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Can you raise the GVW of your truck ?

A

AaronatAVU

Rookie Expediter
Hello there EO community.
I have a question about the possibility of raising my trucks GVWR. Can you, through modification/suspension upgrade, have the GVWR of your truck legally raised ? Possibly adding a tag axle or upgrading the suspension, changing the rear, or front axle assembly. I know you can change, build, modify, wrecks, salvage vehicles, or many modified performance vehicles outside the realm of their originally constructed platform; and with big trucks, they stretch and cut frames and such, so I would like to know if what I'm asking is possible ? Thank you
 
zorry

zorry

Veteran Expediter
The simple answer is YES,it can be done.
I'm not sure how you get a door sticker. Upfitters that do mods know that stuff.

What kind of truck do you have and what are you trying to accomplish ?

I remember a Dodge Van in the 70's that had a very professionally done tag axle.
 
A

AaronatAVU

Rookie Expediter
Thanks for the reply zorry. I have a 99 Freightliner, 26ft box with liftgate. The cab is extended (28 inch sleeper); currently 25,500. My payload is around 7K, give or take depending on how many meals I eat a day. My last empty scale with a full tank was 18,200. I'd like to raise it to 33k. I know the first question your gonna ask (lol)....because it's paid for, but depending on what would need to be done and how much would determine whether it's worth doing.
 
guido4475

guido4475

Not a Member
Being a 99, what does it have in it, a 3126 cat? an 8.3 cummins? And how many miles? Are you sure you want to make an older truck work much harder than it is used to, creating possibly more premature wear and tear, breakdowns, etc? That paid for thing may not look so good if it starts coming apart after awile.
 
BobWolf

BobWolf

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
I have a 2003 International 4300 and I thought about the same upgrade about four years ago. Low miles only 150,000 then and I knew the trucks deamons.
The cost to upgrade was about ten grand but the upgrades and the payment book would have exeeded the trucks resale value. I would wager a guess to do the upgrades would proply cost me at least $15,000 today. Thats something to consider in the event you total your truck today.

Mechanical and Specing.
Most class 6, and 7 trucks are built as a systeme meaning the engine is matched to the transmission, thats matched to the brakes, thats matched to the drive line, and gearing. I would take it to a reputable Freightliner dealer and find out what the actual components are rated for. Often brakes, transmision, need to be uprgraded or at least an ECM reprogram, and upgrades to the engine to handle the extra weight.

From a money standpoint.
On the cheap its going to cost you $10,000.00 to $15,000.00 upgrade and if your truck is worth 5,000.00 even if its paid for financialy you are totaly upside down the truck is costing you more than its worth. mad2.gif. That kind of investment will take at least two years for the truck to pay for itself.
Remember you still have to insure the truck especialy if you finance the repairs to cover a total loss. Even if you have the cash on hand to invest in the upgrades If some moron runs a light or a lightning strike or electrical problem destroys your truck you need to be made whole again or at least be able to break even. No mater what you spend on any vehicle the insurance company will only look at year, make, model, going sales price, and most depreciate from that.
Also you will have to pay I.F.T.A., other truck taxes, and have a C.D.L., and if local intrastate no medical card, that a non CDL is exempt from..... Well, at least for now.

TIP. In the eveny I have a major repair I check the resale value vs the income and time the truck earns the investment back.

Bob Wolf.
 
A

AaronatAVU

Rookie Expediter
It has air brakes. 3126 CAT w/6sp manual. 146K miles. It was used for a dedicated line haul between military bases so the miles are supposed to be original. I haven't had the ecm read to confirm. I live in Northeast Pa (Scranton area). I've read alot of reviews about the medium duty straight trucks and haven't heard anybody sing praises about any of them. I heard a few positives about the mercedes engine and auto trans. I've seen many other 33K Freightliners with the 3126/6sp setup in the marketplace (doesn't mean it's a good thing, but they are out there). They are the 300HP versions and mine is only 250HP, but I think I could make up the 50. My front axle is 8K and the rear is 17.5K . I'm not sure if it is just a matter of leaf springs or a completely different axle/setup.
 
zorry

zorry

Veteran Expediter
I was kind of thinking a small used lift axle. Possibly the style used by the older car haulers. With the smaller wheels and tires.
First it may take some real searching to find one. Then you'd have to see if the added capacity, minus the weight, would accomplish his needs. I would expect a bone yard would let one go for $500. Then I'd rebuild it.
All for not, if as I suspect, he has hydraulic breaks.
A good frame shop would determine if frame strengthening is required.
Maybe slip a lightweight tandem under it,if you can find one cheap enough. Maybe from an old farm truck.
Unless you have steadier,heavier work, most likely not going to be worth it.
Definitely not unless you have an independent shop do it with used parts.
 
zorry

zorry

Veteran Expediter
Being a 99 you may find a similar truck in a tandem that is wrecked or rusted out.
Check with a dealer to be sure your clutch and trans are heavy enough to do what you want.
When on the interstate, please stay in the right lane.
A local salvage yard,rebuilder would be where I'd start.
The money to do it,added to the value of your truck may put you in the truck you need.
Air brakes = good.
 
A

AaronatAVU

Rookie Expediter
Thanks for your help everyone. As long as it can be done then I'll research it more and determine the feasability of it.
 
tknight

tknight

Veteran Expediter
I'm curious how you can only have a 7 k payload my truck freight liner has a 24' bid with a steel liftgate and a 48 inch sleeper it holds 100 gallon of fuel and comes with steel wheels ,with a spare tire and pallet jack I can haul 9000 lbs why is it so heavy mt?
 
zorry

zorry

Veteran Expediter
2000 lbs -500 higher gvw = 1500 lb difference
Is one cab steel, one aluminum ?
Could that floor be 1000 lbs ?
TK, aluminum wheels ?.
 
tknight

tknight

Veteran Expediter
1281 lbs on 1/8 steel diamond plate
truck seems real heavy mt for a truck without a sleeper, , my reference is a ryder truck with 28' box and liftgate has a posted cargo weight of 12,000 lbs, i'm trying to figure out how he can have 4,000 extra lbs of weight on that chassis, the riders mt weights are right around 13,800 as I know because I used to use a lot of ryders in my other business. first thing i'd do is remove the diamond plate and buy lunch and a few dinners with the scrap money, right around $118.00
Does this truck have a liftgate also, military spec gate would probably be almost 1500 lbs i'd bet, how much fuel and how many tanks mine has 100 gallon aluminum
You can shave a lot of weight when buying a truck if you know where to look, Aluminum wheels might reduce some weight maybe 150lbs for all 6 of them but the cost is high. I have steel I had a choice but chose to stick to the steel with chrome covers for better looks
 
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