Exceeding Load Limits

I would say most manufacturers are conserative. Look at the airlines, they are very conserative, especially in the width of their seats.

But all vehicles have a gross vehicle weight that should not be exceeded. A half ton pick-up can probably haul a ton, but the springs and chassis are not up to the loading or the brakes for that matter.

I am sure that the manufacturers have a safety factor of some amount over the published limits.

 

Also I'm wondering how choice of tire size factors into the weight limit. Will putting on higher load index tires and/or increasing tire pressure increase the amount of weight you can carry? Or is some other part of the Prius suspension the limiting factor in the equation?

 

It's said that the tires are what limits the load most. there was an article on this recently. Most cars are fitted with tires that can handle up to the cars "limit" and not much more. this allowes for a soft ride.

If you switch out for tires with a higher rating, you'll feel a little safer. You'll know when you start to get near the suspensions limits. it will start maxing out.. hitting really hard on bumps.

I've hauled enough lumber and concrete inside my prius to exceed the limit... i've done this about 3 or 4 times. no problems.. no changes.. same shitty 04 suspension.

 

Forgot to add in gas.

Or does the 810 limit include that?

Hmmm

 

From digging around, GVWR (Gross vehicle weight rating - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) "is the maximum allowable total weight of a road vehicle or trailer that is loaded, including the weight of the vehicle itself plus fuel, passengers, cargo, and trailer tongue weight."

The max load should GVWR minus curb weight. Curb weight already includes a full load of fuel per Curb weight - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and some other places I looked. So, you shouldn't be counting fuel as part of the 810 lbs.

 

I think you will find the Prius tyres are over rated for the GVM (gross vehicle mass) or GVW of the car anyway.

 

i drove the prius 1200 miles with far more than 800 lbs, we were moving and carried 5 boxes with 300 lbs each, plus two desktop computers, riding with a 40 rear 44 front pressures.

 

I think one important issue with the load limits of a vehicle is the driving dynamics, ie handling. The Prius will handle much, much different with 800lbs than with just a 180lb driver. Stopping distance will increase, and it will handle much worse. So, when driving a fully loaded vehicle, make sure you drive more conservatively.

 

Yeah, the handling really sucks with too much weight in the back. The headlights don't work so good, either, but for some reason the tree tops are looking especially lovely tonight...

 

When I bought my condo a few years back..

I had my buddy come meet me at Home Depot to pick up some marble tiles for our kitchen.

His borrowed his moms old Mitusbishi Outlander.. NOT the new suv one..the old 140hp or whatever 4cyl one on a lancer chassis..

44 boxes of I believe 10 tiles each. Looking around online.. the boxes should have weighed about 15lbs each.. this sounds a little lighter than they felt..

Thats 660lbs plus there were the 2 of us in the car..

That should have put the total load weight around 1090 lbs.

The thing was SO low.. but didn't bottom out as they say.. we drove about 13 miles home.. and made it fine.. no problems with her car..

 

How do people get on with stretched Prius?