could a ram 1500 carry a pallet of floratam?

[jbannick18]

As title says, would it be wise to put a pallet of floratam in the back of a 99 dodge 1500? The pallet weighs about 3200 lbs. Thanks

[PerfectEarth]

I wouldn't!!! What is the GVWR of your truck?? What is the weight of the vehicle under normal circumstances??

[P.Services]

i would, its gona drag the a$$ on the ground but oh well

[jbannick18]

Weights: gross vehicle weight rating (kg) 2,903, curb weight (kg) 2,223, gross trailer weight braked (kg) 1,497, front axle weight (kg) 1,656, rear axle weight (kg) 1,769 and max legal load (kg) 680

Thats the info i found, its my friends truck and i don't really wanna risk messing it up

[PerfectEarth]

Lbs. would help (don't worry 'bout getting the info).... I really wouldn't do it if the truck were not mine!

You'd look like a homeowner loading up wall block at Home Depot in the neighbor's Ford Ranger...

[P.Services]

i take that back dont do it if its not yours!!! go get a trailer

[jbannick18]

Ok thanks, i'll not do it

[capelawncare.com]

Yep sure will. Done it before in Ram 1500 4x4. wasnt a problem. back end sat a little low, but it was fine.

I loaded a pallet into a Ranger once, it was short trip, and was like driving a boat that wouldnt get up on plane. But it made it. I dont think I would do it again, but circumstances forced me to use the ranger.

You should be fine with the dodge though.

[jbannick18]

Thats what I own is a 02 ford ranger 3.0l v6 atm. I put half a pallet in the back once and it sunk ><. I can't wait to get a HD next year

[SOUTHERNGREENSCAPES]

Just Go Buy You A Real Truck. I Just Put A 3500lb Load Of Boulders In The Back Of My 3500 Dually And Then Hooked Up To A 11,500lb Trailer At The Same Time. Pulled Real Nice. Acutally Pulled Better With The Load In It Than With Out.

[jbannick18]

Well considering im 18 I really can't afford a 40,000 truck :(

[YardPro]

Yep sure will. Done it before in Ram 1500 4x4. wasnt a problem. back end sat a little low, but it was fine.

I loaded a pallet into a Ranger once, it was short trip, and was like driving a boat that wouldnt get up on plane. But it made it. I dont think I would do it again, but circumstances forced me to use the ranger.

You should be fine with the dodge though.

it's guys like you that kill people....
can you do it.. probably, should you do it... NO

trucks ratings are not just based on the spring capacity, but the brake capacity as well.

your front brakes are 60% of your stopping power, and as you load the rear, you remove weight and traction from the front, greatly reducing your stopping ability.

overlaoding a truck like this can kill somebody..

[YardPro]

Well considering im 18 I really can't afford a 40,000 truck :(

only do the work you are equipped to do...

you don't need a $40K truck... you can get a nice use done for $9-10K
or better yet have it delivered and pass along the delivery fee.

[capelawncare.com]

As title says, would it be wise to put a pallet of floratam in the back of a 99 dodge 1500? The pallet weighs about 3200 lbs. Thanks


I dont think a pallet weighs 3200 lbs. I think your way over estimating that

[jbannick18]

Well thats what the sod place has told me twice, i find it hard to believe. I am getting a chevy 1500 HD next year so I have that to look forward to

[YardPro]

we own an 07 1500hd and would not buy another one if we had it to do over again. it is a little better than a 1500, but nowhere near a my 2500hd

[jbannick18]

Well thats good to hear.. seems like i'm going to lean towards the 2500 when the time comes around. What kind of gas milage you getting?

[SOUTHERNGREENSCAPES]

acutally, if you speak with a mechanic that knows something about hd trucks, he will tell you that all the 1500hd is the same thing as the 2500hd. GM used the hd as a bridge between the 1500 customers who could not quite afford the 2500hd. they both have the same springs, motor and gear ratios.

as far as the guy who said he is only 18 and could not afford a 40k dollar truck, well that nice 2005 3500hd i was talking about with only 15k miles, well it only cost me 23k. I am sure you can find yourself plenty of truck if you are looking for a work truck or practical truck. If you get hung up on options and accesories, you will pay through the nose most times.

[jbannick18]

I was actually looking on autotrader at them. Thats probably what I'm looking to finance because I have a 02 ranger with a trade in value of 5k or so.

