Increasing Tacoma Payload Capacity?

[Traveling 2gether Journal]

Good luck in your search. This thread reminds me of a Rolling Stone song.

Haha. right. At this point I'm just collecting data to help myself make the best compromise.

I've been trying to learn more about the full-size trucks today, but their kinda tricky since they have so many body styles, trims and special packages. For example a 2005 Chevy 1500's payload capacity varies from 1877 to 2766 lbs and the turning circle can be from 40.1 to 49.6 feet and they don't offer the high payload with the shorter wheelbase.

 

[Clutch]

Haha. right. At this point I'm just collecting data to help myself make the best compromise.

I've been trying to learn more about the full-size trucks today, but their kinda tricky since they have so many body styles, trims and special packages. For example a 2005 Chevy 1500's payload capacity varies from 1877 to 2766 lbs and the turning circle can be from 40.1 to 49.6 feet and they don't offer the high payload with the shorter wheelbase.

Ha ha....always about compromise, ain't it!? If only we were independently wealthy, eh!?

That last paragraph reminded me, have you looked at Heavy Halfs? Also called the "Max Towing and/or Payload" package on some 1/2 Tons. That might just be the cat's meow.

http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2011/11/heavy-duty-half-tons-are-familiar-territory.html

 

[Mickey Bitsko]

Op, I didn't read anywhere in the thread about max weight, are you wanting a truck that has a max payload of 2k lbs or can carry 2klbs comfortably?

 

[JLee]

Good idea, but it will be a 3+ year time frame.

Given this information, I want to reiterate that you'd be best served buying a truck sized for your load. You really don't want to be pushing a truck at/over its limit for 3+ years. It's one thing to go a bit over for a few camping trips a year...but you're going to be running the truck for years. Buy something that can do it without breaking a sweat, not something that is going to be straining the entire time.

 

[Traveling 2gether Journal]

Op, I didn't read anywhere in the thread about max weight, are you wanting a truck that has a max payload of 2k lbs or can carry 2klbs comfortably?

I expect to carry approximately 2k lbs over vehicle curb weight when fully loaded.

 

[Mickey Bitsko]

Since your payload +/- 2000 you're going to be into a 1 ton.
Anything less would probably require upgrading/enhancing suspension to be safe, even at that , wouldn't leave you alot of wiggle room.



Mickey

 

[DaveInDenver]

Since your payload +/- 2000 you're going to be into a 1 ton.
Anything less would probably require upgrading/enhancing suspension to be safe, even at that , wouldn't leave you alot of wiggle room.

The F150 can be purchased with configurations from 1,950 lbs up to 3,270 lbs payload (the heaviest). The F250 and F350 go as high as 7,300 lbs payload (that is cab-and-chassis and of course DRW). I've always wondered why we still call them 1/2, 3/4 and 1 ton since that doesn't really apply any more. Personally I think we should refer to trucks based on their light and medium classes. IOW, a Tacoma is a class 1 (up to 6,000 lbs GVWR), a F150 is class 2A (up to 8,500 lbs GVWR), etc.

 

[Mickey Bitsko]

Wow... I cannot imagine 3700lbs in a 1/2 ton or 7300 lbs in 1ton,
It would be real scary.
My neighbor has a 15' Dodge 3500 drw, carrying a 11' Lance with 2 slides, he guesses 5500-6k lbs wet.. I don't have any idea of the weight
Oh, it pulls it ok, but it's a grunt on stock suspension. But... If the manufacturer says it'll do it, I know people will try.

Mickey

 

[Traveling 2gether Journal]

I've always wondered why we still call them 1/2, 3/4 and 1 ton since that doesn't really apply any more.

I'm with you there. It's just confusing.

Thanks for your help everyone.

I was pretty into the Idea of a newer, more powerful truck, but I just can't seem to find anything that seems like an all around improvement over my T100 for my needs. I really like the size and power of the Gen2 Tacoma,(and some other mid-size trucks) but the lack of payload basically makes it a no-go for me. Since nobody has chimed in that is carrying a loaded camper in a tacoma, I will assume that the people who are doing that (I know you're out there) haven't done anything to accommodate the additional weight. And I would be asking for trouble if I were to overload a truck that much for as many rough miles as I plan to do.

I've considered Tacomas, Land Cruisers, tundras, frontiers, titans, Colorados, Silverados, F-series, Rams, fuso, and suburbans of various years and configurations. They each have their strengths and weaknesses when considering fuel efficiency, physical size, turning circle, payload, power, torque, global distribution, curb weight, price, and range.

The T100 shines in curb weight at 3875 lbs but its real attraction for me at this point is that it isn't horrible in any of the other categories, where as most of the other vehicles tend to be particularly bad at one thing or another. (usually either tiny payload capacity, or big with poor turning radius) So, for me it seems to be the best compromise for what I want to do. I guess the money I will save on buying a newer truck can go into a lot of maintenance on the old one.

 

[Clutch]

Since nobody has chimed in that is carrying a loaded camper in a tacoma, I will assume that the people who are doing that (I know you're out there) haven't done anything to accommodate the additional weight. And I would be asking for trouble if I were to overload a truck that much for as many rough miles as I plan to do.

They have...like heavier springs and/or air bags....however they are all over loaded. It is the elephant in the room that the people who do that and camper companies that push "Light Weight" campers don't seem to want to talk about.

While yes, there are regulations against that, but it doesn't seem like it is enforced by law enforcement here. So people pretty much do whatever they want. Nothing is really stopping you from doing it either.

When I worked construction, there were times we I had to drive overloaded trucks, honestly it down right sucks. Much rather drive something that has a bit of over kill when hauling a load. I like to be at about 1/2 capacity...just feels safer to me. A lot easier on equipment too.

 

[Mickey Bitsko]

They have...like heavier springs and/or air bags....however they are all over loaded. It is the elephant in the room that the people who do that and camper companies that push "Light Weight" campers don't seem to want to talk about.

While yes, there are regulations against that, but it doesn't seem like it is enforced by law enforcement here. So people pretty much do whatever they want. Nothing is really stopping you from doing it either.

When I worked construction, there were times we I had to drive overloaded trucks, honestly it down right sucks. Much rather drive something that has a bit of over kill when hauling a load. I like to be at about 1/2 capacity...just feels safer to me. A lot easier on equipment too.

This. ^^

 

[tacollie]

People putting 2k pounds on a mid size are no worse off than on a T100. T100 is going to have a lot of the same weaknesses. Poor power, mpg, and braking. I think you should keep the T100 because they are cool trucks and you like it.

 

[Clutch]

People putting 2k pounds on a mid size are no worse off than on a T100. T100 is going to have a lot of the same weaknesses. Poor power, mpg, and braking. I think you should keep the T100 because they are cool trucks and you like it.

Isn't the frame, and rear differential of the T100 basically the same as a HiLux of that era, just widened?

 

[tacollie]

Isn't the frame, and rear differential of the T100 basically the same as a HiLux of that era, just widened?

To my knowledge.

 

[dman93]

Pretty sure the T100 has the same rear diff as the 1st gen Tundra and Sequoia, and some Tacoma’s, not the “mini-truck” (Hilux) diff. Front diff is the same as the mini, just wider axles.