Why Do Yank Pick ups Have Such Low Payload Rating ?

[redgriff500]

I'm looking for a big pick up to haul my 5th wheel caravan.

It weighs 4 tons and puts 1 ton in the rear of the truck, currently pulled by a 3.1 Isuzu.

From what I can see the 1500 yank pick ups can only carry 1/2 a ton - which is pathetic - they are clearly capable of physically carrying more so why are they rated so low ?

Even the "heavy duty" 2500 trucks are only rated to 3/4 ton - bearing in mind my old P100 can carry 1 ton and the chassis / axles are half the size it makes no sense.

Is it easy to get them uprated in the UK ?

It seems only the duellys are rated to tow it which is ridiculous and they are too big to use around the UK.

Cheers

[EDLT]

A heavier MAM would mean you can't drive them on a B license.

"Motor vehicles with a MAM of up to 3,500 kg, no more than eight passenger seats, with or without a trailer - weighing no more than 750 kg"
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensi...

Americans don't have this problem, and most British buyers probably won't use the truck for towing anyway.

[redgriff500]

But that's just it - that's their AMERICAN rating.

I thought they were down rated on import but they aren't.

[Thed2300]

We just call them that.

My Ranger, a 1/4 ton, can carry 1000 LBS of payload
The F-150, a 1/2 ton, can carry over 3000 LBS of payload
The F250, a 3/4 ton, can carry over 7000 LBS of payload

It's kind of like how we call the C-segment compact cars.

[mat777]

You could buy a defender 130 HD, OP

[David87]

An F-150, for instance, should have no problems with a 4 tonne caravan, while the payload is nearly 1500kgs IIRC. They're way ahead of the stuff we get over here (just not on fuel consumption).

[redgriff500]

Thed2300 said:

We just call them that.

The F-150, a 1/2 ton, can carry over 3000 LBS of payload
The F250, a 3/4 ton, can carry over 7000 LBS of payload

When you say it can carry 3000lbs - what does it say on the chassis plates as that's all VOSA care about.

I've had 1.5 tons in my P100 and it was fine but I'd have been fined if stopped

[redgriff500]

Tried Googling again and found this:

http://www.fordf150.net/specs/99tow.php

It seems the std F150 1/2 ton can carry just under a ton but the super cabs (6 seaters) can only carry 750kg

So more than I thought but still less than I need.

Not many 2500 to choose from.

[john2443]

mat777 said:

You could buy a defender 130 HD, OP

Do those come as a pick up so that the 5th wheel can be attached ???

[redgriff500]

john2443 said:

mat777 said:

You could buy a defender 130 HD, OP

Do those come as a pick up so that the 5th wheel can be attached ???

Some do but they cost twice as much as the Yanks and are much slower.

[AdeTuono]

redgriff500 said:

Tried Googling again and found this:

http://www.fordf150.net/specs/99tow.php

It seems the std F150 1/2 ton can carry just under a ton but the super cabs (6 seaters) can only carry 750kg

So more than I thought but still less than I need.

Not many 2500 to choose from.

I'm selling my F250 soon if you're interested. Pic in profile.

[redgriff500]

AdeTuono said:

I'm selling my F250 soon if you're interested. Pic in profile.

Thanks but too late (expensive) for me, it'll only be used a few weekends a year.

[Nobl3R]

Have a look at the new VW Amorak, they've got a 3.5T load. Think they may be one of the only pickups that does atm.

[Roo]

It's easy enough to get a Ram 1500 or Ford F150 uprated to one tonne payload.

However the GCVW doesn't change so increasing the payload decreases the towing capacity.

Adetuono is your truck registered class M1 or N1?

[CraigyMc]

Nobl3R said:

Have a look at the new VW Amorak, they've got a 3.5T load. Think they may be one of the only pickups that does atm.

No they don't, it's 2800Kg braked according to the VW UK website.

Source - http://www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/amarok-range/amar...

Click on "Size and Space" then "Weights".

If that's wrong, please provide info as to why.

C

[AdeTuono]

Roo said:

Adetuono is your truck registered class M1 or N1?

Errrr, no idea. What's the difference? Nothing on the V5.

[mat777]

redgriff500 said:

john2443 said:

mat777 said:

You could buy a defender 130 HD, OP

Do those come as a pick up so that the 5th wheel can be attached ???

Some do but they cost twice as much as the Yanks and are much slower.

It may be more expensive and slower, but with a 3380KG GVW and 1231KG payload it has the highest rating I have been able to find and comfortably fits the requirements of the OP. And I guarantee it will still be going long after any yank trash has expired

Edited by mat777 on Monday 9th April 23:11

[CraigyMc]

redgriff500 said:

john2443 said:

mat777 said:

You could buy a defender 130 HD, OP

Do those come as a pick up so that the 5th wheel can be attached ???

Some do but they cost twice as much as the Yanks and are much slower.

There are quite a few Landies with >3500Kg towing limits, just not in the UK.

The Defender and Disco are both rated to 4000Kg in Australia, for example.

I wonder if the F150/F250 are similar? (well, I imagine an F250 is capable of quite a bit more...)

C

[AdeTuono]

CraigyMc said:

I wonder if the F150/F250 are similar? (well, I imagine an F250 is capable of quite a bit more...)

C

A lot depends on cab configuration, engine and rear axle gears, but somewhere in the range of 10,000-14,000 lbs (in the US anyway).

I had a twin-axle Brian James trailer loaded with a David Brown tractor behind mine, and it was as if there was nothing there. Still pulled like a train, even uphill.

[Thed2300]

CraigyMc said:

I wonder if the F150/F250 are similar? (well, I imagine an F250 is capable of quite a bit more...)

The F-150 and F-250/350/450 are two completely different trucks. The F-150 is on a newer, fully-boxed frame while the Super Duties still use C-channel frames. The Super Duty's frame hasn't changed much since it's introduction in 1998 (1999MY), while the F-150's frame is from 2008 (used in the 2009MY). The top engine in the F-150 (the 6.2L) is the standard engine in the F-250/350. The Super Duty has the 6.7L PowerStroke (Diesel) while the F-150 is all petrol. The 2WD Super Duties all use the twin I-Beam setup that Ford initially designed in the 1960's and the 4WD Super Duties use a live front axle. The F-150 uses a very beefy cast aluminum IFS. Both have two different transmissions. The F-150 uses a Ford 8.8" axle out back and the Super Duties use the extremely tough Sterling 10.5" axle.

Really the only similarities between the two trucks are the Ford badge and the F-X50 part. But still, Ford groups them together in their sales reports so they can stay on top of Chevy for total truck sales.