Ford f250 5th wheel towing - confused by door sticker

[Viet_Vet]

Greetings all,
Since my last post I have replaced my 2011 Ram 2500 gas job with a 2012 Ford F250 crew cab with a 6.7 Powerstroke diesel and 33,000 miles. I did research the towing capacity before I bought it.

These links show towing and payload capacity:
http://www.new-cars.com/2012/ford/sp...ty.html#towing
https://cdn.dealereprocess.net/cdn/b...0superduty.pdf

This shows Maximum Payload Weight Ratings (pounds) for a crew cab short bed at with 10,000 lbs GVWR at 3,290 lbs.

The door sticker, however shows 2283 lbs. That is a significant difference of over 1000 pounds. Can someone clarify this? I've researched several sites, including Ford, and none of them show cargo capacity other than 3290 pounds.

Help me, Keystone forums, you're my only hope! (sorry, Obi_Wan)

[flybouy]

The door sticker is what YOUR truck's rated load capacity is. The charts on the web are typically the maximum rating for that line of truck when you buy a 2 wheel drive, stripped down version.

[Javi]

Originally Posted by flybouy

The doof sticker is what YOUR truck's rated load capacity is. The charts on the web are typically the maximum rating for that line of truck when you buy a 2 wheel drive, stripped down version.

Yep.. my '12 F250 with 6.7 diesel CC & 2WD XL only had 2642 if I remember right..

[notanlines]

Wallace, Marshall had it right when he flubbed a little and called it a 'doof sticker.' But in effect it is a sticker to show what we all have been at one time or another...doofs. As the other members have pointed out, the DOOR sticker is gospel. And all the online references are only to mislead buyers. I'm sorry you went with another 3/4 ton.

[flybouy]

That's what I get for typing on my tablet when my hands are this numb, or dumb, either way.

[Ribtip]

Yep last couple of post are correct. The diesel is heavier then a gaser also a mega cab and duel axle also pull down the payload. Its all based on 10000# minus what the truck Weighs in at plus people too.

[Viet_Vet]

This is why I am confused. The truck came with the 10,000 pound GVW package. The truck, with the diesel engine, weighs 6787 pounds empty.

10,000 - 6787 = 3213 lbs. So what happened to my other 930 pounds of payload capacity?

Why can't they make this simple????

[Javi]

Originally Posted by Viet_Vet

This is why I am confused. The truck came with the 10,000 pound GVW package. The truck, with the diesel engine, weighs 6787 pounds empty.

10,000 - 6787 = 3213 lbs. So what happened to my other 930 pounds of payload capacity?

Why can't they make this simple????

Accessories and such... 10 pounds in a 5 pound bag... if you go weigh the pickup you'll get the real number.. cause the number on that sticker ain't gonna be right neither..

Fill it with fuel..

[flybouy]

The rest of the weight goes to 4 wd (transfer case, front diff and axles), power window motors and gear, power seat motors and gears, leather seats, consols, heating elements in the seats, that pretty carpet, the dozen or so speakers for the radio and the display in the dash for the GPS, the power mirror motors gears & heaters, the rearview camera(s), ETC., ETC......

[rhagfo]

Originally Posted by Viet_Vet

This is why I am confused. The truck came with the 10,000 pound GVW package. The truck, with the diesel engine, weighs 6787 pounds empty.

10,000 - 6787 = 3213 lbs. So what happened to my other 930 pounds of payload capacity?

Why can't they make this simple????

Is that 6,787# brochure weight or scaled weight? The payload sticker is the difference between the GVWR and what THAT truck with a 150# driver and a full tank of fuel weighed coming off the assembly line. The ONLY WAY to know how much pin weight you can carry is take it to a scale and weigh it ready to tow, loaded with all your normal stuff. That weight subtracted from GVWR will be available payload for the pin.

