Balancing Payload capacity vs. Offroad

[jgallo1]

Have you ever owned a late model HD truck? Taken a ride in one with a mild Thuren or Carli system?

I spent a ton of money on suspension trying to make both the half ton and PW work for my family of 4 and simply realized neither worked as well anywhere, even the highway as a real HD platform. I see that time and time again from people that went from HD to half tons. The vast majority go back.

My point is that people should consider them with eyes open and not these suppositions.

I can second this. I am constantly trying to balance offroad performance and payload/towing. I have owned HD diesels (all ford). Then went to a very dialed tundra setup, did not like it . 6 months later I went back to the powerstroke. I recently bought a ram 2500 trademan with the power wagon package. The truck is amazing, it is clearly not a HD Diesel. I love the way a Diesel motor drives, they feel very planted on the road.
Yes the ram has more offroad capability but for my uses some of the features are lost on me. I do not rock crawl.
I drive ************ ranch roads/ BLM / Fire & Forest service roads even when they are closed for work. Mud , snow, & wash outs are where the lockers come in handy. I also need to tow horses ( where the diesel comes in handy).
I really think no vehicle will be perfect, each platform will have its pros and cons.
I think a pretty awesome middle ground is the Ford supercab shortbed with 6.7 and fx4 package for the rear locker . The truck fits 35's from the factory. Pretty solid setup

 

[Todd780]

I think a pretty awesome middle ground is the Ford supercab shortbed with 6.7 and fx4 package for the rear locker . The truck fits 35's from the factory. Pretty solid setup

Get 'em while you can find them. No more Super Duty Supercab short boxes as of 2025.......

 

[Bayou Boy]

I can second this. I am constantly trying to balance offroad performance and payload/towing. I have owned HD diesels (all ford). Then went to a very dialed tundra setup, did not like it . 6 months later I went back to the powerstroke. I recently bought a ram 2500 trademan with the power wagon package. The truck is amazing, it is clearly not a HD Diesel. I love the way a Diesel motor drives, they feel very planted on the road.
Yes the ram has more offroad capability but for my uses some of the features are lost on me. I do not rock crawl.
I drive ************ ranch roads/ BLM / Fire & Forest service roads even when they are closed for work. Mud , snow, & wash outs are where the lockers come in handy. I also need to tow horses ( where the diesel comes in handy).
I really think no vehicle will be perfect, each platform will have its pros and cons.
I think a pretty awesome middle ground is the Ford supercab shortbed with 6.7 and fx4 package for the rear locker . The truck fits 35's from the factory. Pretty solid setup

That Ford fits 37s from the factory.

If I didn't have a couple of kids I would probably have looked for a Supercab instead of the Crew I have. Love that setup for 2 people.

No, I did drive GM and Ford 3/4s before I bought the Tundra, but so little can be gleaned from that. We'd really need to optimize both for a particular load, price point, and performance, and do side by side comparisons on road and off.

I'm quite happy with my truck's performance, but I think if I was buying now, I wouldn't get a new Tundra or any 1/2 ton. I'd favor a C&C F450 for the better turning radius.

Totally agree with this. A lot of us end up just building what we own and that's ok. But if buying a truck specifically for the purpose of family rough country travel with a load, there's very little downside to starting with a solid axle HD truck. And none of this is even considering how much better that HD platform will wear with 1000# plus load on rough terrain.

 

[TexasSixSeven]

I don't think they've had the HDPP option for several years. My lightly optioned SC XLT was only 1300#. I don't think you'll find many 4X4 SCs on dealer lots with 2000# payload.

You won’t. I search nationwide regularly looking for trucks that may fit our fleet needs. A crew cab 6.5’ bed 4wd F150 with 2000+ payload would be perfect. Good luck finding one though. I’d even take a 5.5’ bed version. I can regularly find them in the 1700-1950 pb range though.

 

[TexasSixSeven]

Get 'em while you can find them. No more Super Duty Supercab short boxes as of 2025.......

The problem with the Supercab short box is the tiny fuel tank. Even if I could live with the small cab and bed I wouldn’t solely because of the fuel tank.

 

[p nut]

I don't think they've had the HDPP option for several years. My lightly optioned SC XLT was only 1300#. I don't think you'll find many 4X4 SCs on dealer lots with 2000# payload.

Supercab only 1300?? I’ve never seen it that low.
Didn’t know they killed the hdpp option.

Regardless, if I’m going on a camp trip with the family, I take the F150. Mine’s a few years old (2020), XLT, Supercrew with 1900lb payload. Bed full of stuff for a week and she drives just fine on and off road.
If I had a full on Alaskan camper, it’d go on the HD, but 1/2 ton gets the job done and is much more versatile for me.

 

[Gravelette]

Sorry, it was a SuperCrew. You are lucky to have that 1900#! I wish the dealers would show payload sticker with all the other pics online. Would be much easier to shop than opening every door on the lot.

 

[TexasSixSeven]

Sorry, it was a SuperCrew. You are lucky to have that 1900#! I wish the dealers would show payload sticker with all the other pics online. Would be much easier to shop than opening every door on the lot.

Lots of them are starting to finally. Still a lot that don’t, but it’s a step in the right direction.