So I got a big load of black dirt the other day and it compressed the rear suspension down far enough that the axle almost touched the rubber blocks that the axle hits when the suspension is compressed all the way. Does that mean I had about 2000 pounds of dirt? Or do the age and use of leaf springs vary so much that it could be way different for different trucks?

 

I'll bet it was WAY more than 2000lbs to bottom your suspension! On my 2nd gen truck my 2500lbs camper would make the truck sit level (about 3.5" of suspension droop) The overload springs would touch but there was still lots of room until the bump stops. The 3rd gens sag a bit more because the initial travel of the springs is softer.

 

a yard of most material avg anywhere from 1.27 to 1.35 tons per yard thats the way we figure it in the dirt business

 

If you knew the spring rate, and the suspension was NOT on the bump stops, and you knew how low (spring travel) your reference point was, you could calculate the load...

weight = spring rate (lb/in) * in (of spring travel).

That would give you ~60-70% confidence value, as some of the weight IS being carried by the front suspension.

Tony

 

I will post pics latter when I get them downloaded but just yesterday I built a sand box for my boy. I told them how big it was (10x10) and they said I needed 2.5 ton to fill it 6" deep. I was gona get 3 ton but it wouldent all fit in the box. When all was said and done the truck was sitting abought an inch or just a little more off the bump stop. I went across the scale and it was 4560 pounds. Good thing I only had to go abought a mile. It was very bouncy and not fun to drive.

 

sand is the worse due to the fact that it is dense and holds moisture.

 

Whats manure weigh per yard? My dad picked up a load in my dually, box was right full and piled above the bed sides by 6-10" in the middle. Figure it was around 60 cu.ft., which is about 2.5 cu.yards.

 

Depends on how wet or dry the stuff is. But if you are almost on the bump stops it was well over 1 ton.

 

Oh, it was well over a ton. I run 1000 lbs of steel in the back in winter time, don't even notice it in the back. This, you noticed. Dually never felt so slow.