need help with truck ratings
I have a truck (new to me) details follow: 1984 GMC 1500 4 x 4 Diesel engine 8 foot bed 2 person cab Vin # is 1GTEK14S3RE559687 A sticker inside the glove box has information about truck ca...
Forum Discussion
The limitation on your truck to 500 lbs. is ludicrous even for that old a truck. I have had no problems carrying a 800 lb. camper on a Toyota mini truck all over California.
The weakest points on the truck will be the axle and the tires. Weigh the truck at a CAT scale for $10 and then you will know exactly what the weight is at the drive wheels. If it is 2,000 lbs. and you want to carry a 1500 lb. load (camper and gear) then your truck's tires need to support 1750 lbs. at the rated PSI. If they do not then new tires are in order.
If with the camper in the bed there is visible sagging at the rear then go to a spring shop and have them add a leaf to the leaf pack or get helper springs like the ones from SuperSprings. Research your truck and if axles were a problem you can add a truss.
Your truck at GAWR RR of 3750 lbs. less the weight of the truck at the rear wheels with the bed empty is your legal maximum load. So you need to go to a public scale and get it weighed. The sticker in the glove box is irrelevant for your purposes as it is based on the weakest link as the truck left the factory.
Leave room in your budget for new shocks to help with the fully laden camper.
Or you could follow the herd and get a 1-ton DRW truck and a giant camper assuming as the posters do that you have unlimited funds to toss at the project.
The weakest points on the truck will be the axle and the tires. Weigh the truck at a CAT scale for $10 and then you will know exactly what the weight is at the drive wheels. If it is 2,000 lbs. and you want to carry a 1500 lb. load (camper and gear) then your truck's tires need to support 1750 lbs. at the rated PSI. If they do not then new tires are in order.
If with the camper in the bed there is visible sagging at the rear then go to a spring shop and have them add a leaf to the leaf pack or get helper springs like the ones from SuperSprings. Research your truck and if axles were a problem you can add a truss.
Your truck at GAWR RR of 3750 lbs. less the weight of the truck at the rear wheels with the bed empty is your legal maximum load. So you need to go to a public scale and get it weighed. The sticker in the glove box is irrelevant for your purposes as it is based on the weakest link as the truck left the factory.
Leave room in your budget for new shocks to help with the fully laden camper.
Or you could follow the herd and get a 1-ton DRW truck and a giant camper assuming as the posters do that you have unlimited funds to toss at the project.
