half ton, full ton

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Aug 30, 2004 | 06:45 PM

thetomster

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half ton, full ton

This might be a stupid question but I am wondering what the half-ton, 3/4 ton, and full ton actually weigh. I believe it is the frame weight but get a lot of arguments. Please reply back with an answer. Thanks Tom

Aug 30, 2004 | 07:19 PM

andym

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From: Bonita Springs FL

It has nothing to do with actual weight. Well, anymore. Now it's basically used as an indicator of strength. A one tun truck is stronger than a 3/4 ton, which is stronger than a half ton.

Aug 30, 2004 | 07:52 PM

fellro86

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From: Marengo, Iowa

The initial designation, at least by marketing, supposedly was the weight of the chassis, sans body and extras. The heavier the chassis, the stronger it was supposed to be.

Aug 30, 2004 | 08:05 PM

cpe41

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Hmmm... Interesting. I had been told many, many years ago that it was originally an indicator of load capacity. This is the first I've ever heard of the "frame weight" thing.

Aug 30, 2004 | 08:24 PM

CowboyBilly9Mile

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Payload (load capacity) = GVWR minus curb weight.

Aug 30, 2004 | 09:09 PM

fellro86

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At least that was my understanding, that was the reasoning for swiss cheezing the frames, but it is possible I was mislead, you know how that goes.

Aug 30, 2004 | 09:40 PM

johnsdiesel

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From: Denton,TX

Quote:

Originally Posted by cpe41

Hmmm... Interesting. I had been told many, many years ago that it was originally an indicator of load capacity. This is the first I've ever heard of the "frame weight" thing.

You're correct, it never had anything to do with truck weight. It had to do with payload. The same designations are still used except the standards for 1/2 ton payload, for example, have gone up quite a bit. If it had to do with truck weight the payload would be almost zero. A 1000 lb truck would probably max out with passengers in that scenario.

Anyway..........

You are right, it has to do with payload, not truck weight.

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Aug 31, 2004 | 03:41 PM

dhermesc

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From: Near Wamego KS

To me a 1/2 ton is a pickup, a 1 ton is a truck.

Sep 1, 2004 | 10:32 AM

#10

77fordguy

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1/2 ton - you can put 1000 lbs. in the bed
3/4 ton - you can put 1500 lbs. in the bed
1 ton - you can put 2000 lbs. in the bed

etc...

Sep 1, 2004 | 10:39 AM

#11

biggieou

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From: Ravenna/Athens

Quote:

Originally Posted by 77fordguy

1/2 ton - you can put 1000 lbs. in the bed
3/4 ton - you can put 1500 lbs. in the bed
1 ton - you can put 2000 lbs. in the bed

etc...

Thats not true either. Ive seen 1/2tons easily pull/handle 2000, its the stopping thats an experience in itself. I just hauled 2 grand worth of scrap metal in my 78 150. It actually pulled and accelerated better under the load. But like has been said earlier, I think that 1/2 tons are lighter duty pickups, 3/4 tons are inbetween and 1 tons are your big boys. The suspensions beef up, but the only real thing I wish my 1/2 ton had that it doesnt are BIGGER brakes, LOL.

Sep 1, 2004 | 11:14 AM

#12

johnsdiesel

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From: Denton,TX

Quote:

Originally Posted by 77fordguy

1/2 ton - you can put 1000 lbs. in the bed
3/4 ton - you can put 1500 lbs. in the bed
1 ton - you can put 2000 lbs. in the bed

etc...

That's what it meant in the "old days," but the classifications have been kept around while the payloads have drastically increased. The new F150 can haul more than 1 ton in the right configuration.