Sled Deck Safety
- Thread starter JustinB
- Start date
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Trax 2 Treadz
Well-known member
Check the door jamb on your truck, it should have the load ratings or GVWR on it for your vehicle. Then figure out how much weight you would try and carry with your truck. You need to include everything your weight, passengers, fuel, gear, weight of the deck, etc. You will probably be overweight before you put a sled on it.
My coworker bought a new 96 chevy halfton and in 2000 he bought a new lance lite 8ft camper 1,600# wet. That camper stayed on that truck untill 2011. Truck had just over 150k miles on it when he sold it. 2 transmissions but still the original rearend and axle bearings. He also towed a 16ft boat most of the time.
I don't think the lance dealer would sell and load a camper that was over the payload for the truck.
That dealer told me that my 01 f250 powerstroke couldn't haul their 11.5 ft dual slide, side entry model because it weighs 3,800# they said I need to have a dually.
Make sure the tires are rated for enough weight, at least an 8ply.
I don't think the lance dealer would sell and load a camper that was over the payload for the truck.
That dealer told me that my 01 f250 powerstroke couldn't haul their 11.5 ft dual slide, side entry model because it weighs 3,800# they said I need to have a dually.
Make sure the tires are rated for enough weight, at least an 8ply.
It works just fine on my F150! I am close to my max, but I run a heavier rated tire and air-bags for stability. What you need to remember is that the weight of the sleds are low, so the top heavy thinking is a mis-conception, unless it's a poo! Second, I would MUCH rather have that weight over the rear tires in icy conditions then be pulling any trailer in same said conditions!
This year will be my 14th running my sled deck on 1/2 ton pick-ups. Firestone airbags for most of it, but switched to Timbren air springs 2 years ago and I like them better. No accidents, I never felt un-safe. You know there up there so watch the corners but its not a big deal.
I used to not care if it was safe or not, but now I pay more attention to that. I would suggest not exceeding the GVWR as said. And I would set up the truck to sit not less then level when loaded. I prefer my sled deck over the enclosed for trailering any day
I used to not care if it was safe or not, but now I pay more attention to that. I would suggest not exceeding the GVWR as said. And I would set up the truck to sit not less then level when loaded. I prefer my sled deck over the enclosed for trailering any day
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Sheepdog
Active member
I ran a silver lake sled deck on my 96 ram for two years before I sold it. It worked great. I had some aftermarket overloads with E range tires. I wouldn't hesitate to do it again.
Not saying that your bearings like those loads, but just like everything else, keep up on the maintaince.
Sent from my ADR6410LVW using Tapatalk
Not saying that your bearings like those loads, but just like everything else, keep up on the maintaince.
Sent from my ADR6410LVW using Tapatalk
I ran a toy up sled deck on my 09 1500 Sierra for a season. It worked well with airbags. Just don't drive like a jack a$$ and you'll be fine. I now run one on my 3500 duramax and absolutely love it. I'm actually surprised this thread hasn't been blown up by how unsafe it is like most sled deck on a half ton threads go.
gvw rating
I put a deck on my 1/2 ton, I work at GM so I looked at the invoice and I calculated my GVW by taking the gross weight and subtracting the net weight. I came up with 1700 lbs ish. I bought a 350lbd teck 2 sleds it works. Now I need to know if I should attach a piece of track to my deck for traction.
I also installed an air bag kit for my rear suspension
I put a deck on my 1/2 ton, I work at GM so I looked at the invoice and I calculated my GVW by taking the gross weight and subtracting the net weight. I came up with 1700 lbs ish. I bought a 350lbd teck 2 sleds it works. Now I need to know if I should attach a piece of track to my deck for traction.
I also installed an air bag kit for my rear suspensionJust hauled 2 sleds on my deck on a 2500 for the first time and didn't even know they were there. Zero body roll and no air in the air bags. I am sure I've loaded a 1/2 ton heavier than that about a million times so no I would have no issue with a 2 place deck on a 1500. Good tires and some sort of helper springs would be reccomended. Unless it was like 2 Yamis or something
Don't forget to check your rim load rating. 10ply tires that have a load rating of 3500lbs are no good if your rims are load rated at 2500lbs.
Most all aftermarket wheels have a low rating for liability purposes. Weld wheels is one of the exceptions.
