improving load capacity

JBurd

JBurd

New member
I just got a 1999 F250 7.3 powerstroke with a utility box. its listed gvwr is 8800, i got everything mounted, 2 passengers and 55 gallons in the float tank with a full tank of gas and took it out to some scales, it weighs exactly 8800! Well, that's cutting it close so I'm deciding what to do. As I see it, I have 3 options:

1. Get a hitch and trailer and put most everything on that.
2. remove the utility box and put a lighter flat bed on it (no idea how weight that will save me, anybody? anybody?)
3. get some helper leaf springs or beefier leaf springs and keep an eye on the tires and brakes.

I would strongly prefer #3 for cost and convenience, especially in the short term. Does anybody know if helper springs will really make it safer and ride a little higher? If so, does anybody have any leads or suggestions for brands?
 
Talk to Tony Shelton if he does not see this thread.

He has I believe a 96 F250 with helper springs, flatbed, Landa hot water rig, 300 gallon tote tank, cold water rig, hose reels, etc......

I think his truck would be heavier than yours if it was on the scales.

I would take the utility box off and put a flatbed on there, helper springs or air bags and it would give you the room for a tank, hot water skid, chemical tanks, hose reels, etc....
 
Go to the junkyard and get a set of F350 springs for it, then go get a set of load range "E" tires.

And look into a flatbed for more useable space, unless you have a use for the utility bed.
 
Check Craigs list and junk yards for aluminum flat beds. They're out there. You should be able to sell the utility bed pretty easy. I have a 1997 f350 4 door flatbed dually with a 300 gallon tote tank, hose reels, cold water machine, soon a pressure pro hw skid and surface cleaners. It works great in tight spots. If I need more mojo I can hook up a trailer with more gear.
 
Sounds like a cool truck Kemp, post pics if you can.
 
Thanks Chris, It's a work in progress. I need to finish the brake job before I put on the big skid. My floor jack is at it's limit. I will put the skid on after I finish the brakes and post some pics.
 
Cool.
 
If you cut the sides off flush with the bed and get a few pieces of scrap metal to cover the exposed area you can make your own flatbed in less than a day. Leave the bottom section of the utility doors and with a little engineering you can have areas to store chems and other stuff under the bed.

I'll try to find a picture of the one we had. We just sold it because it was a rolling repair bill. (Chevy) :)

Here's our 96 workhorse GAS Ford. In this picture it was about 105 degrees, the job was about 20 miles away in heavy freeway traffic, we had a big install of new filters, plus had to be full with fuel to complete cleanings later that day.

We installed helper springs on it from a junk yard. If this truck didn't already have 165k miles on it I'd do exactly what Russ said and put a 350 axle on it. If I ever get another f250 deal like I got on this one that's what I'll do.

By the way, I don't think you'll be in any trouble at 8800 lbs. :thumbup2::grin:

Here's our breakdown. It's on the conservative side. I'd bet we weight over 1000 lbs more than this number:

Truck w/ no bed 4500lbs
Flatbed 1580 lbs
Tools/occupants etc - 600 lbs
PW1 800lbs
PW2 110 lbs
Hoses/reels 160 lbs
Water tank/water - (not quite full) 2800 lbs
Fuel - Two PW + truck w/ 1 gas tank full 260 lbs
Filters (170 @ 4lbs each) 680 lbs
Trailer Tongue weight 340 lbs

AND it's pulling a 5000 lb lift.

Total 11,830 lbs.

The truck has no problem pulling it. I've pulled it full (minus the filters) over the mountain to Pahrump maxing out at about 35 mph just like most of the guys pulling big fifth wheels. The problem isn't pulling, it's stopping. It will stop all day dry, but I need an airport runway to stop it in the rain. We just don't take it out loaded up like that when it's raining.


BY THE WAY - NO ONE IS ALLOWED TO DRIVE THIS TRUCK LIKE THIS BUT CHRIS AND ME. It's not an acceptable liability risk to allow employees to drive a setup like this.


2011-06-11_10-06-56_366.jpg
 
If I remember correctly, that was only a 9' bed on Tony's truck. He sure made a lot of stuff fit on that truck!
 
A trucks GWVR is set for brakes size, suspension, and tire load. You want to carry more either upgrade all three, or get a bigger truck or a trailer. I just took apart my pickup for the winter and I was almost a 1000 lbs under weight. Truck was a 2005 Dodge dually, had a custom built engine pump combo with a small hot box. Tank was a 300 gallon tank, all fit in the 8 ft box with the tail gate up.

Bought the truck to fit the application, if the truck don't fit either do everything to make it or get rid of the truck and get a new one.
 
Just an update, I went with Firestone air bags (4 hour install, and I love them). Eventually I got a new aluminum flatbed put on there (about 2200 installed, Aluma is the brand). I think the weight of the bed alone went from 1800 to 300 lbs. I did put on two steel underbody boxes so that brought me back up a couple hundred pounds but still way better off. The space is much more usable on the flatbed.
 
Sounds like the truck is coming along nicely, post pics of it as you are building it.
 
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