3/4 ton overload springs... - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**COBALT** · 10-14-2003, 12:58 PM

I just used them for the first time by complete accident. I've got a 3/4 ton '69 C20 with coils and overloads option.

I had the rubble from my basement floor to haul to the dump (I'm putting in some drains for a bathroom in the basement, and had to cut trenches in the floor).

Basically I had three piles of broken concrete pieces you can move with a shovel (1" thick pour), with some dirt and gravel mixed in. As I dumped it into the truck it looked like about 1/2 a yard - not even that. I finished it off with the old busted concrete laundry sink I tore out of the wall.

The truck looked like it was settled right, but I didn't take note of the suspension at all. I got in and everything seemed ok. The rear didn't seem like it was sinking very much.

I get to the dump, took care of business, and as I returned to the scale the guy tells me I just dumped 1800 lbs!!! HOLY CRAP. I pulled over once I left the dump, and checked my rear suspension. Everything was fine, but there were shiny spots on those overloads where the rubber pads on the trailing arms had connected with them.

Wow. I had no idea it was that heavy, and wouldn't have hauled that much weight in one trip had I known. The most I've ever hauled at that point was 1000 lbs. I just blew that out of the water. Anyone else think this is something to be surprised about, or am I just being a weenie?

Fred T · 10-14-2003, 01:15 PM

The first thing to break or bend is usually the frame. I once took my 74 1/2 ton for a load of fill sand. SOB in the loader wouldn't quit dumping when I told him to. I shoveled some out, moved some to the front, springs were bottomed out. Pulled across the scales with 4400# of sand!

I had 2 miles to get home, took it real easy and was okay. I've hauled 2 tons on my 52 3/4 ton, and have barely been into the overloads on it.

**COBALT** · 10-14-2003, 02:20 PM

Well I won't freak out, but it seemed excessive considering the age of the truck and the fact I rebuilt the front/back suspension just under a year ago and don't want to screw it up.

I just don't want to do anything that risks messing this truck up after working to get it in good shape.

Man if the guy with the bucket didn't listen to me when picking up a load of sand I'd crawl up there and toss him out of the rig...

lukecp · 10-14-2003, 03:01 PM

I have loaded my 1/2 ton down with firewood until the back bumper was 4-6" off the ground, and the sidewalls on my rear tires were almost 1/2 of what they should have been.

And the truck had no problem pulling, but the brakes and steering were downright scary...

I have no clue how much actual weight i had....enough hardwood firewood to be about 18" over the top of the bedsides in my LWB pickup bed.

**COBALT** · 10-14-2003, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by yellow72custom
...And the truck had no problem pulling, but the brakes and steering were downright scary...

LOL I've been there before! Sounds like you had a lot of weight in there...

lukecp · 10-14-2003, 03:14 PM

Lol....steering is merely a suggestion with no weight over the frontend....i thought the front tires were going to lift off the ground!

Gotta love old Chevies...they are very resistant to chronic overloading

TP from Cntl PA · 10-14-2003, 04:48 PM

You didn't even have a load on it!!!!!!!!!!!!! I haven't hauled to much with my C-20 I bought over the summer................But my old '69 GMC 3500 and my brothers '69 C-10 have been through he!! on the farm!!!!!!!!!!!!

Probably our most memorable overload was hauling limestone

................My 1-ton is rated at 10K..........Well, any we started scooping limestone with the skid loader to move it acouple miles down the road to my house. He kept filling the truck, and I really didn't think we had a load because the truck was barely starting to squat..............He figured the same way and put the whole pile on the truck(Has a nice steel dump bed on it)............Rolled over the scales at the farm, I am not lying!!!!!!!!! We had 7 tons of limestone on it!!!!!!!!!! PLUS, the weight of the truck...............And the way the old truck rolled up the road you'd have never known it!

I know, I am hard on things

**COBALT** · 10-14-2003, 05:15 PM

Sheesh. 7 tons = 14,000 lbs. That's a lot of weight.

