The Julie Ann Chapman Interview - 1/2 ton w/ sled deck

[kcZ]

Interesting to see...

Front page of SnoWest,The Julie Ann Chapman Interview has a picture of her sitting on the hood of a Toyota with a sled deck... last I checked, Toyota did not make anything larger than 1/2 ton. I skimmed the article seems as though she is in Canada too.

As someone who has thought of 1/2 ton pickup with a sled deck, I've read every thread on the site that talks about it. Most say do not do it, some even say it is illegal (mostly in Canada). It is interesting to see this right here.

 

[snowracer21]

Interesting to see...

Front page of SnoWest,The Julie Ann Chapman Interview has a picture of her sitting on the hood of a Toyota with a sled deck... last I checked, Toyota did not make anything larger than 1/2 ton. I skimmed the article seems as though she is in Canada too.

As someone who has thought of 1/2 ton pickup with a sled deck, I've read every thread on the site that talks about it. Most say do not do it, some even say it is illegal (mostly in Canada). It is interesting to see this right here.

first thing i thought, too.

 

[njk4o5]

its illegal but everyone does it and it works just fine.

 

[NorthMNSledder]

its illegal but everyone does it and it works just fine.

Why is it illegal? Or do you mean IF it puts you over your 1/2 tons truck weight limits it's illegal?

 

[05900]

"A huge thank you to all my sponsors for being there supporting myself and She Shreds since day one – Toyota"

There it is.

 

[SRXSRULE]

A 2015 Tundra has a max pay load of 2110 lbs. A sled deck can weigh as little as 400lbs (depending on the deck), 2 new sleds not full of fuel is about another 1000 lbs (depending on brand). So your up to 1400 lbs of the 2110lbs, that gives you 700lbs left for fuel in the truck, gear and a couple passengers. So there is a chance they are still legal. Eric

 

[94fordguy]

The key word there is "Max" ... Payload ratings are different for every different configuration of a vehicle. 4wd running gear takes up extra weight, cab size takes up extra weight, bed length, tire size, etc, etc... it all adds up to a given number that you can't legally exceed. Just because you can put air bags on a half ton and get it to hold the weight, doesn't mean that the rest of the truck is built to handle it equally well.

 

[mountainhorse]

Canada, I believe, requires at least a factory "3/4 ton" for a sled deck to be used... Its not about the actual weight capacity of the truck...but the "category it is in".

I may be wrong... but this is how it was told to me by an BC police officer who was giving a ticket to a young guy with a deck/sleds on his 1500 Chevy in the Whistler parking lot.

 

[kanedog]

Canada works like this-you have to be insured to carry the weight that you are.
Example-the max allowable weight on the truck may be 6000 lbs. You have to insure the vehicle, at a minimum, to the weight of the vehicle. Say, 4000 lbs.
This means that you now can only be a max of 4000lbs, including cargo. Basically now you can't carry any weight that puts you over 4000lbs.
The more weight that you insure your vehicle to, the more it costs. So what people do is insure it to the lowest possible weight(cost) and they think they are saving money and getting one over on the insurance company.
They only save money if they don't get caught or don't get in an accident.
Bc has different categories also.and you must use the vehicle for the category you have insured it for- ie-business use only, to and from work only, artisan use only etc. so if guy in whistler was insured in the "business use only" and he was in whistler on a weekend with 2 sleds on a deck it is pretty hard to explain how the use of the truck is business use. Cops aren't dumb, they know the deal. Despite this, genius's still think they can get away with underinsuring.
Hence, they get a ticket which pays for the cop wages and pays for more cops and the cycle continues, funded totally by the violators. People are getting dumber every year so there's a never ending income source for law enforcement. Soap box dismount.

 

[winter4ever]

Its funny how everyone blows their tits off about putting 1500 pounds in a 6000 pound truck, but then no one ever says a thing about a 5000 pound camper in a truck that weighs 7000 pounds. I did the sled deck thing in a half ton for 10 years, it was fine. I just got sick of dealing with sled decks so I went back to an enclosed trailer for convenience.

 

[warreng417]

We see very few 1/2 tons with two sleds in BC area, even Alberta for that matter. I hear they like to give tickes to those who get caught.

 

[Jaynelson]

There are many of the newer style Tundras running around with decks...never seen anyone get in trouble around here. Depending what's in the truck, decent chance it's legal by the book as well. those trucks have huge brakes and good suspension - they ride great with a deck and airbags - but I'd do airbags on a 3/4 ton with a deck anways. I've never been hassled and there's NO WAY it weighs more than my camper...lol

People usually only get stopped if the truck looks sacked out or unsafe. Trans canada might be a different story tho.

This site cracks me up - sled deck on a 1/2 ton "OMG you're crazy!" 40 foot gooseneck trailer way overweight on a lifted 3/4 ton with 14" wide mud tires in the snow "cool setup dude!"

 

[warreng417]

There are many of the newer style Tundras running around with decks...never seen anyone get in trouble around here. Depending what's in the truck, decent chance it's legal by the book as well. those trucks have huge brakes and good suspension - they ride great with a deck and airbags - but I'd do airbags on a 3/4 ton with a deck anways. I've never been hassled and there's NO WAY it weighs more than my camper...lol

People usually only get stopped if the truck looks sacked out or unsafe. Trans canada might be a different story tho.

This site cracks me up - sled deck on a 1/2 ton "OMG you're crazy!" 40 foot gooseneck trailer way overweight on a lifted 3/4 ton with 14" wide mud tires in the snow "cool setup dude!"

Hey dude, just bought a gen1 tundra like yours. Im assuming you have air bags for your camper. Did you go with the firestone kit or did you do a custom set up? Had the firestone kit that sits on outside of frame and mounts to leafs on a chevy and it was a nightmare. Overstretching airbags and tires rubbing on brackets when articulating rear. Any similar experience?

 

[Jaynelson]

That is the kit I have - same setup. Has been on there for a few years with no issues, but I did notice last time that one side may have developed a very slow leak. It doesn't rub anything, but to be honest I hadn't thought of over stretching - should check that out. Truck has seen some pretty decent off road miles with that crappy old camper without issue - and massively overloaded with gravel quite a few times. It has been a really good truck and seen a little bit of everything. It needs some type of airbag solution for bigger loads IMO...in a perfect world, slightly stiffer front suspension would go well with the bags as well - somethjng like the Bilstein adjustable they make for these trucks, with upgraded springs. I have 10 ply tires as well and run higher pressure when using the camper.

 

[KrazyKen]

alternative to air bags

Just stumbled across this old thread, and besides air bags, have any of you guys considered these:

http://www.torklift.com/index.php/products/suspension/stableload

I put them on my Dodge 2500 that load with a sled deck and 2 sleds and WOW, what a difference. if you watch the video on the website comparing the difference with using these vs air bags or nothing at all, it's spot on. These things greatly reduce body roll and hold up the weight just like air bags. I love them.
The reason I searched and found this thread is because I'm considering buying a 1/2 ton for a daily driver and want to know if I could get away using it to haul my sleds and sell my 3/4 ton.
Check them out.

 

[warreng417]

I ended up going with hellwig 2000# helper springs instead of airbags. No stupid leaking bags, axle articulation in un affected and you dont even know they are there when unloaded. Install isnt bad other than cutting off ubolts and replacing with new ones. $150 for springs, $70 for ubolts and hardware, worth every penny (2006 tundra with single deck/sled)