Hmmmmm... In the same spirit that this thread might being about a nicely done cure for a problem no one may have, I gathered the following information that no one may one to know..... LOLOLOL
I looked in the 2012 Nissan Frontier manual:
and, at least there, they don't actually specify any vehicle load capacity and refer the owner to the weight certification label on the specific vehicle, this is from section 9:
.
VEHICLE LOAD CAPACITY
Before driving a loaded vehicle, confirm
that you do not exceed the Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR) or the Gross Axle
Weight Rating (GAWR) for your vehicle.
Both the GVWR and GAWR are located
on the F.M.V.S.S./C.M.V.S.S. certification
label. See “Measurement of weights” later
in this section.
But that said, they do show substantial differences in towing and total weight capacities for the 4 cylinder vs. the V6 chassis with the same cab configuration. Also from Section 9.
.
Maximum trailer weight/maximum tongue weight.
4 cylinder: 3500/350 lbs.
V6: 6505/650 lbs.
Maximum Gross Combined Weight (Vehicle + vehicle loading + trailer
4 cylinder: 7940 lbs.
V6: 11135 lbs.
.
What all of this sez is that Nissan doesn't want to publish a maximum bed load figure and that they put it upon the owner to read the exact specifications for their vehicle on the certification label, get things weighed, and do the math to compute the bed carrying capacity.
.
Which leaves the following to ponder:
1. Everything added to the truck, peeps, fuel, and all sorts of "stuff", will reduce the available carrying capacity, it's a constantly variable number.
2. The published values seen elsewhere are apparently based on a fairly empty truck, with fuel and driver on board and nothing else.
3. The published significant differences in towing and tongue weights between the 4 cylinder and V6 versions suggests that there is also a substantial difference in the load carrying capacity figures shown on the weight certification labels.
4. Without the weight certification label information and the actual ready-to-tow weight of the truck, actual carrying capacity is only a W.A.G. and is most likely, incorrect.
.
FWIW: I did this exact same dance with GM trying to find the bed carrying capacity of my 2003 Sonoma many years ago.
But again, nice work on the hitch.....