Yeah I guess I didn't have much of a load, but GVW is weight of vehicle + max hauling capacity, so my truck weights 4300 lbs and adding 1800 lbs to it brings it up to 6500 lbs. My GVW is 7500 lbs which leaves 1000 lbs.

TP from Cntl PA · 10-14-2003, 08:01 PM

See what I am saying............7 tons, plus the truck............Which I believe was almost 5(It liscensed for 5, so two people in the truck legally put it over weight

)...............So you figure it was in the neighborhood of 19K............That is some serious overloading when you think about it.

Poor old hydraulic pump really was screamin' try to pick that load up to dump it!!!!!!!!

**Stocker** · 10-14-2003, 10:37 PM

Cobalt, you have no worries - 1800# is a walk in the park. I've carried 3 tons over mountain roads, although steering & brakes were a bit dicey. As for you, TP - 7 tons? Holy crap - you win the trophy for the biggest cajones!

dinnut · 10-14-2003, 11:13 PM

damn

Cat Fuzz · 10-14-2003, 11:35 PM

I once hauled a full cubic yard of 1 inch river rock in my 69 3/4 ton. I have no idea how much it weighed, but it was heavy and she was squattin'.

72 CustomCamper · 10-15-2003, 12:26 AM

My uncle had my truck loaded cab high with stones to build his fireplace. When he rolled across the scales it was 6 ton of stone plus the truck...

Chuck

SWEET7T · 10-15-2003, 12:45 AM

last year, it snowed up in the mountains, and my friends and I got some stupid idea to haul snow back to campus and stick it in front of my friend's gf's apt door. I don't know how much snow weighs, or how much weight we actually had, but my 1/2-ton was squattin.

SWEET7T · 10-15-2003, 12:47 AM

here's the door

Mechanic · 10-15-2003, 01:16 AM

Hey Cobalt,
Here's what a set of Universal Fleet overloads do on a '71 Cheyenne w/ the heavy leaf option. This is an all wood '67 camper! Peace...Mech. Oh yea...those are 32/11.50R15's

lukecp · 10-15-2003, 01:16 AM

Lol...good prank

Castiron9 · 10-15-2003, 11:20 AM

My 72 Longhorn had them at one time,,but were taken off at some point , after I bought it..Have thought about trying to find a complete set up and re-install.Would be interested in a set if someone out there had one,for a reasonable price...

**JIMs70GMC** · 10-15-2003, 12:01 PM

Here was 1900 lbs. in my truck. Didn't really move the springs but when I went and got the sand for my foundation I hauled 7000lbs in two trips which had the overloads engaged.

TP from Cntl PA · 10-15-2003, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 72 CustomCamper
My uncle had my truck loaded cab high with stones to build his fireplace. When he rolled across the scales it was 6 ton of stone plus the truck...

Chuck

I gotta laugh when people ask me why I won't own a newer pick-up

They don't know half the stories

Yep, the old GMC works pretty good for $750, even though the township that had it never believed in cleaning out the cowl..........Its all rotted through

I would like to restore it someday......................But for now it is sitting in the barn waiting for its next call to go to work

*72longbed* · 10-15-2003, 07:45 PM

I have a complete factory Overload Spring setup off my 72 C-20. Did you ever notice the thickness of those springs...WOW!! Just try to carry the single spring mounted to the frame bracket in your arms for any distance... it's a freakin' workout!!

I have the entire setup, every nut and bolt, even the very hard to find, correct frame brackets, all with no rust, sitting in my garage if anybody is interested. Even have the steel plates for the trailing arm/axle area with real nice rubber bumpers on them.

Did you ever notice the size of the bolts that hold the single leaf to the bracket..... HUGE!! It's torqued to something like 450 ft. lbs. !!

Anybody interested in being able to haul some serious weight, PM me.

