Check your truck: tank fit and payload
Choose your pickup and a tank. You see what the maker lists for payload, which tanks fit flat between the wheel wells, and what a full tank, your gear, and everyone riding leave of the payload on your door label.
Choose your truck to start.
A planning estimate, not an approval. Weigh the loaded truck and each axle at a scale.
How much payload a full tank uses
Water weighs about 8.34 pounds per US gallon. A full 50-gallon tank holds about 417 lb of water, and a 100-gallon tank about 834 lb, before the tank itself. On the six midsize and compact pickups below, the makers list payload from 1,045 lb to 1,767 lb. So a full 100-gallon tank's water alone uses 47% to 80% of it, before people and gear.
| Truck | Payload the maker lists | Full 50 gal (417 lb of water) | Full 100 gal (834 lb of water) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Ford F-150, maker source, opens in a new tab | 1,405 to 2,440 lb | 17% to 30% | 34% to 59% |
| 2026 Ford F-250 (single rear wheels), maker source, opens in a new tab | 3,445 to 4,246 lb | 10% to 12% | 20% to 24% |
| 2026 Ford Ranger, maker source, opens in a new tab | 1,373 to 1,767 lb | 24% to 30% | 47% to 61% |
| 2026 Ford Maverick, maker source, opens in a new tab | 1,045 to 1,500 lb | 28% to 40% | 56% to 80% |
| 2026 Toyota Tundra, maker source, opens in a new tab | 1,420 to 1,850 lb | 23% to 29% | 45% to 59% |
| 2026 Toyota Tacoma, maker source, opens in a new tab | 1,230 to 1,705 lb | 24% to 34% | 49% to 68% |
| 2026 Nissan Frontier, maker source, opens in a new tab | 1,100 to 1,590 lb | 26% to 38% | 52% to 76% |
| 2023 Chevrolet Colorado, maker source, opens in a new tab | 1,280 to 1,710 lb | 24% to 33% | 49% to 65% |
| 2026 Honda Ridgeline, maker source, opens in a new tab | 1,509 to 1,583 lb | 26% to 28% | 53% to 55% |
These are each maker's highest and lowest published figures. Ford says payload varies with accessories and configuration. Ford and Chevrolet point to the door-jamb label for a given truck, and Chevrolet says its figures are for comparison only. Which version each figure is for:
- 2026 Ford F-150: 2,440 lb for the 3.5L EcoBoost V6, 4x2; 1,405 lb for the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 High-Output, 4x4. Ford gives one number per engine and drive, not per cab or box, and marks the 1,405 lb figure with a footnote for the SuperCrew with the Max Tow/Haul Package.
- 2026 Ford F-250 (single rear wheels): 4,246 lb for the 7.3L V8, 4x2 Regular Cab; 3,445 lb for the 6.7L diesel V8, 4x4 Crew Cab. These beds also fit the F-350 and F-450. F-350 with single rear wheels: 3,686 to 5,137 lb. Dual-rear-wheel trucks list up to 7,774 lb (F-350 with Ford's Payload Package 68F).
- 2026 Ford Ranger: 1,767 lb for the 2.3L EcoBoost, 4x2; 1,373 lb for the Raptor, 4x4.
- 2026 Ford Maverick: 1,500 lb for the 2.5L Hybrid FWD, or 2.0L EcoBoost FWD or AWD; 1,045 lb for the Lobo AWD.
- 2026 Toyota Tundra: 1,850 lb for the SR, 8.1-ft bed, RWD; 1,420 lb for the Capstone, 5.5-ft bed, 4WD.
- 2026 Toyota Tacoma: 1,705 lb for the TRD Off-Road i-FORCE MAX, 5-ft bed, 4WD; 1,230 lb for the SR or SR5, 6-ft bed, 4WD, 2 seats.
- 2026 Nissan Frontier: 1,590 lb for the S King Cab, 4x2; 1,100 lb for the PRO-4X Crew Cab, long wheelbase.
- 2023 Chevrolet Colorado: 1,710 lb for the WT Crew Cab, 2.7L Turbo Plus; 1,280 lb for the ZR2. From the 2023 brochure, the newest Chevrolet table we could read. Chevrolet's current site gives the same 1,710 lb maximum.
- 2026 Honda Ridgeline: 1,583 lb for the Sport; 1,509 lb for the Black Edition.
What a truck bed setup needs
- A tank that sits flat between the wheel wells. All five checked tanks in our Water Tank Planner fit every bed we list. The narrowest gap between the wheel wells is the 2026 Ford Maverick's 42.6 in. Pick one with baffles to limit sloshing.
- A pump to move water from the tank to a hose or a pressure washer. Check its flow at the pressure your washer needs in the pump comparison.
- Power: a battery power station, a generator used outdoors, or the customer's outlet.
- Tie-downs rated for the load, on rated anchor points, so nothing can slide.
- Lockable, dry storage: a bed cover or a lockable box, with chemicals kept within their label temperature limits.
- A payload check with the full tank, gear, and everyone riding.
Gear for a truck bed setup
In buying order. Check each listing against your load limits before you buy. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details.
