I drive a 2000 extended cab 5.4 V8. I am about to drive 1400 miles cross country and I need to haul as much as possible in tools. What would be the max amount of weight I could safely travel with?

 

Probably about 1200 lbs, but it depends on the truck. Load up your truck and see how it looks and drives. You might want to look into renting a U-Haul trailer.

 

The truck performs much better towing a large weight than having it in the bed.

Your truck may have a max payload of about 1700 lbs?
(that's you and everything else in the cab and bed)
It is really going to burdened with the payload maxxed out.
Tools would probably be about (1200) as suggested above.

Your truck can tow about 5,000 as easy as it can haul 1700.

Here are the U-Haul specs:

6'x12' tandem trailer 2600 payload, 1800 empty = 4,400 lbs
5'x10' tandem trailer 1550 payload, 1250 empty = 2,800 lbs
5'x8' single axle trailer 1800 payload, 900 empty = 2,700 lbs
4'x8' single axle trailer 1220 payload, 780 empty = 2,000 lbs
These are closed lockable trailers.

Are you driving the 1400 miles straight through?
Will the items be secure in the bed if you stop?

If you are driving straight thru with a co-driver then you can consider an 'open' u-haul trailer.
1-They would be as secure as your bed.
2-They are lighter than the Inclosed trailer.
3-They have have larger payload than Inclosed
(more tools + cheaper rental fee)
3- Better gas mileage as opposed to Inclosed (wind drag)
4- Better visability
5- I think they are cheaper than comparable sized inclosed

If it was me and I had to move 1200 lbs of tools,1400 miles, I'd rent that little 4x8 and have 2,000 total behind the truck.
I wouldn't even know it was back there.
1200 in the bed however.....

 

Towing 2000 lbs is nothing for our trucks, but putting 1200lbs in the back of your truck is a lot! Rent, borrow, or steal a trailer.

 

Thanks Zaairman-

I did lookinto Uhaul, they want $750 for a 5'X8', literal highway robbery. I dont have the time to locate and purchase a trailer, so I am just going get very picky about what tools I take. 1200lbs is about the same as I thought, just needed a second opinion before I get out on the road.

Thanks agan for your input.

 

Raoul-

Thanks for your input. I agree that it would be best to have the open air trailer, unfortunately for me I am in a "load and go" time frame, and just dont have the money to throw at what UHAUL wants. If I had the time, I would find an open air trailer to purchase for roughly $1K.

 

Cool.
Just load'er up until the springs flatten out.

 

Secanyon, where are you located? I know several people who are selling road worthy trailers for less than $400. One is a flat bed tandem 12', and the other is a 6 - 8' single axle with 3 - 4' high sides...all are in the St. Louis area, and for a fee I'd be willing to drive them an hour or so.

 

Wow, thats a hell of an offer Zaairman- thanks. Unfortunately I am leaving from Los Angeles and headed for Dallas.

 

When are you leaving?? I might be driving out that way at the beginning of June...

 

Indeed, if you can afford to, a trailer is the way to go. Even if you have to buy one, it'll be much easier than using the truck.

If it was me, and I had the cash to do so, I'd buy a trailer for a grand, use it for the trip, then turn around and sell it. Even if I broke even, it was still cheaper than renting a u-haul piece of junk. Lowes sells them too.... I wonder if you could buy one at Lowes, use it for the trip, then wash it up all nice and pretty and return it to another lowes claiming it wasn't what you wanted, or it was defective somehow.... ??

But you didn't get that idea from ME!!

-Joe

 

Firestone air bags are inexpensive and work AWESOME!

I tow a 12,000# trailer normally with my 250, but I had to use my 150 for 1 weekend. .

http://www.suspensionconnection.com/.../air_bags.html