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.

 

[p nut]

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.

I wonder why it varies so much between the same trim.
I have a neighbor with a Platinum (SuperCrew) and he’s at 1,450.

 

[Gravelette]

Mine was older, before the aluminum body. I think they gained some payload with that change. Still, an XLT SuperCrew 4X4 with 1900# is all anyone could ask for, you did good.

 

[rruff]

Then went to a very dialed tundra setup, did not like it .

What was the setup and use, and what did you not like?

 

[UglyViking]

I have no idea where people are finding these mythical crew cab 4x4 f150s with >2k payload, but I'll tell you they don't exist in new england, and there is literally nothing above 2500lbs, per ford itself. Look at the max available payload across these trucks per fords specs. Most of these trucks that are higher than a base package are gonna be around 1500lbs of payload at best.

That said, everything is a trade off. Literally every single component on a 2500/3500 is going to be stronger than on a 1500 class truck. That means every component is going to stand up to more punishment, especially loaded down, especially long term. The trade off is higher replacement parts. Same goes for the engines. If you're gonna compare a smaller v6 turbo vs a standard v8, yeah the v6 is gonna get better mpg by a little, but loaded down that v8 is gonna have better torque where you need it, and it's gonna last longer than the v6 in overall lifespan because it's less stressed. Your mpgs may be better in a 1500 overall, but the 2500/3500 carry way more fuel, so your range is gonna be longer.

If you compare a current gen f150, chevy 1500, tundra, etc. they all have the same or worse turning radius than a ram 2500/3500 crew cab short bed, and you get more bed space with a ram 2500. The ford is def longer, because both cab and bed are larger. That said, for what the vast majority of people are doing, the extra foot in turning radius makes absolutely no difference on 99% of trails people are running.

Again, all this is stuff people can research and look up. Compare turning radius numbers, clearance numbers, cab/bed size, mpgs, cost, etc. The one thing that is a non-negotiable is that the 2500 trucks are beefier. Larger and strong from the frame, to the brakes, to the steering and suspension. Some of that cuts both ways.

I've been a jeep guy all my life, still love the wrangler, have one for the wife and it's a blast in the summer even though it's a bit small even before putting car seats in the rear. That said, I've done a fair bit of off-roading in new england, with my 2500, and I've taken it on some tight trails, and some fun off-road parks, and there is honestly very little downside past a little bit of turning radius.

Photo because why not.

 

[p nut]

Man, some people are so sensitive. This isn’t a peepee measuring contest.

If an HD works better for you, great. But don’t make it sound like 1/2 tons will implode upon touching dirt.

Back in the day, we used rangers and F100’s for work and camping way out yonder and neither of them exploded.
One reason I don’t like these forums is, if you don’t have a Ford or Toyota or Jeep or “x” brand, top of the line warn winch, ditch lights, $50k camper and 100k followers on Instagram. Well, you’re not really “overlanding.” Give me a break. 😂
Just take what you have and have fun. 🙂

By the way, here are some payload stickers.

This one’s got the old HDPP package

 

[Bayou Boy]

I wonder why it varies so much between the same trim.
I have a neighbor with a Platinum (SuperCrew) and he’s at 1,450.

Pano roof, big inverter with the big 48v battery, power running boards, etc. All that nice stuff adds up 100 or 200 pounds at a time. My King Ranch F350 6.7 is just under 3800#. If it were a basic XLT with the same engine it would be well over 4000#. That nicer interior with much nicer seats makes for a significantly more comfortable trip for the family though.

 

[p nut]

Pano roof, big inverter with the big 48v battery, power running boards, etc. All that nice stuff adds up 100 or 200 pounds at a time. My King Ranch F350 6.7 is just under 3800#. If it were a basic XLT with the same engine it would be well over 4000#. That nicer interior with much nicer seats makes for a significantly more comfortable trip for the family though.

I can’t say I’ve never been tempted by the squiggly. King ranch is not just comfy but looks amazing!