Silverado 2500 Payload

[GT-Jim]

Anybody got an idea why my 2018 Silverado diesel is rated for 2416 lbs payload but only 1516 lbs for silde in camper? I wouldn't think the truck would know the difference between 2400 lbs. of shingles vs 2400 lbs. of camper.

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Wild guess... because of the higher center of gravity’s effect on suspension.

 

[patrickkidd]

Anybody got an idea why my 2018 Silverado diesel is rated for 2416 lbs payload but only 1516 lbs for silde in camper? I wouldn't think the truck would know the difference between 2400 lbs. of shingles vs 2400 lbs. of camper.

A truck’s payload rating includes everything north of the truck itself. That means passengers, gear, water, etc. two people could be 350lbs, plus gear, food, water, gas, all on top of your camper brings you pretty close to your max payload. You want to stay a healthy bit under your max because your truck won’t do super well at the max. It will ride harder and wear faster. You may need to upgrade your rear suspension with airbags or an extra leaf if you are at or just under your max payload rating.

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) is the total weight including the truck, fluids, and payload. So subtract the actual weight of the vehicle from GVWR and you get your total payload rating.

 

[Old Crow]

It may be because of driver and passengers weight assumptions in whatever you're looking at. With a 900-pound difference, that may be 6 passengers at 150 pounds each.

I say this because I happen to have been looking at the following chart from the manual for my '13 Tundra earlier today.... in the truck camper section.

(Click to enlarge)



The Cargo Weight Rating figure is absurdly low but then we see the table assumes six passengers.

I wondered what the heck they use for a passenger weight and found the NHTSA standard is 150 pounds (at least according to this paper, page 3)

Just a guess....

 

[Dphillip]

I agree with W. Sagebrush, the GM lawyers are assuming a slide in camper would be a large, hard sided, over the cab unit which would dramatically change the center of gravity and promote a roll over. A low profile, light weight pop up camper skews their numbers in my opinion.

I just look in the owners manual of my GMC Sierra and it indeed shows a full size cab over slide in camper and refers about center of gravity.

 

[klahanie]

I'd hate to pay extra for a camper package and end up with an unhelpful paper like that !

I'm siding with O.C. and the 150# allotment for each ghost rider "explanation" (if such a thing could ever be determined).

How many seat belts in the cab anyway ??

I disagree that the truck wouldn't know the difference in load make up, say, water level vs high COG. Maybe no difference in the driveway but I bet on a twisty 2 lane highway it would show. That said, I'd use the regular payload number myself.

 

[Old Crow]

GT-Jim... There should be a Truck Camper Loading Information label in your Silverado's glovebox. If you don't mind, can you tell us what it says for CWR (Cargo Weight Rating) and A and B measurements?

Thanks.

 

[Old Crow]

All-

I ran onto this 2018 General Motors Truck Camper Loading document today and see it provides some useful definitions and concepts for this thread (like cargo weight rating, payload, longitudinal center of gravity, A and B dimensions, etc)

And it has some surprising info--- like some GM trucks get a glovebox sticker that says "THIS TRUCK SHOULD NOT BE USED TO CARRY A SLIDE-IN CAMPER" (page 4). And the Limitations on page 6 are interesting as to what 2018 GM pickups aren't recommended for slide-in campers...
- 1500 crew cab with 5'8" bed
- 1500 with 20" wheels
- Colorado/Canyon pickups
- And 1500s should not be used for "larger, cab-over style slide-in campers"

And I guess the good news is they're making recommendations, not saying "Sorry, buddy, now that I know you want to use it for a slide-in camper, I can't sell it to you".

Happy reading!

.

 

[GT-Jim]

GT-Jim... There should be a Truck Camper Loading Information label in your Silverado's glovebox. If you don't mind, can you tell us what it says for CWR (Cargo Weight Rating) and A and B measurements?

Thanks.


The sticker shows 33" for the A measurement and 0" for the B measurement. CWR is 1516 lbs.

I agree with patrickkidd, guessing that maybe GM was already compensating for the additional load of 900 lbs. for gear and passengers.

 

[Old Crow]

Thanks, GT-Jim. I appreciate it!

That's what I expected for CWR but that B-dimension is a puzzler.

.

 

[GT-Jim]

I double checked the sticker, B is shown as 000in.

 

[shimcoelectric]

I have a 2016 2500 diesel crew 4 wheel drive 8 ft box, and my "B" is also 0.00...my camper rating is 1032lbs....I think it is crazy, ….they are covering there ass....