[SOUTHERNGREENSCAPES]

i will sell my 2006 2500hd with 38k miles on it for
$26k if anyone is interested. 4x4, LT1, Automatic,

[capelawncare.com]

Well thats what the sod place has told me twice, i find it hard to believe. I am getting a chevy 1500 HD next year so I have that to look forward to


A pallet of St Aug contains 80 to 100 pieces of sod depending where you buy it. What does each piece weigh? a couple, 2, 3 maybe 5 lbs at most.

I think your sod guy, doesnt know how to multiply. Do a little math with me.

Assuming a single piece of sod weighs 3.2 lbs a piece you would have to have 1,000 pieces of sod on that pallet.

That aint happen'n! Move the decimal place over 2 spots and you should find your actual weight.

[SiteSolutions]

Move the decimal place over 2 spots and you should find your actual weight.

Are you saying the pallet of sod weighs only 32 pounds? An empty pallet weighs that much.

Here they sell pallets of sod that weigh 2000 pounds. I do not know what they sell down there. I would also guess that a piece of sod weighs more like 10 -15 pounds, especially if it has any kind of soil with it and much moisture in the soil.

[Landscape25]

I have a Ram 1500, 2004. The tare weight from dumping is 4,700 lbs. or around there, it varies. Could the pallet weigh 1,500 lbs. less than the whole truck?

[SiteSolutions]

I have a Ram 1500, 2004. The tare weight from dumping is 4,700 lbs. or around there, it varies. Could the pallet weigh 1,500 lbs. less than the whole truck?

I haven't seen the pallet. I don't know what it weighs. But it does weigh something. And the only person who claims to know what it weighs (the sod farm guy) has said -twice- that it weighs 3200 pounds. So maybe he's an idiot, or a liar, or maybe he knows what his pallet weighs.

A cubic yard of wet sand weighs almost as much as your whole half ton truck. Personally, I agree that 3200 pounds seems a little heavy for a pallet of sod, but I still wouldn't stick a pallet of sod in the back of a half ton truck, especially one that I didn't own. Even if you could push it all the way up to the cab, to distribute the weight better, it's still too much weight for it. That's why they make one ton trucks, or even better, a trailer. Beg, borrow or rent a trailer and it will carry the load a lot better.

[topsites]

Just Go Buy You A Real Truck. I Just Put A 3500lb Load Of Boulders In The Back Of My 3500 Dually And Then Hooked Up To A 11,500lb Trailer At The Same Time. Pulled Real Nice. Acutally Pulled Better With The Load In It Than With Out.

Agreed, I always say Lco's should have at least 3/4 tons.

By the way, NEVER test a car that isn't yours.

[capelawncare.com]

Are you saying the pallet of sod weighs only 32 pounds? An empty pallet weighs that much.

Here they sell pallets of sod that weigh 2000 pounds. I do not know what they sell down there. I would also guess that a piece of sod weighs more like 10 -15 pounds, especially if it has any kind of soil with it and much moisture in the soil.

Im saying 300-500 lbs

[capelawncare.com]

Again how many pieces of sod are in your pallet? ___________

How much does the pallet weigh?_____________

How much does the average piece of sod weigh?______________

add those 3 up and you will have your number.

I have moved several pallets of floritam, While i never weighed them, I can only guestimate that a single piece of sod weighs 3-5 lbs.

in my neck of the woods there are 80-100 pieces on each pallet.

assuming the individual peices weigh 5lbs each, and there are 100 pieces on the pallet, that would give you a weight of 500 lbs plus the pallet.

even if you double my estimate on the weight of each piece of sod, to ten lbs, your still at 1000 lbs.

Go pick up a piece of floritam if you dont believe me and see how much it weighs. use your estimate, and multiply that by the number of pieces on the pallet.

its not rocket science.

[SiteSolutions]

I'm not trying to start a war here, I'm just saying that the only person who claims to know how much the pallet weighs says it is 3200 pounds. Even if it is half that, it is still more than somebody else's half ton truck wants to mess with.

If a pallet of sod weighs 300-500 pounds, you should be able to pick it up with 2 or 3 (maybe 4) guys. Can you imagine picking up a pallet of sod? Can you imagine picking up 2 or 3 pallets with a skid steer? Rocket science or not, if there are 100 pieces of it, and your estimate is off on one piece by 5 pounds, that is a big difference for the whole pallet. When was the last time you had your arm calibrated? How many pieces can you carry at one time before it feels like a 80 pound sack of concrete? 4 ? 5? I bet you don't carry 8 or 10 pieces at once. How many pieces can you tote in a wheelbarrow? 30? Just some ways to check your guesstimation. I have no way to know if it is 500 pounds or 5,500 pounds from here, but I would guess it ain't 500 pounds.

