Max Cargo Weight with Airbags, etc?

[lockedlex]

Hi, I need to haul about 1000 lbs worth of sand and 1400 lbs worth of concrete pavers. I understand that the 4runner has a cargo weight capacity (00 Limited)--1310 LBS).

However, is that because of structure or because of the stock coil springs?

I'm running a Sonoran Steel lift WITH Airlift rear airbags. (I've also got a supercharger for good measure).

Do you see any problem with loading up the truck with 2400 lbs of weight, even spaced over the cargo and rear seats? Or should I keep it to about 1000-1400? Just talking about the truck here, not concerned with other factors like driving with that much weight, stopping etc.

 

[twitchee2]

I wouldnt I have had about 1600 lbs of people, camp gear + dirtbike on a hitch carrier. had to fill the bags to 50-60psi. It got the job done. If I was you, I would just rent a trailer for the day and be done with it.

 

[lockedlex]

I guess I'm trying to figure out why this is an issue? Is it because the floor will rip through the mounts?

Or is it because the Handling becomes terribly unpredictable? Do having any modifications help offset that?

Why can a pickup truck carry thousands of pounds in the cargo area, is it because the cargo area is stronger and made of different materials? I guess now I'm going more into Theory to try and figure out this difference.

 

[gamefreakgc]

I guess I'm trying to figure out why this is an issue? Is it because the floor will rip through the mounts?

Or is it because the Handling becomes terribly unpredictable? Do having any modifications help offset that?

Why can a pickup truck Carrie thousands of pounds in the cargo area, is it because the cargo area is stronger and made of different materials? I guess now I'm going more into Theory to try and figure out this difference.

Handling. I put over 1000 lbs in the back of mine, and I have slightly stiffer springs and the thing was kinda scary to drive. I was only going a 1/4 mile from the store to my house though. It makes the rear suspension bottom out and you start to lose steering as the front end pops up. A pickup has more of the weight over the center of the vehicle so there's more weight on the front and less on the rear.

Trailer is a much better way to go!

 

[Js'00imited4runner]

First off the 4runner axles are only 6 lug hubs which is generally what most light duty 1500 pickups are. 2500-3500's are 8 lug. Also the rear coil springs. Oppose to Pickups using shock/leaf springs which carry weight better. Also Smaller frame rails. Whereas Pickups have at least 8-10 inch thick frame rail walls. I drive a chevy express 2500 everyday and When I have 1000 lbs on it its iffy, and when I have 2000 lbs on it I put the pedal to the floor and it takes awhile to get going. It has a LS V8 variant, and a 6 speed auto transmission. Also isn't their a possibility that much weight could tear up your trans/driveshaft etc.? I wouldn't take the risk. I would either rent a cargo van or make 2 trips even 3? If you had a tundra that would be a completely different story. Hope this helps and good luck!

 

[lockedlex]

Well I did it in two trips. Both would have been about 1400 lbs of cargo, plus about another 550 lbs of people (one the back, two up front). So about 1950 total.

I ended up doing two trips because of space constraints and the advice here.

It wasn't as scary as I thought it'd be, thankfully. One trip was about 20 miles, then other one was about 2 miles.

I pumped my airbags to 35psi and that really helped to control sway a bit, kept the back end in check. I did like how much smoother it rode on the highway, haha. Also, my truck finally sat level, after all these years, but I was glad when it got its stance back.

I don't think the 2800 (plus 550 of people) would be doable, at all, and I do feel like this 1950 was "pushing it." I can just imagine something snapping at that point. It was fairly "controlled" and I had no issues getting up to freeway speeds, but thoughts of emergency maneuvers and such, kept giving me some anxiety.

 

[nobb]

One thing I noticed is that the rear wheel axle bearings are ball bearings on the 4Runner and Tacoma of this generation. Pickup trucks and anything heavy duty usually uses roller bearings which are much better for load bearing (more surface area). Even a tiny Ford Ranger uses roller bearings. Just one reason why our 4Runners, and even the Tacoma is considered light duty. Ironically, the front wheel bearings are beefier than the rears.

 

[nissanh]

I've seen overlanders running air bags on both front and rear on LR defenders and LC 80 series ending up destroying front knuckle. Too much weight at back can rupture the top metal weld to the frame.

 

[lockedlex]

So I guess we can tow 5000# because the tongue weight directly pushing down on the rear is only a small fraction (few hundred lbs) of the total weight. Then the rest of the weight it being PULLED by the frame, instead of things sitting on TOP of the frame which concentrates the weight and could break anything between the cargo floor down to the coil mounts.

I will say, it handled the 1950# like a champ though! But probably not something I'd suggest doing regularly.

That said, thank GOODNESS our SUVs are still truck based, I don't want to think what a unibody would have to endure without that frame sort of helping to spread the load.

But those basically answer my question. Weld points can rupture, coils vs leaf springs, bad handling, wheel bearings. What's amazing is how an airbag can hold it's shape over thousands of lbs, but welds, knuckles, etc may not.

 

[phattyduck]

A $25 trailer rental at UHaul solves this issue really easily. I also own a small utility trailer for Home Depot runs (~2k lbs, way over loaded):

I also wouldn't want 1k+lbs in the cabin with me... In a truck, the load is separated from the passengers.

-Charlie

 

[gamefreakgc]

A $25 trailer rental at UHaul solves this issue really easily. I also own a small utility trailer for Home Depot runs (~2k lbs, way over loaded):

I also wouldn't want 1k+lbs in the cabin with me... In a truck, the load is separated from the passengers.

-Charlie

Agreed completely. I've loaded up the cargo area at capacity, and other times towed when we were renovating our house & yard. I prefer towing over weighing down the cargo area, especially when it comes to pavers or stone that in an emergency situation, could dislodge and find their way to the back of my head. That's why I never drove a heavy load more than that 1/4 mile back to my house and that was through a neighborhood too going 30 MPH.

Towing for the first time a few years back wasn't nearly as daunting as I thought either, until a Honda Civic hit a truck, spun out, and slammed into the center divide right in front on me on I-5. I learned a lot about how towing a trailer with no trailer brakes affects the vehicle braking LOL!

 

[lockedlex]

I will say slowing down with ~2k# extra in the car took a little more planning, but wasn't terrible. I think going down hill or something like that would have made it more daunting.

Now I wonder what carrying 2k on one of those lifted/built/HD pickup trucks must feel like, haha. Probably a cake walk.

There are so many pickups in Los Angeles, but mostly all of them are 2wd and most all of them are never used to actually haul things.

 

[gamefreakgc]

I will say slowing down with ~2k# extra in the car took a little more planning, but wasn't terrible. I think going down hill or something like that would have made it more daunting.

Now I wonder what carrying 2k on one of those lifted/built/HD pickup trucks must feel like, haha. Probably a cake walk.

There are so many pickups in Los Angeles, but mostly all of them are 2wd and most all of them are never used to actually haul things.

Lol yeah it's the same up here. Guys will have these pickups with extended cabs and all that so it's more like a chopped SUV and the pickup beds are 100% pristine, never been used!