I own a remodeling company and would like to start using my 95 f150 with offroad package for hauling materials. I'm used to using a dodge ram 2500 where I could pretty much load whatever I want into the bed. What do you guys think the weight limit would be on the f150? Towing too?

 

My suggestion would be to get some heavier springs in the back and then go ahead and load her up. Not sure if the offroad package means it already has beefier springs but I know on mine the springs are absolute junk after 20 years.

 

The springs seem ok. But it not just the springs that will be effected by a heavy load in the bed.

 

i used my f150 alot for towing trailers up to 6000 lbs, it did fine unless there were some good hills. im not sure on the exact weight, but id haul roughly 3/4 of firewood in the bed and it handled the weight pretty well, but now that i got the 250 i dont know how i got by with the 150, so you will probably feel the same way once you start using your 150.

but upgrading the rear springs to f250 springs or having overloads/air bags will help.

what we really need to know is what your truck is exactly, long bed, short bed, extended cab, normal cab, manual, auto, 4.9l, 5.0, 5.8l, what gears does it have in the rear end, and does it have a hitch installed thats bolted to the frame, or just the bumper?

 

I build haunted houses. This year my location was 60 miles from my storage and I had to rely on my truck and rental trailers. I ran 6 loads of walls. ( 4x8 3/4" mds(?) with 2x4 frames ). 6 in the bed and 15 in a u haul, plus any extra material I could fit in any space including the cab. The old springs sat low but I had no problem driving in 100* LA stop and go traffic and a good long grade all month long. Getting ready to start the return trips this weekend. I plan to add some helper springs and eventually upgrade to 250 springs. I have a supercab long bed 5.0 AOD with 4.10 gears and 250 front coils

 

The truck has the 5.0 and the hitch is bolted to the frame not the bumper. I have no idea which gears are in the truck.

 

look on the door jamb for the axle code, here is a list with the codes and what gears it has.
12 - 2.73 non-limited slip (f150)
19 — 3.55 non-limited slip (Econoline, F-150)
18 — 3.08 non-limited slip (F-150)
17 — 3.31 non-limited slip (Econoline)
H8 - 3.08 limited slip (f150)
H9 — 3.55 limited slip (F-150, F-250)
B6 — 3.73 limited slip (F-150, F-250)
24 — 3.73 (Econoline)
32 — 4.10 (Econoline)
35 — 4.09 (Econoline)
34 — 3.73 (Econoline)
39 — 3.55 (Econoline)
52 — 4.10 (Econoline)
56 — 4.10 (Econoline)
81 — 4.63 (Econoline)
27 — 3.31 non-limited slip (F-250)
26 — 3.73 non-limited slip (F-250)
41 — 3.27 non-limited slip (Explorer/Mountaineer)
45 — 3.55 non-limited slip (Explorer/Mountaineer)
46 — 3.73 non-limited slip (Explorer/Mountaineer)
42 — 4.10 non-limited slip (Explorer/Mountaineer)
D1 — 3.27 limited slip (Explorer/Mountaineer)
D4 — 3.73 limited slip (Explorer/Mountaineer)
D2 — 4.10 limited slip (Explorer/Mountaineer)
84 — 3.45 non-limited slip (Ranger)
86 — 3.73 non-limited slip (Ranger)
87 — 4.10 non-limited slip (Ranger)
89 — 4.56 non-limited slip (Ranger)
F6 — 3.73 limited slip (Ranger)
F7 — 4.10 limited slip (Ranger)
92 — 3.08 non-limited slip (Ranger)
R5 — 3.55 limited slip (Ranger)
91 — 3.27 non-limited slip (Ranger)
96 — 3.73 non-limited slip (Ranger)
R6 — 3.73 limited slip (Ranger)"

f250
35 = 4.10 ratio open axle
C5 = 4.10 ratio limited slip

39 = 3.55 ratio open axle
C9 = 3.55 ratio limited slip

the truck should be fine with towing/hauling what you need aslong as its under 6000#, any bigger and you will start to feel it quite a bit and it may become a little unsafe.

 

I think the bed is a regular size.

 

you can post a picture if you want.

 

I'm using my F-150 on the job every day for carpentry. Given the overall i don't load it heavy. ie: 12 - 5/4 x 6 x 16 cedar decking planks was about all i wanted to load this afternoon along with the weight of a full fuel tank & tools.

I definately wouldn't use it for hauling demolition debris. Better to use a trailer instead.

Don't like to stock the job with very much material anyways. There's always the chance of theft and the materials pile always seems to be under foot.

Have you thought about having materials delivered to the jobsite so you don't have to waste time hauling em ?

Similar thing with larger amounts of demo. It's more time efficient to have a dumpster delivered to the job and the customer eventually pays for it anyway.

ETA: Figure a safe working load of 750 - 1000 lbs w/ an F-150. Unless the frame is in pristine condition I'd cut the safe towing weight to under 2000 lbs. There's a good chance that the frame is rust compromised where the factory tow bar bolts up in the back.