Sled Deck Safety

[BHPete]

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.

Not trying to start a pissing match, but clear up a misconception. Ask this same question to your insurance company and I would bet you a beer that they will say if you are under 10,000lbs. then you are good!

Operating safely and operating within the realm of legality are 2 different things!

Does this look overloaded or unsafe to you?

 

[volcano buster]

Does this look overloaded or unsafe to you?

I would only question the tire tread at this point.

I have a similar truck. It weighs more than my last 2 regular cab F250's. My '88 had a 460/5 speed and this F150 has better breaks and power delivery. The only thing it lacks in comparison is the bed payload capability.

 

[BHPete]

The rated payload is 1,700lbs. The rated tire load on my 275/60/20 Hercules is 2998lbs. Even if you give the airbags no weight carrying benefit, they do level the load (put weight back to the front wheels), I am not seeing a weak link here!

And for the weight police that want to argue that air bags do not carry weight, I will leave you with this!

 

[smoothdawg]

Its true the 2500 to 3500 trucks have heavier duty components on them, however the newer half tons are being rated higher and higher for towing and hauling capacities. You can get a 10,000 lb plus towing capacity in a half ton now days. I think some of the half tons are rated to carry 2000 lbs in the bed as well. That is sufficient in my book for an aluminum sled deck and 2 sleds. I wouldnt hesitate to buy a newer half ton and run a sled deck with 2 sleds. I think good tires and air bags is well worth considering. Like said above, the air bags level the truck out but also shift some of the weight back on the front tires. Plus with the weight of the sleds and deck you will achieve maximum traction compared to towing a trailer. JMO.

 

[polarisfornow]

Not trying to start a pissing match, but clear up a misconception. Ask this same question to your insurance company and I would bet you a beer that they will say if you are under 10,000lbs. then you are good!

Operating safely and operating within the realm of legality are 2 different things!

Does this look overloaded or unsafe to you?

Well you owe me a beer. My ins agent said straight up overloaded is overloaded. He said if you're close like within a couple hundred pounds you probably won't ever get questioned but he said he has seen policies canceled because of accidents and being overweight. He said the only saving grace he has ever seen is when someone has a truck and trailer both insured under the same policy. Then even if its overloaded the ins company is liable as its insuring both items and the assumption would be that the truck is pulling the trailer. Sort of a loophole so to speak.

And obviously not all half tons are created equal. I would bet that some of these 4door fully loaded trucks plus a deck and 2 sleds are creeping very close to 10k.

 

[BHPete]

Well you owe me a beer. My ins agent said straight up overloaded is overloaded. He said if you're close like within a couple hundred pounds you probably won't ever get questioned but he said he has seen policies canceled because of accidents and being overweight. He said the only saving grace he has ever seen is when someone has a truck and trailer both insured under the same policy. Then even if its overloaded the ins company is liable as its insuring both items and the assumption would be that the truck is pulling the trailer. Sort of a loophole so to speak.

And obviously not all half tons are created equal. I would bet that some of these 4door fully loaded trucks plus a deck and 2 sleds are creeping very close to 10k.

Maybe I do, but let me tell you a story about my anal retentive Brother-in-law.
You see, dear sweet BIL is a retired Air Force Lt. Col. Real type A. Anyhow he gets re stationed back to AK and his subsequent retirement with the plan of a custom built slide in for his F-250. Anyway, the first one that was built for him was like 1 or 200 lbs. over his load rating by the time he got water and such on board. Any normal person would not have thought much of it, but nope, he pointed it out and got another one built. But it did make the builder think outside the box, so that part was good.
So he goes to the AK patrol and poses the question about being overloaded and liabilities? They were rather stumped, because nobody had asked that question before. What he basically came up with is if you are under 10,000lbs. or it could have been 11,900 or something goofy like that, then you were good to go!
Naturally everyone's rigs and areas are different, but I feel that my set up is well within its load ratings!

 

[Goinboardin]

Not all equal

Ford's Max Payload package pushes the GVWR of the F150 to 8200 lbs. Payloads then depend on the weight of the truck itself: 4x2 regular cab 5.0L has 3120lbs payload vs 4x4 crewcab ecoboost has 2310lbs payload.

Or pick the Raptor in a supercab and have less than 1000lb payload.

http://www.ford.com/trucks/f150/specifications/payload/

I'd imagine Chevy has something similar. Dodge likely does not with their coil sprung rear axles in the 1/2 tons.