4 Risks of Driving Your Truck with an Uneven Load

Posted on: 22 June 2016

Many trucks are used as working vehicles, and even those that aren't are commonly called upon to fetch and carry larger items at least a few times each year. Most drivers know not to overload their truck and will take pains not to, but not many of them understand the problems that can come along with loading the bed unevenly.

This simply means that you'll have more weight on one side of the bed than the other. Of course, your load is always going to be a tiny bit heavier on one side, but this becomes a problem when the imbalance increases. Here are just some of the issues that can arise.

1. Reduced Handling

Your truck, like all other vehicles, has been designed to drive with weight distributed evenly across all wheels. If your truck-bed is loaded unevenly, that will mean that either the left-hand or right-hand wheels will be under too much pressure. At the same time, the wheels on the other side will be under too little pressure, and they will therefore lose traction with the ground below. Both of these issues will impair the handling of your vehicle.

2. Worn Parts

Everything from your car's suspension pads to its tires are designed to operate with even loads. Placing additional stress on one side of the vehicle will see these parts placed under more pressure than they were designed to handle. It won't be long before you see your suspension system start to sag permanently and the tires on one side begin to lose their tread.

3. Inferior Efficiency

A vehicle that has been loaded improperly will require more power to go the same distance as it would when loaded properly. This is due to the increase in drag that will occur as a result of too much pressure being placed on one set of wheels.

4. Increased Chances of Tipping

It's rare for a truck to tip over due to an uneven load, but it can happen. Taking a corner or travelling over rocky terrain can easily cause the uneven distribution of weight to become hazardous. Even if you don't tip, the uneven weight will drastically increase your stopping distance and reduce your ability to react to other hazards.

When you're loading up your truck, make sure you distribute weight evenly and then secure your items to make sure they don't move during transit. Driving with an uneven load just isn't worth it.

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