For short trips, you can load the bed until the space above the bump stops (rubber suspension bumpers mounted just over the leaf spring on each side of the axle) is about 1" away from the frame. You don't want to load so much that the bump stops are contacting the frame at rest or the truck will not have any suspension up-travel and the ride and handling suffer terribly.
Also make sure you have enough air in the tires so that the tire sidewalls do not contact the ground. Don't exceed tire maximum air pressure though.
Try to distribute the load towards the front of the truck bed. It lets the front axle help support the load and keeps the truck more balanced. If the load is centered too far back, it will remove weight from the front tires, causing a loss in steering and braking control and over-compression of the rear suspension.
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weight in pickup truck. How do you know when you've got too much in your bed?
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