Is a Pallet of topsoil too heavy?

[jayro88]

Okay,
So I need to pick up a pallet of topsoil (50-75 bags) for some landscaping work and don't really want to make 2 trips. I know the pallet will fit in the back of my van.

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I built this to set the pallet on. It is 3/4" plywood with 2x4's laid flat for support.

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I arranged the 2x4's to miss the seat bracket, so the brackets provide some support where the 2x4's aren't.

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I have e-rated LT tires that are 2680lbs a piece etc. My concern is that the topsoil could just be too heavy for the frame/suspension. I figure it will probably be in the 2000-3000lb range (figure 40lbs a bag). The 3000lbs estimate puts me about 700lbs over the vans GVWR of 8550lbs (me and the van weigh 6250lbs). What do you guys think?

I have some other options (friends with trailers etc), but I don't like to borrow equipment and I kinda wanna put the old girl to work.

 

[BrandonMag]

Stack it well (tightly), shrink wrap it if you can, don't haul butt around corners and you'll be fine. When Ford rated your van's weight carrying capacity, they built in a LOT of wiggle room. My F250's GVWR is only 8800 lbs. and I have gone over that by at least 2000 lbs. Repeatedly.

Also, plan your braking. If you're hauling heavy(ish), you need more room to stop.

 

[snicklas]

Not sure if the vans are the same way, but I've personally have 475 Gallons of water (~4000 lbs of water, tank, etc) in the bed of a 73 F-250, and split firewood stacked stem to stern, as high as the cab in the same truck (8ft bed).

In the town that I grew up in, had the pre 92 era vans and were a produce company. I have seen 2 palates of various produce in the back of an extended van. I would think you should be ok. Heck, think about passengers and luggage. If you have 7 people in the van, call it 175 average per person, and a weeks worth of luggage, that could be 2000 lbs of "cargo" right there...... or a 15 passenger van...... they could go 3000 easy.........

I would take it slow, and see how well it stops. I would be more worried about how well the brakes make it stop, vs if it will carry it...... with the wood and the water, stopping was by far the biggest challenge, the truck moved it and carried it well..... stopping just took a bit of pre-planning.......

 

[sjwelds]

yeah and your seat backs aren't much in the way of back stops for if the load decides to take a trip forward....

It's a Ford... and an IDI... you'll be fine

 

[jayro88]

The brakes have new calipers, pads and fluid.

The suspension is in good shape. No rusted/weak areas.

Trip is all country roads, maybe 30-40 miles.

 

[93blklightning]

Can't say for a van, but I've had 4,000 lbs of asphalt , and then 4,000 lbs gravel in the bed of my 92 F250 on several occasions.
Felt like I was going to pop a wheelie, but it was just fine

 

[chris142]

How much does each bag weigh?

 

[cpdenton]

I have found that most pallets I move are between 2200 and 2500 pounds. That is flooring usually, but it seems that is about as much weight as a company will place on one pallet....that said, strap it so it won't hit your seats if some jackwagon pulls out in front of you and you will be fine.

Enjoy that you only had to make one trip!

 

[towcat]

my only concern is if you ever stop abruptly, you might be in a world of hurt when that load launches.

 

[snicklas]

I understand this is a British show, but here is what we are all concerned about.......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5J16pLeVYw

Watch the results of what happens inside the van.

This is something we all need to think about, even in trucks, SUV's and even cars......... If you come to an abrupt stop the S**T in the bed is gonna keep going..........

 

[jaluhn83]

I'll bet the rig will take it.... wouldn't myself though. Your rear axle rating should be something like 6k, and the frame / drivetrain shouldn't have a problem. I'd be a bit concerned about the tires, wouldn't be surprised if you were pretty close to max load on them.

*Much* more of a concern to me is that lack of anything to stop that thing getting thrown forward in a wreck or even hard braking. That seat will snap right off and you'll wind up as a paste between the seat and the dash.... is it worth that risk? At least in a pickup you have the front of the bed to stop things, and even then it's worth keeping in mind.

My parents were both severely injured (dad lost 3/4 of his liver and had his heart stop several times on the table before they got the bleeding under control... still has a nifty 2' long scar some 30 years later ) from a wreck like that - had a floor mount drill press in the back of a Honda wagon and got hit head on by a guy going the other way... drill press came forward and smashed into the back of the front seats. And this was on surface streets... only going ~40 mph.....

Only way I'd do anything like that is with a very solid frame mounted headache rack between the load and the seats. Even one sack of sod could be enough to cause problem if it went flying... an entire pallet is more than enough....

 

[madpogue]

^^^^^ This is why service vans have cage walls. Def. an option, if this is going to be any kind of regular thing.

 

[Hydro-idi]

You will be fine. Just be cautious like any other person would be when towing/hauling heavy.

 

[fsmyth]

Like my dad used to say: "you worry too much about it"
Do it. don't worry about it. I used to tote anything and everything that
would physically fit in my old E250. It's only problem was the trans -
get it loaded heavy, and it slipped like a ***** getting moving.
I once had it loaded with tools and steel parts, pulling a waaayyyy
overloaded trailer. and it did good, once you got it rolling.
Wish I still had it
NEVER had any problems stopping.
<als>

 

[towcat]

Like my dad used to say: "you worry too much about it"
Do it. don't worry about it. I used to tote anything and everything that
would physically fit in my old E250. It's only problem was the trans -
get it loaded heavy, and it slipped like a ***** getting moving.
I once had it loaded with tools and steel parts, pulling a waaayyyy
overloaded trailer. and it did good, once you got it rolling.
Wish I still had it
NEVER had any problems stopping.
<als>

until you have worked a fatal accident, you are 100% correct in thinking "it will never happen to me" attitude. it's not you that is the concern, it's the other idiots who don't know how to drive that will kill you.