Sled Deck for a 1/2 ton.

[GRD]

I need a couple of opinions. I have a 2003 F-150 5.4L, short box, quad cab. I put an extra leaf spring on both sides for pulling my trailer (Camping trailer 19ft, dual axel, 3500lbs dry). It pulls the trailer alright, but it is no deisel F-350. I never had to take my truck when I have been sledding, and might need to take it this year.

Anyways, I saw a dodge 1/2 ton with a sled deck on it yesterday, here in Calgary, and made me wonder if it worth looking into getting a deck for my truck. I am asuming it must be pretty hard on a 1/2 ton truck, and possibly over the total wieght allowed. I think a two place trailer might be better. Nice thing about a deck is I don't have to unhook and store it when not using.

 

[Summitric]

Hi: I Went Through This Dilemna A Few Years Ago. I Had A 1998 Dodge Heavy 1/2 Ton And Put Overloader Rear Springs And Ran Load Range E Tires On It And Had A Steel Sled Deck.... I Know This With 2 Sleds And All The Gear Etc. Put The Vehicle Way Over The Gvwr Specs For The Truck, But In Alberta, You Wouldn't Get Flagged. In B.c You Might Get Harassed By The Rc's. I Know 3/4 Tons, With Deck And Pulling A 2 Place, Full Of Sleds, Gear, People Is Also Over The Limit Slightly(we've Checked). Now You Need To Take The Rear Gvwr And Total Gvwr From The Left Door Jamb Id Sticker And Speculate What A Deck, Sleds, Fuel, Gear, People Total Weight Might Be And Compare To The Gvwr Of The Vehicle. If You Just Do Local Riding(never Into Bc), You'll Be Fine. But The Minute You Head Over The Boarder You Could Be Stopped..... I Know The Bc Rc's Have Lightened Up In The Last Several Years For Alberta Trucks, But You Just Never Know. I Have Since Had A 3500 Dodge 1ton Dually4x4 And Presently Drive A 2004 F350 Diesel 4x4 Srw Crewcab And Have A Deck And 4 Place Trailer To Pull Behind(6 Sleds Total) And I Will Be Well Within Towing Specs......... Good Luck Getr'done

 

[rknight111]

Ask Bbtoys about this

Barrie you'll have to comment on this one. Barrie had a Dodge 1/2 ton with a deck. You cannot legally have 2 sleds on there driving, your overloaded allready, and the cops look for that too..

RON

 

[bbtoys]

decks

2 years ago I was running a Dodge 1/2 and a 2 place deck[power deck] and got two overweight tickets at the tete jaune scales. Then I put air bags on my truck and never was bothered again. They also help stablize the ride. Bought at city spring for about 300 bucks.

 

[GRD]

Scales or RC's

Did the people working the scales give you a ticket or was it the RC's?

Did you have an on board compressor or did you have to fill the air bags another way?

 

[SLEDBUNNYRACING]

1/2 tons and decks

GetR'Done, below is a shot of summitric's 1/2 ton from a few years back.

I personally think you may want to stick within the trucks GVW. I had a friend a few years ago who had his wife and three kids moving his truck and travel trailer between Calgary and Edmonton. The truck was over the GVW. She was hit by a gust of wind and it pushed the whole unit in the ditch and rolled. Luckly everyone walked away but it was a hard lesson to learn for him and his family, imagine getting that call from the police.
There is a reason they have a GVW.

Hmmm

 

[GRD]

Loaded

Holy, looks fairly loaded down. I may just try and find a trailer.

 

[Mikey]

GetR'Done, below is a shot of summitric's 1/2 ton from a few years back.

I personally think you may want to stick within the trucks GVW. I had a friend a few years ago who had his wife and three kids moving his truck and travel trailer between Calgary and Edmonton. The truck was over the GVW. She was hit by a gust of wind and it pushed the whole unit in the ditch and rolled. Luckly everyone walked away but it was a hard lesson to learn for him and his family, imagine getting that call from the police.
There is a reason they have a GVW.

