Anyone else notice how close payload ratings are between midsize and half-ton trucks?

At first, when I found that my truck is only rated at 12-1300lb payload, I was disappointed...Until I realized that fullsize half-tons, especially Tundras, have very slightly higher ratings (sometimes even the same)...Does anyone find this odd? Could midsize trucks then bight into sales of the half-tons? Is Toyota risking cannibalization, offering a Tacoma that has almost the same payload as the Tundra?

Apparently, according to a quick google search, a 2012 Tacoma reg. cab 4x4 is rated at almost 1300lb, and an 04 Ram 1500 4.7 4x4 reg cab short bed are rated nearly the same. The Ram had slightly less payload than a newer Taco?!

 

I highly doubt many people are cross shopping a Tundra and a Tacoma.

For one, Tundras are just CRAZY big compared to a Tacoma and secondly they'll pull a house down with those massive 5.7s compared to a Tacoma. I think in the US, size and towing capacity are far more important to most buyers than payload capacity.

 

Payload rating might be close but a Ram 1500 will tow heavier loads more easily, be safer and still get better gas mileage than a Tacoma.

 

That's what I was thinking...Just sucks that midsize and half-tons are so close payload-wise, but then you have to jump to a 3/4 ton to get a worthwhile payload boost. Basically, I see that between midsize and half-tons (excluding RCLB Half-tons), you really only get a couple hundred pounds more payload in the half-ton. They are also similar in that midsize and half-tons are somewhat sporty-feeling to drive, ride nicely, and have decent fuel economy. But if you want more payload, you jump to a 3/4 ton (the next smallest option), and suddenly, you have (from what I hear) a rougher ride, potentially slow acceleration, and MUCH MUCH worse fuel economy...What gives?

I guess what my ideal truck is, is a "heavy half" like the old f250 "light duty." Wish they still made them...

Contrary to most people, payload is a major concern for me. I don't own a trailer (my dad does, but he has his own truck). "Big look" is cool. But really, I just want to be able to load up the bed and cab completely, without exceeding weight limits. Isn't the reason we bought these things to put stuff in the bed?

 

A 3/4 ton will get better fuel economy, accelerate faster and haul/tow way more than a Tacoma could ever hope for. Pretty much the only thing a midsize truck like a Tacoma has going for it is the ease of driveability due to the smaller size. For daily driving and off-roading that makes it a very worthwhile trade off.

 

Although, I suppose you CAN option out an F150 super cab to get about 1800-2000lb payload (Oddly, the long bed gets more payload capacity, even though, in theory, it would weigh more??). That's the perfect mix for me. I just don't get how so many people are content buying CrewMax Tundras with 1300-1500lb payloads...

 

I’m not sure why payload is such a big deal to you. If you need more that frequently, buy a different vehicle. How much shit do you need in the bed of your truck and how often? Are you planning on building a house in the back of it? The only time I’ve ever come close to maxing out my payload was when I bought stone to line my landscaping with. That’s it. One Time. I wouldn’t drive daily like that and I wouldn’t have wanted a bigger truck to haul more, I would have just rented a trailer or made a second trip.

Why is payload so important to you? Just buy a trailer.

 

I find the names amusing. Leftovers really.

Midsize. Doesn't that mean there has to be a few somethings smaller? And park next to a full size of 10 years ago. About the same..........

1/2 ton. That's still 1,000#. Meaning that's what the original payload was.

 

I don't regularly need a ton of payload, but I was just more voicing how amusing I find it that some half tons have essentially the same payload ratings as us...Seems a bit pointless imo

 

Ok that makes more sense. But again payload really isn’t all that important when your truck can tow 6,500lbs or whatever. I mean it’s not a dump truck. Adding more framing to the bed would add additional weight and then reduce flexibility on the trails for us little guys.

 

A lot of it has to do with the Tacoma getting bigger over time. The difference in width between my Tundra and the 05+ is only 2.5" per side although the length can be much different (like a double cab with 8 foot bed). The Tacoma isn't really a "small" or "compact" truck anymore given that they all typically weigh over 4000lbs at this point. Toyota no longer produces a regular cab of any variant anymore (nor does Ram make a 1500 regular cab any longer). A typical "half-ton" will have at least 400-500 lbs more payload capacity than a typical Tacoma. Even just 500 pounds of payload difference is a large fractional change.

 

I guess I'm just always concerned with being overloaded. Approximately much would a 6 foot bed of firewood weigh stacked up to the bed rails?

 

Depends on the type of wood and moisture content. An average weight would be about 40lbs per cubic foot multiplied by the approximate cubic volume of a tacoma long bed (42 cubic feet level with the sides of the bed) gives a load of over 1600lbs. That’s probably close to accurate numbers given that a cord of wood (128 cubic feet) usually weighs over 4000lbs.

 

Dang...I gotta be careful

 

Depends on how far you drive, the kind of terrain and your speed.

Overloaded for short distances, smooth-ish surfaces (relative to speed) and slow speeds (for stopping purposes) and you'll be fine.

Other scenarios, not so much.

 

Loading up your bed with wood once in a while is fine. Numerous forum members reach/exceed their payload ratings by adding bumpers, a winch, two spare batteries, a RTT, and "overlanding" gear. Putting a little extra weight in your bed (where most of the payload is designed to go) won't be a huge problem.

 

The longer bed with its longer wheelbase offers more stability and is safer for heavier payloads.

 

My 1st gen and 2nd gen are just fine for what I use them for. If I really need to haul something heavy I use...

My 1970 VW panel bus. It has a payload capacity of around 2200lbs

I probably won't be winning any speed records, but I'll get where I'm going eventually. Stopping once I'm there is a whole different story

 

That makes sense! Thanks!

 

Yeah, see, that's my problem with low payload. I'd like to think you could add armor and have a tough little truck that could still carry stuff in the bed...Personally, I'm not so sure I've bought into the steel bumpers. They not only weigh more, but I would think you'd be more likely to have frame damage in impacts...I'd rather just replace my bumper than the frame. Unless there's a chance I can actually decrease damage in a crash, I don't want it lol. I imagine they'd help with deer though...Would a deer be able to bend the frame if you had a steel bumper?