[jbannick18]

welll im definatley not going to put it in the truck but tow it instead. I ca second that i definatley know its not 500 lbs or even 1000. Not sure though

[lawnmaniac883]

Why not get it delivered? Would sure as hell not drop a pallet of sod even in my 3/4 ton its just too heavy. My sod farm guy will deliver for a small fee or free if you order enough.

[SOUTHERNGREENSCAPES]

get the dern thing delivered. first off, don't take advantage of friends and their vehicles. esp. for your own personal gain ($$$). second, you are spliting hairs over nothing. My sod company charges $65 to deliver a pallet of sod and they will deliver it when i want it and put it where i want it. if you purchase it yourself and pick it up, most likely it will sit on the back of a trailer for at least half a day while you get things ready, then you have to climb in and out of a trailer 50 to 60 times to unload it if you don't use a wheel barrow. honestly, the extra work of going to get the truck from someone, drive to pick up the pallet, unload it, clean up the truck, fill up the gas tank (common curtticy) and take it back to your friend is not worth my time or money. Not to mention what kind of enexperienced and under qualified message are you sending your customer by driving up with a truck with the back bumber dragging accross their concrete drive way scratching it up? just my two cent though.

[jbannick18]

well the place I get it from charges 150 a pallet for delivery which is to much even for the customer to pay for. And I'm not taking advantage of my friends. Its called a favor

[SOUTHERNGREENSCAPES]

When you are moving and you borrow a friends truck to move, that is a favor. When you use a friends truck to turn a buck, that is taking advantage of someone. But that may just be the Carolina Boy in me...

[jbannick18]

Its my gfs brother so its not some random feiend i talk to once a week. I'm paying him etc. I originally just wanted to know if it was possible and nothing else.

[cpel2004]

I was told by our sod retailer a pallet can weigh a ton or more (2000lbs +). So I think 3200 would be reasonable if the sold has been soaked with water. Capelawn I dont know where you got 300-500lbs I know for a fact thats way off. 300 to 500lbs wouldn't make a 1500 sag, but 3200lbs sure would.

[capelawncare.com]

I was told by our sod retailer a pallet can weigh a ton or more (2000lbs +). So I think 3200 would be reasonable if the sold has been soaked with water. Capelawn I dont know where you got 300-500lbs I know for a fact thats way off. 300 to 500lbs wouldn't make a 1500 sag, but 3200lbs sure would.


How much does a single piece of Floritam weigh then?

[muddstopper]

Back to the original question. Can a 1500 ram pickup carry 3200lbs in the bed. The answer is yes. A pallet of pulverised lime weighs 3200lbs plus the pallet. I regularly load that much on my 1500 dodge truck. Load it all the way to the front of the bed and you should be alright. I have upgraded my tires for the heavier loads. Just remember stopping distances are going to be increased and take proper precautions. No tailgateing or speeding and make sure your tires are properly inflated and rated for the load.

A couple of things to consider first. GVW of trucks are based on several things, springs, type axle, brakes, frame and most importantly the type of tires. New trucks straight from the dealer will have those thin 2 or 4 ply metric tires, and that is what the gvw of the vehicle is based on, the carrying capacity of those tires. If your truck came with the light weight tires, the load capacity should be limted to the weight rating of the tires. If you replace the factory tires with ones with a heavier load rating, you can increase the carrying capacity of that truck, up to a point. You still have to consider the springs, and axle and frame. Very often a 3/4 ton truck will have the very same axle as a halfton truck, unless spec'ed heavy duty. Lug patterns might be different but a dana 60 is a dana 60 whether it has 5-6 0r 8 lugs. Unless its a floater, and then it would be the same dana60 as found in the light duty ton trucks, whether its single wheeled or dually. Most tons have the same axle as a hd 3/4 ton truck. Of course you also have the ton HD's which might have a dana 70 or 80 instead of the dana 60.

