So I have been working the heck out of my 95 the past couple weeks... Doing some MAJOR yard and house remodeling this summer. Over the past couple weeks I have hauled:

-8 loads of concrete and rock (about 1 ton each) in the box to the dumps. (really makes her squat!)
-1 ton of crushed rock in the bed
-3 loads of crushed rock (3 tons each) pulling behind on my trailer

I have to say that it holds its own with power, but would be nice if the springs in the rear would hold a little more weight. I would surely put this truck up against ANY (stock) 90's or 2000's 1/2 ton truck anyday!

Sooo.... with all this "work" what do you think would be the first thing to go? I am very conscious when pulling to be gentle on it. Maintain the right gear/rpms to minimize shifting under load. Rear end does get kinda hot, but its got all new fluids in it. Maybe invest in a tranny cooler?

 

Ya a transmission cooler, change out all oils/fluids including rear end and brake fluid, tranny.

Monroe makes air shocks that can help the rear hold more weight. They also make coil overs Sena Trac's if I remember right.

Come on post up pics!

My general rule for me is to use my truck as a truck at least once a week. If not hauling/towing then offroading.

My last heavy load in the bed was 20 bags of 80Lbs of cement. 1,600LBS. I go camping with my 5,000LBS travel trailer regularly. Next week!

 

tranny fluid was new with the motor swap last summer. Diff fluid was last winter. Break fluid is not a bad idea.

I have a "universal" tranny cooler I was thinking about hooking up. Just need the time.

Here is a picture of the trailer I was using from last winter hauling 4 sleds

the trailer itself is a whopping 1960# empty and then about 500# per sled. so this was about 4000#. I was hauling 4000# of rock this week which is 6000# GVW for the trailer! and thats just a 5.2 not a 5.9!

 

Well... Gonna keep working it to see what will actually give!
Hauled about 35,000 lbs of concrete out this weekend in 5 loads.
13,600 GVW
-4500 truck
----------------
9000 lbs trailer gvw
-2000lbs trailer
----------------
7000lbs concrete (approx) per load



9000lbs really made her sweat! I was easy on it in the hills as I was afraid that the rear end would be the weakest link, but it held out!

Heres some pics of the project:
Demo'ing a patio and drive way that turned out to be 8-10" thick!


Concrete pile


Loaded up:


Done:

 

Nice! I love seeing these trucks used as trucks!

 

I agree that trucks are made to be used like trucks. I have put 31 bundles of shingles on a pallet and 3 rolls of tar paper in the bed of mine. That was around 2100 or 2200 #'s. My hitch was about 3" off the ground. I had no problems with it. I pull a 20' heavy duty trailer that weighs about 3000#'s empty with cars on it quite often. I only have the 3.9 v6 with a manual tranny. It was rough pullin it over the mountain, but it did it with no problems besides being a little slow. If it didnt do the job that I put it up to I probably wouldnt own it.

 

DaMn! I thought I was hard on mine! being a 318 and all....

 

I put it through its paces. It has never failed me yet. That is why I love my truck so much and wont get rid of it. I do stuff with my truck that some people around here wont do with their full size trucks. The only thing that I have had to do to it is the suspension work, clutch, and starter. I have 202,000 on the odometer and still running strong.