Okay guys here is the other scenario: just found out my buddys got a '73 Chevy c30 dually, 350, 4-spd, w/ a 8' by 9' flatbed w/ alot of miles that runs and is real rusty (frame looks ok). I can snag it fer $50. I can't pass up the deal, even though i just bought a pos 1/2 ton (rearend is FUBAR anyway). what i want to know is the safety and legality of hauling 4400 (?) lbs of toyota on the back. i'll extend the flatbed to 12' to fit, but am slightly worried about things such as weight distribution and center of gravity. Also, can this combo be run w/ a regular drivers license? Will I have to weigh it at the DOT station like a big rig? any relevant info or pictures would be appreciated. thanks

-chris

I think you need to measure and weigh your 4Runner!! Mine is 14 feet long from the rear of the frame to the front of the winch. My weight is around 4400 lbs.

well no front bumper so 12 ft or so from 3-4" in front of the frame to contact area of rear tire. as for the weight I stand corrected. my buddy's pickup weighed in at 3200 (so he says), so i was guessing.

You need to see what the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the truck is and also what the gross rear axle rating is. I'm guessing that you would be quite a bit over the limit for the rear axle. It would definitely be a squirrely ride. You wouldn't need to stop at the scales and you wouldn't need a CDL (commercial driver's license). Only commercial vehicles stop at the scales and your truck would need a GVWR of over 26,000 pounds to require a CDL.

GVWR is 10,000 according to door plate, GAWR rear is 7500, front is 3500. hmmmm might be over the limit, eh? how much might you say the truck itself would weigh, 6000 or 7000 lbs?

Originally posted by cmegoup
You need to see what the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the truck is and also what the gross rear axle rating is. I'm guessing that you would be quite a bit over the limit for the rear axle. It would definitely be a squirrely ride. You wouldn't need to stop at the scales and you wouldn't need a CDL (commercial driver's license). Only commercial vehicles stop at the scales and your truck would need a GVWR of over 26,000 pounds to require a CDL.

Maybe that's the case in Co, but he's in Kali and here that is a commercial vechicle and has to go through the scales. But he doesn't need a CDL. And a C30 chevy has a GVWR of 10,000 and he'd be over gross and over on the axle weights with that load. In Kali the signs say no pick ups at the scales, when you put a flatbed on it's not a pickup any more in Kali.

My '74 1T crewcab longbed IH weighs in at just under 6000lbs empty, IIRC.

3200lbs front, 2800lbs rear.

9k GVWR.

Rear is rated to 7500lbs, but springs are only 6300lbs, tires are only 6084lbs (2 LR-E 235/85-16).

I can haul 3000lbs over the rear axle w/o much problem.

Then I'd have to dual it out, and after 6300lbs, some helper springs.

I'd also start exceed GVWR.

That said.. the Chevy should be lighter - it's a single cab, plus it's a Chevy. :D

Make the flatbed as light as you can, while stout enough to hold the truck.

You'll probably still be around 3k-lbs on the rear end.. but with the right springs, that leaves 4500lbs of excess capacity as long as you run duals.

So you'd be close on the rear axle weight, and I bet pretty close to your 10k limit, but do-able.

I have friends that use 1T dually flatbed to haul their race Jeeps around, but they're a lot lighter than a 4Runner.

I say try it, but what i think woudl be killer is 2 dual axles under the rear... oh yeah.

Originally posted by 70~K5
In Kali the signs say no pick ups at the scales, when you put a flatbed on it's not a pickup any more in Kali.

Very interesting and thanks for the info. I do know that Cali has some picky damned laws for big rigs hauling through that state. I wouldn't want to take a load there for fear of breaking some dumb ass rule that makes no sense. The regs are definitely hard to follow there.