825lb Weight Capacity

KP4,

Having an engineering background, it has to do with capacity and safety of the vessel, in this case
a car. Tests are done to see what weight can be safely carried without damage to the car, and
keeping the occupants and cargo safe, and the car handling as intended.
There probably some built in factor of safety where the car should safely carry 50% more or so.
825 lbs is 4+ 200lb people. It is quite a load for a compact car that is made for fuel efficiency.

I would stay around the weight limit stated, and not test this limit until something breaks or the
handling of the car is affected.

To carry more or tow something, I would get a bigger, more powerful vehicle.

In my opinion.

stt

 

It's worth noting that 825 lbs is actually not that hard to exceed if you've got the car full of adults - if the average weight of four passengers averages over 206.25 lbs, you're overweight without any cargo

(Funny thing with mine is I've actually got a sticker installed by the port, saying that my weight capacity is dropped by 9 kg/19 lbs due to options - and I've got the all-weather mat package, the protection package, and the black appliqué.)

Side effects of overloading the car would be that crash safety may be compromised (but there'll be some margin in there), the suspension may be out of its designed range of operation (and therefore handling compromised), and braking distances will be lengthened.

Of course, at least it's not my Miata, where the maximum payload is 345 lbs, and I weigh about 250... basically, if I stay within the rated limits, I'm not supposed to take a passenger that's not a child or a very small woman. And, really, you notice it in the braking, but otherwise it's fine.

 

I'd think too, when Toyota set the load limit, they're very conservative. You could exceed the limit modestly without problem, just don't abuse it, say stuffing the hatch for a brick laying project.

 

kp4,

5 people + luggage or camping gear in the back should be fine.
Car was designed to fit 5.

I wouldn't 'test' the limits just to see how much over you could carry!

stt

 

i wonder how much jumbo's cheesecakes weigh?

 

Also, the most important reason for the posted 'weight limit' is legal.
If you overload the vehicle, get into an accident, sue, they will refer to the posted
Weight limit in the owner's manual.

stt

 

825 lb is a lot of beer too!
How many bottles is that!
Minimize market trips!

stt

 

mostly likely k4's reason for this thread.

 

It'd be 825 pints I think. Doesn't a pint of water weigh a pound?

 

If you buy 34 cases of beer you have to push your car home as you won't meet the legal limit, weight wise.
137 six packs, it may be more if you buy cans.

(I do not drink beer, the above estimates are for illustrative purpose only, never attempt to buy 825 bottles of beer at one time, it won't fit in the fridge and you will have warm beer. That has to be worse than cold beer. No beers were harmed writing this message.)

 

jimbo,

Out of curiosity, what is the stated weight limit of your wagon?
Should be able to get a good balance of cheesecake, beer and wings!
July 4th BBQ!

stt

 

In general, 915 lbs. Mine has a sticker lowering that by 15 lbs, so no beer!

 

Note that this weight rating is about normal for this class of car.

Lots of people blissfully ignore the weight ratings of their passenger cars, and never get into trouble. But sometimes it does become a contributing factor to problems.

Remember the infamous Ford Explorer / Firestone 500 rollover tragedies? Overloads were one of numerous contributing factors. (Others included excessive speeds, high ambient temperatures, underinflated tires, defective tire manufacturing, and several vehicle design flaws.)

 

Five 200 pounders would exceed the load limit, and make for mighty crowded rear seating.