The Tradeoff: Securing and Organizing Tools & Equipment vs. Your Trucks Performance and Load Capacity

Before making the final decision on a storage solution for your pickup truck, consider the impact the weight will have on load capacity and performance. A storage solution can be anything from a lightweight plastic toolbox to a heavy-duty modular drawer system with a rack. You need to keep things organized and safe but there is a cost for that. Starting with, more weight equals degraded fuel efficiency and sluggish acceleration. 

A Ford F-150 has a payload capacity starting at ~1,700 pounds. A full-length bed drawer system can weigh between 200 – 400 pounds, without the tools and equipment. A typical steel hand truck weighs between thirty and fifty pounds – it can add up quickly.

You should know your vehicles Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). GVWR is the total maximum weight that a vehicle is rated to ‘safely’ carry and is comprised of the vehicle itself, cargo, aftermarket accessories (storage solutions) and tongue weight (if you’re towing). Afterall, payload capacity is determined by the GVWR less, the curb weight of the vehicle. [curb weight – weight of the truck including fluids, and no cargo).

Here’s a list of popular pickup trucks and their load capacity, followed by the weight of some common pieces of equipment.

An eight-foot piece of 2x4 lumber weighs about 10 pounds and one sheet of quarter-inch sheet of sheetrock weighs 38 pounds.  Check out this list of common stored items.

Now you have a good point of reference for balancing out the load capacity versus storage dilemma.