I for some reason am doubting myself(or should I say my truck) when it comes to carrying a 4000 pound load in my/fathers truck.

I am needing to load up 4000lbs of wood pellets in the 92 D350, which is listed in my sig. Its got all new brake compontents from master cyl to all four corners. It has 6 quality, almost new, E rated tires. I have carried 4K in it before and it is just shy of having the rubber bump stops touching in the rear, but have only traveled a few miles with it loaded at this weight. I have previously looked up its supposed load capacity and if I remember correctly a 92 extended cab, LE trim, D350 can carry about 4400 lbs.

The trip i'm looking at is only about 30 miles, with no highway and some minor rolling hills. Is there any reason I should be worried about carrying it that distance. Is the age of the truck or the age of the frame a concern? Is it over loaded given how little suspension travel is left? Is there anything I should check and inspect prior to making the trip?

I can say from the previous trips that the two biggest changes in performance seem to be that the steering gets lighter and the obvious lack of speedy acceleration from the load. I take it very easy because i'm more worried about loosing the load than I am with the truck leaning or having other handling problems.

If I was going to carry loads like than more that two or three times a year I would get a set of timbren's but don't really see the need to drop the money for just a few loads.

I feel like a moron for all these questions after the years i've spent reading and posting on here, but its different when your the one thats going to be behind the wheel.

Just as a reference I attempted to attach a photo of the truck with a 4K load on it.

Mike

 

Do it! And drive like a grandpa.

 

JQ, I do run it like a grandpa... I run it like a grandpa with an egg under the accelerator who is on his way home to see his wife AND nagging mother-in-law...... If that isn't slow, steady and safe, what is!?! LOL!

 

NICE LOAD! I say make the trip...

 

Mike, at first i was confused as to how you'd fit 2 tons of wood pellets into the back of your truck, then i saw the picture attached. I've heard somewhere that a full ton truck is made to carry something like 10,000lbs in the bed, i've carried just over 3500lbs of wood in my half ton truck many times. During the last several snow storms i had gained about 3000lbs of "water weight" and only noticed more of my hood, better ride quality, quicker time getting up to temp, and longer stopping distance....maybe by about 30%. Thats with a slow leak in the master cylinder, and i still feel safe. I'd just do the usual safety check before you leave, u know fluids and tire pressure, then hit the road. Let us know how you make out. you said you've done this before, right?

 

Justramit91, I've carried the same load before but it was over a much shorter distance of only about 5 miles. This trip is just over 42 miles... (I was off a bit in my first post).

Mike

 

humm... I guess it depends on how many stops you'll be making. All highway, low traffic i don't even hit the brakes until i need to exit. Around town/city really heats the brakes up. I would still do it,

 

Air springs help. That's been done in my 3/4 ton hundreds of times with them. It has only been attempted without them once.

 

Seems like most people seem to say go ahead and run it with the load. The route I'll be taking isn't stop and go, but does have a few traffic signals here and there, but with plenty of time for the brakes to stay cool.
My biggest concern was the physical ability of the truck to do it given its age. I don't know how well these truck age to be honest. I just don't know how good it is for the axle's and frame if you bump the bump stops here and there along the way.

Mike

 

So you drive just like me, eh? By the way (and completely off topic) that is a beautiful truck.

 

peobryant, Thanks for the compliment. It looks nicer now with the chrome wheel simulators on it. Its just a shame that this time of year everything turns white with not too wonderful salt they treat the roads with here in the North East.
Anyone besides me ready for spring to be here!

I think that I'm gonna run the load and i'll be sure to let everyone know how it does. I just hope that I can get out of work early enough to get the load and not have too much traffic on the way home. Traffic is one thing that can not be escaped in New England.

Mike

 

Do it ! I remember years ago when i was a kid my dad told me to go to town a get a BIG load of sand in our old 77 440 Dodge 3/4 ton.So I piled it as high as i could , and almost made it home, boy was my dad ticked off when he came with a jack that would not lift the truck to change out both rear tires and rims ,and was even madder when he saw I had almost 5 tons of sand on the old truck!
All i could say was "you said a big load"

 

Give yourself lots of braking room... No panic stops going on there....

 

I think you'll be fine. Just do what ^ said, give yourself more room to stop, and more following distance than usual. Make sure the tires are at proper pressure too.

My truck had the exact same floorboards when I got it, except for a regular cab.

 

I've run mine 15 miles with 2 tons of riprap driving just as you describe above. I've got single rear wheels but with 85 psi they made it fine. I do have Keldermans so with a little extra air I was able to make it appear as though I was legal.

Be mindful of the traffic in front of you -- you won't be able to stop on a dime.