Hauling Mulch - Went just over payload

[Vulnox]

I have only had this truck for three months and it's already seen more bed abuse than my last F-150. About a week after getting it we bought three arborvitaes of pretty good size. Now this past weekend I wanted to get mulch for our backyard and had ordered two cubic yards. Based on the site description of the mulch it should have been in the 600-700lb weight range, with driver I should have only been under 1000lbs on payload.

When they were about to load the truck I tried to activate the onboard scales but the app would open and briefly show the screen where it does the checks and then it would just close. Other things like CarPlay and Smart Hitch opened fine, but I couldn't get the scales to open when I needed them, which was a bummer.

I got home and parked and tried the scales again and it worked that time. Looks like I was just over payload, although not clear how much.

In any case it was only a couple miles from our house and I drove about 40 MPH anyway. That said, would never know anything was back there. I suspect they gave me a bit more than ordered because I thought it was going to take at least 3 cubic yards to do what we needed but the "2" they gave us was plenty. Would explain the weight difference.

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[RickKeen]

Still wish the onboard scales would show a number, not just a bar graph.

Also, when you are over the rated capacity, its really important to know how much you are over - being 10% over is a lot different situation than being 50% overloaded.

 

[Vulnox]

Agreed, I am usually really good at working with graphs and numbers but am not sure what I was looking at. I see the +150 number, so I was thinking, am I 150 over? That would fit my expectation based on the graph, but why have that number all the way at the bottom?

The one thing I haven't done is review the owners manual, which I will do now actually, maybe it explains it better. Need to follow my own usual advice.

 

[molsonmatt]

Correct me if I’m wrong but the payload capacity should be 1800-2000lbs depending on the truck you have. You actually could’ve loaded more.

 

[Lightning Rod]

Even though my scale never worked, I haul 2 yards of super moist mulch every memorial day weekend for 3 years and I've never had any issues. Just like you said... it feels like nothing was back there.

 

[Vulnox]

Correct me if I’m wrong but the payload capacity should be 1800-2000lbs depending on the truck you have. You actually could’ve loaded more.

Payload is 1591 on mine, it shows it on the scales and I checked the door sticker. Guessing because of the dumb Platinum wheels.

 

[Vulnox]

Even though my scale never worked, I haul 2 yards of super moist mulch every memorial day weekend for 3 years and I've never had any issues. Just like you said... it feels like nothing was back there.

Do you put anything under the mulch to make clean up easier? I had intended to have a tarp fully under everything but didn't do a great job with it once I took it off. I got as much out as I could then sprayed down the bed.

Ten years ago I wouldn't even think twice about it and just spray down the bed. But between all the lights, propower connections, and the cameras and that in the tailgate, I was worried about going crazy with the power washer.

 

[Lightning Rod]

Do you put anything under the mulch to make clean up easier? I had intended to have a tarp fully under everything but didn't do a great job with it once I took it off. I got as much out as I could then sprayed down the bed.

Ten years ago I wouldn't even think twice about it and just spray down the bed. But between all the lights, propower connections, and the cameras and that in the tailgate, I was worried about going crazy with the power washer.

In 2023, I put down a layer of 10 mil plastic sheeting in the bed and over the sides, but it was a pain in the ass to offload because of the plastic. Last year and this year, I just let them dump it right in. I have a spray-in bed liner and it's holding up very well for the 2 years since it was applied.

After offloading, I made sure outlets covers were closed, and I took my garden hose and thoroughly sprayed the bed down. I didn't think twice. I never checked, but as far as i know, the outlets are working fine. It's built Ford Tough, lol.

 

[TheBigBezo]

I have inadvertently exceeded the max payload by a good bit more than 100lbs. I do not recommend it but if your concern is your truck breaking, it will be fine. In both times I did, it was on long roadtrips where I was moving and there were no lasting issues. As to why? I don’t have the onboard scales and apparently have poor judgment for how heavy things are.

 

[Henry Ford]

The engineers tell owners the max payload but they don't tell the truck. Handling and braking are compromised and you might hit the bump stops. Be smart about it and it's not a big deal.

I routinely pressure wash the bed of my truck. It's fine.

The thing that isn't fine is the tailgate. I hauled a load of sand a couple years ago and the tarp I had in place slipped and allowed sand directly against the tailgate. When I opened it the sand went into the gate through the holes in the bottom. I spent an hour cleaning with a leaf blower and eventually a hose. I don't recommend!

 

[RickLightning]

Sand will come out year, after year, after year.

We loaded over 2,000 sandbags one summer in my 2013 F-150, not loose sand, and when I sold it in 2023 sand would still trickle out.

 

[RickKeen]

As mentioned in other threads, the main limiting factor and likely the first thing that will fail if you overload your truck would be the tires. Check to make sure they are fully aired up. Think about heat buildup - how hot is it, how far are you going? Maybe consider a route with reduced speeds?

Check the max load ratings. Subtract the weight of the truck (per axle) and then decide how much over the tire rating you really feel safe going considering the danger of having a blowout at highway speeds with an over-loaded truck.

 

[RickLightning]

I agree that the scale readouts are not very clear. I suspect they didn't submit them to a group of customers. There is no reason for lack of digital readout in addition to pretty bar graphs.

Then again, the majority of pickup owners don't know what a payload limit is...

 

[Dan C]

I wedge a piece of pipe insulation between the bed and tailgate to keep junk from getting inside the tailgate when unloading or sweeping it out.

 

[Vulnox]

I agree that the scale readouts are not very clear. I suspect they didn't submit them to a group of customers. There is no reason for lack of digital readout in addition to pretty bar graphs.

Then again, the majority of pickup owners don't know what a payload limit is...

For sure. I borderline obsess over payload stuff now. To be clear I wasn't worried about my payload on the mulch I got. Even if I was over I wasn't going on the highway or anything, and it was so early in the morning there weren't even many others on the road yet.

This was more just a fun putting the Lightning to (some) work thread overall and I don't often see the scales mentioned on here in actual use, but could be missing the threads.

Reading the manual, it looks like I may not have been over payload, but maybe a bit close. You can enter the expected weight of people in the cab so if you're loading the truck and not in it the scales will show your added weight in the calculation. That way you don't load the truck to 50 lbs shy of payload, think you're golden, then put the family in the truck (adding 400 lbs or so if four people let's say), and go a decent amount over payload.

That is what the +150 is in the bottom left, it was the system adding 150 lbs to the payload consumed as that seems to be the default for this.

I was in the truck as well when I took that picture and weigh about 220. So it was adding 150 + my 220. If I had gotten out of the truck and set the value to my actual weight or just turned off that feature I likely would have been just under payload.

So if nothing else, if you use the scales that is something to keep in mind. As someone that often gives the RTFM advice, I should have followed it myself.

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