72longbed

10-14-2003, 12:58 PM	#1
COBALT Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Seattle, WA, USA Posts: 5,817	3/4 ton overload springs... I just used them for the first time by complete accident. I've got a 3/4 ton '69 C20 with coils and overloads option. I had the rubble from my basement floor to haul to the dump (I'm putting in some drains for a bathroom in the basement, and had to cut trenches in the floor). Basically I had three piles of broken concrete pieces you can move with a shovel (1" thick pour), with some dirt and gravel mixed in. As I dumped it into the truck it looked like about 1/2 a yard - not even that. I finished it off with the old busted concrete laundry sink I tore out of the wall. The truck looked like it was settled right, but I didn't take note of the suspension at all. I got in and everything seemed ok. The rear didn't seem like it was sinking very much. I get to the dump, took care of business, and as I returned to the scale the guy tells me I just dumped 1800 lbs!!! HOLY CRAP. I pulled over once I left the dump, and checked my rear suspension. Everything was fine, but there were shiny spots on those overloads where the rubber pads on the trailing arms had connected with them. Wow. I had no idea it was that heavy, and wouldn't have hauled that much weight in one trip had I known. The most I've ever hauled at that point was 1000 lbs. I just blew that out of the water. Anyone else think this is something to be surprised about, or am I just being a weenie? __________________ '69 3/4 ton C20 2wd-350ci/TH400 '69 3/4 ton Custom 20 2wd-350ci/4sp Manual '99 2wd 5.7 Chevy Tahoe Seattle, WA.

10-14-2003, 01:15 PM	#2
Fred T Cantankerous Geezer Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Bel Aire, KS Posts: 6,264	The first thing to break or bend is usually the frame. I once took my 74 1/2 ton for a load of fill sand. SOB in the loader wouldn't quit dumping when I told him to. I shoveled some out, moved some to the front, springs were bottomed out. Pulled across the scales with 4400# of sand! I had 2 miles to get home, took it real easy and was okay. I've hauled 2 tons on my 52 3/4 ton, and have barely been into the overloads on it. __________________ Fred There is no such thing as too much cam...just not enough engine.

10-14-2003, 02:20 PM	#3
COBALT Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Seattle, WA, USA Posts: 5,817	Well I won't freak out, but it seemed excessive considering the age of the truck and the fact I rebuilt the front/back suspension just under a year ago and don't want to screw it up. I just don't want to do anything that risks messing this truck up after working to get it in good shape. Man if the guy with the bucket didn't listen to me when picking up a load of sand I'd crawl up there and toss him out of the rig... __________________ '69 3/4 ton C20 2wd-350ci/TH400 '69 3/4 ton Custom 20 2wd-350ci/4sp Manual '99 2wd 5.7 Chevy Tahoe Seattle, WA.

10-14-2003, 03:01 PM	#4
lukecp Formerly yellow72custom Join Date: May 2001 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 7,531	I have loaded my 1/2 ton down with firewood until the back bumper was 4-6" off the ground, and the sidewalls on my rear tires were almost 1/2 of what they should have been. And the truck had no problem pulling, but the brakes and steering were downright scary... I have no clue how much actual weight i had....enough hardwood firewood to be about 18" over the top of the bedsides in my LWB pickup bed. __________________ '72 Chevy C10 Mild 350/TH350/3.07. Ochre/White. Old high school ride. '70 GMC C2500 '62 327 4bbl/SM465/4.56-geared Dana 60. White/White. Project or parts truck. '97 Saturn SL DD. 1.9/5-speed. 40+ highway mpg

10-14-2003, 03:14 PM	#6
lukecp Formerly yellow72custom Join Date: May 2001 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 7,531	Lol....steering is merely a suggestion with no weight over the frontend....i thought the front tires were going to lift off the ground! Gotta love old Chevies...they are very resistant to chronic overloading __________________ '72 Chevy C10 Mild 350/TH350/3.07. Ochre/White. Old high school ride. '70 GMC C2500 '62 327 4bbl/SM465/4.56-geared Dana 60. White/White. Project or parts truck. '97 Saturn SL DD. 1.9/5-speed. 40+ highway mpg

