Max load in the bed
07-25-2003 | 11:54 PM
#1
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From: Oklahoma
Max load in the bed
It is getting awfully dry here and I have got to haul water.
I have a 425 gal tank that fits in the bed. I could save lots of time if I filled it or close to it.
This is all off roadl, low speed stuff. So don't give me ratings or legally.
I want to know how much you have hauled on a 3/4 ton.
Others have hashed this out before, but I can't seem to find it.
Thanks,
Wes
I have a 425 gal tank that fits in the bed. I could save lots of time if I filled it or close to it.
This is all off roadl, low speed stuff. So don't give me ratings or legally.
I want to know how much you have hauled on a 3/4 ton.
Others have hashed this out before, but I can't seem to find it.
Thanks,
Wes
07-26-2003 | 12:00 AM
#2
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From: Central VT
Re:Max load in the bed
Well Payload on my 3/4 is 2400. Water weighs about 8 pounds per gallon. 425 * 8= 3400. I wouldnt have any problems doing that for a pretty short distance. Otherwise I'd get a trailer and trash it's springs instead of my nice truck's.
07-26-2003 | 12:52 AM
#3
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From: Disputanta, Virginia
Re:Max load in the bed
[quote author=1BigOkie44 link=board=11;threadid=17540;start=0#164257 date=1059195251]<br>It is getting awfully dry here and I have got to haul water.<br><br>I have a 425 gal tank that fits in the bed. I could save lots of time if I filled it or close to it.<br><br>This is all off roadl, low speed stuff. So don't give me ratings or legally. <br><br>I want to know how much you have hauled on a 3/4 ton.<br><br>Others have hashed this out before, but I can't seem to find it.<br><br>Thanks,<br><br>Wes<br>[/quote]<br><br>SEE,,,,,,,,!!<br> If ya would have stayed over here on the East coast,,,, you wouldn't be having to haul water, :
BUT NOoooo,,,,,, "I'm a going to Oklahoma!" :P <br> How's it going Wes? ;D 
I don't have an answer for your question,,,,,,,,, I just wanted to say "HOWDY". Hope all is going well. Drop me a PM or email when ya get the chance. <br> Take care and tell the family Hey.<br><br><br>Dennis
BUT NOoooo,,,,,, "I'm a going to Oklahoma!" :P <br> How's it going Wes? ;D I don't have an answer for your question,,,,,,,,, I just wanted to say "HOWDY". Hope all is going well. Drop me a PM or email when ya get the chance. <br> Take care and tell the family Hey.<br><br><br>Dennis
07-26-2003 | 03:22 AM
#4
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From: Branchville, Alabama
Re:Max load in the bed
With the overload springs (stock) on my truck I pull over 5000 on the goose neck ball every day. You should not have a problem. The only thing you have to watch is the tire loading on the single wheels.
07-26-2003 | 07:11 AM
#5
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From: Central Mexico.
Re:Max load in the bed
Not sure about the actual weight but I have hauled some full loads recently and all I have watched for is that the rubber bumpers on the chassis have about a 1/2" clearance to the axle. Figured that if I could slide a finger between the bumper and the axle that it was not too overloaded.<br>Crude, yes, but it worked for me. Somebody else can figure out what this translates to in pounds.
07-26-2003 | 10:32 AM
#6
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From: Branchville, Alabama
Re:Max load in the bed
[quote author=Mexstan link=board=11;threadid=17540;start=0#164311 date=1059221475]<br>Not sure about the actual weight but I have hauled some full loads recently and all I have watched for is that the rubber bumpers on the chassis have about a 1/2" clearance to the axle. Figured that if I could slide a finger between the bumper and the axle that it was not too overloaded.<br>Crude, yes, but it worked for me. Somebody else can figure out what this translates to in pounds.<br>[/quote]<br><br>I cannot speak for the 3rd gen trucks, from what I understand the spring setup is somewhat different on the 2nd gen. Basically on the 2nd gen with Camper package, the springs go down to the helpers with 1200 pounds or so and stop there. Mine has 3/4 springs and once on the helpers there is very little drop regardless of the weight.
