I have been trying to find out WHY the F250 is a 3/4 ton and the F350 is a 1 ton and so forth. I have tried dealers, factories and other sources and so far have come up with ZIP. Embarassing when Dodge and GMC and Ford all use basically the SAME. (2500 3500) They sure don't match the weights or carrying capacities. It has been a quest that came up during our Wednesday AM geriatric breakfast and I boldly said I'd find out. Any ideas are most welcome. Thanks, Chuck

 

Its a conspiracy that I believe was started by GM. Ford and Dodge used the 100,200,300 in the begining but GM HAD to be different. Yes the GVWR's are different. I din't believe Dodge ever made a truck or van that had the same payload as a Ford or GM. I believe the big 3 settled on a unified number(150=1500 ect.)but each used there own prefix (Ford F, Dodge B, and GM added the 0 to the end). Thats just my opinion, I could be wrong. Jack

 

The F series started in January of '48 with the introduction of an all new post war truck line. ½ tons were F1, ¾ tons were F2, 1 tons were F3….all the way up to F8 for 3 tons. In '53, the all new F100, F250 and F350 were introduced, replacing the F1, F2 and F3. These series designators have remained the same with a little twist. The F150 was introduced in '74 as a way of getting around the new Federal antipollution equipment required for ½ tons. The F100 series was finally dropped in '84. As far as the payloads, they gradually drifted up over the years to where the series designators don't mean much anymore.

Barry

 

BBB's explanation is pretty much right on. To call a 250 a "3/4 ton" is not even close to correct anymore. The payload of a base 150 is right at a ton. The current 250 and 350 have EXACTLY the same springs, axles, etc. The only thing that gives the 350 a bigger GVWR is the standard equipment tire.

I would point out that Chevy did not do the 1500-2500-3500 thing until very recently. They lifted that from GMC. Chevies used to be C-10, C-20, C-30.