According to my wheels on my superduty I'm almost overweight with just the truck and passengers.
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Sled deck safety, What's that? LOL
I still think it's a bad idea, but that pisses off the 1/2 ton guys. 1/2 ton trucks have smaller brakes, front end parts, semi floating axles (vs full on HD trucks), lighter wheels and smaller tires, lighter duty transmissions, the list goes on and on.
Many guys will say you will be fine. I dunno, maybe you will.
I still think it's a bad idea, but that pisses off the 1/2 ton guys. 1/2 ton trucks have smaller brakes, front end parts, semi floating axles (vs full on HD trucks), lighter wheels and smaller tires, lighter duty transmissions, the list goes on and on.
Many guys will say you will be fine. I dunno, maybe you will.
That is an absolute farse. Airbags will help greatly with the handeling, and safety, of carrying that load on your half ton. However that extra spring support doesn't do anything to make the axles, hubs, or rest of you driveline/power train stronger.
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Trax 2 Treadz
Well-known member
In British Columbia, you will be lucky to get a ticket and sent home. Seen lots of guys have to leave a sled in the ditch to get under the vehicle GVWR to get where they are going, unload and then come back for the sled. I believe they can also impound all your stuff as well in addition to a healthy ticket, if they are so inclined.
J
Jaynelson
Well-known member
It's likely going to be at or over payload, but with airbags and E-range tires it will handle just fine.
I did a full size 1980 vintage 8-foot camper on my little 2006 Tundra in the summer and it was fine. Did lots of bush-road travel with that setup. I have Firestone bags and E-range All Terrains. I also didn't drive like a jackass, and wouldn't with a camper on any truck. Also pulled my 19.5' Sea Ray on a tandem axle trailer with the truck+camper a few times. I wouldn't say it was long on power with just a 4.7L V8, but it never felt unsafe. Truck is on all original axles, bearings, suspension, brakes, etc all seem to hold up fine.
I would do a deck on a newer 1/2 ton with airbags and LT tires from a comfort/safety POV without hesitation. From a legal standpoint....that depends on exactly which truck and if you are likely to get roasted in your riding area. Yes in a perfect world a 3/4 ton is a no-brainer, however, if you already have the truck, like it, etc it's not always that easy.
I did a full size 1980 vintage 8-foot camper on my little 2006 Tundra in the summer and it was fine. Did lots of bush-road travel with that setup. I have Firestone bags and E-range All Terrains. I also didn't drive like a jackass, and wouldn't with a camper on any truck. Also pulled my 19.5' Sea Ray on a tandem axle trailer with the truck+camper a few times. I wouldn't say it was long on power with just a 4.7L V8, but it never felt unsafe. Truck is on all original axles, bearings, suspension, brakes, etc all seem to hold up fine.
I would do a deck on a newer 1/2 ton with airbags and LT tires from a comfort/safety POV without hesitation. From a legal standpoint....that depends on exactly which truck and if you are likely to get roasted in your riding area. Yes in a perfect world a 3/4 ton is a no-brainer, however, if you already have the truck, like it, etc it's not always that easy.
I would have thought the weight police would have showed up sooner!
First of all the load ratings on today's half tons, or at least my max tow F150, are equal to 3/4 tons of 10 years ago!
Second of all, feel free to check with your local law enforcement on liabilities, but I am willing to bet that if you are under 10,000 lbs., then they could care less! Been there, done that!
Third, Canada operates under different rules than the states. Keep your geographical location in mind!
First of all the load ratings on today's half tons, or at least my max tow F150, are equal to 3/4 tons of 10 years ago!
Second of all, feel free to check with your local law enforcement on liabilities, but I am willing to bet that if you are under 10,000 lbs., then they could care less! Been there, done that!
Third, Canada operates under different rules than the states. Keep your geographical location in mind!
I know a lot of guys run decks on half tons and they may be just fine. And if you feel inclined and safe to run one then go ahead. However I think that every time this thread is brought up there should always be one disclaimer. If you get into an accident and you are over GVWR your insurance has the legal capacity to not cover you or your passengers. And despite what some people tell you there is no way to change GVWR that is on your truck from the factory. No 10ply tire or airbag will change that.
