Question about GVWR

[Jayhawk851]

Hey guys and gals. I have a question about my 71 c10. I need to get some rock for a flower bed and I’m not sure how much I can load in the bed of the truck. I’ve seen so much conflicting information about the curb weight of the truck. It’s a long bed with a v8. On the door placard it says GVWR as manufactured is 4400, maximum capability of 5400. Just want to know what I can safely haul. it is lowered front and rear. 5” drop springs in the rear are brand new with new shocks. Brakes are disc/drum if it matters. I hauled a bunch of brick and topsoil the other day and it didn’t ride great but accelerated and stopped fine. I did the math and that was almost 800 lbs. any info is greatly appreciated.
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[Steeveedee]

5400-4400=1000 pounds, or half ton. Given the changes you made it might be optimistic to haul half a ton, but I'm not the one to make that call.

[burnin oil]

With a modified suspension those numbers are out the window. You will have to just add the rock and watch the suspension while leaving some travel for the suspension to work while traveling. Another thing, I am guessing here since you dropped your rig, is that large rims with low profiles don't like pot holes . There isn't alot of tire flex so it will be more likely to crack or bend a wheel.

[Jayhawk851]

15” wheels. Tires are a bit wider than stock.
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[burnin oil]

You still have the moded suspension so you will just have to go by feel. Make sure your tire pressure is up so you don't get the wet noodle feeling at speed.

[truckster]

How much rock do you need? Figure an average weight of around 170 pounds per cubic foot; it adds up really fast. You're going to be at around 1,000 pounds with just 1/3 of a cubic yard of rock.

[burnin oil]

For a visual of what truckster is saying, An articulated loader at 1.5 buckets is 5 tons for 2 inch. Smaller gravel will be heavier for the volume. I have put alot of gravel in my driveway!

On a side note I bought 10 bags of concrete not long ago. After I loaded it I realized that it was 800 pounds. Easy day for that truck but it goes to show how deceptive wieght can be.

[Jayhawk851]

im not sure how much I’ll need. I’m guessing around a ton. I figured I can make a few trips since the place is really close. I just don’t really want to pay to have it delivered since they charge a ton of money for delivery.
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[Mike C]

The two columns on the GVWR plate are the as-equipped weight and the maximum for the platform.

The max for your truck sounds like 4400# and the max for the 1/2 ton platform is 5400#. So if your truck weights 3700# with you in it, you can still carry 700# payload based on what GM thought by how your truck was equipped for average use.

Please post a picture of your door jam data plate.

I have owned (4) different 69-70 C2500 trucks. They have been rated 6200/7500, 6600/7500, 6800/7500, and 7500/7500. Your particular truck is determined by the engine, transmission, spring and tire combo that it came with.

Personally, putting rocks in the bed up to the max GVWR seems like a good way to make a mess of the bed floor...

[Jayhawk851]

If you saw the bed of my truck you would not be concerned about it lol I was planning to put down a furniture pad and a tarp anyway. . It’s also a new 350 and a rebuilt 700r4 with a 2200 stall. The PO had torched the springs to lower it to the point where it rode terrible. I just installed the new rear springs and shocks.
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[burnin oil]

Unless they dump the gravel from 10 feet it shouldn't hurt anything but the paint. I would just drop it in the bed as the pad will make it a PIA to shovel out.

You say that you put new springs in but there is more to it than that. Obviously the spring rate plays a huge roll as does travel. If the drop reduced spring travel a few inches then you would essentially loose the wieght carrying capacity coils on a progressive spring. This wouldn't be as much of a concern on a constant rate spring. You have to consider how the truck was dropped as this will also be a factor. Removed mounts or lighter duty brackets can affect strength and driveline angles. It is a system. By modifying one aspect by lowering the rest is out the window now as far as the tag goes. There is also gear ratios in the axle and tire wieght carrying capacity..
Generally old trucks can carry alot more wieght than the tag is rated for but stopping it is the problem. You are going to have to try it and see and anyone who tells you differently is lieing to you. It is modified, plane and simple.

[Mike C]

Go slower than you normal drive and limit yourself to about 1000# ( 1/2 a yard or so I'd guess) and you will be fine.

[Matt1]

I had 1 Yard of 3/4 crushed stone in my 1969 2wd longbed a couple weeks ago. All I have done suspension wise is 2.5" drop spindles for front discs. With a set of progressive rate coil springs in the rear, I was riding on the bump stops the whole way home.