cargo weight

buckwheat

Seasoned Expediter
I've been contacting a carrier that I'd really like to get on with and have been told that I'd need 3 skid capacity sprinter,weight capability of 2,700-3,000 lbs. and a willingness to go into Canada. I'm thinking that I'll need a 170"wheelbase vehicle to accomodate 3 skids. The 2500 models have the required room between the rear fender wells but the 3500 series doesn't due to the fact that it's a dually. According to the info I've found so far, the 2500 170" has a payload capacity of 2988 lbs. At the minimum capability of 2700 lbs. capacity that I'd need coupled with the fact that I'll need to bring my wallet, maybe a sandwich and a cup of coffee and maybe a change of socks and underwear(I guess I could always turn those inside out after a few days to save weight)........am I screwed? Is this an impossible set-up? I'd really appreciate any and all suggestions. Thanks and have a great day.
 

purgoose10

Veteran Expediter
I've been contacting a carrier that I'd really like to get on with and have been told that I'd need 3 skid capacity sprinter,weight capability of 2,700-3,000 lbs. and a willingness to go into Canada. I'm thinking that I'll need a 170"wheelbase vehicle to accomodate 3 skids. The 2500 models have the required room between the rear fender wells but the 3500 series doesn't due to the fact that it's a dually. According to the info I've found so far, the 2500 170" has a payload capacity of 2988 lbs. At the minimum capability of 2700 lbs. capacity that I'd need coupled with the fact that I'll need to bring my wallet, maybe a sandwich and a cup of coffee and maybe a change of socks and underwear(I guess I could always turn those inside out after a few days to save weight)........am I screwed? Is this an impossible set-up? I'd really appreciate any and all suggestions. Thanks and have a great day.

Get a weight ticket w/out all your personnel stuff on-board.:cool:
 

buckwheat

Seasoned Expediter
I would definitely get a weight ticket just to be safe. My problem is that before buying a sprinter I'd like to find out from some of the posters here if the 2500 series might work. It seems that next shorter wheel base is a 144" or maybe 158. At present I'm not sure if these would take three skids. The curb weight would be less being shorter but would I have the available space?
 

purgoose10

Veteran Expediter
Sorry can't answer that one, I don't run Sprinters. I know 90% of the Sprinter guy's out here are running 2500 and long /W/B. More capacity the better. Bigger living room too.:cool:
 

golfournut

Veteran Expediter
Just so happens I have a brochure for 2010.

2500
144" wb cargo bed length 128.5"
170" wb " 169.3"
170" wb ext. " 185.0"

Max payload
144" 3469 lbs
144" high roof 3402
170" " 3005
170" " ext. 2872

All 2500s GVWR 8550 lbs


Posted with my Droid EO Forum App
 

buckwheat

Seasoned Expediter
That's pretty close to the info I found on the '09 models. I'm thinking that I'd need about 12 feet of cargo space to take 3 skids. Obviously the 144 won't accomplish that. With the 170 the cargo space works but with a max payload of 3005 there wouldn't be much of a possibility of taking anything else along for personal items once I was in the driver's seat. I didn't plan to make a motorhome that would carry a little bit of freight, but I want the vehicle to be safe on the road as well as lasting long enough to make it pay. With the carrier needing 2700-3000 lb payload capacity there'd be a good possibility I'd be overweight and I'm sure the carrier doesn't want that.
 

chefdennis

Veteran Expediter
1st, you will NOT see 3000 all the time...yes you will get them, but not as the norm...

2nd, LOL...your sarrier will call you with overweight loads when they need to...if you are they only truck close enough , don't think for a minute that they won't call you with a overweight the load offer , it is then your decision....
 

buckwheat

Seasoned Expediter
LOL, Hey Chefdennis

No, I'm sure that every load offer won't be 3,000 lbs. I was just given a set of parameters to get set up and am trying to meet the requirements if it's possible. Maybe it's not possible but I'd like to think it is.

Anyhow, do you have the cargo max yet? It'll be interesting to see a few pics of how you set it up
 

CharlesD

Expert Expediter
My Sprinter (off the road since September, but that's beside the point) is an '07 170" WB high roof extended 2500. I built a small bunk area behind the seats with a permanent bulkhead and left 12' for cargo. I didn't have much more than 2600 lbs left for cargo. Don't buy that 3000 lb garbage. A 2500 Sprinter is no different than a 3/4 ton anything else, but all kinds of people are saying that Sprinters hold more weight than cargo vans. That's nonsense. The extra loads you will get that can't go on vans are usually because of the height, not the length or weight. Occasionally you will get a 3 skid load, but normally you will see things that are just too tall for a regular van. If I was starting out now, there is no way I would load down a Sprinter with 3000 lbs and I wouldn't run for anyone who told me I had to do that.
 
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comet_4298

Seasoned Expediter
My Sprinter (off the road since September, but that's beside the point) is an '07 170" WB high roof extended 2500. I built a small bunk area behind the seats with a permanent bulkhead and left 12' for cargo. I didn't have much more than 2600 lbs left for cargo. Don't buy that 3000 lb garbage. A 2500 Sprinter is no different than a 3/4 ton anything else, but all kinds of people are saying that Sprinters hold more weight than cargo vans. That's nonsense.
I second that!!!
 

cheri1122

Veteran Expediter
Driver
Buckwheat: I don't know bupkas about Sprinters, but I know a little about expediting, and someone who would turn his socks inside out rather than add the weight of another pair is someone who has the right attitude, lol. [And a cool sense of humor] :)
 

scottm4211

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
Buckwheat: I don't know bupkas about Sprinters, but I know a little about expediting, and someone who would turn his socks inside out rather than add the weight of another pair is someone who has the right attitude, lol. [And a cool sense of humor] :)

Does that also apply to underwear? :confused:
 

ebsprintin

Veteran Expediter
I second that!!!
I third what Charles said. Probably most of the carriers list an unrealistic Sprinter cargo capacity on their website, but when you sign on they will accept a lower capacity. A wild guess would be most 2500's in the real world are listing their capacity between 2000 and 2400 lbs. The carriers expecting owners to haul 3000 and even 4000 lbs can destroy someone else's vehicle; not mine.

eb
 

cheri1122

Veteran Expediter
Driver
Seriously: know what the limit is for your vehicle. When I drove a van [1 ton], I declined those offers that exceeded the weight I felt comfortable hauling - as EB says, let someone else abuse their equipment, I won't do it.
 

zero3nine

Veteran Expediter
3516 lbs legally. I'm comfortable with 4000.

E350 Super Duty with Deaver spring package.

fired at you from my Droideka
 

CharlesD

Expert Expediter
You know one major problem I'm having with companies putting 4000 lbs on vans? It's getting harder to get a decent rate for anything that heavy. I tried bidding one today for a straight truck and the broker told me what the low bid was for the load and it was quite obvious it was someone intending on putting that on a van. I don't like the idea of making vans scale, but there are times it almost seems like a good idea.
 
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