I'm at 8200 lbs., driver and full full. Took a trip from NC to Ohio to pick up 3200 lbs. of special baged sand. Made total GVWR at 11400. Door sticker GVWR is 11500.

Went across scales in OHIO, had only 1/4 tank fuel, so I was less roughly 28.5 gallons fuel or 200 lbs of fuel. Front axle 4980 lbs and rear axle 6260 lbs for total of 11240 (remember less 3/4 tank of fuel). Door sticker Front GAWR 5200 and Rear GAWR 8250.

I loaded from front of bed, 500 lbs across, then back 1.5 ft. another 500 lbs across, then back 1.5 ft another 500 lbs, then left on the pallet the remainder of the 3200 lbs of sand. So it made 1700 lbs sitting from rear wheels back on the pallet, I have made many other trips where I put 1800 lbs on a pallet butted up to the tailgate, these 1800 lbs pallet trips are only 5.5 hour trips one way and I always unload as soon as possible.

QUESTION: Numberically I did not overload it, but just how close to the manf. numbers can you come with out overloading the darn thing? Physically I feel that I have bent springs, it just doesn't seem to set up as high as before. I've been noticing other crew cab 4x4 lwb and the crease in the sheet metal along the side of the length of there trucks seems to go up the futher back you look. Mine seems to look straight from front to back now.

I've been looking at airbag suspension for a while and thought, well just one trip, pick up drive straight to NC (9 hrs loaded) and unload, you know don't let it set on there overnight or anylonger than necessary. Getting bags before next trip.

Any thoughts inputs about this overlaoding the truck or bending springs? I have not done any measurments, cause I don't know what they should be...