How much weight have you hauled in your lowered truck?

[chevymotocross]

I have a 6'' rear drop with a bolt-in C-Notch. I haven't hauled anything heavy in it since the drop, but I am considering picking up Mulch soon. I've hauled mulch before with this truck, at stock height, and the rear squatted pretty far.

It has a 5 spring leaf pack. Nothing as far as exhaust pipes or cables hang low. Rear tires are 275/60/15.

Think I can safely haul the mulch?

[hotrodhomi]

i put 1500 lbs of sand in my swb, but it bottomed out over bumps.

[J_PEPIN87]

my truck has 6in. drop in the back with a flip kit and bolt in c notch.i hauled the big block thats in it now and it would bottom out over bumps.

[chevymotocross]

Sounds like I might pass on hauling the mulch. I'm sure a bed full of mulch weighs more than the big block you hauled.

Here is a photo of hauling mulch before the lowering kit

[lakeroadster]

Frame Notch Based On Strength

[chevymotocross]

Originally Posted by lakeroadster

Frame Notch Based On Strength

I think I'll borrow my friend's truck lol

[78 Chevyrado]

Originally Posted by chevymotocross

Sounds like I might pass on hauling the mulch. I'm sure a bed full of mulch weighs more than the big block you hauled.

Here is a photo of hauling mulch before the lowering kit

What kind of wheels are those? I like them a lot. They look good!

[chevymotocross]

I just recently removed those and put on factory rally wheels. Not sure of the brand of those old alloys.

[N2TRUX]

How much mulch do you need? Around here they will deliver if you buy a minimum of 4-5 yards.

[mentlmidget]

Interestingly enough, I have hauled 3/4 stone that covered the wheel wells, bags of mulch to the top of the bed and yes it bottomed out the truck with springs. Oddly enough, the used truck didn't have it's helper springs. I used 1/4 inch wall, 2x2 square tubing welded to the top of the frame, 3/16 plate on the outside and inside of the frame, and boxed in the knotch with pieces of 1/4 plate steel. With 4 springs, I suppose the position of the springs helped to disperse the weight more evenly across the frame at the spring perches. Last week I finally put the bags on. I don't have plans of hauling that kind of weight anymore. Looking for an honest opinion, how does it look now? I think the by removing the leafs, the weight is now going to be put more on the bag perches.

I couldn't figure out how to get bigger images.

[mentlmidget]

bigger images...maybe

hmm...worked this time

[lakeroadster]

Originally Posted by mentlmidget

.... I used 1/4 inch wall, 2x2 square tubing welded to the top of the frame, 3/16 plate on the outside and inside of the frame, and boxed in the knotch with pieces of 1/4 plate steel...... Last week I finally put the bags on. I don't have plans of hauling that kind of weight anymore. Looking for an honest opinion, how does it look now? I think the by removing the leafs, the weight is now going to be put more on the bag perches.

Nice job on the notch. Adding the truss (2" tubing) and boxing plates makes for a stronger notch. Now you have a cool stance, and can still use your truck to haul stuff!

Looks good.

In regards to bags versus leaf springs, the leaf springs distributed half the weight ahead of the notch and half behind the notch. With bags its all behind the notch. That means the air bags will stress the notch area of the frame more than the leaf spring set-up did.

But, again, with the way you trussed and boxed the notch it is strong, likely not as strong as stock though due to reduced section height above the notch.

John

Originally Posted by Lakeroadster

Frame Notch Based On Strength
Summary
If you want the frame to be as strong as stock and you want a frame notch deeper than the 2" there is simply no substitute for adding some sort of truss structure, or replacing the frame section with another structural member that has the same or greater section height as the original frame.

[lilpoindexter]

Originally Posted by mentlmidget

Interestingly enough, I have hauled 3/4 stone that covered the wheel wells, bags of mulch to the top of the bed and yes it bottomed out the truck with springs. Oddly enough, the used truck didn't have it's helper springs. I used 1/4 inch wall, 2x2 square tubing welded to the top of the frame, 3/16 plate on the outside and inside of the frame, and boxed in the knotch with pieces of 1/4 plate steel. With 4 springs, I suppose the position of the springs helped to disperse the weight more evenly across the frame at the spring perches. Last week I finally put the bags on. I don't have plans of hauling that kind of weight anymore. Looking for an honest opinion, how does it look now? I think the by removing the leafs, the weight is now going to be put more on the bag perches.

I couldn't figure out how to get bigger images.

HOLY SMOKES....that's a helluva notch...It's probably stronger than stock.

[68longhorn]

My 86swb with one leaf removed to lower it will haul a bed full of mulch but it sits really low! Went to back in my driveway and my bumper hit the apron and stopped me. Other than that she takes it but is just bouncy up front.

[Jonboy]

as far as mulch goes, my '79 with the 4/6 drop but with HD leaves was good for 1 yard before it gave me trouble. I can answer this definitively because I originally loaded 2 yards, and had to circle around and unload about half to get it to be able to move. 1 yard is about level with the bedrails on a shortbed.

[N2TRUX]

The most I ever hauled in my 77. Not sure how much it weighed, but it's a LOT of steel in those boxes.

[96twodoor]

Ive hauled a 18ft car hauler with an S10 blazer on it ,with a 5/7 drop and a bolt in notch, heres a VERY crappy pic lol

[chevymotocross]

Thanks guys, I'm not going to risk it. I'll borrow my buddies stock trusty 90' c1500. I'll keep my truck for the lighter loads (which usually involves hauling the fun toys, like the dirt bikes )

[flamingbig10]

I hauled my 6.0 with a beltec flip kit, drop shackles, and c -notches with with weak 6 pack springs with over load removed the rear was bottomed out but it was only a 3 mile ride so it did ok

[Malo83]

Hauled a load of river rock in my 83 with a flip kit and no C notch and the frame was laying on the axles, luckilly i only had to drive about a mile and a half, it was ruff

[Low87]

I've hauled material for about 150' of wood fence. 4x4s, stringers, pickets & concrete. Rode low and I kept it below 25 mph all the way home, but we made it. No idea on weight.

[CaliDude76]

Washer asnd Dryer Combo.. not too sure the weight, but I have the overloads taken out for the drop. It sits right on the bushings when i get anything of much weight back there tho... I need a suspension overhaul.

[ds350]

How about adding some helper airbags?