GMC 2500 and my buddies F250 definitely are stiffer but I'm surprised at how much closer it is to the ride of a half ton versus 3/4 tons of the past.