Payload Capacity
The maximum weight your truck can carry in the bed and cab, calculated by subtracting curb weight from GVWR. This is the single most important number when choosing a truck camper — exceed it and you risk brake failure, blown tires, voided warranties, and dangerous handling. Always use your truck's door-jamb sticker for the exact number, since options packages and cab configurations change payload significantly between otherwise identical trucks.
Related Terms
The maximum allowable total weight of your truck when fully loaded, set by the manufacturer and printed on your door-jamb sticker.
The weight of your truck as it sits on the dealer lot — with a full tank of gas, all factory fluids, and standard equipment, but no passengers, cargo, or aftermarket accessories.
The weight of a truck camper as it leaves the factory — no water in the tanks, no propane, no gear, no batteries beyond what's included.
The weight of a truck camper with full fresh water tanks, full propane tanks, and a charged battery bank — but typically without personal gear.