Can I Beef Up My Truck for Heavier Payload?

[mjncad]

air bags and add-a-leafs (or new spring packs) are common ways.

but expect other issues such as bearing failures, bending axles and tire issues if you dont upgrade to tires that can handle the weight.

the above is in lue of obvious GAWR/GVWR legalities.

Don't forget to include brakes in the equation.

 

[bp fick]

you can do an axle swap...for instance... not that hard to swap an axle from a F250 or F350 into an F150

but at some point you have to ask, is it worth it to do all *this* when you could just buy a bigger truck...

You are right. Didn't mean to imply you can't theoretically add a heavier axle, but rather to say heavier springs isn't adding capability to the existing axle. (nor bearing or brakes).

Remember too, a large portion of the weight has to be carried by the front end too! Pretty hard to increase the capacity of front by very much. Same smaller suspension and steering parts, brakes, bearings, etc up there too.

 

[gladehound]

From a practical point of view... i.e. what can the truck handle... It would be helpful to know the truck and rear axle you are talking about.

From a legal point of view it is possible to get a truck re-registered at a higher GVW but few groups can do this. If you want to go this route you have to find an engineering group that can design the mods and regester your truck.

Personal experience - I have a 1999 F-250. The rear springs are rated at 4600 pounds combined and the axle and tires are rated at 6800 pounds. Breaks are the same as on the F-350. So you can see that the spring were far and away the weak link. I added air bags and eventually the springs broke, possibly due to how the air bags attach. I swaped in heavier springs, rated for 7,200 pounds combined. To my surprise, the truck rides softer with the heavier springs than it did with the originals + air bags. This is possible because the new springs give 6 inches of travel to the bump stops compared to 3 inches with the old worn out springs.

So now the weak link is the axle / tires. The back of the truck weighs 2800 pounds so I limit payloads to 4,000 pounds. It's not legal at that weight. Still has the same legal gross of 8,800 pounds based on registration. On the flip side, every component part is made to handle more and is used in heavier applications than the 8,800 pound rating. The only difference between my truck and a F-350 single rear wheel is the badge on the side and the fact the I have heavier springs than the F-350.... Practically speaking, my truck is better for hauling weight than the F-350 single rear wheel. But the F-350 can legally carry more.

 

[grsthegreat]

From a practical point of view... i.e. what can the truck handle... It would be helpful to know the truck and rear axle you are talking about.

From a legal point of view it is possible to get a truck re-registered at a higher GVW but few groups can do this. If you want to go this route you have to find an engineering group that can design the mods and regester your truck.

Personal experience - I have a 1999 F-250. The rear springs are rated at 4600 pounds combined and the axle and tires are rated at 6800 pounds. Breaks are the same as on the F-350. So you can see that the spring were far and away the weak link. I added air bags and eventually the springs broke, possibly due to how the air bags attach. I swaped in heavier springs, rated for 7,200 pounds combined. To my surprise, the truck rides softer with the heavier springs than it did with the originals + air bags. This is possible because the new springs give 6 inches of travel to the bump stops compared to 3 inches with the old worn out springs.

So now the weak link is the axle / tires. The back of the truck weighs 2800 pounds so I limit payloads to 4,000 pounds. It's not legal at that weight. Still has the same legal gross of 8,800 pounds based on registration. On the flip side, every component part is made to handle more and is used in heavier applications than the 8,800 pound rating. The only difference between my truck and a F-350 single rear wheel is the badge on the side and the fact the I have heavier springs than the F-350.... Practically speaking, my truck is better for hauling weight than the F-350 single rear wheel. But the F-350 can legally carry more.

go to a scrap yard and pick up some F350 side letters.......then your set. whos gonna know. hehe

I went the easy route.... i bought an F350. i got a heck of a sweet deal 2 years ago...when diesel was $5 a gallon. the dealer couldn't wait to get this used hog off of his lot. I need to haul large gooseneck trailer, i could care less about the MPG ratings. But i saved a ton on the truck with an all cash deal.

Its a buyers market out there

 

[BXRICK]

I was gonna say brakes. But it's been said.

And, I know this is a flip response, but legally, you could remove weight from the truck itself, which would increase the payload without changing the GVW.

 

[schmism]

And, I know this is a flip response, but legally, you could remove weight from the truck itself, which would increase the payload without changing the GVW.

pull the bed off and put bolt down some 2x4's and plywood? or bolt the fifth wheel hitch right to the frame and bolt on some fenders and trailer lights.

 

[aczlan]

pull the bed off and put bolt down some 2x4's and plywood? or bolt the fifth wheel hitch right to the frame and bolt on some fenders and trailer lights.

Seen it done by a hotshotter with a cab and chassis dually van. He had a 5th wheel mounted to the frame and sections of a plastic 55 gal drum with mudflaps bolted to them as rear fenders. He also had an extra fuel tank mounted right behind the cab.

Aaron Z

 

[mlauk]

The only difference between a 2003 Dodge diesel 3/4 ton and single wheel 1 ton are the overload springs. The truck has the same axles, brakes, etc. so adding air bags, timbrens or overload springs to a 3/4 ton will make it similar to a single wheel one ton. I believe the GVWR for the 3/4 ton is 9200 lbs and the single wheel 1 ton is 9900 lbs. It still doesn't change the legal rating of the truck.

 

[Highbeam]

The only difference between a 2003 Dodge diesel 3/4 ton and single wheel 1 ton are the overload springs.

You eventually fixed this but I want to repeat. There are other differences. The MOST important difference is that little label in the door jamb that allows much more cargo capacity for the one ton than the 3/4 ton. That label is tied to your VIN and will not be changed by adding devices to your truck to help it handl ean overloaded condition.

Best thing to do for more cargo capacity is to buy a bigger truck. I replaced my half ton chevy (6200# GVWR and 5800# empty) with a one ton ford (9900# GVWR and 7500# empty). This change allowed me to go from a 400# legal payload to a 2400# payload. A 600% increase in legal hauling ability.

If you need more truck than you need more truck. If your truck feels overloaded even though you are loaded within the ratings then, and only then, should you consider these add-ons like air bags or timbrens. I love timbrens BTW.

 

[Haoleguy]

Thanks for answers thus far. My truck is a 1998 F150 4WD regular cab long bed. The GVWR is listed at 6050 max and this model F150 with auto comes in at 4400 lbs empty curb weight. That gives me a current 1600 lbs to play with. I would like to haul ~330 gals of water 4 miles....flat no hills. I've been keeping the 1ton decision at bay but expect to take the plunge in a couple of years.