Payload vs Upgrades -- a cautionary tale

[21JLURDG]

Much has been discussed in these pages about the low payload of our Jeeps and that adding armor and other upgrades could significantly affect the available cargo weight available. From experience with previous vehicles and the disadvantage of excess weight in off-road performance, I planned this build-up to limit weight increase while balancing relative costs. After finishing the major upgrades, I decided to weigh my Jeep and I was shocked by little payload I had available, even after limiting my mods and spending extra for lighter components.

I kept my OEM steel bumpers because I suspect they are lighter than aftermarket steel bumpers, and got creative making them work with a Hi-Lift and shackles. I added 37” tires but kept a stock (mini) spare for the lighter weight. The rock rails and underbody skids were specifically chosen for their weight savings. I also kept the OEM plastic flares and didn’t add any spare fuel/water containers.

In the attached pictures, you can see the stock Jeep had an 800 lbs. payload with a maximum vehicle weight 6100 lbs. (but each axle limited to 3100 lbs.). The scale receipt shows the Jeep now weights 5900 lbs. with full diesel and DEF tanks, but no people or cargo inside (besides the standard recovery gear always onboard). Add a driver and a lunch bag, and I can tell my wife to stay home!

While my Jeep (JLURD w/hard top & most options) was probably one of the most payload-limited, I suspect many of you that have gone with heavier bumpers and armor are probably very overweight. If you have upgraded your Jeep with bigger tires and armor, then weighted, please post your results.

Sponsored

 

[TX_Ovrlnd]

I’m going to stay oblivious! She’s a heavy girl.

 

[21JLURDG]

And I should point out that this thread shows my original Jeep should have a 1180 lbs. payload capacity.

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...r-weight-tow-capacity-max-payload-specs.1440/

 

[Philly_]

I had a running tally at one point of how much weight was going in vs. coming out of my Jeep. Forgot to weigh the MC Gamechanger lift kit so now I know it’s very off.

Would be nice to get it on a scale, as I know I have a relatively light build compared to others out there.

 

[GtX]

This is not something I'm worried about.

 

[Ratbert]

My stock 2022 AEV JL370 JLURD (37s, hot stamped boron steel bumpers, 2.5" lift, Warn winch, diff covers, fuel caddy) weighed in at 5,660 pounds without passengers. That's without the monster bag of recovery gear.

I've subsequently added NVM aluminum skids w/UHMW, a MetalCloak roof rack, and RockSlide Engineering sliders. That put me close to the legal limit. Empty. No people. No recovery gear. No camping gear.

There's a Goose Gear drawer sitting in the garage that my wife insisted on getting. I don't know how heavy it is, but I can't lift it solo. I won't be putting that in (along with the Dometic fridge) until I put their stiffer 3" springs on. I periodically hit the bump stops on trail and it's "a bit" squirrelly hitting bumps on the interstate at 85mph. Yes, it handled exceptionally at speed before adding all that weight.

Some people don't give a damn about how much their Jeep weighs, but that weight obviously impacts acceleration, braking, handling, mileage, and how the suspension reacts. Maybe those people just don't notice the significant differences?

 

[jaymz]

The weight of your tires doesn’t affect payload capability, so you actually aren’t as close as it would appear.

 

[Jtaugner]

Some people don't give a damn about how much their Jeep weighs, but that weight obviously impacts acceleration, braking, handling, and how the suspension reacts. Maybe those people just don't notice the significant differences?

I can almost guarantee this is why so many diesel's overheat. How many 100% stock vehicles have overheated versus how many that are fully loaded with aftermarket components, camping gear/RTT, people and then towing a 3,000# trailer..

Even YouTubers like Brad @ Trailrecon and Casey who both have had issues with overheating have extremely heavy and modified rigs. Brad even mentioned in one of his videos he suspected his overheating was related to being overweight. Don't think anything else came from it as he got the 392 shortly after.

 

[jeepken]

Great timed thread OP as I've been thinking about this a bit during my last week of camping. I'd like to better understand the worry about extra weight if we're already upgrading other components. Wouldn't the payload limits be increased with better parts? I've got a heavily built 392 (7k lbs with 2 weeks of overlanding gear, water, gas, etc), but do not notice any issues with acceleration, braking, cornering etc. Yes, I know it's the hemi, but that is also factoring into my thinking of is weight an issue if we're upgrading. I have better control arms, shocks, springs and track bars than stock. I changed the gearing to push all that weight and upgraded the brakes to stop it all. The hemi is going to push it even if I had another 1k pounds. Parts will break with weight, use and abuse, but those are usually what I'm already looking to upgrade next...ball joints, Dana 60's, etc. With that said, what are the concerns I'm missing in my line of thinking? Broken spring perches---yeah that would suck since that's not really an component I can easily upgrade or bolster with an upgrade.

**edit. I built my new Jeep similar to my JK and never thought about the weight. It was after all was built that I started seeing threads on payload concerns. I'm steel all over this beast!

 

[Zandcwhite]

Our 2019 2.0t on 38’s, full size spare, stock steel bumpers, winch, 3” lift, hi lift jack, recovery gear, tool bags, compressor, and upgraded skids only weighed 5540 lbs with 270lbs of passengers. You diesel guys definitely carry some extra weight.

 

[Ratbert]

The weight of your tires doesn’t affect payload capability, so you actually aren’t as close as it would appear.

Correct other than the spare. Your tires, however, are unsprung. They're also rotational, so changes to their weight impact the characteristics that I listed by about 4:1 versus sprung weight.

 

[Dan M.]

doors off roof off. problem solved.

 

[dcmdon]

Remember one mitigating factor is the increase in unsprung weight. Extra weight in tires and wheels shouldn't be factored in as a 1:1 increase because the truck itself doesn't have to support that weight.

Yes it still matters. But an extra 100# on each axle is not the same as 200# inside the Jeep.

 

[Ratbert]

Remember one mitigating factor is the increase in unsprung weight. Extra weight in tires and wheels shouldn't be factored in as a 1:1 increase because the truck itself doesn't have to support that weight.

Yes it still matters. But an extra 100# on each axle is not the same as 200# inside the Jeep.

That's from a raw payload perspective only. 100 pounds of rotational unsprung weight per axle plus 50 for the spare impacts acceleration, braking, handling, and mileage the same as approximately 350 to 450 pounds inside the Jeep.

 

[jaymz]

I can almost guarantee this is why so many diesel's overheat. How many 100% stock vehicles have overheated versus how many that are fully loaded with aftermarket components, camping gear/RTT, people and then towing a 3,000# trailer..

Even YouTubers like Brad @ Trailrecon and Casey who both have had issues with overheating have extremely heavy and modified rigs. Brad even mentioned in one of his videos he suspected his overheating was related to being overweight. Don't think anything else came from it as he got the 392 shortly after.

I don’t know if I buy that. My Jeep is only mildly modified, but I tow my 3400 boat 100’s of miles at a time through the Mojave desert all summer long with no overheating.

Sponsored