Spring Suspension Tandem Dump Truck Ride

I found a company called Donvel. They do a steering axle air bag which is supposed to help absorb a lot of shock. I noticed an improvement when I replaced my front shocks so maybe a front airbag would help. If I keep my truck I might give this a try. Most of their kits are about $1875.

 

Does anyone know how to figure your front axle gross weight? My door sticker says GAWR Front 12000 GAWR first Intermediate 19,000. Does this mean I need to upgrade my front axle to be able to run a drop axle and max out weights?

 

My double frame is from the back and ends under my cab. So I suppose that could be an issue. I have to take some measurements. The other issue is my door sticker says my GVWR is 50,000.

I’m trying to learn more about GVWR and looking at quad dumps truck for sale. It confuses me because I’m seeing 6 axle dump trucks with GVWR of 68,000. Why would you want so many axles if you can only gross 68,000? Does anyone know if you can exceed this GVWR weight?

I think my ideal truck set up would be something that can haul 26 tons. I have a tractor trailer truck too (in addition to my tandem) but most of my deliveries are residential and can’t fit in a tractor trailer. So I’m guessing I need a quad or quint with an 80,000+ GVWR.

 

In Colorado I see you can get an over wieght permit to run 110K on a 6 or 7 axle dump truck. However, you cannot not exceed 20K per axle. But the max GVRW that I see on any super dumps is 80-90K. 90K is on the supers with the drop bar axle on the rear.

Then when I'm at the quarry I'm seeing everyone running 97,000 on a 3 axle tractor with a 2 axle dump trailer. They have to be exceeding the GVWR. Our local quarry are sticklers and won't let you leave if your over weight and you have to give them a copy of any over weight permits.

 

I went to my local DOT port and found out that in Colorado you can get a permit to run 110k on a quad axle dump truck. It has to be a quad and can’t be more or less axles. I guess state a federal bridge formula doesn’t matter with the permit.

I’ve been looking at buying a different truck but some of these quads are selling for crazy prices. I saw a quad w900 similar to mine that sold for $110,000.

Then I found a nice Pete 359 quad listed for 60k. But it has a single frame and he said he only runs at 62,500 gross in his. It’s a tractor he converted to a dump truck.

I have a long wheel base in my current truck with room to add 2 steerable tags axles. Wonder how hard it would be to convert my truck to a quad. I already have a double frame and that Hendricks spring is rough but solid. Besides having some blow by, my truck is in better shape than most of what’s for sale. Get a smaller fuel tank to mount under my door, move my hydraulic tank and add 2 axles. Get higher rated steers tires. Maybe extend my bed height. I might need to upgrade my steer axle to a 20k. But could probably do all that for less than 25k. I would only need to gross about 79k. With 5 axles (including the steer) I might not even need to upgrade my steer axle but not positive.