As to whether a 1500 dodge pickup can handle a 3200lb pallet of materials, for a short distance and proper care, I would do it, and have done it, every day. I wouldnt want to head off on a 1500mile trip. Tag requirements in your state might also effect how much you would want to hual. In NC with non commercial or a non-weighted tag, you can legally hual 9000lbs combined truck and load weight or combined truck and trailer weight. As long as you can properly distribute the weight evenly over both axles, you can legally go as much as 40,000 lbs with the proper weighted tag, 20,000lbs per axle. The bridge laws might get you with a short bed truck, but its legal otherwise. Not smart, but legal.

[GreenT]

In this whole thread.... the ONLY voice of reason


it's guys like you that kill people....
can you do it.. probably, should you do it... NO

trucks ratings are not just based on the spring capacity, but the brake capacity as well.

your front brakes are 60% of your stopping power, and as you load the rear, you remove weight and traction from the front, greatly reducing your stopping ability.

overlaoding a truck like this can kill somebody..


Thank you YardPro :clapping:

[GreenT]

Im saying 300-500 lbs


I weight 200 :weightlifter:

Floratam pallets range between 1800 - 2500 pounds depending on actual count (and we all know how farms always cheat us :nono: ), thickness of cut and amount of moisture.

Moisture is the biggest variable. Why? Water is dense and heavy, 1 gallon = 8 pounds.


When it comes to loads the question should never "Can I pull it?" It should always be "Can I stop it?"

Any one of us can pull a 7,000 lbs trailer with a Corolla....

[YardPro]

i have been in business for a long time, and have seen a lot of unfortunate things happen to people that they never expected.

my main worry is that some DA will try something like this in my town and end up killing my wife and son because he was too cheap to perform his work safely.

a 1500 series will NOT safely haul 3200lbs... period....

these trucks are only rated for 1500lb loads.... you are doubling the manufacturers rated capacity.

heck my 2500 hd hax a max payload fo just over 3K lbs. With 3500lbs in the bed, i can really feel it back there....

[cpel2004]

The avg weight is 5-6 lbs per piece. So like the man said approx 3200lbs would be correct. I would not try to transport that amount is a 1500, especially if it wasn't my truck.

[jbannick18]

ok thanks for the responses! I'll heed the advice and not do it.

[capelawncare.com]

The avg weight is 5-6 lbs per piece. So like the man said approx 3200lbs would be correct. I would not try to transport that amount is a 1500, especially if it wasn't my truck.


Ok, if they are 6 lbs a piece, That would mean you would have to have over 533 pieces of sod on a pallet to reach that weight. 500 pieces will not fit on a single pallet. A single pallet of Floritam contains 80 to 100 pieces of Sod.

So again I will explain some first grade math.

Number of pieces of Floritam on a pallet is roughly 100.

you say the weight of each piece is 6 lbs.

6x100=600lbs + pallet weight

Assuming the pallet does NOT weigh 2600 lbs, and roughly 30 lbs is more likely. A pallet of floritam cannot weigh 3200 lbs

Personally I dont think they even weigh 6 lbs but I will use your number for the sesame street example.

[PROCUT1]

how is this complicated?

I guess none of you have been through a DOT roadside inspection.

The fine will be much more than the 150 dollar delivery charge.

What is the GVW of the truck?
What is the empty weight of the truck?

Take the GVW, minus the empty weight and thats how much weight you can carry PERIOD.

[44DCNF]

Ok, if they are 6 lbs a piece, That would mean you would have to have over 533 pieces of sod on a pallet to reach that weight. 500 pieces will not fit on a single pallet. A single pallet of Floritam contains 80 to 100 pieces of Sod.

So again I will explain some first grade math.

Number of pieces of Floritam on a pallet is roughly 100.

you say the weight of each piece is 6 lbs.

6x100=600lbs + pallet weight

Assuming the pallet does NOT weigh 2600 lbs, and roughly 30 lbs is more likely. A pallet of floritam cannot weigh 3200 lbs

Personally I dont think they even weigh 6 lbs but I will use your number for the sesame street example.

