Truck capacity in board feet?

[Matthew Joe]

Anyone have a ballpark estimate of how many board feet of lumber one can stuff into a small or mid-sized pickup truck?

[Scott Schwake]

One layer of 8-foot long 4/4 boards (between the wheel wells) is about 32 bdft in my full size truck. Depends on how high you want to stack it.

[Jason Roehl]

You'll exceed the weight capacity of the pickup long before you get it full of lumber, especially if it's anything smaller than a 3/4-ton truck (Ford F250, Chevy/GMC 2500, Dodge B2500).

[Tom Veatch]

Pay attention to Jason!

A cubic foot of wood (12 bd ft), depending on specie, will be around 30lb, some much heavier, some lighter. So a layer of wood 4x8 in the bed of a pickup is going to weigh somewhere in the neighborhood of a thousand pounds per foot of depth (384 bd ft). So, take the weight capacity of your pickup, divide by 2.5 to 3, and that's about how many board feet of wood you can safely carry in the truck.

I passed a guy in a pickup on the side of the road the other day. It wasn't wood, but he had the bed of his half ton pickup filled to the gunwales with sand. He was probably wondering why his tires were flat and suspension broken. A common misconception among light pickup owners seems to be, "If there's more room, you can pour in more load". It just ain't so!

[Paul Atkins]

Sort of like this?

[Charles Krieger]

Hard to believe that some people have such poor judgement! Great picture though!

[David Schmaus]

At least you have a pickup...

[Chris Barnett]

When you gets it full, thar's the back seat...

[John Keeton]

Well, this is about 435 bd ft - stacked tightly in a 5x8 trailer.
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=103506&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1229177721 (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=103506&d=1229177721)

And, this is about 200 bd ft. in a Dodge Dakota - not stacked very well.
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=103507&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1229177741 (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=103507&d=1229177741)

[gary Zimmel]

Thanks for the pics guys.
They really made my day.

Sorry I can't help you out on how many board feet in the pickup Matthew.
I've got a F350 pickup and the wallet runs flat before the suspension does..

[jim sauterer]

john i know your pics are real are those other photos real.

[John Keeton]

I've got a F350 pickup and the wallet runs flat before the suspension does..Yeah, Gary, but you are paying those "conifer land" prices for hardwood!

[Richard M. Wolfe]

It depends on the species how much the pickup will hold, but as Jason said, you will run out of carrying capacity before you run out of space. Oak weighs nearly four lbs per board foot where cedar is about half that. I have a half ton pickup and have carried 1800 lbs about twenty miles with it but I filled the bed about flush full of cedar and then unloaded part as I didn't like how it looked. Granted, it was green. My guess is a bed full of dry cedar would be about the maximum carry.

[John Keeton]

For what it is worth, the walnut in that load had been cut about 30 days, and yes, it WAS A LOAD!! The weight distribution on the trailer, even with the wood loaded toward the front, was horrible and my top speed was about 35 mph. The truck, by itself, wasn't too bad.

[Myk Rian]

It's amazing how stupid people can be, judging from those pics of the fridge and windowed wood.

[Mike Cruz]

HA! Weight capacities... I have put 3000 lb of mulch in the bed of my deisel Chevy HD 3/4 ton pick up....well over what it is rated for. But oddly enough, since I don't change (if anything I actually improve) the aerodynamics of it, my MPG actually stays the same...about 18 MPG.

[Paul Ryan]

Unless you have a topper (cap) installed on your pickup I wouldn't worry about load limits. A half ton will handle wood stacked up to the top of the box sides. I have had well over 3000lbs in my half ton before. It isn't what the truck was set up for and not good for the suspension. But as long as you keep it slow it can be done. The front tires were bouncing a little. Just put 50lbs of air in your tires and take it easy. Now if you are driving 100 miles I woudn't recomend it. But for 30 miles or less, you will be fine. If it is a small pickup (ranger, s-10, dakota). They have less capacity so just fill them up to the top of the bed sides. About a month ago, I cut down some dead 10-14" diameter oak trees. I gave it to my buddy for fire wood. By stacking it nice and tight we got all of the wood into his half ton ford. It DID have a topper on it and was filled to the top. That truck was squatting a little but he drove 100 miles home with that weight in it. So I wouldn't worry about wood up to the top of the box sides.

[Chris Ricker]

I brought home about 220 BF of WET cherry in the back of my F-150 the other week and it was a little over 2/3ds full. weight was not a problem.

