12k axle up front how heavy of a loader can I put behind the cab?

[Sfoppema]

I recently acquired an International 10 wheeler with a 20' dump body. Small 10 wheeler. Two 20k axles in the back and a 12k up front. It used to have a small knuckle boom behind cab, and presently there is a toolbox there. Approximately 42" of space in between cab and dump. I am trying to decide what to do with the truck.

Can I put a log loader in between cab and dump and still be legal going down the road? Looking at one that apparently weighs 7500 pounds. Just not sure how that is calculated/how to figure out exactly how much the loader could weigh.

Pretty ignorant on the subject. Any thoughts?


Thanks!

 

[Reach]

The easy way to approximate your additional axle weight would be to weigh the front axle empty, and add half the weight of the loader. That will get you fairly close.

If you need a more exact number, measure the distance from the center of the rear axle set to the center of the front axle, and from the center of the loader location to the center of the front axle, and divide the second number by the first. Take that number and multiply it by the weight of the loader. That should give you a more accurate weight to add to the empty front axle weight.

My thought though is that a 12k front axle is very light for a truck with a loader on, it seems that it will be hard to keep that truck from being overloaded every time you put something in it. Can you change out the axle and put on a 20k instead?

 

[Treetopflyer]

Mini platform?

 

[Sfoppema]

Mini platform?

Already have one with a mini platform... There is enough room for one, but loader might be nice to have..... Might just leave it as is, but considering my options..

 

[Sfoppema]

The easy way to approximate your additional axle weight would be to weigh the front axle empty, and add half the weight of the loader. That will get you fairly close.

If you need a more exact number, measure the distance from the center of the rear axle set to the center of the front axle, and from the center of the loader location to the center of the front axle, and divide the second number by the first. Take that number and multiply it by the weight of the loader. That should give you a more accurate weight to add to the empty front axle weight.

My thought though is that a 12k front axle is very light for a truck with a loader on, it seems that it will be hard to keep that truck from being overloaded every time you put something in it. Can you change out the axle and put on a 20k instead?

I'd like to make use of it without spending tons of money that I can't recoup. Been down that road before. Just considering my options before I make a move with it. Might even sell it.. Not convinced I even need it. Just popped up for a great deal and I snagged it. I'm a FB marketplace addict....

 

[oceans]

Try reaching out to DC Bates and ask for Ed Cucci. He should be able to provide a rough idea. He may even have a lead on the right boom for you.

 

[Lumberjack]

The easy way to approximate your additional axle weight would be to weigh the front axle empty, and add half the weight of the loader. That will get you fairly close.

If you need a more exact number, measure the distance from the center of the rear axle set to the center of the front axle, and from the center of the loader location to the center of the front axle, and divide the second number by the first. Take that number and multiply it by the weight of the loader. That should give you a more accurate weight to add to the empty front axle weight.

My thought though is that a 12k front axle is very light for a truck with a loader on, it seems that it will be hard to keep that truck from being overloaded every time you put something in it. Can you change out the axle and put on a 20k instead?

This, except the loader's center of gravity will be aft of the pedestal, how much depends on the loader, how much the grapple weighs, and where you stow the grapple (farther back the better for reducing front axle weights).

20-24" is the offset from the loader's center of rotation I'd use for my napkin calculations.

 

[oceans]

All true, but you also need to know what the truck frame can handle. A good outfitter will want to know the characteristics of the steel, whether is a double or single, how much the rest of the truck, subframe and body weighs, Etc... When I dove into building a truck, I quickly found out just how much goes into specifying a boom.

 

[VenasNursery]

All true, but you also need to know what the truck frame can handle. A good outfitter will want to know the characteristics of the steel, whether is a double or single, how much the rest of the truck, subframe and body weighs, Etc... When I dove into building a truck, I quickly found out just how much goes into specifying a boom.

We had a International 4900 and had a tandem axle installed
It was a double frame truck from the factory and our up fitter put another frame on top of that
Seemed like a overkill but never had any issues with it
The up fitter was actually a Tow truck shop and boy did they know how to build a truck for a load

 

[Gus_B]

Based on your description it sounds like your truck is 52,000 GVW, not ideal for a big crane mounted back of cab but you can still do a lot with it.
If you are looking at a log-loader that will stow backwards and spread the weight out over the rear axles at a weight of 7,500 lbs you should be OK and still have a legal payload of around 18,000+ lbs depending on how you distribute the load. If you are looking at a 7,500 lb knuckleboom mounted back of cab I'm fairly certain you will overload the front axle when empty.
Depending on what it is you exactly want to do ask the crane dealer to provide two different weight distributions to you. 1 with the wheelbase as the truck currently sits and 1 with the wheelbase optimized to maximize your payload. To shorten the wheelbase on the truck based on the body being already installed.....this mod at a reputable shop will cost you roughly $5,000-$7,000 depending on how bad the rust is on an older truck. If the truck is new and clean it will be considerably less.
Below is an example that I provided to a customer based on a single axle 12K front 33,000 GVW chassis for reference with a 15TM KB and 22 usable steel flat-deck. Before you go mounting stuff get one of these done to be sure.