I think an apology is in order from you, sir. After you do some simple homework.
Are your trying to say a piece of sod in your area is only 1 square foot? One of the sites linked below states about 5 pounds per square foot of sod.
Sod is typically cut 12-16 inches wide by 2-3 feet long, is it not? This comes to short of 4 s.f. per piece if 3 ft long and 16" wide, and 2 s.f. if 12" x 2'. 6 lbs is close to the weight for a square foot of sod not a piece of sod. Unless floratam, yes floratam, not floritam, is sold in 1 square foot pieces, 400-500 square feet to a pallet at 3000# per pallet. Yes 80 to 100 pieces of sod, but not 1 s.f. pieces. read this (http://www.grass4sale.com/index.cfm/a/catalog.prodshow/vid/139/catid/25) that states they come 400 square feet to a pallet, not 100. You should do some research. Read this too. (http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/LH066) They give enough numbers to figure it out - tractor trailer load weights, sizes of sod, weight per square feet, etc., and to show you are wrong somewhere in your figuring.
Here is one way to look at it: If a semi load is 10,000 square feet (read the second of the above links under marketing and hearvesting) at 500 sf per pallet that is 20 pallets. A semi would not head out with only 12,000 pounds by your estimation when they can make more money hauling 40,000 pounds. Now this takes some simple math too...a semi rig may weigh 30,000 on the high side, able to haul what, 72,380 or even if it is 80,000 in your state? That leaves room to load 42,000 pounds or more right? A company does not make money hauling 1/3 loads, with the cost of fuel these days.
Why would sod farms advertise a pallet of sod as weighing 3000 pounds when they only weigh 600? Makes no sense. Stop and think about it.

And to the original question...It is called a half ton truck for a reason.

[SiteSolutions]

Ok, if they are 6 lbs a piece, That would mean you would have to have over 533 pieces of sod on a pallet to reach that weight. 500 pieces will not fit on a single pallet. A single pallet of Floritam contains 80 to 100 pieces of Sod.

So again I will explain some first grade math.

Number of pieces of Floritam on a pallet is roughly 100.

you say the weight of each piece is 6 lbs.

6x100=600lbs + pallet weight

Assuming the pallet does NOT weigh 2600 lbs, and roughly 30 lbs is more likely. A pallet of floritam cannot weigh 3200 lbs

Personally I dont think they even weigh 6 lbs but I will use your number for the sesame street example.


Just cause you can multiply doesn't mean you've got any sense. Like I said, there ain't no way you and two buddies could pick up the pallet, any more than you would want to tote 10 or 12 pieces of your feather light sod at a time by hand. Use some sense, man! A pallet of sod only weighs 500 pounds when it is almost empty.

Maybe division is better? Let's say it's 2500 pounds, and theres 100 pieces, so they weigh 25 pounds each. Doesn't that sound a little closer to reality? If they only weigh 5 pounds per piece, a man could carry 8 pieces in each hand! I have never seen any body even attempt that.

[SiteSolutions]

how is this complicated?

I guess none of you have been through a DOT roadside inspection.

The fine will be much more than the 150 dollar delivery charge.

What is the GVW of the truck?
What is the empty weight of the truck?

Take the GVW, minus the empty weight and thats how much weight you can carry PERIOD.

WELL SAID!

[capelawncare.com]

Ok I give up, I still dont think a pallet of St Aug weighs more then a truck

[cpel2004]

Correction its 5-6lbs per sq foot. Some of you guys are amazing.

[AbsoluteH&L]

I guess none of you have been through a DOT roadside inspection.
The fine will be much more than the 150 dollar delivery charge.


Back to the original question. Can a 1500 ram pickup carry 3200lbs in the bed. The answer is yes. A pallet of pulverised lime weighs 3200lbs plus the pallet. I regularly load that much on my 1500 dodge truck... I have upgraded my tires for the heavier loads. Just remember stopping distances are going to be increased...

As to whether a 1500 dodge pickup can handle a 3200lb pallet of materials, for a short distance and proper care, I would do it, and have done it, every day. I wouldnt want to head off on a 1500mile trip. Tag requirements in your state might also effect how much you would want to hual. In NC with non commercial or a non-weighted tag, you can legally hual 9000lbs combined truck and load weight... its legal otherwise. Not smart, but legal.

Just when you think the DOT laws are to tough, along comes a thread like this to let you know how important they really are!!!:dizzy:
Up here the GVW of a truck is the max you carry, if you get caught with more you are F***ed. Plain and simple! And no DOT dosen't care if you have better tires, but they will check that the tires are able to carry the load even if you are under the GVW.
Just to make it clear, heck no I wouldn't haul it! Not with my name on the side of the truck.

[SOUTHERNGREENSCAPES]

Just to make it clear, heck no I wouldn't haul it! Not with my name on the side of the truck.[/QUOTE]

don't worry, there is no name on the side of the truck b/c he is borrowing it from a neighbor, brother in law or smoky down the street, heck i can't remember anymore. who says you need to have the right equipment to do your job anyway??? that would be like saying you need to be insured or something to be in business too and who has the money to do that right.... hey, when you get your business card made up, you can have it read "owner/scrub". i hate to be so mean and all, but it is cats like yourself who give the rest of us legals a bad name and image.