10-14-2003, 04:48 PM	#7
TP from Cntl PA Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Central PA....In the Berg of Nisbet Posts: 790	You didn't even have a load on it!!!!!!!!!!!!! I haven't hauled to much with my C-20 I bought over the summer................But my old '69 GMC 3500 and my brothers '69 C-10 have been through he!! on the farm!!!!!!!!!!!! Probably our most memorable overload was hauling limestone ................My 1-ton is rated at 10K..........Well, any we started scooping limestone with the skid loader to move it acouple miles down the road to my house. He kept filling the truck, and I really didn't think we had a load because the truck was barely starting to squat..............He figured the same way and put the whole pile on the truck(Has a nice steel dump bed on it)............Rolled over the scales at the farm, I am not lying!!!!!!!!! We had 7 tons of limestone on it!!!!!!!!!! PLUS, the weight of the truck...............And the way the old truck rolled up the road you'd have never known it! I know, I am hard on things __________________ '72 K-20 EFI'ed 250 Inline/4spd stake body, Farm Truck '71 C-20 Cummins Diesel Powered, In storage thanks to $5.00 diesel! '69 3500 GMC 305V-6/4spd, Still under reconstruction.......... Inlines Rule! 6 soldiers standing is better than 8 laying down!!!!!!!!

10-14-2003, 05:15 PM	#8
COBALT Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Seattle, WA, USA Posts: 5,817	Sheesh. 7 tons = 14,000 lbs. That's a lot of weight. Yeah I guess I didn't have much of a load, but GVW is weight of vehicle + max hauling capacity, so my truck weights 4300 lbs and adding 1800 lbs to it brings it up to 6500 lbs. My GVW is 7500 lbs which leaves 1000 lbs. __________________ '69 3/4 ton C20 2wd-350ci/TH400 '69 3/4 ton Custom 20 2wd-350ci/4sp Manual '99 2wd 5.7 Chevy Tahoe Seattle, WA.

10-14-2003, 08:01 PM	#9
TP from Cntl PA Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Central PA....In the Berg of Nisbet Posts: 790	See what I am saying............7 tons, plus the truck............Which I believe was almost 5(It liscensed for 5, so two people in the truck legally put it over weight )...............So you figure it was in the neighborhood of 19K............That is some serious overloading when you think about it. Poor old hydraulic pump really was screamin' try to pick that load up to dump it!!!!!!!! __________________ '72 K-20 EFI'ed 250 Inline/4spd stake body, Farm Truck '71 C-20 Cummins Diesel Powered, In storage thanks to $5.00 diesel! '69 3500 GMC 305V-6/4spd, Still under reconstruction.......... Inlines Rule! 6 soldiers standing is better than 8 laying down!!!!!!!!

10-14-2003, 10:37 PM	#10
Stocker 20' Daredevil (Ret) Join Date: May 2003 Location: Jefferson State Posts: 13,763	Cobalt, you have no worries - 1800# is a walk in the park. I've carried 3 tons over mountain roads, although steering & brakes were a bit dicey. As for you, TP - 7 tons? Holy crap - you win the trophy for the biggest cajones! __________________ - Mike - 1972 K20 LWB 350/350/205 RIP El Jay

10-14-2003, 11:13 PM	#11
dinnut Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: missouri city, tx Posts: 4,486	damn __________________ 70 longbed 496/th400/Ford 9"

10-14-2003, 11:35 PM	#12
Cat Fuzz My son, my joy. Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 463	I once hauled a full cubic yard of 1 inch river rock in my 69 3/4 ton. I have no idea how much it weighed, but it was heavy and she was squattin'.

10-15-2003, 12:26 AM	#13
72 CustomCamper huh ??? Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Fredericksburg,Va. Posts: 3,368	My uncle had my truck loaded cab high with stones to build his fireplace. When he rolled across the scales it was 6 ton of stone plus the truck... Chuck __________________ 90 Blazer Silverado 350w/ 700R4 and 32" Kelly's "I am a bomb technician. If you see me running try to keep up!"

