Payload way over recommended

Need some advice once again. I’m a Mobil detailer and I haul around a 200gal water tank as well as all my supplies. I have been doing this in this truck for 4 years and have never had a problem. I would estimate my payload is around 1800lb. Even with all that weight the truck isn’t bottomed out and it seems to handle it fairly well. I have been looking into getting air bags for the back. My question is would air bags pop under that amount of weight? Also looking for a simple air bag I have read on this forum a lot of guys recommended the Firestone airbags. What model or part number are you guys running? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

$425 Firestone 2445 FIRESTONE 07-09TOY Tundra

Firestone 2445 rated for 5k, etrailer had them for $311.

 

Best advice? Get a trailer.

 

AGREED ! 200 Gallons X 8 lb/gall = 1600, plus you and all the other stuff. Trailer makes the best sense and way safer.

 

I have airlift air bags and compressor to help level out my decked and cap. But yeah 1800 is too much for a tundra. Check your door sticker. Your payload is probably 1100-1300 lbs. Have to calculate for passengers too.

 

Thanks for the advice I try not to load the tank full all the time only if I have a big job. I been doing this for 4 years with this truck and has never been a problem but I know it’s not the safest option. I have considered the trailer option as well. Thanks all for the advice

 

Trailer or a used box truck and have your entire "office" laid out in it. I can see why a trailer may be difficult to cart around in neighborhoods. But the benefit is your truck becomes multi faceted again now that you don't have all that always in your bed.

 

You might have never had a problem, but you are pushing the limitations and stressing the suspension and associated drivetrain elements past what they're good for. They'll fail earlier, rather than later.

If it were me I'd at least get: E rated tires, rear sway bar, stronger leaf springs, and quality 3" shocks to account for that load - and I'd still add an air bag or sumo spring. You need a tow ready setup for weight like that 100% of the time.

Like others said, pulling that weight is the better option for the truck if you intend on keeping it for the long haul. Plus you'd be able to ditch that weight and have a usable truck bed. Bonus points for being more professional looking.

Trailers are cheap and you can write it off - suspension too.

You've got a sweet looking truck btw, I always dig the stormtrooper look - do the black headlight mod to tie it in

 

I just had a custom built bag setup installed in my suspension, got a local guy that specializes in that stuff. My truck has a 4" lift kit in the front and a 2" add a leaf in the rear, so with the bags deflated its stock height + the 2" lift leaf and fully inflated the bags can add about 4" more of lift on top of what I already have. I usually only run them to where the truck is level after whatever weight I have in or on the back though. I have on board air and a 5 gallon tank also with a custom control box to do everything inside the cab. Truck handles great hauling my roughly 10k pound tractor and trailer setup. Not sure that a rear sway bar is even needed anymore. Price was like $750 for everything.

 

Trailer

 

I agree with all those that stated a trailer is the safest way to go. But when you are talking about "maximum payload" which is based directly of the Manufacturer's determined Gross Vehicle Weight Rating(GVWR), and not any industry standard like SAE J2807 which is specifically designed for Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR)and towing, it is a little more precarious.

Manufacturers mostly estimate "maximum payload" by adding the estimated pin/hitch weight of the towing capacity for a particular vehicle to it's curb weight( dry weight of the vehicle). Payload is more legal liability than science. That being said, I take everyone of my setups through the CAT scales with full fluids to know that I am under the limits. Although, I am aware of no documented incident of someone being cited for being over payload on their 1/2 ton.

Additionally, I appreciate when people become self-righteous about maintaining payloads under the manufacturers' limits for the safety and respect of others on the road, but they're probably some of the same people that fly by me at 85mph on the interstate with their boat behind them.

When it comes to safety, I am actually more concerned about lighter vehicles (looking right at you F150 owners) with higher payload and towing capacities, but significantly lower curb weight/GVWR than the Tundra. It seems as though engineers are willing to throw out simple physics for purposes of passing an agility test. Talk about the tail wagging the dog?