[NICK BARBOZA]

This is about 1000 BF, mostly maple in my 3/4 ton GMC. When i bought it at auction 3 years ago it was +/-1500 BF and I did it in two trips because it was an 85 mile drive on secondary roads. but the price was right $260 for the lot!

Don't worry I didn't drive with the truck loaded like this, it was simply an exercise in garage/lumber storage re-organization!

Cheers,
NWB

[Anthony Whitesell]

Unfortunately I don't know the bdft capacity, but I can tell you (from my recent tool/truck research and purchase) that the Chevy S-10/Ford Rangers have nearly the same weight capacity (or close enough to) as the Silverado 1500/F150. The only difference is physical vehicle size and the larger engines available in the 1500/F150 class. Both classes (S-10/Ranger and 1500/F150) will haul 1500-1700 pounds in the bed. The 2500/F250 classes ups the anty to 2200-2400 pounds, just enough to haul a full yard of earth products (stone/sand/loam), opposed to wood products (mulch, chips, etc) which weigh almost half as much.

Someday someone will have to explain to me where the "1/2 ton truck" concept comes from as the 1500/F150/S-10/Ranger all haul 3/4 of a ton (1500lbs).

[Matthew Joe]

Thanks, all. The truck is an older model S-10. The wood will be a mix, but mainly kiln dried mahogany (about 150 bf) topped off with whatever kiln dried white oak I can safely transport in the truck.

The pictures and comments have been very helpful.

[Rod Sheridan]

Unfortunately I don't know the bdft capacity, but I can tell you (from my recent tool/truck research and purchase) that the Chevy S-10/Ford Rangers have nearly the same weight capacity (or close enough to) as the Silverado 1500/F150. The only difference is physical vehicle size and the larger engines available in the 1500/F150 class. Both classes (S-10/Ranger and 1500/F150) will haul 1500-1700 pounds in the bed. The 2500/F250 classes ups the anty to 2200-2400 pounds, just enough to haul a full yard of earth products (stone/sand/loam), opposed to wood products (mulch, chips, etc) which weigh almost half as much.

Someday someone will have to explain to me where the "1/2 ton truck" concept comes from as the 1500/F150/S-10/Ranger all haul 3/4 of a ton (1500lbs).

Anthony, the carying capacity of a vehicle is the difference between the GVWR (Gross Vehicle weight Rating), and the weight of the vehicle without the cargo in the bed.

Note that this includes the fuel, driver, passengers etc, so you should weigh your vehicle with a full tank of fuel, and yourself in it. Then you can do the subtraction and determine how much additional weight you can put in the truck. Start adding passengers and the cargo capacity goes down.

So once you add 150 pounds of fuel, 200 pounds of driver, 50 pounds for your tools etc that you may have in the truck, with a 1,500 pound capacity, you're at 1,100 pounds of cargo.

Note that many vehicle options such as a crew cab reduce the trucks capacity due to increased unladen weight.

regards, Rod.

[Jason Roehl]

"1/2-ton", "3/4-ton" and "1-ton" are legacy terms. They were the actual payload capacities 60+ years ago, but now are pretty much intrinsically meaningless. I have a '93 F250 extended cab truck that has a payload of somewhere around 2800 lbs., nearly double what its "3/4-ton" moniker implies. Usually, there is a pretty good jump in capability between a 1/2-ton and 3/4-ton truck within the same brand. That's when they get the better axles, a thicker or taller frame, heavier suspension, etc. The jump to a 1-ton is then either the addition of a dually rear axle and/or a slightly taller suspension package (sometimes just a block is added between the leaf springs and the axle!).

I had a '90 F150 (payload of ~1500 lbs), in which on a few occasions I put about 3000 lbs. of stone (weighed at the pit). I wouldn't recommend it. It's definitely pushing the limits on braking ability, and if your springs/shackles are old, you do run the risk of busting those, particularly in the snow/salt/rust belt of the country.

[Rick Moyer]

I know I'll regret posting this, but it is really unfair. (note: I don't mean to single anyone out, this is a general issue I have).
I own and operate a big dump truck GVWR 73,280#'s. If I get caught 5% over weight I pay a huge fine! Yet many people with pick-ups regularly exceed the gvwr. There is a reason they are rated for a certain weight; steering, braking, overheated tires, suspension, etc. When you are grossly overweight you pose a danger to yourself and others on the road. That's why the bigger trucks are so regulated, yet everyone seems to get away with even double the ratings on pick-ups!


Okay, getting down off my soapbox now.

