Toyota Tundra Forums banner

Hauling sod in a get 1?

19K views 38 replies 33 participants last post by  dirtpup  
#1 ·
I did a search and found some post for gen 2 but nothing for gen 1. I have to pick up a pallet of sod for a customer next week and don't really have access to a trailer. Is a pallet of sod too much for the gen 1 Tundra to haul in the bed or is it doable? I have to go about 40 miles with it. I have hauled a good bit of weight in the bed, but I'm not really sure what a pallet of sod weighs. Anyone done this?


Thanks, Eric.
 
#3 ·
As the previous poster said, a pallet of sod does weight about 1800 to 2000 pounds. The maximum payload for a 2006 DC is around 1875. I think hauling the sod would be stretching the limits of your truck. Let's not forget having to stop the 2000 pounds. I have hauled about 800 to 1000 pounds and it was definitely an experience I care not to do again. If I were you, I would look at other options.

Take care
 
#4 ·
A quick search on google found this information...

"A normal pallet of sod holds 500 square feet and weighs about 1,800 lbs.."
 
#5 ·
I don't know that I would recommend it, but I did once haul a pallet of sod in the bed of my 99 Nissan Frontier 4x4. It hauled it, but it didn't like it. It didn't seem to hurt anything as I drove it for about another 90k after that with no problems.
 
#6 ·
Yup. That payload includes driver, passengers, and all the junk you haul around in the cab. So the practical weight in the bed is around 1,000 lbs. I put exactly 25 cinder blocks in mine at 40 lbs each = 1,000 lbs. It felt maxed out.

The farm-boy rule of thumb is to watch the rear leaf springs. When they lose their curved appearance and flatten out with weight, stop loading.

Ask your sod guy for an empty pallet and divide the sod into two loads. Then make two trips.
 
#7 ·
I often get a ton of pellets for heating our home, I split it into two loads. The place I get them is about 5 miles away and a 1000 lbs is all I ever want to do in this truck. The slightest bump and I hit the bump stops. I have a 2002 trd 4x4 so maybe my suspension is softer than a normal tundra.
 
#10 ·
Too many people forget that they are driving a TRUCK.:rolleyes:
You are a little over the weight limits, but 40 miles down a smooth paved road is not gonna kill your truck. Just dont have them put the pallet at the end of the bed and call it a day- get them to push it all the way up to the front of your bed, next to your cab, and that will help put some of the lbs. on your front suspension. If they cant push the pallet, get up in there and redistribute several rolls to the very front of the bed. Drive slow, keep plenty of distance between you and the car ahead, and don't expect to be able to take sharp corners with any speed. You will be fine.

And if not, it's not my fault!!:devil:
 
#11 ·
I think it would be MUCH easier to rent or borrow a trailer and carry the sod on it.

Imagine if you overload your truck and hit somebody because you can't stop ?

Is it worth the risk ?

I think not.
 
#12 ·
I would say do it.

I have 54 bags of 80lbs concrete mix and had no issues driving about 8 miles with it.

Just be extra carefull and be done with it.

Image
 
#14 ·
I carried just over 2000 lbs of decorative rock once in my truck. Going and stopping was fine, handling you could really feel the weight. The rear was on the bumpstops the whole time. I think you'll be fine if it's a once in a while thing. Try to get the load as close to the front as possible, and make sure you air up your tires beforehand.
 
#16 ·
If you do it please take before and after pictures and post them for us to see.
 
#18 ·
See if you can get some AAL's put on. Dont know how much more payload they actually give but even if its a 100# its better than nothing. Im pretty sure you can get short or long leafs were the short will give you more of an increased payload than the long. Summit Racing.com has Skyjacker softride long leafs, doesnt specify the increase though. Plus you get an additional inch lift in the arse of the truck. Or do two pallets, thats a nice pick up you have there, if something did happen youll wish you spent the dough on gas for two trips. Goodluck and let us know what you decide and how it turned out, hey take some pics if you can too.
 
#20 ·
I will put 27, 70 pound bails of hay in my truck today. Do it all the time.
 
#23 ·
My truck can take about 1800 pounds and be off the bump stops (but barely)
Same here... I get a yearly load of compost for my garden and flower beds. They weigh my truck before and after... Always a little over 1,800lbs. @1,800lbs my DC still isn't on the bump stops... now at 2klbs+ it never leaves the bump stops.

The truck rides better with 2klbs of compost than with 1,800lbs or less, as with less the truck will "joust" off the bump stops on dips/bumps.

On a side note.... I've hauled sod quite a few times for my own back yard projects... But never in the bed of my truck. Have you seen the guys that load the sod in there! No way am I going to let them straddle my truck and slide/scrap the bed while trying to push it forward.

I've always rented the small utility trailer from U-Haul for those kinds of jobs (and put 2 pallets of sod in them!).:tu:
 
#26 ·
And I stopped at 20 80lb bags of concrete yesterday, thought I was pushing it at that weight