- 50-gallon baffled water tankStrap or bolt it down so it cannot slide. Full, 50 gallons of water weigh about 417 lb before the tank, and it all counts against payload.Search Amazon: 50-gallon baffled water tank, opens in a new tab
- 12 V water pumpMoves water from the tank to a hose for a hand rinse. Check its flow and fittings before you buy.Search Amazon: 12 V water pump, opens in a new tab
- Battery power stationCharges between jobs and makes no exhaust. Size it with the power planner before you buy.Search Amazon: Battery power station, opens in a new tab
- Flexzilla 50 ft hose and nozzle kit50 ft hose with a nozzle and quick connects. It attaches to the washer inlet, or use the nozzle for a hand rinse.View on Amazon: Flexzilla 50 ft hose and nozzle kit, opens in a new tab
- Rhino USA ratchet tie-down setFour 15 ft ratchet straps, rated 607 lb working load each. Use rated anchor points. Not for lifting.View on Amazon: Rhino USA ratchet tie-down set, opens in a new tab
- IRIS WeatherPro 44 qt storage binsTwo bins with gasket lids: one for clean towels, one for clean tools. Keep chemicals upright and separate.View on Amazon: IRIS WeatherPro 44 qt storage bins, opens in a new tab
Size power with the power planner. Searches are not recommendations. See the full kit in the startup packages.
Power from a truck bed
A battery power station makes no exhaust and can charge between jobs. It still needs enough output for the tools you run at the same time and enough stored energy for the day. The power planner adds the watts by job stage.
A fuel-powered generator can cause fatal carbon monoxide poisoning. CPSC says to use it outdoors only, at least 20 feet from homes, with the exhaust facing away. A bed under a cap or a closed cover is closed in, so do not run a generator there.
Secure the load and weigh it
Strap or bolt the tank so it cannot slide or tip, and follow the tank maker's mounting rules. Water in a part-full tank sloshes when you brake and turn; baffles limit it. Load the gear you use first where you can reach it.
The payload on the tire and loading label in the driver door frame is the limit for people and cargo together. It is not the truck's total weight rating. When the setup is built, weigh the loaded truck and each axle at a scale.
Truck, van, or trailer?
If the water you need does not fit your payload, use a smaller tank and refill, wash with the customer's water, or move the tank to a trailer. A trailer carries its load on its own axles. NATM says tongue weight, the part that presses on the hitch, is typically 10% to 15% of the trailer's weight. Compare the van setup and the trailer setup, or see all four layouts on the mobile setup planner.
Questions about a truck setup
What size water tank fits in a truck bed?
All five tanks we checked, 60 to 100 gallons, fit flat between the wheel wells of all 16 pickup beds we list. The narrowest is the 2026 Ford Maverick, with 42.6 in between the wheel wells. For these tanks, fit was not the limit. Payload is tighter: a full 100-gallon tank holds about 834 lb of water, which is 47% to 80% of the payload makers list for midsize and compact pickups.
How much does a full water tank weigh in a truck bed?
Water weighs about 8.34 pounds per US gallon. A full 50-gallon tank holds about 417 lb of water, a 65-gallon tank about 542 lb, and a 100-gallon tank about 834 lb. Add the empty tank, pump, hoses, and gear, plus everyone in the cab. All of it counts against the payload on the door label.
Can a midsize truck carry a mobile detailing setup?
It depends on the tank and on your truck's label. Makers list payload from 1,045 lb (2026 Ford Maverick, lowest version) to 1,767 lb (2026 Ford Ranger, highest) for the six midsize and compact pickups here. A full 50-gallon tank's water uses 24% to 40% of that, and a 100-gallon tank 47% to 80%. Check your own door label, then count people and gear.
Should I use a generator or a power station in a truck bed?
A battery power station makes no exhaust and can charge between jobs. CPSC says to run a fuel generator outdoors only, at least 20 feet from homes, with the exhaust facing away. A bed under a cap or a closed cover is closed in, so do not run a generator there.
Do this next
Build your truck equipment plan. Before taking paid work, complete the local rule, insurance, and tax checks in the business guide.
Sources
- Ford: 2026 F-150 payload — Payload from 1,405 to 2,440 lb by configuration. Checked October 30, 2026.
- Ford: 2026 F-250 (single rear wheels) payload — Payload from 3,445 to 4,246 lb by configuration. Checked October 30, 2026.
- Ford: 2026 Ranger payload — Payload from 1,373 to 1,767 lb by configuration. Checked October 30, 2026.
- Ford: 2026 Maverick payload — Payload from 1,045 to 1,500 lb by configuration. Checked October 30, 2026.
- Toyota: 2026 Tundra payload — Payload from 1,420 to 1,850 lb by configuration. Checked October 30, 2026.
- Toyota: 2026 Tacoma payload — Payload from 1,230 to 1,705 lb by configuration. Checked October 30, 2026.
- Nissan: 2026 Frontier payload — Payload from 1,100 to 1,590 lb by configuration. Checked October 30, 2026.
- Chevrolet: 2023 Colorado payload — Payload from 1,280 to 1,710 lb by configuration. Checked October 30, 2026.
- Honda: 2026 Ridgeline payload — Payload from 1,509 to 1,583 lb by configuration. Checked October 30, 2026.
- Truck maker bed specs — Bed length and width between the wheel wells for 16 beds, from each maker's spec page, as listed in the Water Tank Planner. Checked October 20, 2026.
- USGS: water density — Our 8.34 lb per US gallon estimate uses its density data.
- NHTSA: vehicle load labels — People and cargo limits differ from total vehicle weight limits.
- CPSC: generator and carbon monoxide safety — Outdoor use, distance from homes, and exhaust direction.
- NATM Trailer Safety Week: tow rating calculator — Tongue weight is typically 10% to 15% of total trailer weight.