10-15-2003, 12:45 AM	#14
SWEET7T Try spinnin 4 rear tars Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 757	last year, it snowed up in the mountains, and my friends and I got some stupid idea to haul snow back to campus and stick it in front of my friend's gf's apt door. I don't know how much snow weighs, or how much weight we actually had, but my 1/2-ton was squattin. Attached Images __________________ SWEET7T 1970 C10, 2wd, LB, 307/TH350/3.08. PS, PB

10-15-2003, 12:47 AM	#15
SWEET7T Try spinnin 4 rear tars Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 757	here's the door Attached Images __________________ SWEET7T 1970 C10, 2wd, LB, 307/TH350/3.08. PS, PB

10-15-2003, 01:16 AM	#16
Mechanic Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Seattle Posts: 77	Hey Cobalt, Here's what a set of Universal Fleet overloads do on a '71 Cheyenne w/ the heavy leaf option. This is an all wood '67 camper! Peace...Mech. Oh yea...those are 32/11.50R15's Attached Images __________________ Shop Labor $75, if you watch $100, if you help $125, Wisecracks-$25, Boxjobs-don't even think about it. Yes,Cash.



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10-15-2003, 01:16 AM	#17
lukecp Formerly yellow72custom Join Date: May 2001 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 7,531	Lol...good prank __________________ '72 Chevy C10 Mild 350/TH350/3.07. Ochre/White. Old high school ride. '70 GMC C2500 '62 327 4bbl/SM465/4.56-geared Dana 60. White/White. Project or parts truck. '97 Saturn SL DD. 1.9/5-speed. 40+ highway mpg

10-15-2003, 11:20 AM	#18
Castiron9 72 LONGHORN OWNER Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Seattle Wash. Posts: 963	My 72 Longhorn had them at one time,,but were taken off at some point , after I bought it..Have thought about trying to find a complete set up and re-install.Would be interested in a set if someone out there had one,for a reasonable price... __________________ 72-SUPER CHEYENNE/20 LONGHORN 70-C/30 DUALLY

10-15-2003, 12:01 PM	#19
JIMs70GMC user # 2756 Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Chesapeake, Virginia Posts: 4,612	Here was 1900 lbs. in my truck. Didn't really move the springs but when I went and got the sand for my foundation I hauled 7000lbs in two trips which had the overloads engaged. Attached Images __________________ 1970 K25, 8' stepside bed 350/465/205 44 up front, 60 in the rear 4.10s rolling on 33" Dunlop MTs 1986 K5, 350/465/208 Dana 60/14 bolt from a cucv 36" Super Swampers TSL/SX 1983 K20 w/ CUCV axles, 350/700R4/208 sitting on 37" Goodyears 1986 M1031 6.2 diesel, TH400/NP205 locker in the rear and a LS in the front, all stock for now..... 1986 K30, 350/400/205 dana 60 and 14 bolt. I kept the drivetrain. Body/bad and chassis are gone. 1981 K30, 350/465/205 dana 60 and dually 14 bolt. Has a G80, and a flat bed. Going to replace the flat bed. 1985 K20, 350/400/208 10 bolt and SF 14 bolt. I wonder where I can find some 1 tons. Hmmmmm

10-15-2003, 07:45 PM	#21
72longbed Account Suspended Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: PA Posts: 1,411	Rear Overloads I have a complete factory Overload Spring setup off my 72 C-20. Did you ever notice the thickness of those springs...WOW!! Just try to carry the single spring mounted to the frame bracket in your arms for any distance... it's a freakin' workout!! I have the entire setup, every nut and bolt, even the very hard to find, correct frame brackets, all with no rust, sitting in my garage if anybody is interested. Even have the steel plates for the trailing arm/axle area with real nice rubber bumpers on them. Did you ever notice the size of the bolts that hold the single leaf to the bracket..... HUGE!! It's torqued to something like 450 ft. lbs. !! Anybody interested in being able to haul some serious weight, PM me. 72longbed

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