1700lbs in a V-6 pickup?
 

Would it hurt to carry 1700lbs (of solid metal, literally) in the back
of a V-6, 200 horsepower 1/2 ton pickup? I know that 1700lbs is more
than 1/2 a ton, but I'm not sure if that's an accurate way to measure
a truck's carrying capabilities. I know that I can tow more than
1700lbs...but is it safe to carry that much weight in the back of the
truck?

Any feedback would be appreciated.

Thanks!
Steve

Steve wrote:
> Would it hurt to carry 1700lbs (of solid metal, literally) in the back
> of a V-6, 200 horsepower 1/2 ton pickup? I know that 1700lbs is more
> than 1/2 a ton, but I'm not sure if that's an accurate way to measure
> a truck's carrying capabilities. I know that I can tow more than
> 1700lbs...but is it safe to carry that much weight in the back of the
> truck?
>
> Any feedback would be appreciated.
>
> Thanks!
> Steve

The load rating for your truck can be found on a sticker on the driver's
door jamb, and if you really want to know for sure you need to visit a scale
that can weigh the front and rear axles independently. GVWR is the gross
vehicle weight rating. That is the maximum total weight that your truck is
allowed to weigh including the truck, load, fuel, passengers, and anything
else including the tongue weight of a trailer (more on trailers later).
There is also GAWR (gross axle weight rating) for the front and rear. That
is the maximum weight allowed on that axle. You are not supposed to exceed
any of these three ratings. It's possible to stay under gross weight and
have an overloaded axle or to load both axles under the GAWR for each and
still be over gross. Will 1700 lbs. damage your truck or cause you to crash?
Who knows for sure. It would probably be safer if you rented or borrowed a
utility trailer that could handle the load and tow it, but now you get to
worry about the towing capacity. It isn't hard to figure out if you
understand how. Check your owner's manual for the maximum tongue weight you
are allowed with the type of hitch you have. It's different for each type
truck and hitch. The tongue weight is the amount of weight the trailer puts
on the hitch ball. The tongue weight of ball towed trailers must be not less
than 10% but no more than 15% of the trailer's weight. If your truck is
equipped with a bumper hitch it might be rated for 500 lbs max tongue
weight. Use the hitch rating to figure out what the trailer weight allowance
would be. The max trailer weight rating for a 500 lb. tongue weight rating
is 5,000 lbs. This is at 10% tongue weight. If the trailer's tongue weight
is 15% of the trailer weight you only get to tow up to 3,333 lbs. Remember
that the tongue weight takes away from your GVWR and GAWR, so don't load the
truck bed up to capacity and still expect to tow a trailer. To figure out
what the tongue weight is you need to weigh the truck without the trailer
and then with the trailer. The total weight of the combined rig subtracted
from the total weight of the truck without the trailer is the trailer's
weight. The difference between the weight of the truck before and after the
trailer is connected is the tongue weight.

"Steve" > wrote in message
om...
> Would it hurt to carry 1700lbs (of solid metal, literally) in the back
> of a V-6, 200 horsepower 1/2 ton pickup? I know that 1700lbs is more
> than 1/2 a ton, but I'm not sure if that's an accurate way to measure
> a truck's carrying capabilities. I know that I can tow more than
> 1700lbs...but is it safe to carry that much weight in the back of the
> truck?
>
> Any feedback would be appreciated.
>
> Thanks!
> Steve

The only way to know is to check the door sticker, but most 1/2 ton pickups
are rated for somewhere around 1500 LBS+/- so you may not be that far over.
It also depends on how often you plan on hauling this much weight. If it is
a one time thing I doubt you will damage anything. If you plan on doing it
on a daily basis the truck will suffer a bit.
Greg

I have carried 1,500lb in a 94 Dakota V6 with no problem. It sags a
little but just take it easy over the bumps. No braking problem and
no acceleration problem either but then again my V6 puts out 282 HP.

