GEN 2 Math behind overlanding: Exceed truck weight limit?

Im currently planning the build for my raptor to be overland capable and have been closely following the different build threads here.
I’m wondering how people think about the loads they are putting onto their Icons/Deavers and beds/racks. From my understanding, the icons in option 3 are allowing up to 850lbs constant weight. However, when making a simple list of gear needed for overlanding, these things far exceed that limit...


- Roof rack system 82lbs
- Storage containers 36lbs (cap 2x 65lbs)
- additional bar kit 6lbs
- Tire track system 16lbs
- Gasoline pack 5lbs plus 3 gal
- Water pack 2x 2 gal 8lbs
- Shower kit 21lbs, plus 4 gal
- tent 162 lbs, loaded weight max 750lbs
- Tent annex, 40lbs
- Tent awning 30lbs
- Solar lamp 18lbs
- Solar generator 45lbs
- Fridge Freezer, 54lbs, + 63qt load
- Decked system 200lbs, plus max 400lbs load

This is just a base list of stuff but it gets me to ~700lbs empty weight and another extra at least 750lbs if everything is fully loaded and people/dog in tent... Even without people in tent, one would exceed on-road and off-road Dynamic weight limits of racks and suspension.

is everyone just happily ignoring the load limits, or is this just less of a concern? I’m unsure what to think here. What’s the impact on the longevity of the truck carrying around this kind of a load? What am I missing?

Patrick

I think the Deaver and or Icon weight terms simply mean the truck will not sag at all with that amount of weight, it's not a weight limit. I'm sure more informed folks will chime in though.

"+0.50" lift height over stock w/ 850lb constant load"

The way I'm reading this, it's not a limit, just a sag vs. no sag.

https://www.iconvehicledynamics.com...p-raptor-multi-rate-leaf-pack-w--add-in-leaf/

Pat86B said:

Im currently planning the build for my raptor to be overland capable and have been closely following the different build threads here.
I’m wondering how people think about the loads they are putting onto their Icons/Deavers and beds/racks. From my understanding, the icons in option 3 are allowing up to 850lbs constant weight. However, when making a simple list of gear needed for overlanding, these things far exceed that limit...

Click to expand...

The load limit for the vehicle is 1200 pounds, excluding the driver, but including the other passengers. I did a five night trip this week with one other guy, twelve gallons of water, two coolers, cots, tents, shovel, jack, food, beer, packs, chairs, folding table, mini grill, cooking stuff, etc. I'm guessing maybe 800lb not counting me. I had 400lb of that in the cab, and the rear of the truck still sank two inches on the stock springs. I'd like to take a third guy and go for a week, so I'd be right at the load limit. I don't think the stock springs will handle it. I'm also trying to figure out what I need to do, so I'll be watching this thread.

Why are you taking 3 gallons of gasoline? You've got a 36 gallon tank. That's a drop in the bucket. Is 3 gallons of propane what you meant? You need a lot more water. Which is heavy. I notice that you've got a lot of heavy gear listed. That's great, but you've got to compromise somewhere. If you want to drive the Raptor, you need to lighten up. If you want to go in the lap of luxury with all that bling, you should probably be thinking 3/4 ton ... I'd personally give up the rooftop tent and the decked system right off the bat. At 60+, the idea of going up and down a ladder three or four times per night gives me gas. A cot is sweet. Swing your legs out, stand up, and let fly. I've got a tent big enough to hold the cot for when it rains and it only weighs ten or fifteen pounds. A lightweight rack to hold a pressurized shower and anchor one end of an awning is probably worth the weight.

Another option is to tow an off-road trailer. The Morris Mule is well-regarded in the middle of the price range. Some of them get really fancy and expensive, while military surplus trailers are the budget-friendly alternative that's basically a bucket with wheels.

GordoJay said:

The load limit for the vehicle is 1200 pounds, excluding the driver, but including the other passengers. I did a five night trip this week with one other guy, twelve gallons of water, two coolers, cots, tents, shovel, jack, food, beer, packs, chairs, folding table, mini grill, cooking stuff, etc. I'm guessing maybe 800lb not counting me. I had 400lb of that in the cab, and the rear of the truck still sank two inches on the stock springs. I'd like to take a third guy and go for a week, so I'd be right at the load limit. I don't think the stock springs will handle it. I'm also trying to figure out what I need to do, so I'll be watching this thread.

Why are you taking 3 gallons of gasoline? You've got a 36 gallon tank. That's a drop in the bucket. Is 3 gallons of propane what you meant? You need a lot more water. Which is heavy. I notice that you've got a lot of heavy gear listed. That's great, but you've got to compromise somewhere. If you want to drive the Raptor, you need to lighten up. If you want to go in the lap of luxury with all that bling, you should probably be thinking 3/4 ton ... I'd personally give up the rooftop tent and the decked system right off the bat. At 60+, the idea of going up and down a ladder three or four times per night gives me gas. A cot is sweet. Swing your legs out, stand up, and let fly. I've got a tent big enough to hold the cot for when it rains and it only weighs ten or fifteen pounds. A lightweight rack to hold a pressurized shower and anchor one end of an awning is probably worth the weight.