[jbannick18]

I really hope your saying I'm giving the industry a bad name just because I have to borrow my friends truck to do ONE job. I am licensed/insured and everything else that is required in this business. Thx

[SOUTHERNGREENSCAPES]

No i am saying that the scrubs of the industry that don't have the right equipment to do their jobs, have insurance to cover their accidents, or a professional image is what gives the industry a bad rap and takes money away from the legals. i don't know you or your company, but the way that you carry yourself in this post leads me to believe that you don't have a truck but you are trying to run a landscape business and that you don't seem to have a general liability policy b/c you are being so wreckless with your actions and anyone who has a insurance policy knows how easy it is to loose it after just one claim. hey, if you are a legal, that is fine, it just looks a little odd from your post.

[jbannick18]

I have an 02 ford ranger that I got with my dad.That is what I run my business out of right now. You think I want to have such a small truck? I'm going to be 19 in December and have about a year of credit history which means its not even established. I just financed a 5k mower and had to have my mom co-sign. Believe me when I get this mower paid off the first thing I want to buy is a real truck. I know what you mean by "Scrubs" I see plenty of them here in Florida.... and I'm not one of them. I try to do everything legal and properly, I just hit a bump with this job but I have it solved now.

[muddstopper]

Just when you think the DOT laws are to tough, along comes a thread like this to let you know how important they really are!!!:dizzy:
Up here the GVW of a truck is the max you carry, if you get caught with more you are F***ed. Plain and simple! And no DOT dosen't care if you have better tires, but they will check that the tires are able to carry the load even if you are under the GVW.
Just to make it clear, heck no I wouldn't haul it! Not with my name on the side of the truck.


First off, every state has different laws.
The State of NC doesn't care what the gvw of the vehicle is, they go by actual weight of the vehicle and load. I spent 2 hrs last week setting thru the NC DOT audit as they went thru all my paper work and the very question of how much I can legally haul in my wifes 1500 2x4 dodge truck was asked and answered. With a passenger tag, the truck can legally weigh 9000lbs loaded or unloaded as long as it isn't being used in a commercial business, it doesn't matter. Her truck will weigh around 4500lbs which means I can legally haul a 4500lb load. The DOT will check tire rateings. With a weighted tag, the truck is legal at 40,000 lbs as long as there isn't more than 20,000lbs on either axle and the wheel base will accommodate the bridge laws. It should also be noted that if this truck is used in our business, it has to have DOT numbers on the side. That doesn't mean its smart to put 40,000lbs on a half ton pickup, just that its legal to do so. As for hauling 3200lbs in the back of a 1500 pickup. If you don't feel comfortable doing it, then you should definitely not do it. As to whether its safe and proper to do so, My answer is yes, the NC DOT opinion based on their laws is also yes. Does this mean everybody should start hauling around a 3200 pallet of sod in the back of their trucks, only if they take the appropriate precautions and drive within the ability of the truck to stop. Again, if you don't feel comfortable with this type of load, then keep it off the road.

I would haul it, and have, and with my name on the side of my truck, and also will probably do so again this week, and the NCDOT wont bother me for doing it.

[SOUTHERNGREENSCAPES]

well hell, let me go by a toyota tacoma with a 4 cylinder and hook up to a 16K tripple axle 5er and take off out for the outer banks. who cares that i may not make it up any hills, or that my rear bumper will be dragging the ground, that my axle will probally stap in half or that it will take me 200yds to slow down from 50mph if i can even get it that fast., who cares, DOT says it's legal..... I live just south of Charlotte, NC, i hope that you live far far away from me and my family.... Do me a favor and take 1500, put a 3,200lb pallet in the back and drive around for a little while, then find a small hill to go down that has a stop sign at the bottom. When you slide right through it and cause someone else their life b/c your brakes have heated up and could not stop the load, come back and tell me you can live with your actions b/c the DOT said it was legal. Geeze where do you guys come from....

