2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission How much can I carry.....

[MSLiechty]

I need to pick up 50-90 lb bags of concrete. Can I safely carry this in the bed or will I need to rent a trailer for my 3/4 ton truck.

It will be palletized and shrink wrapped.





ML

 

[JDiepstra]

I am pretty sure your truck is rated to abour 3,000 lbs. Your load is going to be about 4,500 lbs, which is 150% of what it is rated to. While I am not adivsing you to do it, you probably can. I wouldn't be suprised if something broke, and take it slow. That is a lot of extra weight to turn, and stop. But I'm sure you already know that. Good luck.

 

[LFarmer]

I hauled 60 80lb. bags of quickrete on my 1998 2500. I aired the tires to 80 and centered the pallet over the axle. I was a very heavy load but I made the 20 mile trip ok. Slow and easy.

 

[JDiepstra]

LFarmer at 4,800 makes your 4,500 seem easy! You better thrown on a few more bags! :-laf

 

[Skydiver]

If your tires do not blowout it will carry it. If you are in an at fault accident will your insurance take care of you?

It's not how much will it carry, but how much it will safely stop.

If you do decide to haul this much weight run the tires at the maxium reccomemded psi. If you have less than load range "E" tires do not attempt.

 

[MSLiechty]

Thanks



Think I'll break it up into a few different trips at about 25-30 bags each.



ML

 

[fest3er]

Only you can determine 'safely'. I've carried 3600# of gravel in the bed of my 2500. I've also filled the bed full (well rounded) of damp horse dung, which was probably heavier. And this was with the standard wimpy springs. I just pumped the rear 19. 5s up to 95 PSI and the fronts to 80 PSI.

If you have the tires for it (range E or F), the rest of the truck is in decent condition, there isn't too much traffic, the roads are reasonably smooth, you can drive slower and you are comfy with the idea, then your truck can handle the one-time overload. If not, split the load in half. Your 2500 should be rated to carry 2300# or so in the bed. The rating is for high speed, poor road surface condition and extended trip duration. For a short trip, driving slower and traversing rough roads and railroads with caution, you should have no trouble as long as you are confident the overall truck and the driver are up to the task.

 

[MSLiechty]

It's only a 5 miles trip. smooth roads. Truck is in very good condition.



ML

 

[GAmes]

If you are in an at fault accident will your insurance take care of you?

Ah, the old internet myth that if you are driving overloaded and have a wreck your insurance company can decline coverage. Have you ever read your policy? Have you ever seen one that stated there would be no coverage if the insured vehicle was over it's recommended weight? My policy has three things written that would void my coverage. Overweight isn't one, even commercial use isn't prohibited. I'd be covered if I had a wreck with a pound of cocaine in the toolbox and a cab full of illegal immigrant hookers. :-laf. Insurance companies pay for their customers stupidity, then either raise the rates or cancel the policy.

 

[Spunkys Ram]

Well, I've carried 7000# (3 1/2 tons) of sand in my bed before. (I can show you the weigh scale ticket). Although, not advisable, it can done. It was a 7 mile trip at 35 mph with load range E tires.

 

[Bob V]

You would not be the FIRST, or the LAST to go over your GVWR. It will handle it, but don't drive the same way that you drive when MT.

 

[EricBu12]

When you load a bed with bulk material, some of the weight goes to the front. .

If you took the pallettized load and broke it to the full front to rear evened out, Id say you can do that full 4800# load. . The front can take some of the load.

 

[JKloppe]

Ah, the old internet myth that if you are driving overloaded and have a wreck your insurance company can decline coverage. Have you ever read your policy? Have you ever seen one that stated there would be no coverage if the insured vehicle was over it's recommended weight? My policy has three things written that would void my coverage. Overweight isn't one, even commercial use isn't prohibited. I'd be covered if I had a wreck with a pound of cocaine in the toolbox and a cab full of illegal immigrant hookers. :-laf. Insurance companies pay for their customers stupidity, then either raise the rates or cancel the policy.

This post is the funniest of the night. I'm crying. thanks

 

[SSolderitch]

ran 2400# of coal with only 'D' winter tires for 10 miles, they were warmer that the front after the trip, but made it ok. Summer tires are 'E's'. I also have camper package, which the springs almost contacted the pads.

I have since add spacer blocks to allow the springs to work sooner.

 

[ILIANBG]

The most I've carried in the bed was I think 40 bags of 94 lb. concrete mix. I also have the camper package w/overload prings. It carried it without issue, but was hard to stop. I would split the load. It's worth the extra time IMO.

 

[fest3er]

... I would split the load. It's worth the extra time IMO.

Especially since it's only *5* miles.

 

[BeefDoc]

I have a vet box in my truck that weighs about 3500lbs. The weight is in the truck all of the time and I've put 200K on it in the last 4yrs with minimal trouble. I change the diff oil every 25-30K and use only synthetic. I do go through brakes quickly though, 12-15K on the front discs. I just installed a pac brake, so hopefully that will help with the stopping issues. My 2 cents.

Matt

 

[DPeltonen]

If you don't want to exceed any limits (other than the manufacturer's axle or GVW posted on the door) you could look at your tires and see what they are rated, then choose not to exceed you axle rating based on them. If you have rated tires above "E", then you could conceivably go up to your wheel/tire limits, or even up to the axle itself (the same 11. 5" AAM is rated at 12. 5K in other applications. As well as being the same axle in the 3500 DRW with different shafts to accommodate the DRW). As far as your truck chassis is concerned, you are driving an identical truck to the 3500 DRW with the exception of the wheels and hubs and (rear) springs. If you have airbags or helper springs in the rear, and high capacity tires and wheels (19. 5's), you will be perfectly safe running a higher weight (up to the 3500 DRW rating or whatever the Wheel/tire maximum is. . 9000lbs with mine).

As far as the guys that say don't ever run above the manufacturer weight on the door... good advice. But then again, that is there for insurance and warrantee reasons, and has very little to do with what your truck is capable of handling safely if you have taken the proper precautions. You just have to be prepared to accept the risk of your own venture into the unknown (running higher than recommended gross weight).

The most important thing to remember is the advice you receive on this forum is opinion. Most of the opinions, especially the ones that give insurance and legal advice on your risks and liabilities, are unsubstantiated and based on rumor and personal opinion, not fact. I have not see one instance of a qualified licensed litigator quote any law, or case, to back up the claims of liability or exposure regarding failure to follow the manufacturer guidelines as posted on your truck. Many of these “over gross weight” (OGW) nay-sayers are all for other modifications to the vehicle like bombing, hitches that are not specifically approved by the manufacturer, or even radical truck modification like the “Mega Cab Long Bed”. In every single one of these cases, you have changes or modifications to the truck that could effectively alter the safety of the vehicle. Even so, I have never heard a peep out of the OGW “experts” regarding the legality, or even safety of these modifications.
In pretty much every case, you are at the mercy of your individual state regarding the legality of your operations, and must make up your own mind about what is legal and or safe.

 

[TboneMan]

I hauled 2 ton (4000#) of wood pellets (pellet stove fuel) under my fiberglass bed cap last year. No problem with tires at 80 psi. Its not something I'd like to do every day, but the truck had no problems.

 

[WILLD420]

I've hauled a lot more in a lot less of a truck. Don't sweat it. Put the load as far forward as you can get it. Have the forklift driver back up after setting the load down and pick up the back of the pallet with the forks, then slide it forward some more.

I hauled 5600 lbs in the bed of a 1/2 ton ford and it's still here, and so am I. Speeding was out of the question, but I drove it 140 miles like that and ran the truck for another 10 years before I replaced that axle.