[markcee]

Originally Posted by rhagfo

Is that 6,787# brochure weight or scaled weight? The payload sticker is the difference between the GVWR and what THAT truck with a 150# driver and a full tank of fuel weighed coming off the assembly line. The ONLY WAY to know how much pin weight you can carry is take it to a scale and weigh it ready to tow, loaded with all your normal stuff. That weight subtracted from GVWR will be available payload for the pin.

Pretty sure it does not even include a 150 lb driver. The driver is only included by Ford for the purpose of calculating a tow rating. Payload is strictly GVWR - truck weight with all fluids.

[Ken / Claudia]

My read my truck below. I did scale it fuel full with me (165 lbs) it wt 8400 empty.
I had a 08 f250 CC 4x4 V10 work truck XL it wt. 8200 with cop gear on board. I think you did not scale it.
I will make a bet it is 7500/8000 lbs range if it is a 4x4.

[Viet_Vet]

Thank you to all the replies.I will post an update after I hit the scales.

[sourdough]

Wallace I'm sorry but I have to agree with the others. That sticker is the defining number and if you scale the truck I am sure that the other brochure number is wrong as well. It's very difficult to find accurate numbers for Ford the way they post their specs - always optimistic and very "general".

[rbrdriver]

If you were thinking about pulling a fifth wheel you should have got a 1 ton anyway. Usually a 3/4 ton is only good for a small to maybe midsize fifth wheel at best.

[Viet_Vet]

Originally Posted by rbrdriver

If you were thinking about pulling a fifth wheel you should have got a 1 ton anyway. Usually a 3/4 ton is only good for a small to maybe midsize fifth wheel at best.

Thank you. Not my first rodeo, nor my first 5er, but I appreciate that you are looking out for people here.
I purposely bought the 3/4 ton, as my soon to be new 5er is smaller and weighs less.
It is just very confusing and nonsensical that the manufacturers publish data that has no bearing on real life numbers. The shipping weight on the invoice and the MSO both show the weight as I posted above. That is why it is confusing.
I work at a truck dealership... both GMC and Kenworth OTR trucks. I know how it Is SUPPOSED to work, but real life shows otherwise.
I am hoping to hit the scales this week.

[Javi]

Yep class 4 thru 8 have different rules than 1 thru 3.. which can be licensed as passenger in most states.
Heck, I saw a heavy 1/2 ton pulling a 3 axle toy hauler last weekend. Air Rides were getting a work out. ��

[markcee]

I guess having learned my lesson the hard way, it all kind of makes sense to me now. Any published payload is going to be general in nature as there is no way a manufacturer - any of them - can give you an actual figure. There are dozens of different option combos for every cab/engine configuration. As a result, they publish a best case for each cab, based on minimum option load. I screwed up and bought a 1/2 ton for a too large TT. I hadn't done any prior homework and looked only at tow ratings. After spending about 15 minutes on a forum (after the fact) I quickly learned that every single vehicle has it's own unique payload and you always need to look at the door sticker first.

[Gegrad]

Originally Posted by Viet_Vet

This is why I am confused. The truck came with the 10,000 pound GVW package. The truck, with the diesel engine, weighs 6787 pounds empty.

10,000 - 6787 = 3213 lbs. So what happened to my other 930 pounds of payload capacity?

Why can't they make this simple????

Because your truck does not weight 6787 with the diesel. My bighorn (lower trim than a Laramie, so lighter) with the 6.4 (much lighter engine) weighs 6990. Your truck actually weighs 7,777 (10k - your stickered payload).

[Ken / Claudia]

I could be wrong, but I think the number of differences in Fords SD truck line is said to be 70. Each may have a different payload rating. How many different engines, trim levels, cab styles, bed lengths, drive trains, wheel/tire sizes, fuel tanks the list goes on and on.
That yellow sticker is how you buy what you need.
Worse problem with the marketing, trucks list the max a f250 or f350 will tow and do not say that is a stripped down model.
RVs are marketed with dry weight ratings and never talk about the real loaded weight it will be when you camp in it.
As the customer we need to dig further on both to match a TV to a RV.
Truck salesman do not know what the yellow sticker says until they open the door and read it.
RV salesman attempt to sell by the dry weight.