How much can I put in it?
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Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 32
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From: Sugar Hill, GA
How much can I put in it?
I know that I can, and have, found the rated cargo capacity of my truck. It's a good thing to know, but when I'm actually loading it up I don't usually have a scale handy.
I was prepping for next winter by taking on logs for firewood last weekend and came to realize I couldn't really tell when enough was enough. With the last truck (a '96 Ranger), through trial and error, I found I could load it down until the mudflaps just touched the ground. With this one I haven't had enough trial and error. Plus, this one ('02 250) has an extra leaf up high that the old truck didn't have. So, I loaded until the leaf springs were flat. That didn't get that extra leaf engaged in its stops, though. The truck still handled well, the engine didn't bog, tranny didn't shudder, and it felt pretty good. But I just don't know . . .
Is there some visual cue I can use to know when I can put more on, or when I've gone too far?
Thanks,
Matt
I was prepping for next winter by taking on logs for firewood last weekend and came to realize I couldn't really tell when enough was enough. With the last truck (a '96 Ranger), through trial and error, I found I could load it down until the mudflaps just touched the ground. With this one I haven't had enough trial and error. Plus, this one ('02 250) has an extra leaf up high that the old truck didn't have. So, I loaded until the leaf springs were flat. That didn't get that extra leaf engaged in its stops, though. The truck still handled well, the engine didn't bog, tranny didn't shudder, and it felt pretty good. But I just don't know . . .
Is there some visual cue I can use to know when I can put more on, or when I've gone too far?
Thanks,
Matt
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,659
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A couple years ago I did a little bit of yard improvement and had several loads of rock with measured weight (2000 F250 7.3L). I played a bit with the loads to find out where the suspension goes. I remember the truck rode level with about 2000 pounds in the bed. 3000 pounds made it squat some below level but still drove fine as long as you didn't have to do any emergency maneuvers. If I remember correctly, the wheel barrow barely fit under the tailgate. 4000 pounds made the truck squat quite a bit but still had suspension travel without hitting any snubbers. I stayed off the freeway because the steering got a little loose with the nose riding high. I had a 5" exhaust tip behind rear wheel and it got kind of close to ground when I entered my upward sloping driveway. Had to unload quite a bit of rock before wheel barrow would slide under the tailgate.
Personally, I felt like I shouldn't exceed 3000 pounds, and the truck felt more nimble and safer to drive with under 2500 pounds in the bed.
Personally, I felt like I shouldn't exceed 3000 pounds, and the truck felt more nimble and safer to drive with under 2500 pounds in the bed.
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