i own a 96' 2500hd long bed, does anyone know how much weight I can carry in the bed of my truck safely? thanks.

 

Fill out your sig so we know exactly what you are driving?.....Auto or stick?......Auto has a D70 rear with a 6500lb rating and the stick has a 6500 or 7500 lb D80......this will change potential payload ratings.......I have no idea what the bed is rated for but I have a 3500 lb slide-in that the bed handles fine and some guys are running 4000 lbs +.....is that proper according to DC's specs? - I have no idea but if I were to guess it is probably like everything else on these trucks: horribly under-rated.

 

Check the tag on the drivers side door column and it should give you the "allowable" limits. I have exceeded those more than once I'm sure and she stills rides fine.

 

i was always told that you are supposed to take the total gvwr 8800 on my 2500 minus the actual curb weight 6400 in my case. that would give you a cargo capacity of 2400 lbs in the bed.

 

That is for calculating total payload that could include the occupants and any other extras that could be in the cab - not just the bed payload.

The door tag does not state the actual bed pay load capacity but rather GAWR/GVWR.

 

oops! good point ! well, i guess it would be 2,220 in my case . mr hydro, i have picked up supplies in the past that were weighed by the vendor . with a 2,000 lb load, my truck just started to level out though. handling was perfect. all i ever do is make sure i inflate to the max pressure on the sidewall before i haul heavier and air back down when i am done- that s pretty important to do for handling and safety.

 

This is a good point. This number would give your "legal" payload capacity. Anything beyond that number you are operating illegally and at your own risk. On a non commercial vehicle this issue of legality is much less of an issue than on a commercial vehicle.

With all that said I personally have a legal payload of about 1800 pounds (with me in the truck) and I have had well in excess of that several times and the truck doesn't even feel like it has anything in the bed.