New Member! New Tacoma! Payload Question!

Hi all, excited to own my 'new to me' Tacoma and excited to join the forum. Looking forward to learning about my new truck and the Tacoma community!

Over the weekend I gave the Tacoma its first workout, I built a small walkway. I have previously owned full size pickups and driven 1 tons for work. After I hauled a load of material, I did the math and realized I put about 2400 lbs in the bed . Backwards, I know.

First and last time, truck handled it well but wouldn't put her through it again. Have any of you done this to your Tacoma? Where should I look for damage. Quick note, I have since driven about 250 miles no issue.

 

You do it too often and you'll toast your leaf springs. Otherwise, you are fine. I've carried that many times. Only problem I had is my leaf springs sagged badly.

 

Thank jowybyo, good insight. Like I said, not going to make this a habit. I was surprised, steering was consistent (a bit light though), brakes were OK, and still felt like had a tiny bit of travel left.

 

What you felt was the (very firm) bump stops flexing. You're doing it right (mostly) and the truck is fine. Sounds like we'd be friends.

Welcome to TW!

 

Thanks for the welcome Pigpen

 

Have to pick up a load of landscaping gravel today. Google says payload on my 2017 2WD Offroad is around 1620 lb; I don't want to overload it and kill my new truck. Anyone have a pic of what a 1620 lb load of gravel might look like. Do you judge by how flat the tires become as you load? Sorry, again, i'm a "bro-ette", learning the capacities of my beloved truck, with which i do "truck stuff".

 

Gravel sizes can vary and the yard you are getting it from should have an approximate weight per cubic yard. Maybe someone has checked using a weigh station and can chime in for a good comparison.

 

If you're going to be filling the bed with soils and gravel on a regular basis, invest in a set of airbags.

 

Personally, I would do it in two trips. I don't have much experience with air bags, but I would think even if you did have them, you would exceed the GAWR for the rear and subsequently transfer force to places you don't necessarily want it. I don't plan on loading my tacoma above its payload capacity again. Let us know how it goes!

 

Most I ever did was 1,000lbs one time and my leaf springs are pretty much flat now. Now any more than 500lbs and I'm nose high. If you do any truck work with these things you'll need an upgraded suspension. Just FYI.

 

I have air bags paired with Dakar leaf packs and the Dakar AAL. I would still do that load in 2 trips. It's really not worth it. A stock truck will haul that weigh and will even come to a stop (eventually) when you push the brake pedal. It will steer like a clown car though. Err on the side of caution here.

 

A load that large and heavy, which spreads out like gravel, could do permanent damage to the bedsides and tailgate latching mechanisms too.

 

*By load I am assuming you meant a cubic yard of 3/4.