? 4 Truck Guru's
 

Looking at a 3 hole stainless dog box and need actual facts not opinions(Your out Waltrip):smokin: on how much weight you can carry around in the bed of a 1/2 ton pickup without killing the truck. Box weighs in at 550#'s and will be secured and left in truck. I have seen several that had to add air bags to keep them from squatting. How much would adding air bags cost and is it a bandaid on a stab wound? My current 2 hole box weighs app 300#'s and I really don't notice it.

TTFN

I would try the box out and check the squat and the ride. If it's not too bad, you can Add-a-Leaf to your leaf springs alot cheaper than air bags.

Is the box gonne be against the cab or the tailgate? When I had my 4 Wheeler in my bed my truck never squatted.but towing my big boat it did because of the tongue weight and the weight was so far back in my truck. But I would definitely get add a leafs

Raymond, your truck is rated for a max payload of 1,510 lbs. I wouldn't be worried about it. Airbags are great if you want to level your truck when towing. They typically run about $300 for the kit not installed. In your case, adding a leaf would be a great option considering the box will be fixed to the truck.

If the box is against the cab it won't hardly be noticeable, if it is near the tailgate it will squat probably 1 to 2 inches . Either way it will not hurt the truck at all. In fact, the ride will be better . Mainly depends if you care about how it looks if it squats if you put it on the rear..
I did put bags on my truck, with compressor , tank, and cab controls.
Depending on what you want.. $ 340 all the way to $800 plus if you want everything

It will be 4" from the cab and shackled down. Thanks King for your response to my question and all others. Almost excited about the prospect of having his box in my FORD truck. Now, who wants a Stainless Deerskin 2 hole dog box in the back of their truck?? I will make you a Bolton Ford deal on it!!!!

This in not recommended......... but....using a 1/2 ton Chevy truck

I once carried a pallet [~2200] material about 15 miles. The pallet was up near the cab, so it was fairly well balanced. The truck road faily well, but I drove very slow and careful.

Another time I hauled a piece of equipment that weighed ~ 1800 lbs. It had to be loaded where most of the weight was toward the back....tail gate was down. This really weighted down the back end of the truck and did not leave a lot of weight on the front tires for stearing the truck.

I really should not have hauled this equipment on the highway.

I drove this truck another 100,000+ miles after this as my personal truck.

I love my airbags!! They were pricey! $300 for bags and another $200 for the pump and switches.....plus install.....but i can hook onto anything and level out. Raymond, hope its a big enough box!! Dutch is a big girl!!

She's waiting for your call ........

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Well would love to have it but would hate to have to remove it when needed, think I'll stick to my plastic carrier

Shawn, velcro?

Makes me nervous, teefs hurt when the bite down.

The truck will ride better with the extra weight although your fuel consumption will rise a little.

My buddy had for ranger and put a few sacks of cement in the back to help the ride back in the day when we couldn't afford a drop kit and mini trucks were cool. The cement sacks lowered the ride a couple inches plus made it ride a hell of a lot better.

As long as its against the cab, i think youll be fine....

550#s shouldn't hurt anything but your fuel consumption. Like everyone has said though, closer to the cab, the better.

Now you'll be really blind out of that rear window!

Ha! I can backup faster and gooder with mirrors than most who have to look out the back winder. I will be able to moonlight with this box also, figure I can haul crawfish to Tx during the season at night since that's the only time I have with all my jobs.:work: