Overloaded With Firewood!

[JRG]

SEE SIG FIRST... Loaded the truck with firewood to just the top of the bed. 10,300# with just me and a full tank. GVW is 9,900#. Empty I run about 7,300+/-, don't remember exactly. Truck felt great, no problems at all. Just down to the overloads.



Was looking at the axle ratings, and they are as follows: Front 5200# Rear: 6150# TOTAL 11,350#



Friends 2500 swb sticker said GVW 9000#, F/ 5200# R/ 6000# TOTAL 11,200#(4x4 auto)



What happens if I tow twice a year slightly over axle rating? My camper weighs 4000#.



JRG

 

[DRAG DIESEL]

Dude, your fine As long as it stops.

 

[TPCDrafting]

I wouldn't even begin to worry about a pickup load of wood. Two weeks ago, I had that much in my bed and it was green pine. Fairly heavy, then I had my 16' flat bed on behind and it was piled nearly 4 feet high. I figured I brought home nearly 3 chords. The trailer is old and doesn't have any brakes either. I'm not sayin' you didn't have a load, but load it up. Take your corners slower and allow more time to stop.

 

[Jengle]

I put a load of logs in mine a while back, weighed it on a CAT scale and was sitting at 4k in the bed. I hauled it all the way home from CT to VA and the truck didn't know it was there. Brakes on the new gens work fine. It did smooth out the ride, but the engine didn't take any longer to go through the gears at all. These are some pulling trucks. I had about 2k miles on it at the time, and my calculated mileage came out to 19. 6mpg.

 

[Peter Campbell]

I did notice that with a trailer- I started in first like the owners manual said. But it takes me longer to shift than the engine to work the load up to speed. But that is what 4. 10 and six speed get you. That was with about 9,000 Lbs of trailer.

 

[bmoeller]

I have had a 3000# pallet of seed beans in the back of the Ram before. Rides like a Caddy. Was just touching one end of the overload springs.



Did that with my Ford ONCE. It didn't like it. Was having to go very far, so I just took it easy.

 

[PaulG]

well my first experiance with alot of weight was when i went to go pick up some stone dust for a buddy of mine, so weighed in before i went itno the yard truck came up to 6,600lbs with a half tank of gas. I had the guy load the truck to the leaf springs were almost flat went to the scales and just about crapped myself when she told me there was 3,400 pounds in the back!!!!! i was thinking geezzz this is only a 3/4 ton truck!!! anyhow wen and dropped if off as fast as i could.



now the truck drove fine and everything just was worried about wheel bearings cause they would take the hit more than anything else so long story short i was impressed!

 

[JRG]

Well I guess my question is about exceeding the axle ratings.



Also, what about being slightly over the tire rating.



JRG

 

[sewman]

We used to haul alot of wood & one place had all you can haul

100% oak f/$25. 00 a load,they would drop em & we'd cut em up. big wood too 3-4' dia. I had an old 78 3/4 ton Ram.

They had a scales there & I asked if I could scale my truck & it weighed 6,000 empty & 12,500 loaded we only had to go about 5mi but the front tires sure slid easy when stopping.



Bob

 

[PaulG]

Originally posted by JRG

Well I guess my question is about exceeding the axle ratings.



Also, what about being slightly over the tire rating.



JRG

well i see it this way if they made the tire to only go to the capacity they had on the tires there would be way to many crashes and blow outs. don't forget when they give anything a rating they make sure the tire or whatever can handle atleast 20-30% more for a safety margin they need to.

for example hitches for our trucks factory ones say 5,000max 7,000max with weight dis. bars. abuddy of mine worked for a hitch company (won't say name for liability perpose) and he said that hitch prolly was made strong enough to handle 7,000 max and 9,000 with weight dis. bars.

 

[Okie-Go]

I just got back from Oklahoma with a bed full of freshly cut Pecan. It ws stacked up high enough I couldn't see out the rear view mirror. Had a 14ft trailer with two atv's in it and had no problem. Total distance was right at 500 miles. I could tell it was there when I tried to stop. I always worry more about stopping a load than pulling it.