[GreenT]

First off, every state has different laws.
The State of NC doesn't care what the gvw of the vehicle is, they go by actual weight of the vehicle and load. I spent 2 hrs last week setting thru the NC DOT audit as they went thru all my paper work and the very question of how much I can legally haul in my wifes 1500 2x4 dodge truck was asked and answered. With a passenger tag, the truck can legally weigh 9000lbs loaded or unloaded as long as it isn't being used in a commercial business, it doesn't matter. Her truck will weigh around 4500lbs which means I can legally haul a 4500lb load. The DOT will check tire rateings. With a weighted tag, the truck is legal at 40,000 lbs as long as there isn't more than 20,000lbs on either axle and the wheel base will accommodate the bridge laws. It should also be noted that if this truck is used in our business, it has to have DOT numbers on the side. That doesn't mean its smart to put 40,000lbs on a half ton pickup, just that its legal to do so. As for hauling 3200lbs in the back of a 1500 pickup. If you don't feel comfortable doing it, then you should definitely not do it. As to whether its safe and proper to do so, My answer is yes, the NC DOT opinion based on their laws is also yes. Does this mean everybody should start hauling around a 3200 pallet of sod in the back of their trucks, only if they take the appropriate precautions and drive within the ability of the truck to stop. Again, if you don't feel comfortable with this type of load, then keep it off the road.

I would haul it, and have, and with my name on the side of my truck, and also will probably do so again this week, and the NCDOT wont bother me for doing it.



muddstopper, I hate to tell you this but, I'm glad I don't live in NC.

I don't mean it as a personal attack, I believe what you are saying. It just doesn't make any sense.

4500 lbs on a 1/2 ton truck? :hammerhead: :hammerhead: :hammerhead:

[GreenT]

ok thanks for the responses! I'll heed the advice and not do it.



Thank you. Enough said :clapping: :clapping: :clapping: :clapping:

[YardPro]

First off, every state has different laws.
The State of NC doesn't care what the gvw of the vehicle is, they go by actual weight of the vehicle and load. I spent 2 hrs last week setting thru the NC DOT audit as they went thru all my paper work and the very question of how much I can legally haul in my wifes 1500 2x4 dodge truck was asked and answered. With a passenger tag, the truck can legally weigh 9000lbs loaded or unloaded as long as it isn't being used in a commercial business, it doesn't matter. Her truck will weigh around 4500lbs which means I can legally haul a 4500lb load. The DOT will check tire rateings. With a weighted tag, the truck is legal at 40,000 lbs as long as there isn't more than 20,000lbs on either axle and the wheel base will accommodate the bridge laws. It should also be noted that if this truck is used in our business, it has to have DOT numbers on the side. That doesn't mean its smart to put 40,000lbs on a half ton pickup, just that its legal to do so. As for hauling 3200lbs in the back of a 1500 pickup. If you don't feel comfortable doing it, then you should definitely not do it. As to whether its safe and proper to do so, My answer is yes, the NC DOT opinion based on their laws is also yes. Does this mean everybody should start hauling around a 3200 pallet of sod in the back of their trucks, only if they take the appropriate precautions and drive within the ability of the truck to stop. Again, if you don't feel comfortable with this type of load, then keep it off the road.

I would haul it, and have, and with my name on the side of my truck, and also will probably do so again this week, and the NCDOT wont bother me for doing it.



wrong

the 9K limit is YOUR COMBINED weight with a trailer......
I've been through several DOT stops, and a ticket or two....

[muddstopper]

muddstopper, I hate to tell you this but, I'm glad I don't live in NC.

I don't mean it as a personal attack, I believe what you are saying. It just doesn't make any sense.

4500 lbs on a 1/2 ton truck? :hammerhead: :hammerhead: :hammerhead:


Just because you can, doesnt mean you should.

Yardpro, I am going to give the DOT a call and double check, I know what I asked him, and I know what he told me, but mis-interpetations of the question and answer can always happen.

As for hualing around 3200lbs in my 1/2 ton, I do it on a regular basis and have been stopped and havent been ticketed. I have hualed it for more than a few miles at a time, but I dont approach any intersection without allowing proper stopping distances. Even when passing thru Charlotte NC. Any idoit can get a drivers license, not every idiot knows how to drive.

I'll say this to anybody and everybody, as with any vehicle or load, certain precautions need to be adhered to before takeing off across town or across country. If all you have taken is the drivers ed course to get your license, then stay close to home and out of a loaded truck.

