Hauling rock

[Z28Owner]

I own a 71 LWB c10 with trailering arms and coil springs in the rear, Have the regular 70 series 15 inch tires on it. Question is I need to pick up some Creek bottom rock. They sell it by the ton. Should I plan on making 2 trips or can I safely haul 1 ton of rock about 10- 15 miles one way.
Whats the most anyone has hauled in there 1/2 ton with rear coils, Thanks -Jason

[knucklebuster]

Do a search on a thread named how many of you guys actually use your truck.There oughta be some thing there to help.Some of those pics were unreal

[Alex Hayley]

I did exactly what you are proposing....having a 1/2 ton '72, the most I was able to get in was about 850 lbs. The back end was WAY down and the front end swam down the road. You might be able to do a ton...but stick to the back roads.

[mrein3]

I have a 1/2 ton 4x4 with leaf springs. When I buy trap rock I tell the guy,
"keep it at 1000 pounds or so".
It amazes me that with a HUGE front end loader the guy always hits around 1000-1100 pounds.
That 1000 pounds makes it feel like what Alex Hayley says. It makes the front end REAL light.

[Stocker]

Originally posted by knucklebuster
Do a search on a thread named how many of you guys actually use your truck.There oughta be some thing there to help.Some of those pics were unreal

Maybe just me, I couldn't get the search to find that thread. Sure like to see those pics...

Z28Owner, make two trips - your truck will thank you!

I once hauled 3 tons over more than 40 miles of mountain highway, but I sure wouldn't recommend it! My 72 K20 has overloads and 8PR tires and still steered and braked pretty poorly!

[Longhorn Man]

The truck could probably do it...but you probably shouldn't though.

[oldsub86]

I am guessing tires might be the deciding issue.
I had an old 67 stepside back about 1973 and I hauled almost 2000# pounds of shingles 50 miles at highway speeds with it. If memory serves correct, a bundle of shingles weighs about 70 # (210# per square or 3 bundles). We had about 28 or 30 bundles on the truck. It rode real nice and we were running 65-70 mph.
It had 6 ply truck tires on it and it was a fairly heavy duty version for a shortbox stepside. I bought it at an auction of old highways department trucks. It had about 140K miles on it and the engine was junk. A 250 straight 6 and 3 on the tree. Rusty too. I clobbered a Buick with it and after that it was not very pretty. The front end was a bit messed up. Sold it to a fellow who promptly painted it with a brush.

[jimfulco]

From personal experience, air up the tires BEFORE you load the truck. I hauled 18 squares of shingles about 7 miles across town in my 69 C-10 SWB. Probably wouldn't do it again, but it worked fine. It did drive a bit strangely, though.

[JimKshortstep4x4]

I would make two trips. The tires as mentioned will probably be the weakest link. You are going a few miles anyway.

Here is a pic of a cab in the back of a truck. I would guess 600-700 pounds as it was pretty complete. The truck drove very well, but another 300-400 pounds would be max for safety reasons.
The truck has coil springs.

Jim

[Longhorn Man]

Yeah, they'll squat witha cab in the back, and the body roll is undeal too. Here is mine with a stripped cab, but with fine69's engine hoist in there too.

[onetoncrewcab]

Here's a link to the above mentioned thread:

http://64.246.42.114/vboard/showthre...threadid=46144

Mike

[Mike C]

Buy or rent a utility trailer with a miniumu 3500 GVWR and BRAKES! YOU NEED MORE BRAKES!!!!!!! The reason they make different levels of trucks is for different loads, just because you CAN do it doesn't mean you SHOULD do it. Last I checked, wasn't that expensive to have things like rock, dirt, or gravel delivered. Don't risk your life and everyone else on the road for ROCKS.

[lotik]

i would do it. then you gas on it really hard and you may be able to pull the front wheels off the ground abit..heh

[Baradium]

Be very careful. One of the worst things that can happen is if you have it so that you'll bottom out your suspension with a load. Then you hit a bump.... can mean bye bye to your axle etc.

Are you a heavy c/10 or regular? My c/10 has the heavy duty suspension with overloads.

With stock springs you won't be able to carry as much as some people do. You also want most of the load as far forward as you can, that puts more weight on your front end and lets you carry a little more.

You'll most likely need to make two trips. And IIRC the half ton capacity doesn't include driver and gas etc, so you'll be pushing the truck's rating if you don't have any of the hd upgrades (they add some GVWR for you).

[dubie]

You need some auxilary leafs on that truck. The kind that are designed for rear coil trucks. I am planning on putting some on my 72 when it's done.

[Baradium]

Originally posted by dubie
You need some auxilary leafs on that truck. The kind that are designed for rear coil trucks. I am planning on putting some on my 72 when it's done.

My '70 has those, I'd like to add aftermarket overloads too to stiffen up the ride some more (rides a little too soft for me, feels reall wierd going from the scout which somehow is a 1 ton to that truck which rides so soft). It drives better than anything I've driven before too. Just wish my brother hadn't bent one of my swaybar mounts...

I think they give you an extra 500 lbs? Don't really remember.

[dubie]

Yeah they are good for an extra 500 lbs per side !!! I could use that!! I plan on hauling everything with mine when it's done

[Baradium]

I got my overloads to contact when hauling a bunch of cement, usually though they only get close. Once they contact it takes a lot more weight to get them moving again. The reason I'd like the aftermarket type too is to adjust them to always be in contact for a slightly stiffer ride as well as more weight before the factory overloads contact and the truck sits level.

[dubie]

My truck came with the mounts all on the frame and the trailing arms, so I assume it probably had them at one time. I just need to dig up a set of them now. Anyone know of an alternative leaf to use?

[casey]

hauling rocks is hard on your box not to mention the truck, find another way to get the rocks home

[Gee_Emm]

Originally posted by oldsub86
I am guessing tires might be the deciding issue.
I had an old 67 stepside back about 1973 and I hauled almost 2000# pounds of shingles 50 miles at highway speeds with it. If memory serves correct, a bundle of shingles weighs about 70 # (210# per square or 3 bundles). We had about 28 or 30 bundles on the truck. It rode real nice and we were running 65-70 mph.
It had 6 ply truck tires on it and it was a fairly heavy duty version for a shortbox stepside. I bought it at an auction of old highways department trucks. It had about 140K miles on it and the engine was junk. A 250 straight 6 and 3 on the tree. Rusty too. I clobbered a Buick with it and after that it was not very pretty. The front end was a bit messed up. Sold it to a fellow who promptly painted it with a brush.

That reminds me of what happened to my Dad last winter. He was hauling shingles in a 20 ft enclosed car carrier. He probably had 30 bundles in there. He was going down the highway (2 lane) and was at the bottom of a huge hill(huge around here, the hill on the way to Kenora just before the weigh station) and there was a bump in the road. He managed to keep the trailer and truck on the road as 2 of the 4 tires on the trailer blew out and he spun the whole deal 180 degrees going 60 mph.

When we were loading the trailer up I noticed the tires were bulged but that didnt seem to bother him at the time.

Sooooooo the moral of the story is pay attention to your tires, they will be the determining factor of a safe trip.

[oldsub86]

Hey GeeEmm, I'm glad I didn't meet your dad on that trip. We go out that way all of the time too. The trip I referred to in the post you quoted was from Kenora out to Sioux Narrows.

[tom hand]

Can you do it? yes
Can you safely do it? NO
Why take a chance on blowing out a tire, having a wreck, and getting sued over a truckload of rock. I just had 15 tons of limestone delivered to my house for $250. It is not worth the chance...make two trips.