Hmmm

What he said! Should always try to stay as legal as possible those rules are there for a reason. I have always had 1/2 tons, but wanted to upgrade to a deck. So this summer I traded to a slightly used 3/4 ton just so I could get a deck and away form using my trailer for sledding. Now I have the deck on the truck and love it........ for me it's the only way to go! I basically inherited this deck threw good fortune, however it's for a short box and mines a long box, so one day I will trade up to one that fits properly with slidding sides. But for now it may look funny, but it works and the weight isn't too far back, it hasen't effected steering or blinding others with my lights, well atleast no one has flashed me yet. And I mean flashed as in the bad way, not the other way. Good luck!

 

[Shredder]

I'd say buy a trailer and not have to worry about it. I have an F350 PSD C/C, and I can sure tell when I have 2 sleds on the deck. I can't imagine the load it would put on a 1/2 ton gasser.

 

[ski-doo]

putting a deck on a 1/2 ton is hard on the truck as well. ANd it is illegal in B.C. i believe. i seen a guy in mcbrdie last week with one and it was really loaded down. I don't know what the fine is if you get caught.

 

[Summitric]

Fines

Last I Heard It Was A $1000 Fine And Lighten The Load At The Nearest Police Station Or Weigh Scale And Leave It Until The Proper Vehicle Can Pick It Up....... I've Friends With 5th Wheels Behind 1/2 Tons In Bc That Had It Happen..... They Had To Leave The Trailer And Pick It Up With Another Truck. I Know They Are A Little More Forgiving With Sledders, However.

 

[M Brown]

I used to have a desk on an 03 dodge 1/2 ton quadcab with 4.7 gasser, I used it mostly in the summer with two quads and 25' trailer (about 3700 lbs loaded). It sat level with air bags at 35lbs, but it struggled a bit in the hills both handling and power with both trailer and quads and was over the GVW rating. It with ok with quads only. My neighbor runs a 05 F150 quadcab and with the deck and two quads it sits low but air bags would help that, it has enough power. I now run an 06 dodge 3/4 ton megacab with a 5.9 diesel with airbags and it is a lot better. If you are going to B.C. you will need a 3/4 ton because GVW. It is possible but you would be better off with a bigger truck. Just my two cent!

 

[GRD]

Got to convince the wife to let me buy a new truck. She may be happier it I get a trailer.

 

[2003Summit]

I have heard more than once of people getting tickets crossing the BC boarder or once they are in mcbride etc. If the truck even looks a bit overloaded you get escorted to the scales. They are pretty sensitive about that.

I used to have a 1/2 and I bought a 3/4 just for 2 hauling sleds (when I got the second sled for the wife). I have hauled 1500lbs of drywall in my 1/2 a couple of times and it was heavy. I knew I would not be comfortable with 2 sleds on (2 sleds, the deck and a bit of gear are close to 2000lbs). The 3/4 is just about right. Plus you have a bit of capacity left to put a trailer on and haul 4 sleds for those mountain trips. It's more than just the carring capacity, a 3/4 also has larger brakes, a stronger frame, stronger wheels and a few other things. A beafed up 1/2 does not equil a 3/4.

 

[Summitric]

Got to convince the wife to let me buy a new truck. She may be happier it I get a trailer.

HI GETRDONE: YOUR TRUCK LOOKS NEWER(2004 TO 2006??). COULD IT BE AN F150 HD 7700??? THAT MEANS 7700GVWR, WHICH IS BASICALLY A 3/4 TON..... YOU SHOULD LOOK INTO THAT.

 

[GRD]

2003

It is defiantly an 2003. I got my eye on a couple of 2006 F250's and F350's. I doubt I can do it this year. We just bought the wife a new car. Ford Fusion. I will probably try to find a 2 place trailer. I don't want to over weigh the truck or wreck it and I would prefer not to get any fines. I like my truck! Here is a picture of the wifes car.

HI GETRDONE: YOUR TRUCK LOOKS NEWER(2004 TO 2006??). COULD IT BE AN F150 HD 7700??? THAT MEANS 7700GVWR, WHICH IS BASICALLY A 3/4 TON..... YOU SHOULD LOOK INTO THAT.

 

[SLEDBUNNYRACING]

1 ton dually

Here is how we used to travel...1 ton dually with deck and sled trailer. Tough to over load that baby.

 

[bbtoys]

decks

The fine was 265 twice for me and it was a ticket from the R.C.M.P. both times. I was lucky because they could have made me get legal but they just wanted the $$$. Barry

 

[Summitric]

Barry, Barry, Barry

BARRY, DON'T YOU HAVE A 3/4 TON NOW>>