Can I Beef Up My Truck for Heavier Payload?

[Diamondpilot]

Chris, what were the factory tires rated for and what is the unloaded rear axle weight of your 1 ton SRW truck? I would think the tires are right at their limits with a 4000# payload.

The tires are E rated. The factory tires are long gone but I think they were 3,040# something at 80psi. The axle is a 7,280# unloaded I believe.

You are right, the tires are the limiting factor.

Chris

 

[bironacad]

Wow it's only 4 miles just make 2 trips. Or break it down to 4 trips. Heck if your in shape you can walk it with 5 gallon buckets and be done by the time this thread gets lost.

What you never killed a fly with a hammer:laughing:

 

[mlauk]

The tires are E rated. The factory tires are long gone but I think they were 3,040# something at 80psi. The axle is a 7,280# unloaded I believe.

You are right, the tires are the limiting factor.

Chris

I believe that is why most SW one ton trucks are rated under or around 10,000 lbs GVWR. If you take your empty truck weight of 7000 lbs and assume that the unloaded weight on the rear axle is 40 percent (assuming 60/40 weight distribution) that would be 2800 lbs unloaded on the rear axle. If your tires are rated at 3040 lbs x 2 = 6080 lbs. So 6080 lbs - 2800 lbs only leaves you with 3280 lbs to load on the rear axle. That's why I have a hard time believing Ford rates their SW one tons for 11,500 GVWR.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I believe that is why most SW one ton trucks are rated under or around 10,000 lbs GVWR. If you take your empty truck weight of 7000 lbs and assume that the unloaded weight on the rear axle is 40 percent (assuming 60/40 weight distribution) that would be 2800 lbs unloaded on the rear axle. If your tires are rated at 3040 lbs x 2 = 6080 lbs. So 6080 lbs - 2800 lbs only leaves you with 3280 lbs to load on the rear axle. That's why I have a hard time believing Ford rates their SW one tons for 11,500 GVWR.

I do not have a link to the year I have but here is Fords 2011. It clearly shows they have tons of GVWR packages but as you can see they have 11,500# package still on a Supercab and Crew Cab 4x4 SRW trucks.

My truck has a 6,000# front axle and a 7,280# rear axle. Truck is a 2006 F-350 SRW 4x4 Supercab Diesel.

I seriously doubt there is 40% of the weight on the rear axle when empty. It would be luck to be 30%. I can tell this when I jack it up to rotate my tires every other oil change.

2011 Ford Super Duty | View Payload Specifications | Ford.com

Chris

 

[TractorRob]

...Can one increase their pickup truck payload from ~1600 lbs to 2400lbs with any aftermarket rear leaf spring load stabilizers or other gizmos?....Gary

...I would like to haul ~330 gals of water...

330 gallons of water is going to weigh over 2700 lbs, add you and the gas, and you're looking at more like a 3000 lb payload instead of 2400.

I agree with those who say that it would not be worth it. It would make more since to me to get a trailer or water buffalo, or make multiple trips.

 

[mlauk]

I do not have a link to the year I have but here is Fords 2011. It clearly shows they have tons of GVWR packages but as you can see they have 11,500# package still on a Supercab and Crew Cab 4x4 SRW trucks.

My truck has a 6,000# front axle and a 7,280# rear axle. Truck is a 2006 F-350 SRW 4x4 Supercab Diesel.

I seriously doubt there is 40% of the weight on the rear axle when empty. It would be luck to be 30%. I can tell this when I jack it up to rotate my tires every other oil change.

2011 Ford Super Duty | View Payload Specifications | Ford.com

Chris

I guess they are counting on passengers in the payload which will put more load toward the front on their GVWR. I put the same load on my Dodge 2500 but it has Timbrens for overload springs, which work great for a heavy load.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I guess they are counting on passengers in the payload which will put more load toward the front on their GVWR. I put the same load on my Dodge 2500 but it has Timbrens for overload springs, which work great for a heavy load.

I weigh all my trucks. I have a scale 1.5 miles from my house. I do all them with just me in it and 3/4 tank of fuel. I never break it down to axles, just want to know what it weighs with me, typical fuel load, and my junk in the truck. From there I can do the math.

Chris

 

[gladehound]

Just a comment on the old 80psi E rated tires. The 245/75x16 were rated for 3040#. But the 265/75x16 (which came on my truck) were rated at 3415#. So combined they were rated at 6830#. Which matched my axle well (6800#). So my new 7,200# (combined) rear springs match the tires and axle much better than the 4,600# (combined) springs that came on it. The rear of my truck weighs in at 2,800# giving it a 4,000# payload based on components (not legal) with the 6800# axle as the weak link.

Bottom line - with just helper in the rear or an appropriate spring swap, all SRW F-250 and F-350 handle a 4,000 pound pay load well and all the components have appropriate ratings to do it. Easy to see how a SRW F-350 is rated at 11,500 GVW. It should be. My F-250 should be rated at 11,600 GVW based on the weakest links and that can easily be increase with heavier front springs.

Should everyone buy a truck with a legal rating for what they do? Of course. But the whole thing is legal B.S.

 

[slowzuki]

Depends where you live. Some places let you register whatever you want for axle weights and leave it up to you to not destroy your truck. There is more to it than just springs in most cases. Exceptions include the ford superduty, in some cases all components the same except the springs and the ratings are thousands of pounds apart. Good case to add airbags to the lower rated unit when you are treating it like the higher rated unit.

If its just a little Chevy 1/2 ton with a 10 bolt rear, you're messing with fire overloading it. The axle can't handle the loads.

This is a specific question related to an earlier question of mine which yielded no followups yet. Can one increase their pickup truck payload from ~1600 lbs to 2400lbs with any aftermarket rear leaf spring load stabilizers or other gizmos?....Gary

 

[slowzuki]

The sterling 10.5 is actually rated higher, something like 9000 lbs, but you won't find 16" rims rated for that except in dually. The 17" rims had some heavier ratings, as in the 2005 up superduty. The 17" rims also fit slightly larger brakes. BTW the front Dana 60 is rated at 6000 lbs, the early trucks with Dana 50 is listed as 5200 lbs but has all the same components as the 60 except in diff and inner axle shafts. I'm sure thats why they have survived fine despite the negative press when the truck first came out.

My f350 srw has the 3400 lb or so rated tires too, handles 4000 lb+ in the bed fine. Actually, its the only thing that makes it ride half decent. 2000 lbs barely takes the stutters out of the rear. Mine doesn't have overloads but the heavy spring package. I have though about pulling a few leaves and adding airbags, I have a pair of 1500 lb each rated bags sitting on the shelf.

Just a comment on the old 80psi E rated tires. The 245/75x16 were rated for 3040#. But the 265/75x16 (which came on my truck) were rated at 3415#. So combined they were rated at 6830#. Which matched my axle well (6800#). So my new 7,200# (combined) rear springs match the tires and axle much better than the 4,600# (combined) springs that came on it. The rear of my truck weighs in at 2,800# giving it a 4,000# payload based on components (not legal) with the 6800# axle as the weak link.

Bottom line - with just helper in the rear or an appropriate spring swap, all SRW F-250 and F-350 handle a 4,000 pound pay load well and all the components have appropriate ratings to do it. Easy to see how a SRW F-350 is rated at 11,500 GVW. It should be. My F-250 should be rated at 11,600 GVW based on the weakest links and that can easily be increase with heavier front springs.

Should everyone buy a truck with a legal rating for what they do? Of course. But the whole thing is legal B.S.