So I received notice that one of the dwellers I sent out into the wasteland can no longer carry anymore and had to head back. The dweller I sent out was jericho and a message says "That's as much as I can carry. I better head back and show the Overseer what I found." Also I still had 5 stims and 5 radaways left. Was this usually the case with explorers? or was it implemented in the latest patch? This is the first time I've seen this, so I have no clue at all how this works (usually my dwellers die before ever capping out in items).

Yes, there is a limit of 100 items. Before 1.2 they would still explore after filing their inventory, but would collect only caps and any items they found would just get left on the ground. In 1.2, they now automatically return when they find the 100th item.

I forgot a dweller out in the wasteland for 34 days..

Zero good weapons (meaning, no railway rifles, miniguns, fat man's , plasma weapons...nothing, just basic pistols and rifles...not even a good shotgun), while there were a few rare outfits...but the weapons were all garbage.

Yep, the longer you're out, the better equipment you find. 34 friggin days Bethesda...

I am curious, how did your dweller survive 34 days? Mine at best have gotten just past five days before being killed. It should also be noted that they don't collect items after four days and four hours, anyway (and never have).

It was actually Amata...legendary from the lunchboxes. She came equipped with a gatling gun, and power armor. I loaded her up with 20 stims and 20 radaways...still had 5 stims when I realized I forgot her out there.

Nevertheless, I don't know at what point she stopped carrying new items as opposed to dropping them, being as there is the collection cap.