 

Additionally, I should add that I would be more concerned about not exceeding my Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) for both front and rear axles as well as my load rating on my tires when it comes to hauling.

 

This is all great advice I really appreciate everyone giving there advice. For right now I’m going to install the rear firestone airbags. I also plan on looking into a trailer after winter when my busy season picks up. Thanks again for the advice

 

I can't believe that your leaf springs are not touching the bump stops with that much weight in it.

 

Grab a 6x10. That's what I use for detailing and it works perfectly. Can find good deals on a used one if you're in a pinch.

 

I will be looking at new trailers. Is that a enclosed trailer you use?

 

No they don’t touch at all unless I go over a major bump

 

Gasp! You can't exceed the payload rating! Muh sticker!

Clearly your truck is handling it just fine. Just get some bags. Working out of a trailer sucks ass.

 

Yup. V-nose flat top. Haven't had time to install a tank and hose reel setup as I work full-time and do this as a side gig. Plans are to reorganize the cabinets and drop a 100gal with compressor and accompanying hose reels this winter.

 

My suggestion. Sumo springs if you don't want to get a trailer. (I think I have a set I could sell somewhere around this place.) They worked well for me but that took away from my articulation so I switched to airbags with cradles.

Edit: with airbags you never want to exceed a working pressure of 100psi (under load) I believe you will VERY quickly reach that limit and quickly got over. Even when I tow my 9K trailer I only air up to about 85psi to account for road bumps and such.

 

Nice set up

 

Yeah with the firestone max is 100psi. I plan on not going over 75psi. Just looking for some help with the bags to help with the sag in the rear.

 

This. You'd think you were planning murder by the way some people treat 1lb over ratings. If the truck is safe to you and seems fine I'd keep doing that. A truck within payload with an incompetent driver is a bigger issue than someone aware of how their vehicle handles. You've already been doing it for years, get some bags and keep on keeping on.

 

I am not the most experienced with hauling heavy loads or towing trailers as I don't do either. One point I would make is the legal aspect of hauling or towing over payload. Had a friend of a friend on a motorcycle get run off the road by a douche in a truck, bounced off a rock wall and into the oncoming lane, and was run over by a guy in a truck hauling a camper trailer who was in the oncoming lane. The oncoming truck did everything correct, braking, and steering to not run a tire over him etc, drove exactly over him so he was hit by bumper, and some undercarriage stuff, but he lived to tell the tale (after extensive surgery and rehab of course). Had he been run over by the oncoming truck's wheel he would have died on the spot, so the oncoming driver did it right. None the less, he (and his rig) was heavily investigated by the police and the friend of a friend still had to sue him in order to somehow sue the guy who actually caused the incident and have his insurance cough up significant dollars (I don't fully understand all the legal stuff, but the point still applies). Had the oncoming guy, who did nothing wrong, not follow all safety rules and regulations (and payload limits) in regards to his own truck, he would have been more on the chopping block legally speaking even though outcome likely wouldn't have changed. Even though our trucks can handle a lot, working within the legal limits is critical for your own safety, both physically and legally, and the safety of others on the road. Just my 2 cents.

 

Yes I totally agree with this!

 

I never want to find out what towing a 13k load with an F150 feels like.

 

Don't worry, the tongue weight will exceed the payload long before you get there unless the trailer is loaded so far back that it would be unsafe behind any truck.

 

Thats only 100lb over my 2012 4Runner’s payload. It’s hard for me to believe that is *really* unsafe in a Tundra.

I mean, I understand the legal issues of getting into an accident while overloaded, but Toyota is such a conservative company, I don’t think you’re playing with everyone’s lives on the road if you’re overloaded but not riding on the bump stops with our trucks.

 

A 13k trailer’s tongue weight is around 1300lbs (10%). Say it’s higher due to the way it’s loaded...say it’s 15%—that would be 1950 lbs, which is well under an ecoboost F150’s payload of 3250 lbs. All I’m saying is, I don’t want to be pushed around by that heavy of a load in that light of a truck even though Ford says it’s ok.