No worries. We hauled 1500lbs minimum of stuff from California to Texas in my Dad's '01. Handled it great, I trailed in my Bronco haulin another ~1200lbs of stuff, and both looked and felt solid and stable for the whole trip. I'd say within reason, exceeding that limit isn't too much of a problem, it's probably relatively conservatively rated anyway.

 

These trucks can handle more hten they are rated for. That is just what the factory recommends so you don't go breaking stuff. The real breaking point is probably actually much higher. I have hauled over 1200 lbs in the bed of my 1500 numerous times. I am far more worried about my transmission with weights like that then I am about the rear suspension and frame.

 

I hauled close to 2000 lbs of dry rock in the bed of my 01 1500 for my cousin back in June. No problems yet, I kept OD off and Didnt go any faster than 40 mph. Got a really good picture somewhere's too of the rear wheel well only about 1" off the rear tires, that was the only bad thing.

 

I doubt you'd ever come close to warping or screwing up a 9.25 with only 2000 pounds on it. They're a pretty big axle for a 1/2 ton truck. The ring gear is only .5" smaller then the D60 which is a 3/4 to 1 ton ton axle. (Not saying the 9.25 is as strong as the D60 though) The side walls on the 60 are .5" thick and the 9.25 is pretty close iirc.

In my opinion, the 9.25 is pretty beefy for a 1/2 axle compared to the 8.8 and 8.5 that Ford and Chevy run!

 

Guess I will chime in here too. A few weeks ago I had two pallets of sod in the back of the ol dodge. together they weighed about 2,400 lbs. Back end was sagging but the ties didnt rub on the wheel wells. I drove 15 miles on the highway with no problems. Unloaded the sod and she popped right back up and thanked me for putting her to work. Crazy how my tuck learned to talk.