1. the weight of any load carried by a vehicle
   the weight of the passengers in the vehicle
2. none of the above

Payload is simply any load carried by a vehicle. <a href="http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-parts/towing/towing-capacity/vehicle/payload.htm">How Payload Works</a>

1. strain on the engine
   strain on the transmission
2. all of the above

Overloading a vehicle can put a huge strain on the engine, transmission and other working parts. At the same time, drivers in overloaded vehicles are putting themselves and others on the road at risk. <a href="http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-parts/towing/towing-capacity/vehicle/payload.htm">How Payload Works</a>

1. GVWR
   curb weight
2. all of the above

To calculate your vehicle's payload capacity, you only need to know two things: your vehicle's gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) and its curb weight. <a href="http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-parts/towing/towing-capacity/vehicle/payload.htm">How Payload Works</a>

1. the maximum allowable weight of a vehicle when it is packed up
   the weight of a vehicle with no passenger or cargo
2. none of the above

Gross vehicle weight rating is simply the maximum allowable weight of an entire vehicle when it's packed up and ready to go -- that includes the weight of the vehicle itself, all of the necessary fluids for operation (gasoline, diesel, oil and so on) and any cargo, passengers and tools. <a href="http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-parts/towing/towing-capacity/vehicle/payload.htm">How Payload Works</a>

1. the weight of the vehicle without any cargo or passengers
   the weight of a fully loaded vehicle
2. none of the above

Curb weight is simply how much the vehicle weighs on its own, without any cargo or passengers. <a href="http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-parts/towing/towing-capacity/vehicle/payload.htm">How Payload Works</a>

1. GVWR - curb weight = payload
   curb weight - GVWR = payload
2. curb weight x GVWR = payload

Gross vehicle weight rating - curb weight = payload capacity <a href="http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-parts/towing/towing-capacity/vehicle/payload.htm">How Payload Works</a>

1. hybrid car
   SUV
2. truck
   motorcycle

Your truck's payload is going to be much heavier than other types of vehicles, so knowing how the truck is classified will help you determine what amount is safe. <a href="http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-parts/towing/towing-capacity/vehicle/payload.htm">How Payload Works</a>

1. by their payload
   by their GVWR
2. by their curb weight
   by their engine size

Trucks in the United States are classified according to their maximum gross vehicle weight rating. <a href="http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-parts/towing/towing-capacity/vehicle/payload.htm">How Payload Works</a>

1. 5
   8
2. 10

There are actually two ways we can look at this: by class or by category, although both are related to each other. Weight classes, determined by the U.S. government, divide maximum truck GVWR into eight classes. <a href="http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-parts/towing/towing-capacity/vehicle/payload.htm">How Payload Works</a>

1. the weight of the passengers
   the weight of the cargo
2. the weight of the floor mats
   all of the above

Payload is simply any load carried by a vehicle. <a href="http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-parts/towing/towing-capacity/vehicle/payload.htm">How Payload Works</a>