Hi!

I have what might be a dumb question
I will have to pick up 42 boxes of laminate flooring in a few days, and I'm not sure if this will overload my truck or not (I have a '99 V6 2WD). The boxes weigh (roughly) 30lbs each, so I'd be at approx. 1260lbs. I read somewhere that the max. payload is around 1500lbs, but I couldn't really find a definite source for that value.
Also, how does max. payload work? Is that basically how much I can put on the bed? Do I add my weight as the driver? What about fuel? And what happens when I overload it, does it just hunch down a bit and get harder to drive, or will my axle break?
Never really had to deal much with this weight thing, I was driving mostly sports coupes before I bought the truck

Thanks in advance,

Thomas

 

If you got a trailer to use just put it all on there and not even worry about it... How far will you be driving it?

Edit: just saw its a v6... its probably doable but it most likely wont be a good idea.. Those v6 already have a hard enough time without a load on it.. Putting that much weight on it wouldnt be my first choice...

 

IIRC out payload capacity is around 1700 lbs so you can do it. On the other hand what kind of shape are your rear leaf springs in? They're known to sag. I put about 1200 lbs in the bed of mine and it went straight to the bumpers. Make sure you leave the OD off.

 

Too much weight and the *** end will sag, resulting in less weight on the front wheels. This means a loss of steering ability and is very dangerous to both yourself and other drivers.

 

http://www.dodgeram.info/2001/towing-charts.html

 

99 2wd (all) is 6400 GVWR less weight of truck/less weight of driver and passenger(s)/less weight of crap you carry around all the time/ less weight of optional or aftermarket equipment/ less weight of fuel.

A full tank @26 USG is about 175 Lbs.


Model makes a difference.

2wd std cab shortbox is about 4200 Lbs empty, dry
2wd std cab longbox is about 4400 Lbs empty, dry

2wd club cab shortbox is about 4670 Lbs empty, dry
2wd club cab longbox is about 4875 Lbs empty, dry

2wd Quad cab shortbox is about 4750 Lbs empty, dry
2wd Quad cab longbox is about 4850 Lbs empty, dry

Worst case (club/quad longbox) assuming full fuel and 225 lb driver and no crap carrying around is about 1225~1250 pounds available. You should be OK.

Distribute the load well and if you think you're running close to or slightly over GVW keep the load close to the front of the box, over but not behind the rear axle. You will have poorer stopping power so drive appropriately (more weight overall plus lighter load on front axle). Make sure the load can't shift on you.

You need to be pretty grossly overloaded to break the axle. Usually it's hauling gravel or something that does that. Just the way the truck sits in that condition (and how it drives and fails to actually brake) should be warning enough, but some people push it. If you shocks are poor loading even to the spec GWV is sketchy.

 

Throw it in the back. Drive carefully. Enjoy your new floor

 

1200 pounds is fine. +1 on drive slow - steering will be light feeling and brakes will suck but otherwise you'll be fine.

enjoy your new floor. post pics.

 

I just hauled several loads of gravel around, I'm sure it was overweight.

I've had three scoops in it before but that was really pushing it.

My dad had an old Dakota that he would stack the bed plum full of roofing shingles, all the way to the top of bed.

He would jack it up off the frame at night so it wouldn't mess up his axle, suspension stuff.

 

Cool, thanks for the info!
So that sounds doable, but "use at your own risk", that works for me
I'll just see how much it hunches down, and worst case I can still make two trips (it's just like 20mls down a straight road).

Thanks!