Vehicle load indicator

1. A load indicator system for a vehicle comprising:

a load sensor disposed in a vehicle bed;

at least one load indicator disposed outside of the vehicle; and

a controller in communication with the load sensor and the at least one load indicator wherein the controller is configured to:

receive a detection of an operator proximate the vehicle; and

provide a load indication in response to a load sensed by the load sensor and the detection of the operator proximate the vehicle.

2. The load indicator system for a vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the load indication comprises activation of a first load indicator at a first location.

3. The load indicator system for a vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the load indication further comprises activation of a second load indicator at a second location.

4. The load indicator system for a vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the first location comprises a location above a rear windshield.

5. The load indicator system for a vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the second location comprises a location proximate a rear taillight.

6. The load indicator system for a vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the location above the rear windshield comprises an elongated light configured to display a percentage of an allowable load.

7. The load indicator system for a vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the location proximate the rear taillight comprises a backup light configured to display a percentage of allowable load.

8. The load indicator system for a vehicle of claim 3 , wherein a vehicle bed separates the first location and the second location.

9. The load indicator system for a vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the load sensed by the load sensor comprises a first load amount within a first predetermined load range or a second load amount within a second predetermined load range.

10. The load indicator system for a vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the controller activates a first load indicator in response to a detection of the first load amount and wherein the controller activates a second load indicator in response to a detection of the second load amount.

11. The load indicator system for a vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the controller activates the second load indicator in response to the detection of the first load amount.

12. A vehicle load indicator system comprising:

a load sensor disposed beneath a vehicle bed;

a load indicator outside a vehicle; and

a controller in communication with the load sensor and the load indicator wherein the controller is configured to:

receive a detection of an operator proximate the vehicle; and

activate the load indicator to generate an output in response to a detection of a load condition and the detection of the operator proximate the vehicle.

13. The vehicle load indicator system of claim 12 , wherein the load indicator comprises a first load indicator that displays a first output in response to a detection of a first load condition and a second load indicator that displays a second output in response to a detection of a second load condition.

14. The vehicle load indicator system of claim 13 , wherein the first load condition comprises a detection of a first payload amount and the second load condition comprises a detection of a second payload amount.

15. The vehicle load indicator system of claim 14 , wherein the first payload amount is less than the second payload amount.

16. The vehicle load indicator system of claim 15 , wherein the first load indicator comprises an elongated light proximate a vehicle cabin and wherein the second load indicator comprises a light proximate a rear taillight.

17. The vehicle load indicator system of claim 16 , wherein the elongated light proximate a vehicle cabin comprises a CHMSL.

18. A method for indicating a vehicle load comprising the steps of:

detecting an operator within a proximity of a vehicle;

detecting a first load condition;

detecting a second load condition;

comparing the first and second load conditions to a payload weight change history in response to the detection of the operator; and

activating a load indicator to display the first and second load conditions.

19. The method for indicating a vehicle load of claim 18 , wherein activating a load indicator to display the first and second load conditions further comprises the steps of:

activating a first load indicator to display the first load condition; and

activating a second load indicator to display the second load condition.

20. The method for indicating a vehicle load of claim 19 , wherein detecting the first load condition further comprises the step of:

detecting a first load within a first load range between a minimum load and an intermediate load; and

wherein detecting the second load condition further comprises the step of:

detecting a second load that comprises an intermediate load or a load within a second load range between the intermediate load and a maximum load.