by "Urambo Tauro" (urambotauro)
Published 09/01/2017 at 23:00
by "Urambo Tauro" (urambotauro)
Published 09/01/2017 at 23:00
Tags: payload
; hauling
; weight
; capacity
; work truck
; murlequin
STARS: 2
And that’s more than I knew before!
One of the things that’s always on my mind when driving loaded-down work trucks is exceeding their rated capacity. Sure, you can cheat those ratings a little, but it’s always a compromise. Even if the engine can “handle it”, there’s so much more to it than that, and the given rating is a great starting point.
My truck, a 1995 C2500 Sierra, has a clearly labelled GVWR of 7200 pounds. But that’s just the maximum overall loaded weight. It doesn’t spell out just how much it can carry.
So during a scrap metal run, I made sure to get a reading from the scale after unloading. I want to know what my truck weighs empty, so that I can subtract that from the GVWR and get a sense of what its hauling capacity is, since I can’t find a reliable source for those kinds of numbers that will match my truck’s configuration. Luckily, these scales (truck scales too), have to be re-certified frequently. And from what I’ve been able to find, they’re supposed to be within 0.01% of dead-on balls accurate. That’s a 10 lb tolerance for a 100,000 lb capacity scale. Not bad!
But first I wanted to have my truck prepared as best I can for a true baseline reading. I don’t trust my fuel gauge to be 100% accurate when it claims to read 3/4 tank, or 1/2, so right before visiting the recycling facility, I topped off my fuel tank at the nearest station. I’d rather get a “worst-case scenario” scale-reading with a full tank, which is only going to get lighter as I drive.
I also decided to leave any extra cargo at home: my ball-mount, extra ratchet straps, spare fluids, etc, even though that’s stuff that I always carry in the truck. It doesn’t amount to much, but I really want to get as close to a naked-truck reading for my baseline as I can.
I got my reading, then went home and weighed myself on the bathroom scale so that I could subtract that, too. The result: my truck weighs 4400 pounds totally empty of cargo (but all fluid tanks & reservoirs full).
Subtracted from the GVWR, that means that the truck can carry 2800 pounds. But let’s not forget that some of that weight is going to be spoken for: by me the driver, and any passengers riding with me.
This morning I went to pick up a load of concrete: 42 80# bags! 42 x 80 = 3360 pounds Yeah, I better split that into two trips. So I calculated how many bags would constitute a full load, after subtracting an overly-cautious 400 pounds from the cabin to accommodate me and my passenger. If I wanted to do a full maximum-capacity load, I would have to take 30 bags of concrete.
Well, I’d like to know what my truck looks like with a full load, so that if I ever find myself hauling more than I can measure, I can use the squat level of the truck for reference.
So we loaded up 30 bags, and I took some pictures and measured the distance from the ground (in this case a level, paved parking lot). We then took 9 bags back off and made the first trip, returning soon afterward for the equal remainder.
After taking some measurements at home, I can now save these pics and measurements for future reference. The top of the unloaded bed railing stands about 50 inches above the ground with the truck empty. But with a full load, that distance is only 46 inches.
Good to know!
"Highlander-Datsuns are Forever" (jamesbowland)
09/01/2017 at 17:22, STARS: 1
I put about 1700 lbs of hard wood in the back of a 1-ton ford (F350 Super Duty). Surprisingly it squatted about 4-6 inches.
"daender" (daender)
09/01/2017 at 17:29, STARS: 1
Do you even Carolina, bro?
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
09/01/2017 at 18:19, STARS: 0
How scientific!
So, you’re saying putting 3k pounds of dirt in the bed of my 1/2-ton was a bad idea? ;)
"Urambo Tauro" (urambotauro)
09/01/2017 at 18:44, STARS: 0
Eesh. Still better than
camber
lina squat, I guess.
"Urambo Tauro" (urambotauro)
09/01/2017 at 18:53, STARS: 1
Almost as bad as putting it in that poor trailer! haha
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
09/01/2017 at 19:16, STARS: 1
Yeah, the trailer was definitely a worse idea. RIP Harbor Frieght folding trailer.
When I had it in the truck, and was hauling it to the compost yard, I at one point failed to appreciate just how much weight was in there. I had to stab the brakes, and the tail tried to wag the dog. Some poo came out.
"Urambo Tauro" (urambotauro)
09/01/2017 at 19:30, STARS: 1
Yikes!
Yeah, even with this load (which only amounts to about 2/3 of the truck’s actual capacity), the brakes were definitely where I felt it the most.
I drive pretty smoothly out of habit, and I took corners a little more slowly today, so I didn’t fully explore its effect on the suspension (apart from the visuals). The trans was fine (I just kept it out of OD), and the engine did not care at all (SBC 350 FTW). But yeah, increasing my braking distances was the most important thing.
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
09/01/2017 at 22:24, STARS: 1
Yeah. I mean, it was only a small wiggle. I’m sure nobody else even saw anything, but I felt what it was trying to do. I tend to drive the same way. I just got caught not paying full attention to the task at hand.
It’s been a long time since I’ve driven one, but I recall the brakes being the real weak spot in the GMT-400's.
"SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media" (silentbutnotreallydeadly)
09/02/2017 at 08:02, STARS: 0
You know...this does make me wonder why you guys persist with tub bodies. Drop side cab chassis all the way down here...
"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
09/02/2017 at 10:57, STARS: 1
2800 lbs is great payload. Bless you for taking the time to do it safely as opposed to just going to town