The next time you visit a Chevrolet or GMC showroom to check out a full-size or mid-size pickup, you may find the truck’s curb weight to be heavier than once advertised. That’s because General Motors has decided it will no longer remove items to make payload.
Autoblog reports GM will commit to a base curb weight for its Silverado/Sierra and Colorado/Canyon twins after a number of complaints regarding its and Ford’s practice of removing items — spare tires, radios, jacks, center consoles — to lower curb weight for a boost in maximum payload capacity. Representative Tom Wilkinson says the move will bring curb weight on par with other truck makers for easier comparisons when consumers go truck shopping. Heavy-duty trucks will also have a base weight, though those numbers have yet to be finalized.
However, GM and everyone else says the truck’s Tire and Load Label should be consulted over curb weight ratings when it comes to maximum payload capacity. Meanwhile, Ford will continue use its temporary decontenting methods to determine curb weight.
This is one of the reasons for the apparent payload disparity between the Ford/GM trucks and the Rams. Ram does not set their weights and capacities with items removed.
I hope they have a substantial safety margin built in. It’s not like anyone sticks their truck on a scale when they are loading it. They just toss crap in until it’s full. So a hundred pounds here or there is largely irrelevant on that “official number”.
People actually carry things in trucks?
Wow, the things you learn on this site!
I wonder who’s bright idea it was to do this to begin with. I cannot imagine a scenario in which this is not deceptive advertising. Where is the FTC in this?
Car companies have played games with tow/haul ratings for as long as there has been mass media advertising. That is why the majority of “real” truck guys don’t tow or haul to the truck’s max ratings regardless of brand.
@danio3834 – Ram isn’t exactly free and clear on this one. Picuptrucks.com tested a Ram Laramie Longhorn crewcab 4×4 long box. The truck was rated for 881 but was weighed and was good for 491 IIRC.
Same can be said for the max tow Ram 3500. A guy looked at an average pin weight and that meant 50-60 lbs left over with GCWR.