I'am oppening up a mobile auto detailing buissiness, wich needs a water tank. I have calculated out with the weight of the tank water and supplies that gross weight will be 1200 pounds. Is this to much weight to have in my truck close to 100% of the time? By the way the truck is a 2006 ford f150 screw lariate 6.5ft box. thx in advance miller.

 

That should be okay as long as you don't load a lot of other stuff in the truck too.

 

Why not get a used car hauler trailer and put the tank on it? You can add it just ahead of the front axle of the trailer, and adjust accordingly to keep the tongue weight in check... A lot less wear and tear on the truck, as #1200 of sloshing liquid in the bed of your truck is going to make it top heavy and not handle too well....

You can load up to #5000 or more stuff on the trailer and not overload the truck...

Just a thought....

Mitch

 

I actuall considerd that but I thought i don't really have a place to store a trailer. maybe in a few years when I have a bigger driveway/garage. But is there anything i can do to help protect my rear suspension on my truck like adding air bags or somthing?

 

Air bags will only keep your rear end from sagging too much.. Won't do anything to protect the suspension.. If anything, it could cause more damage to the frame if the right circumstances occur..

The air bag brackets attach to the frame at a single point. So that single point is essentially taking on the entire pumped up load. Hit a bump just right, or whatever and the frame or the bracket or both could be damaged.. Just saying in a worst case scenario... Air bags are used a lot on trucks, so they do work at keeping the sag out on heavier loads...

That's just a lot of weight to have in the bed of the truck 24/7 and driving around with all the time.. Any truck will suffer long term wear and tear running like that.

I'd get your truck weighed as it sits right now, and if possible, get each axle weight so you can gauge how much GAWR you have left for the front and rear axle. Not to mention, the trucks GVWR. You can push those limits, but the closer or more over you are, the more wear and tear will occur over time.

Good luck!

Mitch

 

Mitch made some really good points I would maybe re-think what you are doing. Just be safe for yourself and the others around you.

 

All 2006+ vehicles under 10000 pounds GVWR I believe have a Tire and Loading information sticker that gives the payload with the exact equipment as it left the factory, assuming a full tank of fuel. Seems to be pretty spot on. A 2006 6.5 bed Supercrew Lariat will be close to that 1200# number.

 

Why not get a small trailer outfitted for just the business then you can use the truck for smaller errands without the load as well? That will take most of the stress off the truck as well.

 

my door sticker reads the pay load to be #1455 because of the heavy duty payload package but I would say the water tank will rarely every be full due to the fact that it should last me 3-4 days from full so average will #500-700 1200 when full.

 

That payload rating does not include a tank of gas or anything else in the truck, including your butt.

Do this - fill the gas tank and head over to a scale and get it weighed, with you in the truck. Subtract the weight from the GVWR and that is your REAL payload rating. That should cost you about 10 bucks at just about any truck stop.