Gap between bed and cab changes with trailer hooked up.

[RBurr]

Good evening, everyone. I would like some opinions on whether or not this seems like a normal scenario with my truck. I had my 16' dump trailer hooked up to my truck yesterday with some broken up concrete from a sidewalk I removed. It was by no means overly heavy, about 50' of sidewalk. I've had the trailer loaded heavy enough that I get a message stating something along the lines of the suspension can no longer adjust due to payload. This morning, I noticed it looked like the bed/cab gap had "opened" towards the top of bed, and the bed looked uneven compared to the cab as if the frame was bent. After unhooking the trailer it looks fine now. I've never noticed this before, and I'm wondering if this is a normal occurrence or if it's something I should have checked out.

 

[Scram1500]

You were definitely at or above max capacity to receive that message but the frame is allowed to flex, normal for pick up trucks. Check out this old Ford commercial, skip to 1:40 and note the flex between the cab and the bed. Modern trucks are considerably more rigid but still flex

 

[Yzcr87]

Many variables here with concrete but, a safe guesstimate for a 4" thick slab is ~50lbs per cubic foot. Assuming a 4' wide sidewalk thats 50' long, thats 10k of concrete plus the weight of the trailer itself which would be 3-5k. You're overloaded by a good margin & by the looks of the pictures & factoring that dump trailers generally have their axles further to the rear of the trailer, you are very heavy on the tongue weight too. Have the frame checked, if its ok be very thankful & if you plan on doing work like this in the future, approximate this load size in half being mindful of the tingue weight and make more trips instead of one big one. If this trailer is going to be hooked to this truck for concrete, dirt, roofing work on the regular, step up to a 3/4 ton. Concrete dirt & roofing can be deceptively heavy.

 

[LITTLEREBEL]

My truck does the same when I pull my camper that's tongue heavy, but its within the towing weight range.

 

[RBurr]

You were definitely at or above max capacity to receive that message but the frame is allowed to flex, normal for pick up trucks. Check out this old Ford commercial, skip to 1:40 and note the flex between the cab and the bed. Modern trucks are considerably more rigid but still flex

I didn't get a suspension message this time. I have in the past, once while hauling pallets of pavers, and then another time while hauling a bunch of plaster/lath. It did go back to normal after unhooking the trailer, but it was a little concerning/alarming.

 

[Biga]

Defiantly to much weight and putting to much leverage on the frame even though it is made to flex some. You don't want to be this guy.