How To Increase Your Truck’s Load Handling Capacity

In our last post we talked about the dangers of overloading your truck. Overloading is a sure way to increase your liability and put yourself in danger. There’s a reason that manufacturers put a payload limit on their vehicles and you’d be smart to pay attention to it.

From time to time we get asked, “How can I increase my truck’s load capacity?” The answer, in all honesty, is that you can’t. Payload limit or Gross Vehicle Weight Rating is set by the manufacturer based on the vehicle’s specifications. Once the vehicle leaves the manufacturers’ lot, that number cannot be changed or increased.

Now, that may seem like bad news if your truck is suffering from problems with handling, drivetrain, suspension, or braking when hauling heavy loads. Trucks that work in construction, landscaping, or similar fields, will most likely be affected by these issues from having to haul large loads containing fuel drums, gravel, pallets or lumber, dirt, and sand. But don’t lose hope just yet. There is a solution.

You can’t improve your truck’s payload but you can improve your truck’s load handling. What’s the answer to poor ride and handling, accelerated wear on shocks and tires, and overburdened rear springs? At Smith Springs we recommend a rear spring upgrade by installing steel helper springs.

Helper springs, also known as overload springs, DO NOT change a truck’s GVWR or carrying capacity but they DO help level the load and take the sag out of the rear of the vehicle. There are two basic types of helper springs: steel and some variation of urethane/rubber inserts or bump stops. Pricing for these springs varies depending of the type and how long they take to install on your vehicle.

Bottom line is we want you to be safe when driving your truck and doing your job. Steel helper springs supplement factory rear suspension by taking some of the burden off. For trucks that choose to have helper springs installed the result is safer operating for the driver, a smoother ride, and better control and handling.

How do you know if your truck needs helper springs? Just look for these signs of overloading:

• Unstable turns
• Sagging rear of the vehicle
• Rubbing tires
• Rear sway
• Bottoming out suspension

If you have noticed any of these warning signs of an overloaded truck, give us a call at 800-619-4652. We stock helper springs and are able to install any variation on your vehicle to improve load handling. Schedule your truck for service today!