GM 1500HD Payload question

[asylum575]

I have a 2006 Chevy 1500HD 2WD with 6.0 and 3.73 gears. The GVW of the truck is rated at 8600 with a curb weight of 5471. This leaves me 3129 of payload including myself. Nothing really in the cab except a car seat and my trailering stuff, ie hitch balls, wrench and drawbar.
I'm looking to pick up a pallet of belgian blocks. Pallet weight is 2900-3000. I may be over about 100-200 lbs. Truck has 8000 miles on it and hasn't been abused. The trip is about 6 miles and I can take a mostly flat route.
What do you think? I figure GM probably underestimates for safety and I'm right at the limit.

 

[mjarrels]

I have a heavy half ton ford... when I might push the limits, I will wait until I'm low on fuel in each tank... reduces a couple hundred pounds of fuel weight.

mark

 

[crashz]

I'd strip as much weight as practical, check that your tires are inflated to the recommended sidewall pressure and also check the weight rating of the tires. If the two rear tires can handle the load of the truck weight and the added 3000lbs, then you should be OK. I'm not sure what load range comes from the factory, but on my regular 1/2 ton I have load range C tires that could never handle that load. The heavy half ton comes with the 8 lug rims, so check your tires as they could be load range D or E.

Load the pallet as far forward as possible to allow the front axle to take some weight as well as the rear. If loaded by a forklift, take the tailgate off before they load the truck and replace once the lift is done and gone. Trust me.

Braking is not great in our GM's to begin with, so keep stopping distances very conservative and also keep in mind that the center of gravity is much higher so corners will make the truck sway significantly.

 

[KAB]

Look on the door jamb for the actual payload capacity of your truck. If you are really worried about being over, remove the tailgate, which would make it easier to load the pallet. For warranty purposes no it can't be overloaded, but for the amount that you would be overloaded I would not worry about it.

If you happen to break down do the same thing that you would do if you were pulled over by the police and weighed. Call somebody with another vehicle, remove a layer of the bricks, place them in the other vehicle and then be on your way (in that case towed away). Only way GM would find out is if you told them.

Have fun and post pics. of the project.

Kurt

 

[asylum575]

Thanks for the input guys. I'm not really concerned, just a little. It's not like I'm using a ford ranger or chevy colorado/s10. This is a beefy truck. I'll have to check on the tires, but I think they are rated high. Air pressure is like 55PSI. It's not a long ride. Thanks for the tip on the tailgate. I've smashed one before. Actually, I just put a nice dent in the door this morning with my lawn tractor. Had just replaced a pulley that broke and was getting ready to slide the deck under. I brought the mower around and stopped it just short of the truck. I wanted to back up a little and it lunged forward. I was still in a forward gear and "CRUSH". 18" horizontal dent lalong the passenger door trim molding. That was a very expensive pulley replacement.

The project is to edge a perimeter around most of the house to seperate mulch from lawn. I'll dig a wavy trench around the house, pour s small cement footing and the blocks in the cement, then fill the gaps between blocks. It's about 120-160 linear feet. I figure to need two pallets of 100 blocks. Price around here is $375including tax for the pallet. That's $3.75 each. I'll pick up one pallet at a time. Delivery is $80. I'll see if I can get them down on that. This way I can get both together and have them drop the pallets and I have to handle them less. They get heavy. I can get used cobblestones for NYC for about $2 each, but I have to handle them loose.

 

[KAB]

I'll have to check on the tires, but I think they are rated high. Air pressure is like 55PSI. It's not a long ride.

Check the pressure on the door jamb. If I remember correctly front tires should be 60 / rear 80. When running empty 60 rear is ok, loaded go to 80.

Kurt

 

[Diamondpilot]

If its only 6 miles why not borrow a trailer to haul the stones or just make 2 trips. I once broke a leaf spring on a Explorer hauling a trailer that weighed a few pounds too much.

Like the others have said the GM trucks lack a little on the brakes so if you do decide to go ahead and haul them take the suggestions of the others and move it far forward, take it slow, ect.


I also doubt your truck weighs what you think it does. The manufactures always lie, its a sales gimmick. Most Hp-least weight=best truck thing. They always list the weight of a striped down work truck in the brochure.

My 2007 F-150 4x4 Super Crew weighs 5,900# with me in it and 3/4 tank of gas. My 2006 F-350 SRW 4x4 extended cab PSD weighs 8,600# with me in it and 3/4 tank of gas. Unless you have had it weighed this is true.


Chris

 

[wkpoor]

Like the others have said the GM trucks lack a little on the brakes

Are you referring to 1/2tonners or the fleet as a whole? My Chevy express van 3500 has very good brakes!

 

[crashz]

In my experience, just the newer trucks with ABS. I have a 2004 1/2 ton thats only marginal when empty. The old trucks like my 83 3/4 ton can stop on a dime.

 

[zzvyb6]

You will never hurt the truck, even with 500 extra lbs. The only real concern is tire pressure. You can easily add 10 extra psi to the tires. In fact leave it there and enjo the extra fuel economy. Anybody who says that's not possible doesn't actually know what they are talking about. I do evaluation and testing of that very truck. The worst case for loads is a 28' travel trailer going down Pike's Peak or Appache Trail at posted speed, overloaded and called 'foreseable misuse'. Go get the stones. To get that warm fuzzy, stack them mid-wheelbase to let the front have a go at it. A truck is designed for what fits in the bed. The tires are the limiting factor under aged rubber, low air, aftermarket brand, and worn tread conditions. (Unless you get your bedtime stories from Mr Peepers).

Good grief....