How to Increase Truck Payload Capacity

Updated on Nov 16, 2023

Have you ever wondered how to increase the amount your pickup can carry in its bed? Also referred to as payload, this value correlates with the maximum weight your truck can tolerate. While, for safety reasons, it’s impossible to raise this value, there are several products on the market designed to improve your truck’s performance while hauling heavy cargo in the bed or provide additional cargo space for oversized goods.

In this article, the experts at RealTruck discuss the ins and outs of payload, including what exactly it is, where to find your particular truck’s payload, and how to increase rear cargo capacity and hauling performance. And as always, for all of your hauling needs, browse our extensive inventory! We carry all of the top suspension components, racks, and carriers to have your truck hauling like a pro!

What Is Payload Capacity?

As previously mentioned, payload capacity is the maximum weight of cargo and passengers, in pounds, that your pickup can safely carry, derived directly from the manufacturer. Payload considers numerous specifications, including the engine/transmission configuration, cab and bed configuration, drive configuration (2WD or 4WD), capacity (half-ton, three-quarter-ton, and one-ton), and rear wheel configurations (DRW or SRW). Payload ensures that no pickups are overloaded, preventing structural damage, damage to the drivetrain, accident, or injury.

How Do You Determine Your Truck’s Payload Capacity?

Are you unsure of your pickup’s payload capacity? Don't worry; you can quickly locate this value in a few select areas or calculate it yourself.

Traditionally, you can find your truck's payload directly on the weight sticker inside your driver’s door jamb. This sticker directly relays your vehicle’s payload, or at the least, the values required to calculate the payload yourself. You can also find similar information in your truck’s owner’s manual.

To calculate your pickup’s payload, you’ll need two values: GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) and curb weight. GVWR refers to your pickup's maximum weight while fully loaded, including your truck, the passengers, and the cargo. Curb weight relates to your vehicle’s empty weight (besides fuel), also called wet weight. To derive your truck's payload from these two numbers, subtract its curb weight from its GVWR; simple as that!

Can You Increase Payload Capacity?

While we’ve already covered this point numerous times, let's establish it as fact. NEVER, under any circumstances, can you exceed your vehicle’s payload capacity. Regardless of the modifications to the suspension or chassis, exceeding your vehicle’s payload beyond manufacturer-specified values isn’t just unsafe but illegal!

Rather than modifying to increase payload capacity, you should always modify your pickup to improve hauling performance. But remember, just because your pickup can now handle its max payload better doesn’t mean you can exceed it!

Payload Tips

There are a few basic tips to follow when considering payload; namely:

Never exceed your vehicle’s payload capacity: While it may be tempting, it’s illegal and ill-advised to increase/exceed your vehicle’s weight capacity. Doing so doesn’t just put excessive strain on your pickup but endangers yourself and other drivers on the road.
Always verify the weight you’re carrying: Before loading up with heavy cargo, verify that you aren’t exceeding your vehicle’s payload capacity. A quick calculation, including passenger weight and cargo weight, can save you from an accident and vehicle damage.
Slow Down: Loading heavy cargo in the bed increases your vehicle’s momentum and strains the braking system. As a result, stopping distances increase. It’s essential to slow down whenever hauling–especially when close to or at maximum payload–to prevent a front-end collision from failing to account for the added momentum and increased weight.
Carry weight in front of or over the rear axle, never behind: Whenever hauling a heavy object(s), it’s always best to load your cargo in front of the rear axle rather than behind it. In the case of a pickup, this means securing your heaviest cargo against the bulkhead rather than the tailgate. Placing weight behind the rear axle can shift weight off the front end, thus reducing the effectiveness of the steering and front brakes. It can also lead to high-speed stability issues and excessive bouncing over bumps.

How to Increase Hauling Performance

Now that we’ve established that you can't increase your truck’s payload capacity, only improve your pickup’s ability to handle the weight, let’s browse our expert’s favorite ways to improve handling performance while hauling!

Upgrade Your Truck’s Rear Springs

Upgrading your ride’s rear springs is an excellent way to improve performance with a heavy load in the bed. Stiffer rear coil springs, upgraded overload leaves, or heavy-duty leaf packs substantially reduce spring sag and increase stability, minimizing the effects of weight in the bed. However, heavy-duty springs will decrease ride quality while unloaded, leading to a rough, bouncy ride over bumpy roads.

Install Rear Airbags

Installing heavy-duty rear airbags is an excellent way to bolster handling performance without compromising ride quality while unloaded. Airbags mount between the rear axle and frame and utilize pneumatic pressure to inflate or deflate the bag via an onboard compressor or an easily-accessible Schrader valve. Whenever you’re hauling a heavy load, inflate the bags to a higher PSI to reduce spring sag, increase stability, and improve hauling performance. Whenever unloaded, deflate the bags and enjoy factory-like ride quality!

Install Air Shocks

Similar to airbags, air shocks utilize pneumatic pressure to improve your truck’s handling while hauling. However, unlike airbags which require additional bracketry and mounting hardware, air shocks are installed directly into your factory damper locations. Bolt the dampers in place, route the air lines, and mount the included Schrader valve in an easily-accessible area. Then, wherever your truck is loaded, use an external compressor to add up to 150 PSI to the rear dampers, stiffening and elevating the rear suspension to reduce spring sag and increase stability.