Sleddeck on half ton

[Scott]

Many of us could say the same thing about drinking & driving, speeding, texting while driving, playing with matches, running with scissors & unprotected sex, riding a yamaha...........Doesn't make it a good idea.

Lol...fixed it for ya.

 

[Ultra]

Ive done it for 10 years, no problems. Just drive like a white man and youll be fine. everyone that flames on here has never actually done it, they just assume the worst will happen.

I have had decks on 1/2's, 3/4's and 1ton duallies...guess which set up I prefer and use?
My advice comes from seat of the pants experience!

I have also had just about every style trlr you can think of.

A deck on a 1/2t, especially a short one, didn't say it can't be done, just said it's not a good idea..It's still a no brainier.

Right now I use a 4x4 crew dually LB with air bags and a deck and a very light low profile aluminum 4 place enclosed...hands down the best set up I have ever run.

 

[Mafesto]

I'm pretty sure that if you remove the 1/2 ton badging & replace it with 3/4 ton badging, put a rebel flag sunscreen in the rear window & get yerself some Yosemite Sam mudflaps you will be just fine.

 

[mtn_rider08]

I have a 1/2 ton Sierra that I have put a deck on quite a few times. I haven't had a problem yet. I only did that back when I had a 15 min. drive to the parking lot. However, given the choice, I like it on my dads 1-ton dually a lot better. I am currently in the market for a 3/4 ton or 1-ton truck just for hauling the sleddeck.

 

[X2Freeride]

If your going to do this on a 1/2 ton I would also put a set of shocks for a 3/4 ton on it, and air bags... I have a older 1/2 ton 6.5 that I put 3/4 ton shocks on, no air bags, and I hauled a deck with 2 sleds on it plus 2 sleds on a 2 place... Worked just fine for me... Realize thought the 1/2 ton 6.5 Turbo diesels were really a HD half ton though. At times I wish it was a 3/4 ton but not often enough to upgrade.

 

[High Country]

3/4 ton

i just bought a STF 7' sled deck....do i need air bags on a 3/4 ton shortbox???
hauling a couple crossfires

 

[Mafesto]

i just bought a STF 7' sled deck....do i need air bags on a 3/4 ton shortbox???
hauling a couple crossfires

It would help the handling characteristics for sure.

 

[skidooboy]

i have an 09 gmc sierra crew 1500. they only have the 5.5 bed to begin with. i have thought a few times about a sled deck and how it would be great for certain circumstances.

but, even with bags, that short wheel base, and the extention of the deck over the end of the frame, and the box scares me. might be different if you pulled the box and installed the bed lower.

i'll keep using the trailer, until i can ante up for a 3/4 ton. be safe, use your heads guys, ski

 

[M8Chris]

Many of us could say the same thing about drinking & driving, speeding, texting while driving, playing with matches, running with scissors & unprotected sex...........Doesn't make it a good idea.

I feel like i've done all the above..haha guess I could try another stupid thing right?? Still considering the deck since I'm not getting an enclosed and dont want to get my new sleds all dirty on a two place.

 

[hivoltagesledhead]

I had a 96 Z71 1500 ext cab short box with air bags on the back and the torsion bars cranked up front. Had an 8 ft deck and would haul 2 sleds all the time with 80 lbs in the bags.Even had a deck and trlr sometimes. There is no doubt that the truck can do it,but as mentioned,drive like a white man, remember the braking and put some really good winter tires on it. I ran 10 ply studded traction kings and could go further up the mtn than most. I also loaded it up and took it to the scales to make sure it was legal...and it was...barely. The air bags help with the sway and the load but it also makes the truck look legal, that means it is not going down the hwy with the azz on the ground and the front in the air, this scenario will get you pulled over for sure. Right now I have a 2500 dmax cc short box with air bags and a 8ft deck. There is no law against 8ft decks on short box trucks in Canada. They work grrrrrrrreat.

 

[M8Chris]

I have Nitto Terra grapplers on my truck and will be adding air bags.

 

[jacmmaxwell]

I have an 8 foot deck in the garage and will be hauling it on an F150 supercrew with a 5.5 foot bed. I'll run it across the scales to check it out when I do load them up but should be good with room for gear.

Part of the point of a deck for me is that darn toll bridge I have to cross, it will save me some money during the season. I get charged a second toll rate for hauling my two place.

 

[M8Chris]

I have an 8 foot deck in the garage and will be hauling it on an F150 supercrew with a 5.5 foot bed. I'll run it across the scales to check it out when I do load them up but should be good with room for gear.

Part of the point of a deck for me is that darn toll bridge I have to cross, it will save me some money during the season. I get charged a second toll rate for hauling my two place.

sweet lemme know how your truck feels with the deck

 

[Mafesto]

As snowmobilers, we are all very well aware of the physics involved with cg.

We are also very aware of how important it is to keep weight as close as possible to cg.

This is why a 2 place deck on ANY half ton is a bad idea...period.

Let's say you can haul 1200 lbs & remain within the payload rating.
That rating is based on proper placement of that 1200 lbs,
To raise that load 2 ft & move it rearward GREATLY reduces the capacity of the truck.

It would be like lifting the rated load with a forklift....would it be wise to raise it fully & drive around? Of course not!

This isn't rocketfreakingscience people!

Ahhhh, you can tell winter is coming when these threads come to life!

Now someone revive a "Which 2 stroke oil is goodest" thread!

 

[Dirtryder]

im looking at puting a homemade sleddeck on my half ton 93 chevy, i have a ten bolt rear axle short box but i have overload springs. would those be enough to hold it or do i still need to put bags on it?

 

[Nytroty]

Here are a couple different pics of the same sledeck in my 05 1500 crew cab with only one sled on it and my airbags at about 20 psi. Later that day i put my bags up to 80psi and had another sled on there and it drove just fine around town and out on the lake here in Minnesota. Had it going 70 on the highway on my way home and it felt ok.

Second picture is in my brothers 08 2500 crew cab(no air bags) and we drove from Minnesota to Cooke city and we did 80 the whole way and when i drove it i couldn't even tell the deck was on there except for the truck rode alot better Worked so good my brother bought a deck this year!

 

[volcano buster]

Nytroty,

That 1/2 ton is the 5.5' bed? Any opinions on how a 6.5' bed would do with the deck on it?

 

[AndrettiDog]

Wow, those 5.8 beds look scarey with a deck in them.

 

[LukerZ]

I have a full lotus deck on my 05 f 150 6.5ft box with bags. I have no problem with two sleds on top, I put a saleen supercharger on so power hasn't been a problem It obviously isn't ideal but it works just fine for me, I'm way happier with the sled deck than a two place.....

 

[Nytroty]

Nytroty,

That 1/2 ton is the 5.5' bed? Any opinions on how a 6.5' bed would do with the deck on it?

You are correct. I would imagine the 6.5 would only make it better with the wheelbase getting longer. But like i said it seemed to drive fine. I would have no problems drivng around with this load. I have airbags and D range tires though. So i like to call mine a heavy half ton But if i was looking at new trucks and i had a sled deck i would just go with a 3/4 ton or 1 ton for sure.