Another option is to tow an off-road trailer. The Morris Mule is well-regarded in the middle of the price range. Some of them get really fancy and expensive, while military surplus trailers are the budget-friendly alternative that's basically a bucket with wheels.

Click to expand...

Lots of good feedback here... even more questions now! I think the most important is: Do the deavers/icons increase the load limit (officially/unofficially)?

I also would not want to sacrifice the raptors true character just to have more luxury. The list above was only an example, but not far off from other builds here.

Would also love if some of the Raptor and Overlanding veterans could chip in here...

I plan on doing this with mine as well! The way I read this is that @850lbs in the bed you're 0.5" over stock height therefore you have full suspension travel. Sooo yes it increases capacity? I know the baja guys run similar weights with all their stuff and they do just fine. Now one thing I've seen some run into issues with is the racks mounted on the bedsides. Granted they were beating the **** out of there trucks in the desert but at a lower weight the bedsides were bending or shifting the entire bed.

Also I think a decent rule for water is 2 gallons per person per day if you don't have a water source you can tap where you are at with like a water filter and boiling. So like 2 people for 5 days with no water source should have 20 gallons which is about 167lbs in water alone not counting what's holding it.

I dont RTT. I dont Overland. I dont have an "adventure rack" on my truck.

When The overlanding guys show up with all that gear, The desert truck guys ( like me ) show up with their truck and a case of beer in the cooler.

Jokes aside, i run Deaver +3HDs and 4.0 Shocks.

I take baja trips with approx 900 lbs strapped in the back. I bring all of the tools, spare, etc etc that will be needed to keep a dozen or more trucks going across 750-1500 miles in the course of a week.

I beat the living hell out of my rig.

The decked system is a waste for Overlanding. Want to use it to dump all of your guns and ammo in for range days? cool. It isn't water or dust-proof. its also 200 lbs that you dont need.

I also don't really get the portable shower thing, but that's me. I just bring some sani wipes and take a hoe-bath if I stink.

Also, why do you need a solar lamp and a gennie?

If you take a look at leitner rack, you'll find that they have higher load options. It might be good to chat with a rack manufacturer to throw your questions at them. Most of them will customize a rack to suit.

Overlanding has gotten to be a big business these days, everyone wants to sell you their latest and greatest. People are throwing insane amount of weight on their rigs. Go out there with the basics and go from there. I agree with zombie about the deck system, they suck. All those drawer type systems do is restrict how you will use that space. . If you are worried about weight get some deavers hd leafs with bumps, all will be right with the world

Kashoggio said:

... Go out there with the basics and go from there...

Click to expand...

This is great advice. It's like offroading, take your rig out stock and see where it comes up short before spending big bucks on upgrades you may not need, want, or ever use. If I think back to the eighties, when I started overlanding, except then we called it car camping, I had a dialed system for western deserts and mountains. In 1987 I lived voluntarily in my truck for six months, May through October. A stock 1985 Toyota mini-PU with a 7' bed and 4" over height cap. 24" wide bunk built over one wheel well out of 2x2s and plywood, leaving a 24" space on the bed floor for another sleeper. 2x3"x7' foam mattresses. Single burner white gas backpacking stove. Jack, shovel, come-alongs, and cable. Ice cooled cooler. Folding camp chairs. And that's about it.

Today, only a few things have changed for me. Some things, like solar showers, came and went because the trouble/benefit was too high. I agree with zombiekiller. Sponge baths work just fine. They're quicker, easier, less messy, use almost no water, can be done anywhere, etc. After about four days I use the tee shirt I've been wearing as a washcloth and then put on a clean one. But I camp with one guy who would go into withdrawal if he didn't have his shower every day, so YMMV. When I take my wife, a shower is mandatory and I take the $20 kind you hang from a tree or throw on the roof of the cab. Today, I've changed out the bunk in the bed for a cot, swapped the cap for a huge $70 tent from Costco that holds my cot for when it rains or is buggy, added a little Weber portable gas grill, switched a two-burner propane stove, and added a folding table to supplement the tailgate. That's really about it. One thing I would like to add is an awning, but I haven't figured out a quick, easy, no-hassle, wind-resistant way to do that yet. A decent $50 cooler will keep ice for a week if you wrap it in your sleeping bag during the day and leave it in the shade, so a fridge really isn't really needed unless you'll be out for longer than that. It's also quite possible to survive for a few days on canned food, pasta, and warm beer ... but if you've still got beer after a week, you're doing it wrong. Generators, solar power, lights? I get up when it gets light and go to bed when it gets dark. Summer, that's plenty of uptime and barely enough sleep. Winter? I go to Arizona and rent a place.

