What is the difference between a reg 3/4 ton and a Heavy one.

 

Load capacity, as expressed in the truck's GVW. We always considered 8600 GVW to be heavy 3/4 ton.

 

What was the difference for the gvw? wasn't it the tire ratings?

 

Is there any way to tell by looking a it. I heard if the rear hubs stick out than it is but i don't know if that's a bunch of hog wash.

 

The light duty vs heavy duty F-250 ONLY APPLIES TO 80+ trucks. Basically, the light duty F-250 will typically have a lower GVWR and semi-floating rear axle. When Ford switched the the Super Duty body style in 99, the light duty F-250's kept the F-150 body style. Then, everyone starting getting confused, so they called them heavy duty F-150's instead. GM offered light duty 2500's too. But, then....just like Ford, they started calling them 1500HD's instead.

 

Though there was no official designation of heavy 3/4 or light 3/4 ton trucks back in the 70s, I can remember that we used those terms at the time, kind of like slang terms I guess. I had a 78 F250, 7800 GVWR that we refered to as light 3/4. I may be a forgetfull old fart, but I can still remember that.

 

for the 78s my ford book shows 4 gvws [6200/6900/7700/7900lbs] for a f250 reg cab 2wd and yes there is minor differnces between over or under 6900 gvw
over 2 piston front brakes 6900 and under single piston
over bigger rear brakes/drums under smaller
different draglink/front spindles/king pins/spring ratings
the ford book shows about 30 ratings for f150/250/350 reg/sc 2 wd/4wd

 

my 78 f-250 has a gvw of 8100 lbs. factory dana 60's 400 ( now 460 ) 4spd married 205.

 

The rear hub sticking out thing may be a decent indication ya. It probably doesn't apply to all trucks with the heavy duty designation, as it is probably a factor of what axle the truck has in it, but I had an 84 F250 Heavy Duty, the one pictured on my little name tag thing actually, and it had the rear hubs that jutted way out like front ones. I loved that look.
AleX

 

I have never seen a 73-79 F-250 without a full floating rear axle, as far as I know such an animal does not exist.

 

x2 This discussion is irrelevant for 73-79 trucks.