How much wieght can I put in the bed of my 05 2500?

 

You can put as much weight as you want, or will fit! If you're asking me, that is.

If you're asking Dodge, then it's your door sticker's GVWR minus your truck's unladen weight (taking care not to exceed axle weights too).

If you're asking the law, it's whatever your state DOT says is max permissible psi on their road surface from your tires or what's stated on your vehicle registration.

 

Whenever someone asks this question it seems there are almost hundreds of answers with 'if this then that' scenarios. this isn't a knock on anyone...just find it funny with so many different replies. SOme people go strictly with what Dodge says and won't go a pound over, while other people far exceed the trucks capacity for either bragging rights or just because they need to.

Not saying this is good or bad........but I've had 4k+ in my 2500 before the dually conversion with no problems. Truck was sitting low but not on the stops. I'm sure other people can chime in with "I carried X lbs of Y!"

Maybe a better question would be what kind of load are you doing? Whenever I carry large machines (done bridgeports, lathes, presses) I always lay down a sheet or two of 3/4" plywood to help distribute the load. These beds are almost see-thru, IMO. Always better to help distribute the weight over not only more sheet metal but onto more cross supports that connect the bed to the frame (look from underneath and you'll see what I mean). With really heavy machines with small bases I use multiple 2x8 or 2x10 running lengthwise.

Good luck!

 

NJ,

That's a great answer and, in my opinion, absolutely right.

The truck will carry a lot of weight before something like an axle housing or a wheel actually breaks. But part of the story is carry it where? Over a dirt mining road, through the mountains with steep downgrades, for the next 100,000 miles, or just 1/2 mile on a paved road?

My personal limit is about 5000 lbs on an easy trip home from the building supply. But two short trips with 2500 lbs sounds better. If I wanted to make a career out of hauling heavy I'd get a bigger truck. For a one time heavy load a trailer sounds good. I don't really want to see if I can break the Dodge.

John

 

All true, But as a reference, Dodge will say its payload is something less than 2,500 lbs. This depends on your unladen weight which varies depending on the truck's configuration and the factory supplied wheels and tires.

 

Thanks for all the info was going to pick up a palet of bricks about 3600 lbs.paved driving about 10 miles. Thank you Mike

 

Back end is going to be sagging for sure. make sure if you do that they get that over the axles, not sitting aft of the rear axle.

 

If it were me, I'd air up the bags, load it up, and drive carefully. If I didn't have bags, I'd split it into two loads. At only 10 miles, making two trips shouldn't be a big deal, provided the seller will help you split the load.

 

Yeah, what sdaly said. I saw a guy hauling a pallet of ceramic floor tiles in a 07 Ram 3500 srw. They were stacked about 5 feet high or so. He stopped at a stopped sign, put his left signal on, and proceeded forward into the left turn. The top heavy pallet shifted and he lost the top three feet over the side of the bed. And really messed up the passenger side rear corner of his pickup.

 

A few months ago I finished up some pavers in my backyard. I needed one more cube of pavers so instead of hooking up the gooseneck I went with the truck. They shrink wrap the cube so they are packed pretty tight...I'd hate to split the tube making 3x more work. Cube weight was 4220 lbs. Drove local for about 6 miles with no problems. Downside was my Kubota can't lift the whole palet so I needed to split the cube anyway when I got home. Still easier as I didn't have to rush splitting the cube there or worry about pavers sliding off and breaking during the ride home.

Make sure you air up the tires to max psi and IMO you'll be fine.

Good luck!

 

My neighbor hauled a pallet of retaining wall blocks home last week with his '06 2500.

The pallet weighed 3276lbs. When he pulled up to the house,I thought he had broken the suspension. It was sagging BADLY.

After having seen the way his truck handled less weight than you're thinking about,I can't say yes to hauling that much weight.

 

I would have felt more comfy with a 3/4" sheet of plywood under it, but it drove just fine. I've got Timbren helpers on it though, too. I think we figured it at about 3400lbs, and it obviously was hanging out the back end. It could have carried it much better if the weight was over or slightly in front of the axle. I'd say this was a work factor of 3 for that truck (scale of 10). It's a 2500, btw.

 

Seems to me it really depends on your axle & tires. I have the 11.50 (One ton axle) and Nitto Dura Grapplers E (3750lbs per tire). The air bags give me 5k lbs leveling. I figure as long as i am not going down the hwy with a 39 ft 20lbs trailer/rv, i will be fine & the law could care less. What do you think?

 

A 3500 with air bags is a far different truck than a 2500 with no overloads or air bags. A truck going down the road nice and level is far less likely to interest a cop than one thats obviously overloaded and likely a safety hazard.

 

Duel wheels? There is no way that a stock 3500 single wheel has the stability of my little 2500. The overload springs are not close to 5k bags. I do agree with a duel wheel 3500 is more stable though. I haven't had a heavy 5th wheel hooked up to mine to see exactly how level the bags will get the truck as of yet.