 

[Vic Harder]

Thanks, GT-Jim. I appreciate it!

That's what I expected for CWR but that B-dimension is a puzzler.

.

I would suspect the "B" dimension is the range for CoG. Meaning, they want you do have as much weight forward as possible. A CoG behind "B" is a no-no.

From a safety and handling perspective, I totally agree (which is why I probably interpret the graphic that way...doh!)

 

[Old Crow]

I'm still struggling with the diagrams in the truck camper loading document. I must be thinking of something incorrectly as I can't make sense of them with GT-Jim's numbers....

First, I see this diagram (from the link above)....

(click to enlarge)



So basically we're trying to determine where the shaded box (the "CG zone") is for GT-Jim's truck via his A and B dimensions.

And if we're interested in where the CG zone falls over the axle, we also need to know where the axle is. That same document has this table...



I assume GT-Jim has the double-cab and 6'6" bed so his C dimension would be 43.6".

Applying his A dimension of 33", a B dimension of 0", and a C dimension of 43.6" appears to put the entire CG zone behind the rear axle, doesn't it? If the front edge of the zone is 33" from the rear of the truck and the axle is 43.6" from it, the front edge of the zone is 10.6" behind the axle. And a B dimension of zero says the aft edge of the zone is at the tailgate. So much for keeping the COG ahead of the axle! (That doesn't make sense so I'm either doing something wrong or there's something else at play here.)

Also-

I called up one of my brothers to ask about his 2015 Silverado 1500, just to get another sample. His glovebox sticker says CWR=949#, A=66", B=28". The 2015 version of the truck camper loading document says his C dimension -- the axle--- is 38.9" forward of the bed's back end.

Now those dimensions make a lot more sense to me. The front of the shaded area would be 27.1" (66-38.9) ahead of the axle and the rear 10.9" (38.9-28) behind it. At least the CG zone is over the axle when I use his numbers!

.

 

[jrwdlw]

I would bet that the glovebox sticker is wrong.

I noticed that your second image has a footnote that says, "Dimensions A and B can be calculated by using formula on page 12". I think we need to see page 12.

 

[jrwdlw]

Ok, I found it. It's part of a document linked earlier in this thread. It's actually page 13. We need to know a few more details:

1. Front and rear GAWR
2. Front and rear weight of truck
3. Wheelbase

I tried to embed the image of page 13, but couldn't see it in the preview, so I've attached it.

 

[GT-Jim]

I assume GT-Jim has the double-cab and 6'6" bed so his C dimension would be 43.6".

.

You would be correct, it is a double cab.

I would bet that the glovebox sticker is wrong.

I noticed that your second image has a footnote that says, "Dimensions A and B can be calculated by using formula on page 12". I think we need to see page 12.

I thought maybe my sticker had an error also until I saw the post from oldcrow that included a camper loading manual including a picture on page 4 of a glove box sticker that showed A=11 and B=1 so I figured maybe my 0 was correct

Ok, I found it. It's part of a document linked earlier in this thread. It's actually page 13. We need to know a few more details:

1. Front and rear GAWR
2. Front and rear weight of truck
3. Wheelbase

I tried to embed the image of page 13, but couldn't see it in the preview, so I've attached it.

That makes sense that the sticker number is part of a calculation. Now I will have to get my truck front and rear weights so I can fill out the worksheet. Now I'm curious what the figures will come out to.

Thanks guys, it was kinda like solving a puzzle.

 

[GT-Jim]

I don't know why it didn't hit me earlier when Old Crow posted it but 2416 - 900 (6 x 150 NHTSA per passenger) = 1516 which matches what is printed on the camper sticker. So in answer to my own question, no my truck can't magically tell the difference between a camper and a load of shingles. It's kind of a dumb sticker if you ask me, it should say "Max payload = 2416 minus weight of occupants".

 

[CSG]

Minus weight of occupants and all other gear. My '01 2500HD has a camper rating of about 2400# but it has six seatbealts so the trucks total payload max is about 3300#. Part of the reason I never replaced my old Lance camper is they've gotten too heavy and the dishonesty from manufacturers helping people to match the proper camper to a customer's truck is appalling. Go to a dealer with your 2500 truck and they tell you how your truck can carry any camper on the lot. I can't do a pop-up camper but I wish I could for the LCG.