[Rod Sheridan]

I know I'll regret posting this, but it is really unfair. (note: I don't mean to single anyone out, this is a general issue I have).
I own and operate a big dump truck GVWR 73,280#'s. If I get caught 5% over weight I pay a huge fine! Yet many people with pick-ups regularly exceed the gvwr. There is a reason they are rated for a certain weight; steering, braking, overheated tires, suspension, etc. When you are grossly overweight you pose a danger to yourself and others on the road. That's why the bigger trucks are so regulated, yet everyone seems to get away with even double the ratings on pick-ups!


Okay, getting down off my soapbox now.

Thanks for posting that Rick, it is a safety concern.......Regards, Rod.

[Anthony Whitesell]

Anthony, the carying capacity of a vehicle is the difference between the GVWR (Gross Vehicle weight Rating), and the weight of the vehicle without the cargo in the bed.

Note that this includes the fuel, driver, passengers etc, so you should weigh your vehicle with a full tank of fuel, and yourself in it. Then you can do the subtraction and determine how much additional weight you can put in the truck. Start adding passengers and the cargo capacity goes down.

So once you add 150 pounds of fuel, 200 pounds of driver, 50 pounds for your tools etc that you may have in the truck, with a 1,500 pound capacity, you're at 1,100 pounds of cargo.

Note that many vehicle options such as a crew cab reduce the trucks capacity due to increased unladen weight.

regards, Rod.

I know that's correct, but the manufacturer's are taking that (or most of it) into account and are nice enough to provide a bed payload capacity in the brochures. I was basing my comparison on those numbers. If you get the actual numbers for an S-10 and 1500 they work about the same as the payload weight listed and in the end, both come out about 200 pounds different (S-10 at 1500# and 1500 at 1700#)

[Paul Ryan]

Unfortunately I don't know the bdft capacity, but I can tell you (from my recent tool/truck research and purchase) that the Chevy S-10/Ford Rangers have nearly the same weight capacity (or close enough to) as the Silverado 1500/F150. The only difference is physical vehicle size and the larger engines available in the 1500/F150 class. Both classes (S-10/Ranger and 1500/F150) will haul 1500-1700 pounds in the bed. The 2500/F250 classes ups the anty to 2200-2400 pounds, just enough to haul a full yard of earth products (stone/sand/loam), opposed to wood products (mulch, chips, etc) which weigh almost half as much.

Someday someone will have to explain to me where the "1/2 ton truck" concept comes from as the 1500/F150/S-10/Ranger all haul 3/4 of a ton (1500lbs).

As Jason posted the weight ratings of pickup are really old about 60 years. However the 1/2 ton, 3/4, 1 ton ratings came from the weight of the frame back then. The frame back then wieghed 1000-2000lbs. Frames aren't that heavy today but are in some aspects stronger, and in some aspects weaker. More often than not when a late modle pickup is in a decent accident the frame needs to be replaced. I have helped and seen this done dozens of times. So in that way the frame is weaker. But they are designed to collapse like that. However the fully boxed hydro formed designs used today are structually much stronger than the old frames due to today's technology.

[John Keeton]

Hey Guys, you all are getting too deep into this! Haven't you seen the TV ads where they drop trucks from the sky and drive off??! Obviously, todays trucks are indestructible!:D;)

[Tom Veatch]

...
Someday someone will have to explain to me where the "1/2 ton truck" concept comes from as the 1500/F150/S-10/Ranger all haul 3/4 of a ton (1500lbs).

The max gross for my 2000 F150 is 6000 - don't recall the individual axle weights offhand - and, never having run it across any scales for the purpose, don't know the empty weight. A cursory google search turned up results in the neighborhood of 4800 to 5000 for the F150. Use your own judgement as to the reliability of those figures. But, it they are correct, that leaves a useful load of 1000 to 1200 pounds which is in the ballpark of "1/2 ton".

I have, and will continue to use 1000# (1/2 ton) as my limit for estimated load on the vehicle. I would rather make a second (or third) trip than overload the vehicle, compromise it's handling and braking performance, and put undue stress/strain on the structure. Buying another truck anytime in the foreseeable future is not in my plans, especially not to replace one damaged through my misuse.

[Ben Martin]

Yeah, Gary, but you are paying those "conifer land" prices for hardwood!

