Overloaded GVRW

[cyndi]

I've read a lot of threads with people worrying about overloading their vans.

What on earth is anyone carrying, while living in a van that would put it over it's max GVRW?

I've never bothered to weigh my vans but I've packed them myself so can estimate what I'm carrying and do, on full out cleaning days. I've never come close; not in the 1/4 ton, or the 1/2 ton and certainly not in the 1 ton. One day I'll weigh a the van, just out of curiosity.

What the hell are you carrying?

 

[karl]

Tools and hardware for me- I work at carpentry from my step van. Thirsty weighs about 7600 lbs naked, the build added 900lbs with solar, batteries, furnace, propane, cooler,h20 and gray tanks, stoves, pots/pans, insulation and cabinets, venting, etc . Tools, hardware, supplies can easily push the weight over the 10000 lb gvw, especially if I tow the trailer.

Back in the day, when I only camped in my van, 1/2 ton vans were sufficient, but not for me now.
I have camped with people who had their vans way overloaded with no clue as to the weight they were carrying- know one guy with a Dodge 2500 who has genset, solar/4batteries, chainsaw, axes, splitting mauls, chain, at least 200# of tools, dog, folding chairs, tables, 2 propane tanks, 5 gals gas, high lift jack, hydraulic jack, several cast iron pans and dutch ovens plus all his food and dog food ,clothes,guns, and toys...willing to bet he is 500 or more lbs over weight.

 

[Canine]

Its not too hard to do. many conversion vans are near their gvw at the time of the factory or upfitter conversion. Remember they are half tons and the extra bed, chairs, high top, tvs, vcr/dvd, extra padding, carpet, wood trim, cabinets, food, water, clothing etc... all add up. the half tons are often within 700-900 pounds of capacity without a full tank of gas and just the rated 150 pound driver. For those of us over the 150 pounds and with a moderate build and batteries and gear, that places us at or exceeding limits. Only a proper truck scale weight will tell you however you have to be careful how you load it up. Remember water weighs like 7-8 lbs a gallon, so if you plan on BLM camping you may want to take 50 gallons along, thats 350-400# right there.

 

[highdesertranger]

I agree, it's not hard to do. tools, prospecting gear, food, and water. it all adds up fast. not to mention solar panels, kitchen, doggie stuff, maps, books, gas, atv, etc etc. highdesertranger

 

[minimotos95]

I'm quite sure I'm under my 1576lb payload rating but I'm getting some sag in back. helper springs are on my list.
I'll have to go to the scales before I hit the road and see where I land but by my count I have under 1000lbs including 12 gallons of water, mine and the dogs' weight.

 

[TucsonAZ]

6 solar panels are 300#, the batteries to go with them are another 600, charge controller, mounting hardware, wires, inverter, that's 1,000 pounds just for solar. Tools have to be another 400 if not more, 25 gallons of water alone is 200 pounds. It adds up fast, I mean, if I had a 2,000 pound payload just those items would be 1,600 of it.

 

[masterplumber]

It really is amazing how fast things add up, especially things like tools and provisions like water. My cargo trailer is about maxed out when I put my motorcycle inside for a trip. Just for reference, my last rig was a 1 ton Ford diesel crew cab with a Four Wheel Popup camper. Probably one of the lightest full campers on the market at 1100 lbs. It really didn't have a lot of storage in it - probably less than what most people have available in there vans. I was shocked when I weighed it and discovered we had right at 1000 lbs of gear, water, and food inside. Granted I had enough for 4 for a week, but still! Even with a 1 ton, with a 9400 lb GVWR, we we're actually slightly overloaded. Granted some of that capacity was taken up by the heavy diesel engine, the crew cab, and the winch on the front, But I can't imagine that a 1/2 ton wouldn't be overloaded by all but the most extreme minimalists.

 

[Canine]

Masterplumber, those are my thoughts exactly. I still don't understand why 99% of the conversion vans are based on half ton chassis (well, cost is one). The older Chevy G20 is simply 3/4 T brakes, but the same 1/2 axle. Ford stayed with the E150 all along, increasing gvrw only in the late 2000's. GM was supposed to have dropped the 1500 series van in 2014, phasing out to the 2500 in recognition that contractors all were buying 2500 or 3500's. Yet even GM 1500's were low gvrw. Dodge does have a lot of their conversion vans listed as "2500" versus their "1500" yet they are the same 5 or 6 lug axles, as opposed to the 8 lug for a "true" 3/4.

While I am more of the minimalist as far as contents go (having no solar, no extra batteries , no big water storage, almost no tools) my van "squats" on tired 20 yr old springs due to metal fatigue and years of possibly being at max capacity anyway. Heck, I have yet to see an older (mid to high top) conversion van that doesn't, unless it had replacement springs or air bags. As we know, all the air bags in the world don't help you stop or keep axle failures from being overloaded.

So can you use a 1/2 ton cargo, window or conversion van as a vandweller? Sure, it's done all the time. Doesn't make it very safe or right though. Thank goodness for over engineering from the factory. On other forums (rv ones especially) the "weight police" will try to convince you that it takes nearly a 1 ton dually to pull a pop up camper (so it seems) but that's our natural propensity for "bigger is better".

 

[VenFan]

I think about a 1 ton is pretty good people/cargo allowance for a van or large suv, average sedan has about half that load capacity.

 

[MikeRuth]

For the Ford E-150 in 2006 the manufactured E-150 for 2007 and later had the GVW increased to a maximum of 8600 lbs and you could pull up to an additional 4500 lbs.

That was the year they went to 8 bolt wheels, Disc brakes all round, tranny and oil cooler std as well.

With that said payload capacity is 3179 lbs on a bone stock box. Not to shabby.
Now I have already added 120(solar), 160(batteries)100 in misc wiring, CC, etc. Then a bed/couch/futon, 60 lbs, Insulation and wood paneling about 75lbs.
So just that is 515 +me 250 for a total of 765. I Have more to go and I figure with another 500 easy. 1265 of the 3179. Leaves me 1914, in pretty good shape. 

It would be my desire to have a 1000lb head room so the axles and springs are not maxed and Braking is not compromised to much.

 

[Canine]

So much of it is our choices and budget limitations. I for one could have bought a clapped out $4-5K contractor van of 3/4 or 1 ton size but instead bought a really clean older 1/2 Ton mid top conversion for $2500. Yes it's already overloaded, somewhat, but I don't carry all those tools or have any solar. If so, a later model cargo would have to be in my plans...

I've seen quite a few 1 ton window vans, usually Dodge or Ford, for about $3000-3500, but I haven't needed to replace ol' trusty rusty yet. When I do, I hope I have enough time to source one of the window vans I mentioned. The 90's Dodges with the nearly indestructible 318 are still plentiful.