If you are in the market for a new or used pickup truck, it’s important to know how much weight the truck bed can hold.
Most people will use a pickup truck for hauling items from place to place including furniture, gravel, wood, and more.
Driving a pickup truck over its allowable weight limit can not only damage the vehicle but it is dangerous and unsafe which can lead to an accident causing injury or worse.
This article will discuss the weight limits of a pickup truck bed allowing you to drive safely when carrying a heavy load.
Pickup truck bed weight limits
Not all pickup trucks are the same and each one will have a specific weight limit for how much the truck bed can hold.
The maximum allowable weight that you can carry in the truck bed is provided by the truck manufacturer and is called payload capacity.
Payload capacity is the difference between Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and the curb weight.
Prior to loading your pickup truck, consult the owner’s manual to determine the weight limit.
Pickup truck classes
Pickup trucks are divided into classifications and each class has a different weight limit.
Payload capacities are divided into 3 classes.
- 1/2-ton
- 3/4-ton
- 1-ton
The 1/2-ton truck has a payload capacity of 1000 pounds. A 3/4-ton truck has a payload capacity of 1,500 pounds and a 1-ton truck has a payload capacity of 2000 pounds.
It’s important to note that most trucks these days can exceed these limits. Depending on the truck’s design, engine size, and more, most trucks will have higher payloads.
What is payload?
As mentioned above, payload is the difference between Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and the curb weight.
For example, a 2022 Ford F-150 is a 1/2 ton pickup truck that has a GVWR of 7,150 pounds. Its curb weight is 5,740 pounds meaning the payload is 1,410 pounds.
7,150 – 5,740 = 1,410.
This can vary from vehicle to vehicle. Pickup trucks can also be classed as light-duty, medium-duty, heavy-duty, and super-duty with each one having a different payload.
A 2022 Ford F-150 has a payload capacity between 1,310 – 3,270 pounds.
What is GVWR?
GVWR or Gross Vehicle Weight Rating is the maximum loaded weight that a pickup truck can safely operate as determined by the manufacturer.
This number is important to know as it is used to calculate the vehicle’s payload.
Dangers of being over the payload capacity
If you decide to drive your pickup truck over its payload capacity, there are a number of problems that can arise.
- The vehicle’s warranty can be void.
- Damage can be caused to the vehicle’s suspension and other parts.
- Overall handling of the vehicle on the road will be poor. Loss of control is possible.
- Increased risk of the vehicle tipping or excessive bouncing over bumps.
- Possible damage to the vehicle’s engine and transmission.
- Inability to climb hills.
- The safety of you, your passengers, and others on the road are at risk due to the higher chance of an accident.
Examples of pickup truck payload capacity
The following is a list of pickup trucks along with the make, model, year, and payload capacity.
- 2022 Ford F-150 payload capacity – 1,310 – 3,270 pounds
- 2022 Ford F-250 payload capacity – 2,462 – 4,260 pounds
- 2022 Dodge Ram 1500 payload capacity – 1,225 – 2,325 pounds
- 2022 Chev Silverado 1500 payload capacity – 1,480 – 2,300 pounds
- 2022 Chev Silverado 3500 payload capacity – 4,353 – 4,572 pounds
- 2022 Toyota Tundra payload capacity – 1,575 – 1,940 pounds
| Truck | Class | Payload – pounds | Payload – kilograms |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Ford F-150 | 1/2 ton | 1,310 – 3,270 | 594 – 1,483 |
| 2022 Ford F-250 | 3/4 ton | 2,462 – 4,260 | 1,116 – 1,932 |
| 2022 Dodge Ram 1500 | 1/2 ton | 1,225 – 2,325 | 555 – 1,054 |
| 2022 Chev Silverado 1500 | 1/2 ton | 1,480 – 2,300 | 671 – 1,043 |
| 2022 Chev Silverado 3500 | 1 ton | 4,353 – 4,572 | 1,974 – 2,073 |
| 2022 Toyota Tundra | 1/2 ton | 1,575 – 1,940 | 714 – 880 |