DodgeRamCO42

No such thing as a dumb question, right?

You hear about half-ton and three-quarter ton pickups all the time, but I don't understand exactly what that means.

My truck weighs 7,000 pounds, so that's not what it means. And, it doesn't seem likely it's referring to how much the bed will hold.

So, dumb as it sounds, I really don't know what three-quarter ton pickup m

eans.

Would sure appreciate an explanation.

Thanks a lot.

wannadiesel

It used to mean the payload capacity about 50 years ago. Heck, there are 1/2 tons now with 1,500 lbs of slack between the curb weight and the GVW. Now it just means the lighter heavy duty pickup, if that makes sense.

DodgeRamCO42

Thanks for the answer.

Let me add something to my original question.

What are our third generation trucks considered to be? Three-quarter ton or full ton?

Thanks.

wannadiesel

Well, I was just looking at the latest Dodge brochures, and if you go by payload capacity the Dakota is a 3/4 ton truck. And the standard cab 3500's can be called deuce-and-a-half's. A 2500 is still a 3/4 ton in my book, it's not a 1 ton unless it's got training wheels.

wv smoker

Generally speaking in the last 40+ years that I have been driving pick up trucks, a , 15, 150, 1500, designated a half ton, 25, to 2500 a three quarter, 35-3500, is a ton truck, I've never quite figured it out either, but that's the way it's always been? Used to be a truck with 5 lug wheels was a half ton, 8 lugs were three quarters, all dual wheels were ton trucks, don't think it ever had much to do with the load carrying capability. I first had a 55 Studebaker, can't remember the series, 5 lug wheels, you could load the bed so heavy it would blow the tires off of it.....Oh those were the days when men were men, and women were glad of it.............

Raspy

Until about 1970 the half ton trucks were called 10, or 100. Then they came out with heavy duty half ton models to beat the smog regulations. These were over 6000 GVW, I think, and were called 150 by Ford. Chevy had one called a "Heavy Half" or something like that. Around 1972 there was a period where you had to special order the 100 from Ford. Now, the three Quarter ton rating really has no meaning except that it is stronger than the half ton, and cheaper to insure than the one ton. The one tons can be had with duals. In '93 Dodge put the one ton frame on the 2500 series. The 3/4 ton pickups have, for many years, had eight lug wheels and full floating axles. Now even the full floaters are gone on some models. I have seen what we call 1/2 ton Fords, with 250 badges on them in Mexico. Ford could not get away with that here. My Dakota was rated for 1400 lbs but it was no 3/4 ton truck. And it would happily carry 2,400 lbs.
Sheesh, it's mainly marketing and competition that drives the specs.

Wetspirit

spots

Ford had (has?) a F250 here that is the same body style as the F150. 7 lug wheels, no full float, just a bit more payload. They also market the Superduty F250 which is full float rear axle.

AaronT

I believe the numbers designated by the manufacturer's have been corrupted due to the inflation over the last 40 years.

1500 = 0.75 ton, 2500= 1.25 ton, 3500= 1.75 ton. Then again they could be getting confused with metric tonnes and the numbers are even more meaningless. I think this transmission is garbled.

rvnagain

I always took it as the 1/2 ton the lightest duty full size pickup. The 3/4 ton as the medium duty pickup. The 1 ton as the heavy duty pickup. The 1 ton dually as the most heavy duty pickup. Best to check weight to be carried against vehicle specs. Never never let the salesman tell you what you need. Do your own homework. I learned this the hard way once. Once was enough. Learn from my mistake. Always buy more truck than you think you will need, you will need it. Good luck to all, dave.

Haulin_in_Dixie

Dunno, my 2500 has a GVW of 8800 pounds. On the scale empty it weighs 7250, looks like 1500 pounds (3/4 ton) to me with 50 extra pounds for a tool box or hmmmmm a heavier driver.

DZLPWR

Yea, ive seen those f-250s with seven lugs. Always throw me for a loop when i count em. HUH?! Seven? 1-2-3-4-5-6-7. HMmmmmm thats werid!

BigBlue

It's a ford thing.

DodgeRamCO42

Thanks to everyone who responded.

I now have a much beter idea of what half-ton, three-quarter ton, and one ton pickups are, and what the terms mean.

Thanks again!

nickleinonen

i don't need no stinkin training wheels on my truck, and i also don't want cab clearence lights, so that's why i have a 2500... that is registered almost the same as a 1/2 ton truck [3500kg] . plops me into the lower tax bracket on it, and lower insurance...

BADKARMA

150, 1500= class 1 truck around 5500 gvw, I think
250, 2500= class 2 truck around 8800-9000 gvw I think
350, 3500= class 3 truck around 10,000-12,000 gvw I think...
550, 5500= class 5 truck e.g. F-550 17-21,000 gvw
class 8 truck= 33,000 gvw and up

I think the 'ton' rating is arbitrary now