Interactive Tool

Overlanding Payload Calculator

How much weight can your rig actually carry? Add up your passengers, build mods, fuel, and trailer tongue weight, then see exactly how much payload you have left before you hit GVWR.

Quick Answer: Payload is GVWR minus curb weight, the total cargo and passenger load your truck is rated to carry. A built overland Jeep or midsize truck typically has 1,100-1,500 lbs of payload, and steel bumpers, a winch, sliders, an RTT, and drawers easily eat 600-800 lbs of that before you load people, gear, or fuel. Stay under GVWR or your brakes, tires, and axles are rated below your load.

HOW IT WORKS

1

Pick Your Rig

Choose your vehicle to pull in real GVWR, curb weight, and factory payload

2

Add Build & Gear

Toggle bumpers, winch, RTT, drawers, and enter passengers, fuel, and trailer tongue weight

3

See Your Margin

Get total loaded weight, payload used, per-axle estimate, and a GVWR verdict

Step 1, Pick Your Rig

We use the manufacturer's GVWR and curb weight to set your payload ceiling.

Curb
5,050 lb
GVWR
6,250 lb
Payload
1,200 lb

Real-world payload on your door sticker may be 100-300 lbs lower depending on options. Use that number if you have it.

Step 2, People, Gear & Fuel

Estimated 330 lb at 165 lb each
Cooler, kitchen, clothing, recovery kit, tools. A weekend trip for 2 averages 120-200 lbs.
Your factory tank is already in curb weight, so count only extra fuel you carry, such as jerry cans. Gasoline is about 6.3 lb per gallon.
10-15% of total trailer weight rides on the hitch and counts against payload. A 4,000 lb trailer = ~400-600 lb tongue.

Step 3, Build Mods

Anything bolted to the rig after curb weight counts against payload. Toggle what's on your truck.

Steel front bumper
+120 lb
Winch (12K w/ synthetic line)
+85 lb
Steel rear bumper + tire carrier
+150 lb
Rock sliders
+90 lb
Full skid plate set
+80 lb
2.5" suspension lift + larger shocks
+60 lb
5x larger tires (37s) vs stock
+90 lb
Snorkel + fender flares
+25 lb
Full-length roof rack
+100 lb
Roof-top tent (hardshell)
+145 lb
270° awning + brackets
+50 lb
Rear drawer / cargo system
+130 lb
50L 12V fridge (loaded)
+75 lb
Dual battery + DC-DC charger
+70 lb
Aux fuel tank (10 gal, full)
+90 lb
Water (5 gal jerry can, full)
+42 lb
Total build weight:570 lb

Your Payload

Marginal
Payload Used
1,050 / 1,200 lb
150 lb remaining
0 lbGVWR 6,250 lb
Total loaded: 6,100 lb (98% of GVWR)
You're inside spec but with almost no buffer. Adding fuel, water, or a passenger will push you over.
People330 lb
Gear & food150 lb
Build mods570 lb
Extra fuel0 lb
Trailer tongue0 lb
Added load on front axle
534 lb
Added load on rear axle
516 lb

Compare against the front and rear GAWR on your driver door sticker.

Estimated distribution of added weight only. For exact axle loads, get scaled at a CAT scale.

Why Overloaded Rigs Fail on Trail

Brakes Cook

GVWR is partly a brake rating. Overload by 20% and your stopping distance on a downhill can double, fade fast on long descents.

Tires Blow

Each tire has a load index. Four 2,400 lb tires give you 9,600 lb total, but stacked weight on the rear axle blows that limit first.

Suspension Sags

OEM springs are spec'd for OEM payload. Lifted trucks loaded with steel bumpers and an RTT sag, bottom out, and chew up shocks.

MPG & Range Drop

Every 100 lbs over base curb costs about 1% MPG. Add 800 lbs of build and you're paying 8% more per mile to get nowhere faster.

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