The BT-50 shares its underpinnings with the Isuzu D-Max, so its ratings look familiar, and payload swings by hundreds of kilos across the range. Pick your variant below for its exact figures.
BT-50 TF (facelift). 20 variants, figures transcribed from the manufacturer's spec sheets.
Mazda BT-50
Already set to the Mazda BT-50. Choose your variant, add what you're fitting, and see what payload you have left.
BT-50 TF (facelift). Payload is GVM minus kerb weight, before you fit anything or put anyone in it.
| Variant | Kerb | GVM | Payload | GCM | Towing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOSS Dual Cab Pick-Up 4x4 Auto | 2,067kg | 3,100kg | 1,033kg | 6,000kg | 3,500kg |
| GT Dual Cab Chassis 4x4 Auto | 1,959kg | 3,100kg | 1,141kg | 6,000kg | 3,500kg |
| GT Dual Cab Pick-Up 4x4 Auto | 2,102kg | 3,100kg | 998kg | 6,000kg | 3,500kg |
| SP Dual Cab Pick-Up 4x4 Auto | 2,176kg | 3,100kg | 924kg | 6,000kg | 3,500kg |
| Thunder Dual Cab Pick-Up 4x4 Auto | 2,213kg | 3,100kg | 887kg | 6,000kg | 3,500kg |
| XS Dual Cab Chassis 4x4 Auto | 1,852kg | 3,100kg | 1,248kg | 6,000kg | 3,500kg |
| XS Dual Cab Pick-Up 4x2 Auto | 1,888kg | 3,000kg | 1,112kg | 5,850kg | 3,500kg |
| XS Dual Cab Pick-Up 4x4 Auto | 1,961kg | 3,100kg | 1,139kg | 6,000kg | 3,500kg |
| XS Single Cab Chassis 4x2 Auto | 1,643kg | 3,000kg | 1,357kg | 5,850kg | 3,500kg |
| XT Dual Cab Chassis 4x2 Auto | 1,806kg | 3,000kg | 1,194kg | 5,850kg | 3,500kg |
| XT Dual Cab Chassis 4x4 Auto | 1,892kg | 3,100kg | 1,208kg | 6,000kg | 3,500kg |
| XT Dual Cab Pick-Up 4x2 Auto | 1,929kg | 3,000kg | 1,071kg | 5,850kg | 3,500kg |
| XT Dual Cab Pick-Up 4x4 Auto | 2,015kg | 3,100kg | 1,085kg | 6,000kg | 3,500kg |
| XT Freestyle Cab Chassis 4x2 Auto | 1,755kg | 3,000kg | 1,245kg | 5,850kg | 3,500kg |
| XT Freestyle Cab Chassis 4x4 Auto | 1,841kg | 3,100kg | 1,259kg | 6,000kg | 3,500kg |
| XT Single Cab Chassis 4x2 Auto | 1,684kg | 3,000kg | 1,316kg | 5,850kg | 3,500kg |
| XT Single Cab Chassis 4x4 Auto | 1,770kg | 3,100kg | 1,330kg | 6,000kg | 3,500kg |
| XTR Dual Cab Chassis 4x4 Auto | 1,956kg | 3,100kg | 1,144kg | 6,000kg | 3,500kg |
| XTR Dual Cab Pick-Up 4x2 Auto | 2,012kg | 3,000kg | 988kg | 5,850kg | 3,500kg |
| XTR Dual Cab Pick-Up 4x4 Auto | 2,098kg | 3,100kg | 1,002kg | 6,000kg | 3,500kg |
The BT-50 has a published rear axle rating, which makes it one of the models where a rear-heavy touring fit-out can be checked properly rather than guessed at. A canopy with drawers and a fridge concentrates its weight behind the rear axle, and that rating is the limit that usually bites first.
As on any dual cab, this is front-axle weight. The BT-50 publishes a front axle rating too, so the calculator can flag a nose-heavy build rather than only checking the total.
At the 3,500kg rating, expect around 350kg on the ball, which is also the model's maximum tow ball download. That is 350kg out of your payload, applied behind the rear axle where it does the most damage to the rear axle load.
The front and rear axle ratings for the BT-50 sum to more than the vehicle's GVM. That is normal and it is not a loophole. You must stay under all three limits, not any one of them, so loading each axle to its own rating would put you well over GVM and comfortably illegal.
Like almost every ute in this class, the BT-50 cannot simultaneously carry a full load and tow its maximum. The GCM is the binding limit, and the shortfall comes out of what you can put in the ute.
The BT-50 and D-Max are closely related, but grades, kerb weights and equipment differ, and payload follows kerb weight. Do not read a figure off one and apply it to the other. If you are cross-shopping, run both on this site.
It varies by variant across the current range. Choose your exact variant in the calculator on this page for the figure as published by Mazda, along with a link to the spec sheet it was taken from.
Payload is GVM minus kerb weight, and it varies by hundreds of kilos between the lightest cab chassis and the heaviest accessorised dual cab. The calculator then subtracts your own bar work, canopy, passengers, gear and tow ball weight.
350kg, which is also roughly what a 3,500kg van will put on the ball at a typical ten percent. That weight is part of your payload, and it loads the rear axle.
They share a platform and a great deal of engineering, but the grades and their kerb weights are not identical, so payload is not identical either. Check the model you actually own rather than assuming they match.
No. The GCM caps the combined weight of the ute and the trailer, and it is lower than the GVM plus 3,500kg. Towing at the maximum reduces what you can legally carry in the ute. The calculator on this page shows the effect on your own build.