I am going to go to Home Depot and buy a pallet of pellets for my pellet burning stove. A pallet is one ton. I have an 1987 4x4 pick up. I don't think I should put one ton in the bed of my truck. How much do you think I could carry. I tried to look at the tag on the inside of the door but could find anything that said anything about a weight limit.

 

Considering that a 4x4 pickup is a ½ ton truck, I'd venture a guess and say ½ ton?

Actually, if it's a short distance, ¾-1 ton likely won't do any harm. Load it slowly and keep an eye on the rear springs. Don't let them get too close to the bumpstops, keep at least 1-1½" gap.

 

I would agree with toy...if its a short distance then one pallet would probably be fine. I know my dad has exceeded the weight limit in the back of his Chevy before and nothing happened...and its a freakin american car!! I've exceeded the limit on my 4runner a couple with no problems to speak of either...good luck man!

Fink

 

Thanks

My bank account actually made up my mind. I could only buy half a pallet (1000 lbs). My truck did just fine. I'll have to go with more next time just to see how far I can push it.

ejr

 

If you go with a near empty gas tank and you're skinny, you can get nearly ¾ ton and still be within the listed cargo capacity of 1400 lbs

 

Guess I'm outta luck, I'm not what you would call a SKINNY person

Fink

 

I think it depends on who you ask, but I don't think I am what you call a skinny guy (6'-0" - 200 lbs). But I do have one thing going for me; my tank is almost always on empty.

ejr

 

i know from experience you could haul 1600 pounds no problem. i was hauling scrap metal in my 81 toyota 4x4. thats my new record. i still had 3 inches to the bump stop. i was talking to a guy with a toyota dually who said he had 5000 lbs in it and it was not bottomed out. it had a dump bed he was a roofer.

ejr[/QUOTE]

 

Sounds like you and I are exactly the same size...hmm...guess all I need to do is keep my tank near empty and I'm set

Fink

 

Sounds like you and I are pretty much the same size (I'm about 6'1"..maybe 6'2" on a good day)...hmm...guess all I need to do is keep my tank near empty and I'm set

Fink

 

I have several 86 trucks, including some 1-tons. The frame is the same between them. The 1-ton has heavier rear springs, with a larger front spring pin. It also has much heavier tires (8 ply).

Your 4x4's biggest danger is overloading the tires and to a lesser degree, the springs.

 

I remember an old boss of mine put 2400 lbs into the back of a T-100 one time. It was a load of tile that just about bottomed the bump stops. It road like a boat. I think the minis and T-100's can carry more weight than the Tacomas or Tundras because of their non boxed rear frame.

 

And the brakes?

 

Bigger then the small 2x4's, but smaller then the 4x4's.

 

Since the 4×4 axles are "officially" rated at ¾ton (but used on 1 ton models, with a few mods) and the frame is the same and most tires you buy are rated to 3000lbs each, only the rear springs are an issue. Load it up until the bumpstops are close. Any long-distance hauling though will fatigue the springs rapidly and cause serious sag. This is why I recommend only short trips when overloaded. BTW, overload springs are available that would easily allow 1-1½ ton loads and still be withing the capacities of the frame, axle (sorta), and tires.

 

I dont know about your 1-ton 85, but our two 1-ton's BOTH have about the most massive set of rotors, calipers, and drums I have ever seen in my life...

Both are 4x4 1tons. Both also spec out to be capable of 5000+lbs of cargo capaicty. (I think the chevy was at 5200 and the dodge at 5600lbs.)

 

We're talking about the Toyota 1-ton trucks, not Chevy. Different animals.