Max in bed payload?
 

What would you guys say is the maximum in bed payload capacity for a 99 F150 Scab, short bed, 4x4 with the 5.4, so 9.75 rear axle? The reason I ask is because for my job (local hardware store) pallets of marking chalk, topsoil, and salt/calcium may need delivered places. I know a pallet of topsoil weighs about 2400 lbs (60 bags x 40lbs/bag).

By the time you get a full tank of fuel and yourself probably only about 1000-1100 pounds. Put the load on a trailer. Whats the gvwr on your truck?

I would only add 150 lbs to the total. The GVWR is 6500 lbs. I figure I probably couldn't haul all 2400lbs in the bed.

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Two ways you can figure it, but it'll be your choice either way..

The first is to stay within the trucks GVWR of #6500. No way to know exactly what that is until you get your rig weighed. If your truck weighs, say, #5200 as it sits, you can load up another #1300 in the bed.

The second is to just load it up till it hits the bump stops.. ;)

I've done that before hauling bricks from the home center to my house. About 2 miles away. Not really a big deal.

You can probably get away with running a bit over GVWR. I'd want to make sure I had some LT rated tires instead of the OEM "P" rated ones to start with. Depending on how much the truck sags, you might want to consider some 'over load' springs.

The rest is up to you on how you handle the load and your own judgement.

Good luck with whatever you do!

Mitch

I am looking for tires, and will probably end up with the same size as yours, so no problems there. I haven't had to do it yet, but I'm just doing some research so I know what it'll handle.

You don't have a strong enough truck for that job. That's 1 ton territory. Keep the bed load down to 1500#.

I figured so. Darn.

If you needed to haul 2400# for YOURSELF a short distance at low speeds occasionally, that wouldn't be a major problem - but if your employer expects you to do it as part of the job, no way. Have him provide the vehicle. What are you going to do if something breaks? Is he going to repair or replace your truck?

I'm in agreement here about making the company providing the truck for the deliveries unless you are an independent contractor providing the service. If you were an individual picking up material from a supplier, then it is different. You are up to your own discretion and/or local laws. Personally, the heaviest amount of material I have moved with my F150 was 3200 pounds of concrete. I drove it approximately 4 miles home. I was fine handling the weight as well as the truck was fine.

What it comes down to it, if your employer is dealing in those quantities of materials, they should have at least a basic F350 reg cab with a 5.4 4x2. Preferably, a rack body F350 dually. Gas or Diesel. If the supplier is an equipment rental shop, then diesel for towing to and from sites. The place could probably afford a Craigslist special. I have seen several F350 Super Duty reg cabs with 8 foot beds and 5.4s going for around $5,000.00.

4k pounds of decomposed granite in the bed of my truck, verified by scale. Drove fine I had about 1.5" between the bump stops and axle, the 3500# helpers and Rancho's did the trick and the Nitto's @ 80 psi were great... Only travled 23 miles 30-60 mph. Not bad for a 1/2 Ton truck