Help determining payload of F350 SRW

[Chiroken]

Hello everyone, 1st time poster.

I'm in the process of searching for/buying an F350 SRW truck to allow me to carry a camper and boat (boat=2500lb total weight, trailer in). I'm having a tough time getting a handle on the actual payload available to me and the police are tight about being overweight around here. I'm not willing to load 'er up on an extra leaf and air bags and be over weight.

I'm most likely going to go into an '06 F350 4 door crew cab long box SRW (also considering a GM 3500), prefer gas however the vast majority out there are diesel. Does Ford provide a curb weight somehow? The door sticker simply gives the GVWR I believe. How can I actually determine the true payload which I believe would be GVWR - curb weight (fuelled and with driver)? Can anyone with this vehicle tell me what this value actually is, and which motor you have with your truck?

The campers I'm looking at make it close...a couple of hundred pounds can make me legal...or not. I also realize to factor in tongue weight of my boat.

From the general information I'm finding it seems the F350 has a lower payload than the GM by about 400lbs.

Thanks in advance.

[olddude]

Did you try fords truck web site?

[Chiroken]

Originally Posted by olddude

Did you try fords truck web site?

Yes, first place I went. Pretty useless and very confusing. Website info is only for the most current production line, there is no archived information that I can find for previous years. The local salesmen don't know the details either. They know what's in the current brochure and not much more in my experience. That's why I've come to forums to get the "goods".

At this ford link Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited I've found the specs and options for the new crew cab super duty but it seems very confusing. It gives all vehicle options/trim levels but doesn't differentiate 2500's, 3500's or even SRW or DRW. It shows 3 engine options (5.4L gas, 6.8L gas, 6.4L diesel) but goes on to show 4 GVWR's, not 3? The curb weight for 3 different vehicles I looked at (XLT 4x4 8.2', FX4 4x4 8.2', Lariat 4x4 8.2') is listed exactly the same at 6591 lbs. From my understanding of curb weight each engine should give a different curb weight. There are then differing GVWR for each model so I assume their curb weight doesn't factor in the engine and they have calculated different engine weights into their GVWR. Seems confusing. And what the 4th GVWR number refers to I have no idea. It just so happens to be the greatest one of the bunch too.

I've also gone over the current brochure (even though I'm looking at '06 to buy) and it's not much more clear. In the F350 SRW 4x4 it gives 7 different payloads for 3 engine types with no way to differentiate how you get those payloads. The diesel engine has 2 payloads given, 2220 lbs and 3720 lbs, a difference of 1500 lbs!! The 5.4L engine has 3 different payloads, a range of 1000 lbs.

The local dealership told me the FX4 package increased my payload. The brochure says this option includes coloured Rancho-branded shocks. Are these increasing payload or simply lifting the truck abit with a flash of colour? The heavy service suspension package simply upgrades the front springs. The camper package upgrades the front springs and has aux. rear springs. No where can I find how these optional packages actually affects the numbers.

Does this make sense you anyone? The GMC trucks sure make it easy...every vehicle off the line has a glove compartment sticker stating to a pound how heavy of a slide in camper the vehicle can legally carry. If you know that number, the actual weight of the camper, and the curb weight it's easy to figure out exactly what total payload is.

Just read over my post and it seems confusing, welcome to my world!

[BroncoJoe19]

Curb weight is calculated with all fluids topped off. NOT including the driver. He would be considered as part of the carrying capacity.

[Chiroken]

Originally Posted by BroncoJoe19

Curb weight is calculated with all fluids topped off. NOT including the driver. He would be considered as part of the carrying capacity.

yes, my mistake.

[BroncoJoe19]

Darn, it doesn't seem like the info you got is very helpful.
For what its worth, and I may be completely wrong, I don't think the carrying capacity is rated differently for the engine and trans as one would think. I THINK it has more to do with the suspension and the axles than anything else.

For example one would think that a 4x4 would tow more that a 2WD, but actually they are rated to tow less by a hundred to two hundred pounds. I think it is due to the extra weight of the front diff.

[Chiroken]

Originally Posted by BroncoJoe19

Darn, it doesn't seem like the info you got is very helpful.
For what its worth, and I may be completely wrong, I don't think the carrying capacity is rated differently for the engine and trans as one would think. I THINK it has more to do with the suspension and the axles than anything else.

For example one would think that a 4x4 would tow more that a 2WD, but actually they are rated to tow less by a hundred to two hundred pounds. I think it is due to the extra weight of the front diff.

I think the engines come into play with payload as the engines themselves differ in weight. I believe the diesel might be a couple hundred pounds or so more so that will drop payload assuming the remaining vehicle is the same (ie suspension etc)