[YardPro]

please don't take this as a personal attack, but you have no business using a 1500 truck if you haul 3200 lbs on a "regular basis" as you say...

you are being totally irresponsible and negligent as a business owner. What happens if someone pulls out in front of you. What about the idiot that has to get in front of you, only to make that right turn that he has to slow down for VERY quickly......

there are countless scenerios, that could very plausibly happen. The fact that you drive through charlotte like this is even worse...

if you haul this kind of weight on a regular basis, you should buy a larger truck, otherwise you are no better than the guy in the station wagon with the back door up and mowers hanging out.

[muddstopper]

Yardpro, I dont consider any of your statements as personal attacks. I dont have to agree with you, nor you with me, but we can stay civil.

For the record, I do own larger trucks (including class A) and usually use them for all hualing and towing duties. The 1500 I refered to is my wifes daily driver that is sometimes pressed into service when it is needed. I have on more than one occassion loaded a pallet of lime, 3200lbs, on this truck and find nothing wrong with the practice. I have logged several million miles on large trucks and taken several defensive driving classes over the course of several years. I still participate in driving classes on an annual basis. I feel I am qualified to use this truck in this matter safely. I guess my big mistake is adviseing others that they should do the same. For that I apoligise.

I will repeat to all, if you dont think you can handle this type of driving situation, then dont put yourself in that position.

[SOUTHERNGREENSCAPES]

[QUOTE=muddstopper;2013583]Just because you can, doesnt mean you should.

As for hualing around 3200lbs in my 1/2 ton, I do it on a regular basis and have been stopped and havent been ticketed. I have hualed it for more than a few miles at a time, but I dont approach any intersection without allowing proper stopping distances. Even when passing thru Charlotte NC. Any idoit can get a drivers license, not every idiot knows how to drive.

is this a contradiction or am i missing something. First you say that just because you can do it doesn't mean you should, then you come back and say that you do it all the time. does this mean that you are Knowingly doing something that you know you should not do b/c it is not safe? Does that mean that even though you know that the retaining wall you were asked to build is eventually going to fail and possibly injure someone, you do it anyway? I am sorry, but that is why insurance in this business is so hard to get and keep. but i may be misunderstanding something...

[AbsoluteH&L]

Just because you can, doesnt mean you should.

Yardpro, I am going to give the DOT a call and double check, I know what I asked him, and I know what he told me, but mis-interpetations of the question and answer can always happen.

As for hualing around 3200lbs in my 1/2 ton, I do it on a regular basis and have been stopped and havent been ticketed. I have hualed it for more than a few miles at a time, but I dont approach any intersection without allowing proper stopping distances. Even when passing thru Charlotte NC. Any idoit can get a drivers license, not every idiot knows how to drive.

I'll say this to anybody and everybody, as with any vehicle or load, certain precautions need to be adhered to before takeing off across town or across country. If all you have taken is the drivers ed course to get your license, then stay close to home and out of a loaded truck.

So it has passenger plates but you use it for business. You say because you can, doesn't mean you should. Yet you admit you do. I still agree with my original post. Just because it's legal doesn't make it rite. Besides, if it has passenger plates and you use it for business (even only now and then) isn't that illegal?!
I'm glad we have tougher DOT laws up here! I feel safer.

[muddstopper]

For all you nitpickers,

I own several trucks, but not all the time can I hual everything to the jobsite that I need for a days work. I have in the past, and will do so in the future, put my wife pickup into service. I dont set out everymorning saying i am going to use my wifes truck to do work, but I aint interested in makeing two trips to the suppliers to get what I need for that day. If I need a pallet of lime and cant get it on the other trucks, I put it in the pickup. If I need a pallet of fertilizer and I cant hual it on the other trucks, I use the pickup. If I can hual everything on my other truck, then the wifes truck gets left at home.

And yes I can run passenger tags on that pickup and use it in my business, but to use it as a commercial vehicle, it does require dot numbers, which I have (I do cheat and not have them stuck on the sides of that pickup). My trucks are not for hire nor are we a for hire carrier.

Let him without sin cast the first stone.

[44DCNF]

"Any idoit can get a drivers license, not every idiot knows how to drive."

And Pride cometh before a Fall. Why would you treat your wifes daily driver like that? Especially seeing as you have sat in on so may safety meetings and driving classes. You seem to be talking out of both sides of your mouth. Are you a responsible, professional driver or not? Is your wife qualified to handle a pickup missing one wheel and axle, or one with three broken studs on one wheel while in a violent shake, as she is headed into oncoming traffic without brakes? For God's sake man, if you don't care about others on the road, at least think of you own family.