Bob Foster
Member
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2006
- Messages
- 8,870
Over the last few years there have been several posts about poor riding trucks. These trucks could be dangerous too. In the eyes of the law either in court because someone has been in a legal action due to an accident or simply because the vehicle failed a roadside inspection there is no excuse that will save you from a fine or worse.
This condition is preventable and may be correctable depending on the equipment in the truck if it is the right truck to begin with.
So here is some info so hopefully neither will happen.
First start with the right truck for the job. The GVW or Gross Vehicle Weight must be correct for the loaded truck. Over time trucks may have switched their equipment or shifted the placement of equipment. For a start, 1/2 ton vans should be completely ruled out unless you are an OP or portable guy. 3/4 ton trucks may be acceptable for many and the best solution for practically any carpet cleaning truck is a 1 ton. For many even a 1 Ton could be pushing the limits.
Pushing the load up to the GVW limit of a truck, although within the legal and safe limit, providing the rest of the truck such as brakes tires and suspension are in good order will reduce a trucks handling and ride comfort. Carpet cleaning trucks are heavy and generally at the extreme end of most of their allowable capacities. You need to drive one accordingly and not drive it like a car. Easy stops where you anticipate light changes or cars merging, easy acceleration is safer for everyone and you get the benefit of longer brake service life and better fuel economy. If I see a work truck speeding up or braking hard for lights or stop signs, I know I'm looking at someone who doesn't have to personally pay for the brake jobs or fuel.
Make sure the fully loaded weight in the truck is proportional to the specified GVW weight of EACH AXLE of the truck. Everyone of those people who are finding their trucks hard riding have either overloaded their front axle or are jammed up to the maximum load on their rear axle and I bet 80% of them that are under their front axle GVW have UNDERLOADED their rear axle. Even if you are well within the limit of each axle wieght, keeping the loaded weight in proportion to the axle specifications to each other GREATLY enhances the ride quality of the truck.
And yes, you can install equipment in a truck so that it functional and still have the weight proportioned appropriately. You will also save a lot of wear on your front end suspension and steering. And for you cabover guys, your back will thank you.
Make sure in your calculations that you size the truck to accommodate for a full waste tank and a full water tank. These conditions will and do occur. A fully loaded truck can have drastically different handling when it is full or on a slippery road compared to when it has less load.
Go scale your truck. There isn't a scale on any highway where they would not welcome you onto their scale as it only improves your awareness to the consequences of the weight of your truck thus improving everyone's safety. EACH axle needs to be within the trucks GVW and the trucks GVW must be within its licensed GVW in any state or province in North America. If you come in on your own and you find (and they see) that you are overweight they will not hassle you but simply thank you for having the concern to deal with the issue. If you get pulled over you could get a fine.
Being overweight or having a disproportional weight for the particular axle specification is often correctable. Look in your truck and shift a few things around. Moving a water tank or a TM even as little as one foot can make a big difference on weigh distribution.
Now, go scale your truck! The info you need is on the door or door jam.
This condition is preventable and may be correctable depending on the equipment in the truck if it is the right truck to begin with.
So here is some info so hopefully neither will happen.
First start with the right truck for the job. The GVW or Gross Vehicle Weight must be correct for the loaded truck. Over time trucks may have switched their equipment or shifted the placement of equipment. For a start, 1/2 ton vans should be completely ruled out unless you are an OP or portable guy. 3/4 ton trucks may be acceptable for many and the best solution for practically any carpet cleaning truck is a 1 ton. For many even a 1 Ton could be pushing the limits.
Pushing the load up to the GVW limit of a truck, although within the legal and safe limit, providing the rest of the truck such as brakes tires and suspension are in good order will reduce a trucks handling and ride comfort. Carpet cleaning trucks are heavy and generally at the extreme end of most of their allowable capacities. You need to drive one accordingly and not drive it like a car. Easy stops where you anticipate light changes or cars merging, easy acceleration is safer for everyone and you get the benefit of longer brake service life and better fuel economy. If I see a work truck speeding up or braking hard for lights or stop signs, I know I'm looking at someone who doesn't have to personally pay for the brake jobs or fuel.
Make sure the fully loaded weight in the truck is proportional to the specified GVW weight of EACH AXLE of the truck. Everyone of those people who are finding their trucks hard riding have either overloaded their front axle or are jammed up to the maximum load on their rear axle and I bet 80% of them that are under their front axle GVW have UNDERLOADED their rear axle. Even if you are well within the limit of each axle wieght, keeping the loaded weight in proportion to the axle specifications to each other GREATLY enhances the ride quality of the truck.
And yes, you can install equipment in a truck so that it functional and still have the weight proportioned appropriately. You will also save a lot of wear on your front end suspension and steering. And for you cabover guys, your back will thank you.
Make sure in your calculations that you size the truck to accommodate for a full waste tank and a full water tank. These conditions will and do occur. A fully loaded truck can have drastically different handling when it is full or on a slippery road compared to when it has less load.
Go scale your truck. There isn't a scale on any highway where they would not welcome you onto their scale as it only improves your awareness to the consequences of the weight of your truck thus improving everyone's safety. EACH axle needs to be within the trucks GVW and the trucks GVW must be within its licensed GVW in any state or province in North America. If you come in on your own and you find (and they see) that you are overweight they will not hassle you but simply thank you for having the concern to deal with the issue. If you get pulled over you could get a fine.
Being overweight or having a disproportional weight for the particular axle specification is often correctable. Look in your truck and shift a few things around. Moving a water tank or a TM even as little as one foot can make a big difference on weigh distribution.
Now, go scale your truck! The info you need is on the door or door jam.