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07-26-2003 | 11:02 AM
#8
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Re:Max load in the bed
Seems to be a big difference in the way the suspension works in various generations of trucks. My '91 wouldn't move (drop) when I had the 5th wheel hitched - total weight of trailer and other stuff in be is around 1500 lbs... It actually rode and handled quite well loaded like that.<br><br>The new truck, exact same load, and with the factory camper/RV suspension, will drop enough so that I can still get a single finger between the helper spring and the rubber bumper - probably about 1 1/2 inches max drop in the bed - still rides very nicely, and down the road, overloads will apparantly occasionally contact the pads, judging by slight marks on spring tips. Had my buds 33 foot fiver hooked up once, and that 2500 lbs or so put the overloads right to the pads - handled just fine.<br><br>NOW, according to other reports from owners of 3rd generation trucks, as little as 650 lbs will drop the bed a full 3 inches - which seems like quite a bit - wonder what 2500 lbs does to them in terms of handling under load? Hope we're not getting closer to the GM stuff, where we sacrifice some of the stability a truck is expected to deliver, in order to give the "soccer moms" the ride they want...
07-26-2003 | 11:58 AM
#9
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Re:Max load in the bed
The only problem I could see is the bed's body mounts.<br>They should handle the load fine, But make sure you fill the tank all the way up or the sloshing in the off-road conditions could loosen or shear the bolts.<br>It's just a thought, if the terrain was rough it could happen.<br><br>4x4
07-26-2003 | 12:43 PM
#10
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From: Vine Grove Ky
Re:Max load in the bed
Well from somebody who also has to haul water, you might be pushing the limit with a full tank. As above, 8 lbs per gallon. I used a 250 gallon in the 96 ext 1/2ton 4x4 I used to have. In a word, scary. Now I use a 350 in the bed of my 1 tons and could easily haul about 500. Just watch the first load or two till you figure the route out. Watch for the sloshing throwing you around especially if you have a tank without tie points.<br>ED
07-26-2003 | 04:07 PM
#11
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From: Llano, TX
Re:Max load in the bed
A couple of summers ago, we had 2 wells run dry, and had to haul water. We have a 400 gallon tank, and it sits on a 3500 flatbed. It was definately a load, but nothing outrageous or dangerous. As sherod said, the sloshing is the worst part. Feels like your driving a boat on water down the road. I fould that the sloshing is not as bad with the tank totally filled. Not much room for the water to move around. I drove about 40 miles one time with it 3/4 full and almost got seasick. I would go a little lighter than you think the first run, then maybe add some if you feel it's safe.
07-27-2003 | 10:00 PM
#12
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From: Windsor, Colorado
Re:Max load in the bed
Recently put a new roof on my in-laws house and I had to haul their supplies home for them before we got started. I had a little over 3K lbs. in the bed and another 2K on my utility trailer behind the truck. I would guess my tongue weight was about 300 lbs. <br><br>This was about a 15 mile trip and the truck did great. Rear end quickly sat down on the helper springs, but didn't move much past that. Pulled and handled great.
07-28-2003 | 07:43 PM
#13
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From: Oklahoma
Re:Max load in the bed
Well I had no problems.<br><br>It did hit the overloads fairly quickly. After that it only dropped slightly.<br><br>Like I said this is only for short distances and very slowly.<br><br>Now I wished I had a bigger tank.<br><br>Thanks guys.<br><br><br>Wes
07-29-2003 | 01:41 PM
#14
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From: Palmer Alaska
Re:Max load in the bed
I put a fence in at my neighbors house and we picked up 65 bags of concrete at 80 lbs a piece. Each pallet had 30 bags. I was just going to put one on but once I put it on there it barely moved. The second pallet went right on top and it was about 3/4" from bottoming out the bumpstop. The only problem I had was the tires were squatting pretty bad and if you could get a better rating tire you would be better off.
07-29-2003 | 10:23 PM
#15
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From: Llano, TX
Re:Max load in the bed
I forgot about this, but it's interesting. A feed store around her has a 3500 diesel with a flatbed. For at least a year now, I see that truck with 4 square pallets of feed on it at least once a week. That's at least 8,000lbs. sitting on the rear axle. I keep thinking i'm going to see it on the side of the road, but I never have. Seems very scary to me.