How much weight can a 2008 Chevy Silverado 1500 hold in bed

My wife and I are needing about 5cuyds + of compost mix for the raised gardens, I am trying to figure out what the weight limit of my truck is for hauling it. I am assumming its between 1700-1900 pounds?

I researched the mix and it will weigh 300 pounds dry and 500 pounds wet, so I am wanting to stay on the safe side and not over load it, I know I will be making 2 trips, possibly more, but want to get as much as I can per load since its a fairly nice drive to get it.

I have a 2000 Silverado 1500 reg.cab 4.8L V-8....

Instead of the weight limit, the capacity will limit you more. In my 09 short bed I can only fit about 1.5 yards of mulch. A few months ago I had make a trip every saturday getting mulch, topsoil, and bed mix for almost 2 months. Also depends where you buy from. Different places will give you more or less dirt. Your best bet for time and money would be to rent a trailer, load up the bed and the trailer so you dont have to make more than 1 trip. Wish I would have done the same.

Thank you, forgot to mention I have the long bed.
I was debating making some stake sides ( I have the materials free at home) it would double the height of my load if it can handle it? A friend has a small trailer but its flat with low sides so its not really practical unless I put a larger tarp on it and more or less wrap it up before hauling?

I basically just need to know how many pounds the bed can hold so I dont blow out a spring or break the axle.

average half ton is around 1800 lbs. You don't have an owners manual? it should tell you the capacities for it. Tarping the load wouldnt be a terrible idea. Put a tarp under and another over and you shouldnt have problems. two years ago before I got my truck my I used my buddies 99 5.3 6.5 ft bed to haul mulch. With only 2 yards it was sitting really low but his bump stops were worn away.

With the long bed, 2 yards of mulch will fill right to the brim (I just did this two days ago). With the 1500, I'd not do more than that- weight-wise you'll be at about 1/2 to 3/4 of a ton depending on how wet it is. I'd make trips from there, 2 yards at a time.

If you were drivig a 2500 or 3500, then yeah- you could make sure of the stake pockets and do 3 or 4 yards.

Monkey Wrench said:

My wife and I are needing about 5cuyds + of compost mix for the raised gardens, I am trying to figure out what the weight limit of my truck is for hauling it. I am assumming its between 1700-1900 pounds?

I researched the mix and it will weigh 300 pounds dry and 500 pounds wet, so I am wanting to stay on the safe side and not over load it, I know I will be making 2 trips, possibly more, but want to get as much as I can per load since its a fairly nice drive to get it.

I have a 2000 Silverado 1500 reg.cab 4.8L V-8....

What's the consistency of that compost? Where I live, one yard of black dirt weighs in at 2000 lbs; if the dirt is wet, it's closer to 2500 lbs.

I had the same question few weeks ago. We called our base Vehicle Maintenance and asked what the limit on the beds are and he said 1500. I wouldn't go past that just to be safe. I'd rather make multiple trips than risking on breaking something. JMO.

Although, personal experience tells me the limits are extremely conservative

Yeah, I had a Ram 1500... it was a monster 4x4 and I loaded it with sand/gravel before...way more than the max. weight limit, bump stops were gone on it and it was nerve racking to drive...lol

This truck is in good shape, just not as heavy duty so I dont want to push my luck. The compost is a mix of mulch, soil, compost.. it called Raised Garden Mix, and the only place that sells it is about a 45 minute drive from here on the highway. It rained so I dont know yet if it is covered or out in the open as Ive never been to this place yet, I know some places keep it in a barn/carport like structure. Well, I will know in the next few days when I go to get it.

The long beds are heavier trucks. Depending on the cab configuration (single/ext) the payload can be as low as 1300lbs like my truck.

Payload capacity is printed wright inside the driver's door jamb. Mulch weighs 500-800 lbs/yard, depending on how wet it is.

researching the weight of items, this mix can be 300# dry per cuyd, 500# wet... so should be able to do 2 cuyds at a time.

Depending on the source you look at and whether it is 2wd or 4wd, your payload is anywhere from 1800-2300lbs. Remember, you and anything in the truck counts as payload.

Well, The raised garden mix is more soil than it shows on the website, but it is somewhat dry and kept under a covered bin, so I got a full 2 cuyds. Unloading one tonight once my wife gets the beds built and getting 2 more loads tomorrow, kids are gonna love me...hahahahaaaa
Good thing is, I will back right to the boxes to fill, no wheel burrowing back and forth.

I wasnt bottoming out so guess I could have gotten another yard?

What would you think... I had 2 cuyds on that load, I need 3 cuyds more, which would be a 2 yard and a 1 yard trip... should I chance hauling 3 and be done?

NO... you are already overload with 2 yards!!!

I was thinking it wouldnt hold 3.... so 2 trips for me tomorrow and about 4 hours time with unloading and trip...whew
Might as well get 4cuyds total so I got a little extra for the flower beds, make the trip worthwhile.

I realize it is a 45 minutes drive, but I wold err on the side of caution, and only get a load a few inches short of the bed top. You have to take into account more than just what you will be able to carry weight wise. What about being able to stop in an emergency? Think about the load you're carrying and what it would do in an emergency braking situation? What condition are your tires in? If they're fairly new, then go ahead. If not, I would very reluctant to get too much given the 45 minute distance...

I have been in your shoes before both with top soil, garden soil mix, and plain mulch. My biggest issue I have to deal with now if what to do with the FLEER topper I have on my truck while I go get the mulch? I know others have rigged pully systems in their garages to pull it off and hang, but with the way my garage is situated, I don't think I can... time will tell. I know I will need every bit of 4-5 pickup beds of mulch for my flower beds. If I am able to get the raised beds built like I want this spring, I will need 2-3 beds of garden soil... it always something!

Sure hope OP figured everything out in the four years since he posted. :mrgreen:

Yep all done, been a crazy 4 years too !!! Since all this happened I sold the house, in the midst of a divorce and went totally deaf. Had Bi-Lateral Cochlear surgery so with that combined with my spinal fusions I am about 50% Ci-Borged , only worth a half million, not completely bionic jus yet lol