Can I increase payload of Penske 16ft truck?

1.) You can always add airbags, with auto ride-height control. I have an Air Lift system on my Silverado. It’s awesome. However, you need to look at what the tires are rated for; not the load range, but, the actual pounds. They’re are going to be a weak link. Also, those vans eat rearends, in high mileage applications. I know an expeditor who has put 3 rearends under his, in ~300K miles. My buddy does all the maintenance on that vehicle and it is properly maintained. The engine and trans have had nothing but regular maintenance.

2.) Both years have the 4L80E transmission, which is the strongest transmission GM offered, short of an Allison behind a Duramax.

You’ll be subject to many states’ weigh stations. You need to be compliant to your door sticker, if you plan to cross them.

 

No. You can’t change the GVWR. Vehicle’s weight rating is established by the manufacturer, which is what that door jamb sticker is. However, you can do whatever you like, outside of that. Again, if you scaled and you’re over the weight rating, you’ll have to answer for that.

Air bags will easily increase the carrying ability by that 1700lbs. But, you need to weigh the truck empty and see where you’re currently at. Then, you have to consider the tire load carrying capacity.

 

No, you cant.

The entire vehicle is based upon ALL parameters of every component it is assembled with.
Those components have max tolerances, based upon the mfg's determining what gvw that vehicle will be.

You want to carry more load, get a bigger truck.

 

Which is why getting a trailer "derated" is such a sham. No equipment has been changed.
Vehicle should still have the same GVWR it left the factory with.

 

Carrying less weight than the manufacture’s rating has benefits , less wear on the drivetrain, better fuel mileage. What sham ?

 

From knowing someone, secondhand, running one of these in the same capacity you’re planning, I’d caution working that rear axle any harder than necessary. If that dude is an indicator, you’ll be replacing rearends. Revisit my first response.