Removing rear seats to increase payload capacity?
- Thread starter dole
- Start date
tacollie
Glamper
We ran a similar scenario with our Tundra. E rated tires, rear sway bar, and airbags will make a huge difference in the drivability. It handled well. Removing the seats isn't going to make a difference. Watch your axle weights. That matters more than GVWR. I think the Tundra rear axle is only 4200lbs. You'll probably experience shorter brake and axle seal life. My buddies Tundra/FWC combo weighs a porky 8800lbs wet with his KTM on the back. I wouldn't recommend it but it drives surprisingly good.
We stepped to the F250 for the 3337 lbs payload. Rear axle is down rated for the F250 to 6250lbs! We get the same MPGS as the Tundra did with the FWC.
We stepped to the F250 for the 3337 lbs payload. Rear axle is down rated for the F250 to 6250lbs! We get the same MPGS as the Tundra did with the FWC.
plainjaneFJC
Deplorable
Sounds like fun, do you plan lots of travel or is this a van down by the river kinda thing.
I’m in the same boat as you, except I already have my truck - 2019 F150 with the Fx4 package (“off road”) and the 5.0L V8. Crew cab and 5.5’ bed.
GVWR is 7000# and my truck weighs around 5300-5400 with a full tank of gas. So the payload is 1600-1700#. Sticker on the door says 1621#.
I wish I had gotten an F250 instread. I’m looking at truck bed campers and will probably purchase a Camp-X, Hallmark Milner or FWC Raven. No matter which one I go with, the camper dry will be around 1300#. I’ve done the same math as you, by the time you add water, propane, food, gear, girlfriend and dog, you end up somewhere between 2000 and 2500 which would put the GVW at 7400-7900#. Not ideal at all.
I’m also going to remove the tailgate and the back seats. So maybe that will drop 150#. Also considering dropping the gf but that’s a lot more complicated. No matter what though, I’ll be well overweight.
I’m going to get E rated tires and airbags. I talked to several people at camp x, FWC, and Hallmark and they all say my truck will handle the weight just fine. There are also many people on this forum who are doing the same thing (pop up camper in a half ton) and none of them have reported any issues. I realize that the manufacturers are biased and want to sell campers, but they also don’t want lawsuits and they have a ton of experience with this stuff so if it were a big problem I’m sure they’d let me know. And I have yet to hear any issues from anyone on this forum doing the same thing.
Anyway, that’s where I am now. Just letting you know what I’ve learned so far. If I were in your shoes I’d probably just buy a 3/4 ton truck. I might see how it rides on my truck and upgrade if it doesn’t feel safe or rides terrible. Or maybe I’ll get a small, off road worthy trailer.
GVWR is 7000# and my truck weighs around 5300-5400 with a full tank of gas. So the payload is 1600-1700#. Sticker on the door says 1621#.
I wish I had gotten an F250 instread. I’m looking at truck bed campers and will probably purchase a Camp-X, Hallmark Milner or FWC Raven. No matter which one I go with, the camper dry will be around 1300#. I’ve done the same math as you, by the time you add water, propane, food, gear, girlfriend and dog, you end up somewhere between 2000 and 2500 which would put the GVW at 7400-7900#. Not ideal at all.
I’m also going to remove the tailgate and the back seats. So maybe that will drop 150#. Also considering dropping the gf but that’s a lot more complicated. No matter what though, I’ll be well overweight.
I’m going to get E rated tires and airbags. I talked to several people at camp x, FWC, and Hallmark and they all say my truck will handle the weight just fine. There are also many people on this forum who are doing the same thing (pop up camper in a half ton) and none of them have reported any issues. I realize that the manufacturers are biased and want to sell campers, but they also don’t want lawsuits and they have a ton of experience with this stuff so if it were a big problem I’m sure they’d let me know. And I have yet to hear any issues from anyone on this forum doing the same thing.
Anyway, that’s where I am now. Just letting you know what I’ve learned so far. If I were in your shoes I’d probably just buy a 3/4 ton truck. I might see how it rides on my truck and upgrade if it doesn’t feel safe or rides terrible. Or maybe I’ll get a small, off road worthy trailer.
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I few other things to add...
I looked at the axle rating and my rear axle is rated to 3800# and the front is something like 3550. So I would probably be over the GAWR - which also is not ideal. I think it's more problematic that I have a 5.5' bed because it means that much more weight will be over the rear axle in comparison to a 6.5' bed truck. But again, plenty of people are running a 6.5' camper in a 5.5' bed half ton without issue. And like I said the camper manufacturers are telling me it's not a problem. Just sharing all the information I have.
