Payload Confusion and Declaration

Hi all. First off, I know what payload is and that Tundras are on the lower side of the full size market. I've got a '21 CrewMax SR5 4x4. Payload is 1,270 on the sticker. GVWR is 7,200. "Towing capacity" for my trim is 10,400. I keep seeing posts about "having" to stay below payload to "stay safe for others". My question is that since we know that the rear suspension is the reason for the lower numbers, shouldn't strengthening the weak areas give you more capability? No, the sticker will never change, but logic remains the same. I'm running RAS HD with an added rear sway bar. Whether it is "legal" or not I'm giving myself another few hundred pounds. The engine is plenty strong enough and the transmission can more than do the job. Wouldn't push the towing capacity and honestly wouldn't feel good about going anything over 8k. Don't mean to kick a hornet's nest, but that's where I'm landing. Cheers.

 

Yeah the payload sticker is pretty low in comparison. I think it has alot to do with the stock suspension. If you run more than the sticker and get in an accident there is the chance a claim is denied/fault shifted/other legal issues. However I think many people do exceed and have no issues. When I put 2klbs of concrete bags in the back of a stock Tundra I joined the Carolina Squat facebook group. However with Sumo springs couldn’t tell the weight was there visually and drives pretty much stock. (In an offroad home depot course in northern mexico).

 

Is that something that happens? I could see that if a person puts so much back there that it becomes unsafe, but seems there's a lot of people in the forums and YouTubes on a soap box preaching to stay under the established numbers no matter what.