Calculate how much Payload your CyberTruck can carry. It's not 2,500lbs.

[Aces-Truck]

I noticed in the thread here, about the owners manual, that the example Tesla gives had quite lower numbers than I expected. So, I decided to dig deep into the numbers. And I wrote a spreadsheet to calculate different scenarios. And there's going to be some disappointment in the results. It's unfortunate that E.M. stated the Payload at 2,500lbs. Because now lots of folks are saying okay, I drop a yard of gravel in the bed. Nope. In fact a yard of gravel likely weighs 2,700 lbs. But there will be CT owners that will try to load a "heavy" half yard Is that okay? Maybe. Here's the long and short of what you need to know about that 2.500lb payload advertised:

• Payload includes driver and passengers. (So, don't bring your whole work crew with you to pickup drywall.)
• The 2,500 lb. max. Payload, assumes both front and back axles carry their share of that payload. And there's no way to fully load the front axle.
• Tire rating is at least part of what drives the limits. So, All-Season tires means less payload.
• Surprisingly, The Frunk is your friend. Because it's in front of the front axle, it's payload lightens the load on the Rear Axle. So, load it with a few bags of cement if you want. It only helps things. (Note that it's limited to 440 lbs max)
• If you plan to someday add a Range Extender, It not only takes up some of that payload capacity; it also pushes you usable bed area out. So it will likely add to the problem.
• If you tow, the Tongue is leveraged out beyond the rear bumper. So, it lakes away more of the Payload. While you likely won't put much in the Bed while towing, If you go by the rule of 10% of the weight you tow is on the tongue, you will never tow an 11,000 lb. Trailer with the Range Extender. I assumed the tongue sticks out 10" beyond the bumper.
• In my Spreadsheet I assume the load is centered in the available bed length. So hauling 8' long Plywood sheets assumes centering load with the gate down. If you haul something longer, like 10' long sheets, the payload needs to be lower. Hauling soils assumes the load is centered in the 6' long bed.
• Roughly, With the currently available All-Terrain Tires, and just the Driver, the AWD version payload is 1,570 lb. (for 8' long sheets) to 1,700 lb. (for soils)
• Roughly, With the currently available All-Terrain Tires, and just the Driver, the Tri-Motor version payload is 1,400 lb. (for 8' long sheets) to 1,500 lb. (for soils)
• Imagine a couple towing a travel trailer with the proposed Range Extender. And suppose they went with the Tri-Motor version on All Terrain Tires. With nothing else in the Bed, if their Tongue weight is 10% of the Trailer Weight, the most they can tow is 6,700 lbs. If they travel without the range extender, they can tow the advertised 11,000 lbs.

The purpose of this thread is not to bash Tesla for their Payload/Towing Specs. It's instead to help us all set realistic expectations for what we will be able to do with our Trucks. I am happy to run specific examples for anyone. But be aware, I do not guaranty the accuracy of these results. You'd be wise to verify them with someone with towing experience. And if you see something that looks wrong, post your concerns, so I can improve it.

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[Bsimmer3000]

My f150 has a 900lb payload. I have had over 3k lbs in the bed and the truck handled with zero issues. I regularly have pallets in the 2500lb of wood flooring and tile too. Almost every supercrew/extended cab 1/2 ton you see towing or hauling material is over their spec's.

 

[Cybertruck 1974]

It's 2500 minus the amount of stuff you put in it. You start with 2500lbs, put 2500 in it you're maxed out. 2500 and you put a 225lb guy like me in it....your payload is now 2275. we all get it.

 

[Aces-Truck]

My f150 has a 900lb payload. I have had over 3k lbs in the bed and the truck handled with zero issues. I regularly have pallets in the 2500lb of wood flooring and tile too. Almost every supercrew/extended cab 1/2 ton you see towing or hauling material is over their spec's.

I appreciate your "Real World" Experience. And I wonder how much more weight could the Rear Axle handle, if Tires weren't the issue. Maybe quite a lot more. All I have to go by right now, is what Tesla rated the rear axle.

I have a very light utility trailer that has tires rated for 600 lbs./each. I remember hauling firewood and was likely pushing this by at least 50% over. I had several short trips to make. Finally on the 3rd load, I blew out both tires; each within a few miles of each other. Good Times!!

 

[Rutrow]

• If you tow, the Tongue is leveraged out beyond the rear bumper. So, it lakes away more of the Payload. While you likely won't put much in the Bed while towing, If you go by the rule of 10% of the weight you tow is on the tongue, you will never tow an 11,000 lb. Trailer with the Range Extender. I assumed the tongue sticks out 10" beyond the bumper.

The leverage from rear axle to hitch doesn't take away from the payload because whatever it adds to the rear axle it deducts from the front axle. Provided it doesn't overload the rear axle's capacity, it all comes out in the wash.

