Hey guys, I'm looking to haul some fresh water in the bed of my 150. I have a 1000L water cube, and I know water is heavy and I can't fill the thing completely...

The question is - how much can I safely get away with? I only have to move it a few miles at low speeds, I just don't want to damage my frame. I keep the cube up close to the cab, and keep it strapped down. I have 10-ply tires, upgraded shocks and brakes.

I know it exceeds the payload of the truck, I get that - but would loading 1500lbs of water in the bed for a short drive put my truck's frame/axles/etc at risk?

Do any of you other fellas haul water? If so, post pics of your set up!

 

You should be able to haul 2,000 lbs. in the bed with no problem, or more. Check your manual, you do have a tow pkg, that will give you some extra payload capacity.

 

1,000 liters of water is about 2,200 Lbs. be very carfull if pulling half full. it is safer to pull it with the container compleatly full so the water cant move. I have loaded my truck with a big scoop of sand when building my swiming pool, and it did fine, i dont know the sand weight though.

 

If your water tank has baffles, it is safe.

 

Sand is heavier, even dry. Easy to confuse and think water is heavier. Get a cup of sand and a cup of water and hold each in the same hand. Just doing that will prove it for yuh. Sand being the denser.

 

Your box weight depends 'exactly' on your specific truck build and model you don't give.
It could be anywhere between 1440 and 3150.
A wide range.
At 1500 your likely ok as long as long common sense is used.
Another way to look at it is the Gross weight rating.
Look at the door jamb sticker for the front and rear gross weights.
Add them up. Then it's the total truck weight plus the cargo weight.
If this total weight is equal to or less then the gross weight on the sticker, you ok.
Good luck.

 

suppose to put weight over the rear axle.

 

Just keep an eye on your bump stops... If you are getting close to pegging them, that's as much as you should haul...

Short distance and not everyday, you should be okay.... Do it a lot and it'll take it's toll over time, as will anything.. Just don't be a DA and the truck should be okay...

Mitch

 

I recently hauled 2500lbs of stone in the bed of my truck. 01 F150 4x4 stock everything as far as suspension goes with 10 ply tires. Drove about 15 miles on way. No damage or problems at all. This put my Gross weight with me in the truck at 7700lbs. I know this is over what the truck is rated for but it did it safely, just took a little longer to slow it down is all.

 

That is true, but from how he explaned it, I thoult it sounded like one of those plastic cubes with the cage around it, The ones i have seen like that had no baffle. If it has a baffle you will be much safer @ half full, then one with out. you hit your brakes a 1,200-1,500 lbs of water starts moving it will take you for a ride i am sure.

 

It does not have baffles, and I have hauled it half full before. It definitely would be unsafe at any sort of speed or abrupt maneuvering. I would prefer to fill it completely for the added safety of eliminating sloshing, but was worried about the full weight on my truck's components. I mean, aren't they called half ton trucks because that's all they're supposed to have in the bed?

 

The points are all well made.
It's a matter of dynamics, not of total weight.
The weight is the same for any given amount of liquid load but the movement of that load adds moments of inertia that become extra loading added to the movement of the truck as being driven, that causes the difficulty.
Restrict the movement and the inertia is greatly reduced with the weight staying the same..
Good luck.

 

The term "Half ton" has been outdated for several years. It originally meant that the truck could carry 1,000 pounds, or half of a ton, of cargo (including passengers.) However old habits die hard and the term is still used even though it doesnt really apply any more. Like I said, I had 2500lbs of stone in the bed and nothing even came close to breaking or being damaged.On stock suspension. I realize that stone and water differ due to momentum and inertia but weight is weight. I would think on a short distance at a low speed you would be fine to load it to the top. I hope this helps.

 

8 LBS per 1 gallon of water. so how much dose the cube hold?

 

1000L to Gallon, gallons *8.

2113.36 lbs