I'm also planning to live in it full time and do a lot of travelling around North America. When I bought the F150 I was thinking I would be using a travel trailer - that's why I didn't pay much attention to payload. But after taking several trips this summer and last in my teardrop, I think long term travel with a trailer will be a pain in the butt for the type of camping and travel I like. There are upsides for sure (setting up camp and leaving it set up), but the lack of maneuverability way back on forest service roads will be an issue unless I stick with something like a tear drop trailer.
My current teardrop is not very dirt road worthy, so I will be selling that an upgrading regardless. I go back and forth a lot because I don't want to have to buy a new/used truck in this market - although I guess it would help with the trade in value or private sale of my current truck. Maybe I'll still go the travel trailer route, but my preference would be a truck bed camper in a 3/4 ton truck if I can make that happen.
I looked at the axle rating and my rear axle is rated to 3800# and the front is something like 3550. So I would probably be over the GAWR - which also is not ideal. I think it's more problematic that I have a 5.5' bed because it means that much more weight will be over the rear axle in comparison to a 6.5' bed truck. But again, plenty of people are running a 6.5' camper in a 5.5' bed half ton without issue. And like I said the camper manufacturers are telling me it's not a problem. Just sharing all the information I have.
I'm also planning to live in it full time and do a lot of travelling around North America. When I bought the F150 I was thinking I would be using a travel trailer - that's why I didn't pay much attention to payload. But after taking several trips this summer and last in my teardrop, I think long term travel with a trailer will be a pain in the butt for the type of camping and travel I like. There are upsides for sure (setting up camp and leaving it set up), but the lack of maneuverability way back on forest service roads will be an issue unless I stick with something like a tear drop trailer.
My current teardrop is not very dirt road worthy, so I will be selling that an upgrading regardless. I go back and forth a lot because I don't want to have to buy a new/used truck in this market - although I guess it would help with the trade in value or private sale of my current truck. Maybe I'll still go the travel trailer route, but my preference would be a truck bed camper in a 3/4 ton truck if I can make that happen.
phsycle
Adventurer
For your scenario, you can recoup 100%+ for your F150 then buy a 3/4 or 1 ton truck (I’d go 1 ton if you’re going to have a camper full time in the back).
Gents let's make certain we are keeping the comments in check. To answer the question: If you do exceed the GVWR and heaven forbid you are in a bad accident (especially where others are injured), the other insurance company can possibly find you criminally negligent. I'd weigh all the risks, especially considering there are trucks that will allow you to be safely within the weight limits.
Are you thinking through private sale? Probably not on a trade-in...
phsycle
Adventurer
Probably may be better off with a private sale. HOWEVER, dealers are desperate for vehicles, especially trucks right now. You may be able to get close enough with a trade-in. Also factor in (if applicable for your state) the tax benefit of a trade-in.
Thanks, I'll look into this. I never heard of a tax benefit from at trade in. I'm in Colorado, I'll look into it.
The only problem is that it's very hard to find a good, used F250 or other 3/4 ton truck right now. I may do something like order the camper - there's a 12-14 month build time right now - and that will give me a year to find a new truck.
vtsoundman
OverAnalyzer
I agree, it is a good idea to keep comments in check.
Insurance companies cannot find criminal negligence. They can only sue in a civil court or deem you financially responsible - the implications of who pays for what (or not) are then decided from there.
The government is the only entity capable of finding criminal anything.
Let's not let this discussion drift into fear mongering.
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Mickey Bitsko
Adventurer
I haven't seen the word ' common sense ' .
billiebob
Well-known member
no
billiebob
Well-known member
GVWR is about more than the springs..... the steering, brakes and frame are all also part of the GVWR.
And one must ask, was the GVWR determined by worst case off roading senarios.... or is the GVWR based on the best case senario of running on paved highways.... And why do you want to buy something you are obviously going to grossly overload.
ps, Toyota reliability is very good, but since the Japanese taught us about reliability 50 years ago, the big three have closed the gap and Fords are pretty much equal to anything from Japan.
Get the F250.
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Actually, I knew someone who had a non-dot compliant truck (grey) and hit and killed an occupant of another vehicle. He's serving a good deal of his future life in prison. The information provided by the engineers who designed these trucks are there because they have been tested. They are not a suggestion. If you overload a truck and then have a catastrophic event, for certain the insurance company can deny to pay your claim. That was my point.