I thought up there that they gave the lumber away, competed for land with people!! :D

[Mike Cruz]

As I posted earlier, I have a 2004 Chevy Silverado Crew Cab (full 4 doors)HD 3/4 ton Diesel. When I was going to the local dump to pick up mulch ( @ $25 a ton...it's a steal!) I had to get weighed. As I entered, I weighed pretty much exactly 7500 lbs. That, of course includes me, my dog, a full tank, and all the dohickies that I have stored in my truck. When the front end loader filled me up, I was "heaping" to say the least, and weighed in at 10, 000 lbs on the way out. Sure, I could have put more weight in, but couldn't handle any more volume.

I have a 3 horse gooseneck trailer that weighs in at about 6500 lbs. With three horses and tack, I'm at my "tagged" limit of about 10,000 lbs towing weight (although, the truck is rated to tow 12,000 lbs...I just opted not to pay the extra $ to get it tagged for over 10,000 lbs). I HAVE to believe that with 10,000 lbs back there on a GN, I have WELL over 3,000 lbs of weight in the bed of the truck. And by the looks of how the back end of the truck in sunk down, I would have to say I have a good 2 tons back there.

So a 3/4 ton HD can apparently handle 3-4K lbs. Again, this is a Chevy. If it were a Dodge, I would say the brakes can't handle it! :eek: :D (Quick disclaimer before I get "hate" responses... I've had 2 Dodge pickups, a 93 and a 99...both had entire brake replacements about 3 times over their lifetimes with minimal, and I mean MINIMAL, hauling...and the 99 pulled HORRIBLY left. We brought the 99 back to the dealership 7 times to fix the problem before they got it right. Apparently, Dodge has "fixed" their brake "issues", but for this cowboy, its too late...)

[John Keeton]

Uh-Oh!! This thread has turned into "my Chevy can outdo your Dodge!!" I am willing to take on Mike if I can get all the Dodge owners to back me!:D:D Mike, I will meet you on the straightaway outside town at midnite - bring your heaviest chain - and a replacement rearend for that Chevy!!

Let's see - what is the melody to "my truck is better than your truck?"

[Greg Crawford]

I haven't seen anyone post the load limits of the tires. Even if the truck payload is X, if the combined weight the tires are rated for is X - 300 pounds, if you go to the max payload for the truck, you risk tire failure.

When I go to the country and get mesquite, I watch how the truck is sitting. When it starts to go nose up, I stop loading. I try to just load it to the point that the truck sits level. As far as I've been able to surmise from my loads and knowing the weight of some, right around 1000 pounds makes it sit level. I've got a GMC 1/2 ton.

Also, kudos to Rick for bringing up the commercial regs. I've seen pickups and trailers so overloaded it's obviously un-safe, but they always seem to get away with it. Sad and dangerous. You wouldn't even believe the stories one of my friends that's a cop in Houston tells about 18 wheelers. After talking with him, I stay as far from big trucks as is practical.

[Mike Cruz]

Greg, I have to agree that OVERLOADING is dangerous and stupid. Anyone that "knows" their vehicle, may it be a pickup or an escort, knows when the handling changes. Particularly when you feel it getting "sloppy".

John, what can I say... I have to admit, my 93 drove like a dream. I had a 360 in it. Man, I loved the truck...other than the brakes. The 99 was a diesel. Decent power, but the steering and brakes were a deal breaker. My wifer has an 03 Chevy (just like the 04 I ended up getting). I wasnt' "sold" on another Chevy when I got mine. I tried out the Ford. Turning radius was GREAT but the seats were SO uncomfortable. So I opted for the Chevy. We have 2 now, the exact same. Her's is now almost 7, and mine almost 6. They both run great and can pull earlier said trailer without issue. The combination of the diesel and the Allison trasmission are sweet. I CAN'T speak for the new Dodge's. I just won't buy another after my experiences. Your's may outpull, or whatever, but all I can say is that after all this time, I still love my truck.

Oh, BTW, I have a 3:73 rear, not a 4:10. Not rear axle issues. And i also trailer my JD tractor on a 20' flatbed trailer. Got 20K miles on my tirres and 90K miles on my brakes.

[daniel lane]

Let's see - what is the melody to "my truck is better than your truck?"

I'm not sure, but when I got to the line "my truck's better 'cause he eats Ken-L Ration" I realized I had the wrong tune in my head. :D



daniel

[Matthew Joe]

For the record and to answer my original question, the S-10 hauled about 400 board feet of lumber this weekend. Trying to load significantly more than that would have rendered the truck unsafe to drive.

[Joe Spear]

Somebody posted the picture of that little orange car a few years ago. I think it was in a Home Depot lot. Thanks for finding it again. I find it useful to be reminded how stupid I could be if I don't stop and think.