More Info on the Dually?

So, you think it's perfectly OK to go over the tow/haul ratings?

 

Given, we know very little about this conversion, but if you were going to go that far into modifications I would think that you would have taken the ability of the truck into consideration at least a little bit. Im sure the gears and suspension have been modified to handle at least a little more than factory recommendations.

Just like when you get new tires, you don't always follow the tire pressures that are printed on the door. Its just common sense...

 

So, I take that as a YES.

Towing and hauling is FAR more than just suspension and gears.

Take a look at any full size truck with larger towing capacities. Everything is upgraded. Overall size, frame, BRAKES, transmission, engine, STEERING, ECM programming, safety features ...

Why would they (designers) build them that big if they didn't have to?

 

yes.

because americans are fat and like big things.

 

That thing weights 6,000# there are thousands of them out there still running around with a house on their back on a 136" wheel base with the stock frame. The only thing added is a short extension in the frame that supports the camper body. They are powered with any thing from a 20R to a 3.0 liter 6 depending on age and are nothing more then a stock Hilux. Toyota sold them as a rolling frame with a 1/2 ton rear the coach makers put the weight on they and they broke axles often the coach makers put duel wheels (welded together) on all that did was make it worse. Toyota cried foul but provided full floating 1 ton rears after the fact that fixed that but other then that they are bone stock Hilux long wheel base trucks same old engine frame and transmission nothing special. I had one with a 22RE automatic it was a toss up between a loaded semi and it leaving the toll booth but it would run the turnpike all day long and still get 14 MPG. There are many of them out there with 200K on them still running along so there is no reason that one could not be retrofitted with a full floating 1 ton rear, springs and duel wheels powered by a 2.7 it would be an improvement over the 22RE.























































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I haven't researched this particular truck at all, but I believe that when an aftermarket converter does something like this, they can re rate the vehicle.

Toyota says 1500 pounds payload, 3500 pounds towing. Perhaps the converter adds suspension, rear axle, and reinforces the frame in a few key spots. (just speculation). Then the converter sells the truck as having 2000 pounds payload, 1500 pounds towing.... (I don't see a hitch on that thing).

As far as the engine not pulling the weight, Toyota says 3500 pounds of additional load (towing capacity) is okay for the drivetrain. Put 2000 pounds of load on the truck's new bed, and there may be a weak link somewhere, but the engine isn't it.

 

Frames are not an issue the old motor homes have the same "C" frame as a new one. It is not meant to tow if you tow what's the sense of having a flat bed? The 1500# is for a 1/2 ton rear. The 1 ton rear has much bigger brakes a loaded truck requires more breaking force on the rear brakes no matter what rear is under it. I'm not saying who ever did the truck pictured did it right but properly done it's a viable little truck. There are people out there that call a single bearing axle a 1 ton rear it is not it has to be a full floating axle meaning the axle carries no weight the bearings do. The extra breaking is enough for the added load. Springs do play a part and that goes along with the bigger rear. The flat bed also does not have near the frontal area as a motor home and will do a lot better on the road then a MH. As far as the truck frame, transmission, and engine it has been proven to work with 6000# plus for the last 30 years or more. I would buy some thing like that long before I ever bought a big truck bigger is not necessarily better.

 

I dig it. Gotta love all the people in here that think that 2.7L engine can't handle a load. How much power you think the 20R in my old Hilux made? This thing hauled horse trailers farm equipment just fine. Plus payload wise it packed enough dirt/hay to make the back of my Tacoma look like a dog dragging it's ass on the carpet (and yes I have the TSB). These are the last pictures I took before taking it to the scrap heap. The motor still fired but I had no use for it anymore and the electrics more or less needed a total replacement. 321,690 miles isn't bad for my 'ol dually.

 

Neat old truck I think they called the old ones a Super Hilux. UHaul rented them as a box truck for a long time.