 

[Bsimmer3000]

I appreciate your "Real World" Experience. And I wonder how much more weight could the Rear Axle handle, if Tires weren't the issue. Maybe quite a lot more. All I have to go by right now, is what Tesla rated the rear axle.

I have a very light utility trailer that has tires rated for 600 lbs./each. I remember hauling firewood and was likely pushing this by at least 50% over. I had several short trips to make. Finally on the 3rd load, I blew out both tires; each within a few miles of each other. Good Times!!

If the trailer wasn't used a lot the tires were likely dry rotted. Tires that just sit for weeks at a time go bad real quick. if a tires used it's actually better for the side walls. not uncommon what happened to you as most utility trailers sit for extended lengths of time. They also don't get tire dressings applied like vehicles do which helps the dry rot issue. Utility trailers also have the cheapest tires sold which don't help matters. My f150 tires are not even that high of a load tires and they are 2500lb capacity a piece so 5000k lb total. i would expect there to be at least 50% head room on the actual load capacity of the tire when in good condition. So even at 3k lb in the bed and 2500lb of the truck weight on the rear axle that's 5500lb so pretty close to what the Tires say they can handle. The HD version of my truck is pretty much the same frame, same bed, Same engine, same brakes, same axles etc etc but 7 lug hubs instead of 6.

 

[YDR37]

The purpose of this thread is not to bash Tesla for their Payload/Towing Specs. It's instead to help us all set realistic expectations for what we will be able to do with our Trucks.

Your points are valid, but they would also apply to the ICE half-ton competition (F-150, Chevy 1500, Tundra, etc.). In fact, most half-tons probably have real payloads in the 1,400 to 1,800 lb range -- significantly lower than a Cybertruck (without a range extender), so the limitations would be even more pronounced.

Payload is underrated by half-ton truck customers. Ford historically offered a "heavy duty payload package" for the F-150, that boosted payload to the 2,300-2,900 lb range. But apparently it wasn't popular; it was discontinued for 2024.

 

[ÆCIII]

The recent video with 34 sheets of 5/8" drywall/sheetrock loaded at 70lbs per sheet totaling 2380lbs, and the Cybertruck easily adjusting it's air suspension height afterward - makes me believe there is some additional capability headroom at least for occasional use or in other words the payload specs likely are a conservative representation of the Cybertruck's actual ability.

From what I've seen Tesla respects safety margins, and specifications that would also represent a constant usage or continuous duty cycle.

Time will tell as more use cases are shared, but I was impressed and quite satisfied with what I saw in the recent video of the sheetrock/drywall load. It doesn't mean it can be pushed to extreme continuously everyday, nor that it could be done at stressful acceleration or high speed, but it still performed quite well to me.

As @Bsimmer3000 pointed out, many trucks seem to have some flexibility or a conservative payload specification. But the Cybertruck is the first pickup truck we've seen that would readjust it's height like that after adding such a heavy load in the vault. I think that will impress many.

While I like to think optimistically of the Cybertruck, I wouldn't be one to push the limits in that way casually. I also agree that the payload specification from Tesla should be respected, with owners taking care of the Cybertruck whenever possible instead of trying to abuse it.

- ÆCIII

 

[YDR37]

In fact, most half-tons probably have real payloads in the 1,400 to 1,800 lb range

The "real-world" payloads of half-ton trucks, as shown on the payload sticker on the door jamb, are typically lower than the advertised payloads. The advertised numbers are commonly based on trucks with the absolute minimum of options and therefore the lowest curb weights -- which are not the trucks that people typically buy.

I've been wondering if this could also be the case for the Cybertruck, but have yet to see a Cybertruck payload sticker.

 

[Aces-Truck]

The leverage from rear axle to hitch doesn't take away from the payload because whatever it adds to the rear axle it deducts from the front axle. Provided it doesn't overload the rear axle's capacity, it all comes out in the wash.

In the case of CT, it actually does. If you go by Tesla's specs in it's owners manual, you can only add 1,883 lbs to the rear axle, before it's at it's rated load.

 

[Rutrow]

In the case of CT, it actually does. If you go by Tesla's specs in it's owners manual, you can only add 1,883 lbs to the rear axle, before it's at it's rated load.

Y'all are both skirting my point. My post specified "Provided you don't overload the rear axle..."

My point was that the weight added to the rear axle due to leverage force doesn't get added to the "payload".

 

[Bsimmer3000]

same size bed, same size frame. Not idea about spring rates as my truck actually has the extra leaf the HD version has even though I don’t have that package. For some reason it adds the extra leaf when adding 20” platinum rims. Even with 2500lb in the bed the truck rides nice and level.
My truck has 6 lugs. I think the heavy duty one had 7 but I could be wrong. It might have 6 too.

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