All that said, my system is set up for the West. Not much rain, few bugs, lots of public land for camping on. And I go to hike, not to hang out in camp all day. Amenities that I think are just fine for a few hours morning and evening would come up short if I spent all day in camp. You have to figure out what works for you. What works for someone else or what looks good on paper has a way of either not working out or of being a waste of time, money, and effort. Now, if you're just looking for a build project to obsess over, then go for it. That can be fun, too.

zombiekiller said:

I dont RTT. I dont Overland. I dont have an "adventure rack" on my truck.

When The overlanding guys show up with all that gear, The desert truck guys ( like me ) show up with their truck and a case of beer in the cooler.

Jokes aside, i run Deaver +3HDs and 4.0 Shocks.

I take baja trips with approx 900 lbs strapped in the back. I bring all of the tools, spare, etc etc that will be needed to keep a dozen or more trucks going across 750-1500 miles in the course of a week.

I beat the living hell out of my rig.

The decked system is a waste for Overlanding. Want to use it to dump all of your guns and ammo in for range days? cool. It isn't water or dust-proof. its also 200 lbs that you dont need.

I also don't really get the portable shower thing, but that's me. I just bring some sani wipes and take a hoe-bath if I stink.

Also, why do you need a solar lamp and a gennie?

If you take a look at leitner rack, you'll find that they have higher load options. It might be good to chat with a rack manufacturer to throw your questions at them. Most of them will customize a rack to suit.

Click to expand...

You admit you don't overland but then say what's good and not good for overlanding?

OP - For what it's worth, I just took some stuff to the junkyard yesterday and my truck weighs 7,140 according to their scales. That included the stock truck, half a tank of gas, myself and two passengers, a James Baroud RTT, OVS 270 awning, Snugtop cap, Decked drawers (with some random stuff in it), a Dometic 75L fridge and slide. Before I got the decked system, I was running all of that on stock springs and it ruined them. I upgraded to the Icon springs and it made a world of difference. I haven't taken a measurement yet but I can tell the truck now has a slight rake to it. I've taken it offroad since I've installed the springs and the drawers and this as all held up wonderfully.

As far as a Decked system for overlanding? I, and my wife, absolutely love it. We previously just had everything stuffed in some rubbermaid totes, which worked fine, but the drawers are WAY better in every way. If you have any questions about it, just let me know. I tried searching so much when I was looking at all this and it was hard to find what I was looking for so I'm happy to help if someone is in the same situation.

adllewis42 said:

You admit you don't overland but then say what's good and not good for overlanding?

OP - For what it's worth, I just took some stuff to the junkyard yesterday and my truck weighs 7,140 according to their scales. That included the stock truck, half a tank of gas, myself and two passengers, a James Baroud RTT, OVS 270 awning, Snugtop cap, Decked drawers (with some random stuff in it), a Dometic 75L fridge and slide. Before I got the decked system, I was running all of that on stock springs and it ruined them. I upgraded to the Icon springs and it made a world of difference. I haven't taken a measurement yet but I can tell the truck now has a slight rake to it. I've taken it offroad since I've installed the springs and the drawers and this as all held up wonderfully.

As far as a Decked system for overlanding? I, and my wife, absolutely love it. We previously just had everything stuffed in some rubbermaid totes, which worked fine, but the drawers are WAY better in every way. If you have any questions about it, just let me know. I tried searching so much when I was looking at all this and it was hard to find what I was looking for so I'm happy to help if someone is in the same situation.

Click to expand...

My idea of "Overlanding" isnt going slow or carrying a house full of supplies with me.

I regularly take 750-1500 mile trips in my raptor and essentially live out of it, except I prefer to stay in a hotel for the night. If I were to be sleeping under the stars, I'd add another 200 Lbs of gear and be completely fine with it.

My point in my commentary is twofold:

1. Deaver leafsprings and upgraded shocks will facilitate being able to carry whatever loadout you want.

2. Don't go overboard on all the fancy crap before you actually use the truck for the purpose.

I can't tell you how many "Overlanding approved" piles of crap that I've tried on my truck and either threw out while on the trip (in town) or tore off the truck and tossed into the scrap pile.

This goes for some of the spendier stuff too. I've watched bed slides, decked setups, SWAG action packer mounts All die very quick deaths in Baja (I've launched an action packer about 80 ft into the air when the swag mount let loose. Some of my stuff is still probably laying around hammertown, or someone has put it to good use by now) and I've seen bed walls crumple with the racks on them.

My offroad trips tend to consist of Mexico and the SW U.S. If you're headed to a different climate and/or prefer to go slow like the jeep crowd, disregard my commentary completely.