welding truck

[Mr.Hyde]

well I'm looking to turn my 1968 c10 half ton into a welding truck and was wondering what the pay load is with the overload springs? If anyone else has suggestions to do this feel free to throw in your input! I know I'm thinking flat bed aswell.

[hugger6933]

The 1/2 ton truck is not heavy enough to carry a flat bed with all the needed equipment for a welding truck, you will be way overloaded. Not only do you have to consider hauling but stopping as well and the bigger trucks of course have bigger brakes. It is not only your safety that I am concerned about but others on the road as well, if that thing id loaded and light in the front, it could easily sway into traffic. Jim

[Mr.Hyde]

oh i agree i was the thinking the same thing thats why i thought i would ask some one more familiar. but if i were to run the long bed normally what would the payload be?

[PanelDeland]

I think you're going about this backwards.Maybe you should get a weight of the equipment you want to carry and see if a 1/2 ton is anywhere near that.1/2 ton is 1000 # and that isn't much in the terms of welding equipment.Also consider the wear and tear.If you load a 1/2 ton to max,it will not last nearly as long as a 1 ton loaded 1/2 way.This doean't even take into account that you will need to hual materials and steel ain't light.

[leftybass209]

I don't know what you envision your end product as but I'd say this rig is more than capable of melting metal. http://www.customclassictrucks.com/f...69_gmc_pickup/

[bodydropped68]

When I saw this post that is the truck I thought of love that truck.

[Mr.Hyde]

That looks awesome! Seems like they just beefed up the suspension.

[Spartan]

If you are set on the 1/2 ton consider leaving the bed and investing in towing and electric brakes. With a good inverter and stick/tig skills you can do a lot. I recommend a trailer because a common price point for steel is 20'.

I use a jeep Cherokee and a trailer and various welding cutting rigs and it works fine except for really big structural stuff. Gotta love inverter tech.

2 cents

[boynton]

personally I would go 3/4 ton 4x4 but I live in the sticks so my purposes would be a little different-mud/farm roads ect. It really depends on what you really want to do with it and where it will need to travel. The above mentioned truck looks sweet and if it never leaves the road could probably serve as a decent truck, but I think that truck is a little more for show than use. (the mention os going to sema/powertour). I am sure it is amazing advertising though! Who doesn't like a 67-72? Good luck with the project! can't wait to see how it turns out.

[Mr.Hyde]

I'd rather have a 1 ton dually but I don't have 60k I have 2 half tons so I thought why not and I was thinking air ride in the rear with disc brakes in the front to bump up the stopping it's a long bed and again does anyone have a source or know the amount of weight you can have with overload springs?

[Mr.Hyde]

Oh and what I would be runnin is a lincoln 305g(550lbs) air compressor(est 100lbs) and carious tools (est 100lbs) if I'm running a normal fleetside bed

[leftybass209]

As far as spring rates go check here. May not be exact but it gives you an idea. I still wouldn't max a beds payload out with helpers. I look at helpers as insurance, or rather assurance that your leafs or coils won't buckle.

[Mr.Hyde]

I think it was 1250 a rear spring any good tricks or beefing up the suspension? I'm now curious if this is possible when I get the machine I will for the most part be a weekend warrior to start

[leftybass209]

If you use leaf springs get the heavy duty versions with helpers of course. I'd also get shock relocation mounts. With coils I'd swap the trailing arms. Factory is fine but I have seen them rot and separate. Same with those though, heavy duty coils and shock relocation mounts. Polyurethane bushings because of the given constant weight as well.

[special-K]

I can't see anything less than a 3/4t as a welding rig. That's why they made 8-lug trucks the same size as 5 and 6. The 8-lug ones are for commercial duty. You want a full floating rear and all the other benefits of larger axles,bearings,and brakes

[Mr.Hyde]

on another forum people have mentioned using a 1/2 ton for a welding truck but short term due to strain on the vehicle. only other option is using my 09 sierra ext cab slt

[Mr.Hyde]

so can anyone suggest a good air ride kit that i can use to bump up my payload and Im guessing any front disc kit would be fine or are other prefered?

[Scott>72-GMC]

My uncle ( welder for 25 years ). Used a 2005 half ton for his welding rig flat bed used air suspension in the back Never had any issues Just letting u know. Now me I have 3/4 ton I don't weld I just like having the 3/4 ton so I know I can haul I've way overloaded 1/2 tons before no issues so I can't think ill ever overload a 3/4 ton

[Mr.Hyde]

Cool I appreciate all the input it seems like my weight will probably be around
900lbs give or take 100lbs with air tools compressor and welder, if I haven't forgotten anything