Will 4000 lbs. payload hurt my 2500 for a one time trip? If I take it very easy, would it be dangerous? 4000 lbs. payload would put me a little past the rear axle rating (by 1000 lbs.), but I would be under the tire limit. I don't have timbrens or helper springs. I would be going about 200 miles, mostly rural highways.

 

I wouldn't think it would hurt anything for a one time trip.

 

A 4K payload puts you about 1500lbs below tire rating (truck roughly 7K empty, 250 for a full tank and another 250 for the driver and whatever other things are thrown in the cab = 11500). My biggest concern would be bearing wear, especially if you hit a decent bump or two. I think I'd rent a trailer and spend the $50. My $.02.

-Adam

 

I've done 4200# for a 20 mile trip (before I had Timbrens). It was a little squishy, but the truck handled it just fine.

 

i have a 3500. i know, i know...
i moved two pallets of pellets. 2000lbs each. Plus three men. For me, this experience was too nerve racking. The trip was 15 miles or so. Just one direction through quiet side country roads. I would have to think about it hard if I had to do it again.

 

I wouldn't do it 200 miles. 20, yeah, but not 200. I'd be nervous as a cat passing barbed wire that I'd need to STOP that load ASAP.

 

i brought home 168 cottage blocks 16 miles, no problems
brought home 2 yards of 3/4 basalt rock, 12 miles no problems

i wouldnt do it for 200, but short, no worries.

 

If you could rent a trailer that would be safer.

 

Just out of curiosity,how much could a dually handle?

 

That's my thing... a 2500 and 3500 SRW trucks are pretty much identical. I suspect that other than the extra wheels, a SRW and DRW truck are pretty much identical. So that comes down to just the tires. Load Range E tires are good for 6800 lbs per pair (e.g. the rear axle). I know from past experience that my duallies have around 3400 lbs on the rear axle unloaded, so SRW truck will probably around 3000. That gives you 3800 lbs to work with. And again, the limit is only the tires.

I also know from a good, reputable source, that you can overinflate your tires by 10-15% to pick up another 10-15% of load capacity, for short hauls.

This same person swapped out his regular 17" wheels for Rickson 19.5's to bring his tire capacity up to 9000 lbs. And so he carries around the biggest, baddest Lance camper (1181) in a SRW truck just fine -- towing a trailer no less. I know for a fact that camper weighs around 5000 lbs with all his stuff in it.

I had a Lance 1030, which fully loaded with stuff was 4500 lbs (and it didn't even have a slide-out). I always used a dually so I was never worried, and it always handled it well.

So... the point is this... 4000 may be pushing it A LITTLE because of your tire ratings, but that's ALL it's pushing.

Rob

 

A 3500 SRW has the helper springs on it just like a dually does. That makes for a much more stable ride if you load it down that heavy.
A dually could handle that load without a worry and so could a 3500SRW. A 2500 with airbags or Timbrens could too. Timbrens don't cost that much.

When do you plan on doing this? I could loan you my Timbrens for your trip Mark. I wouldn't do it without them. That will be one hairy ride everytime you hit a bump....

 

Mark, I'm not sure what tires you have, you may indeed be under the total 4 tire limit.

But, considering that your 4k load is sitting almost directly on top of the rear tires, and figuring that your truck prolly weighs 2800 lbs on the rear axle empty - they would be supporting the majority of your 6800'ish lbs back there. I bet those rear tires would be pretty much max'd out under your load, and your front tires having some margin.

Given a choice I'd rather make that run on a smooth highway, and not necessarily on rural (bumpy) highways.

 

Thanks for the offer - I think I need to break down & buy some Timbrens myself. Sounds like from all the advice, I should load it that heavy, so I'll load to about 3000 lbs. Anyone know how much sag to measure so I know when I'm at 3000 lbs.?

 

I routinely haul my Lance camper in my SRW for several hundred miles with no issues. It weights in at 3600# loaded. It really is more of a tire issue than anything else. I also have airbags, but have hauled the camper without them being inflated, again without any problems. Check your tires for load rating and inflation and use a liberal dose of common sense.

 

What are you hauling? Any chance that it could be loaded as far forward as possible? Just to put some weight on the front axle.