On 23 May 2004 14:13:11 -0700, (Steve) wrote:

>Would it hurt to carry 1700lbs (of solid metal, literally) in the back
>of a V-6, 200 horsepower 1/2 ton pickup? I know that 1700lbs is more
>than 1/2 a ton, but I'm not sure if that's an accurate way to measure
>a truck's carrying capabilities. I know that I can tow more than
>1700lbs...but is it safe to carry that much weight in the back of the
>truck?
>
>Any feedback would be appreciated.
>
>Thanks!
>Steve

I checked and my vehicle supports something like 3,500 lbs per
axle...way more than I need. Thanks for the tip!!

"Nosey" > wrote in message >...
> The load rating for your truck can be found on a sticker on the driver's
> door jamb, and if you really want to know for sure you need to visit a scale
> that can weigh the front and rear axles independently. GVWR is the gross
> vehicle weight rating. That is the maximum total weight that your truck is
> allowed to weigh including the truck, load, fuel, passengers, and anything
> else including the tongue weight of a trailer (more on trailers later).
> There is also GAWR (gross axle weight rating) for the front and rear. That
> is the maximum weight allowed on that axle. You are not supposed to exceed
> any of these three ratings. It's possible to stay under gross weight and
> have an overloaded axle or to load both axles under the GAWR for each and
> still be over gross. Will 1700 lbs. damage your truck or cause you to crash?
> Who knows for sure. It would probably be safer if you rented or borrowed a
> utility trailer that could handle the load and tow it, but now you get to
> worry about the towing capacity. It isn't hard to figure out if you
> understand how. Check your owner's manual for the maximum tongue weight you
> are allowed with the type of hitch you have. It's different for each type
> truck and hitch. The tongue weight is the amount of weight the trailer puts
> on the hitch ball. The tongue weight of ball towed trailers must be not less
> than 10% but no more than 15% of the trailer's weight. If your truck is
> equipped with a bumper hitch it might be rated for 500 lbs max tongue
> weight. Use the hitch rating to figure out what the trailer weight allowance
> would be. The max trailer weight rating for a 500 lb. tongue weight rating
> is 5,000 lbs. This is at 10% tongue weight. If the trailer's tongue weight
> is 15% of the trailer weight you only get to tow up to 3,333 lbs. Remember
> that the tongue weight takes away from your GVWR and GAWR, so don't load the
> truck bed up to capacity and still expect to tow a trailer. To figure out
> what the tongue weight is you need to weigh the truck without the trailer
> and then with the trailer. The total weight of the combined rig subtracted
> from the total weight of the truck without the trailer is the trailer's
> weight. The difference between the weight of the truck before and after the
> trailer is connected is the tongue weight.

The further forward the weight, such that the front axle handles a share of
it, the better. Try to get it forward-of or at least even-with the rear
axle centerline.
Bryan

"findingking" > wrote in message
...
> I have carried 1,500lb in a 94 Dakota V6 with no problem. It sags a
> little but just take it easy over the bumps. No braking problem and
> no acceleration problem either but then again my V6 puts out 282 HP.
>
> On 23 May 2004 14:13:11 -0700, (Steve) wrote:
>
> >Would it hurt to carry 1700lbs (of solid metal, literally) in the back
> >of a V-6, 200 horsepower 1/2 ton pickup? I know that 1700lbs is more
> >than 1/2 a ton, but I'm not sure if that's an accurate way to measure
> >a truck's carrying capabilities. I know that I can tow more than
> >1700lbs...but is it safe to carry that much weight in the back of the
> >truck?
> >
> >Any feedback would be appreciated.
> >
> >Thanks!
> >Steve
>

"Steve" > wrote in message
om...
> I checked and my vehicle supports something like 3,500 lbs per
> axle...way more than I need. Thanks for the tip!!

Better read the tag again. Often the tag will say 3,500 lbs per axle and a
gross vehicle weight of maybe 6,000 lbs. Don't forget the weight of the
truck is in this equation too. The truck empty is probably 4,000+ lbs.
Subtract the empty weight of the truck from the sticker weight to get
payload.
Greg