Why does a 1/2 ton pickup haul mort than 1/2 ton?
05-31-2007, 08:46 AM
#22
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It seems to me that rear axle bearings, spring packs, and tire size, is what would have determind load capacity and rating more than any thing else
1/2 ton used not much more than a passenger car rearend using roller bearings at the rear corner's, and light duty springs and typical 15" wheels
3/4 ton used full floating axles, using 2 tapered roller bearings at each rear wheel, heavy duty spring packs, and 16" wheels
1 ton trucks used much bigger flull floating rear axles with much bigger tapered roller bearings and usualy 4 tires on the rear (2 per corner) 16" wheels.
Most all trucks used 8 foot beds some used flat beds, so how much weight can you put in an 8 foot bed?
So why does a 1/2 ton pull or cary more than a 1000 lbs mostly because people tend to over load there trucks if they can, without thinking about what can break or the potental dammage.
With the introduction of tires that have different load rating many people use a 15 inch tire with the highest load rating on 1/2 ton trucks and figure that it will up there load capacity. (it does but at the cost of axle shafts and bearings)
Just my .02 worth
1/2 ton used not much more than a passenger car rearend using roller bearings at the rear corner's, and light duty springs and typical 15" wheels
3/4 ton used full floating axles, using 2 tapered roller bearings at each rear wheel, heavy duty spring packs, and 16" wheels
1 ton trucks used much bigger flull floating rear axles with much bigger tapered roller bearings and usualy 4 tires on the rear (2 per corner) 16" wheels.
Most all trucks used 8 foot beds some used flat beds, so how much weight can you put in an 8 foot bed?
So why does a 1/2 ton pull or cary more than a 1000 lbs mostly because people tend to over load there trucks if they can, without thinking about what can break or the potental dammage.
With the introduction of tires that have different load rating many people use a 15 inch tire with the highest load rating on 1/2 ton trucks and figure that it will up there load capacity. (it does but at the cost of axle shafts and bearings)
Just my .02 worth
05-31-2007, 11:40 AM
#23
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It seems to me that rear axle bearings, spring packs, and tire size, is what would have determind load capacity and rating more than any thing else
1/2 ton used not much more than a passenger car rearend using roller bearings at the rear corner's, and light duty springs and typical 15" wheels
With the introduction of tires that have different load rating many people use a 15 inch tire with the highest load rating on 1/2 ton trucks and figure that it will up there load capacity. (it does but at the cost of axle shafts and bearings)
Just my .02 worth
1/2 ton used not much more than a passenger car rearend using roller bearings at the rear corner's, and light duty springs and typical 15" wheels
With the introduction of tires that have different load rating many people use a 15 inch tire with the highest load rating on 1/2 ton trucks and figure that it will up there load capacity. (it does but at the cost of axle shafts and bearings)
Just my .02 worth
Also, to the best of my knowledge, Ford didn't use the 9" rear for passenger vehicles very often at all. This was the dominant rear axle for Fords 1/2 ton pickups for a long, long time. The difference between the 9" and the 8.8" or any of the other passenger car axles are night and day, just ask any drag racer.
As far as Dodge goes, the 9.25" that (I believe) is still used in the 1/2 ton truck line was never used in any passenger vehicle either. 9.25 inches obviously referrs to the diameter of the ring gear and that is quite large for a 1/2 ton truck, by anyones standards.
So, not trying to be arguementative here, just trying to point out some facts. The "Big 3" looked at the wieght ratings for their cars and 1/2 ton trucks quite differently, and used different axles for different applications.
05-31-2007, 03:00 PM
#24
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1/2 and 3/4 are just simple rating systems. Old Jeeps used to be considered 1/4 ton.
They could be style "A" and style "B" and make about as much sense. And a half ton will not break just because it has 1,100 lbs instead of 1,000. A vehicle has to be able carry it's rated load in a safe manner over rough roads. So, under smooth conditions on level ground you can easily double the rated load and be fine. A ton in a half ton and 2 tons in a 3/4 are common without problems. Just don't go down steep mountain passes or fast on rough roads. Common sense.
Probably the best way to look at it is just that the 3/4 is heavier duty than the 1/2. Larger, full floating axle, bigger brakes, stiffer springs. The 3/4 is always going to be better for towing, hauling anything heavy, and for a high or heavy camper. The 1/2 is best as a grocery getter, or 4 wheeling with it's better articulation, or for use with a camper shell. Light runs to the hardware store or just towing a ski boat. It will be lighter and may get better mileage, uses cheaper tires.
Just a general heavier vs lighter duty comparison. Most times the 1/2 ton is just fine. I got the 3/4 because I wanted the CTD and the 1 ton is the same truck with overloads. The 1/2 ton would do 90% of what I do, but it has smaller brakes and lighter springs and I don't want those for towing. Plus no CTD option. Heavy duty is good, but it doesn't have to be way heavier duty than you'll ever need.
Wetspirit
They could be style "A" and style "B" and make about as much sense. And a half ton will not break just because it has 1,100 lbs instead of 1,000. A vehicle has to be able carry it's rated load in a safe manner over rough roads. So, under smooth conditions on level ground you can easily double the rated load and be fine. A ton in a half ton and 2 tons in a 3/4 are common without problems. Just don't go down steep mountain passes or fast on rough roads. Common sense.
Probably the best way to look at it is just that the 3/4 is heavier duty than the 1/2. Larger, full floating axle, bigger brakes, stiffer springs. The 3/4 is always going to be better for towing, hauling anything heavy, and for a high or heavy camper. The 1/2 is best as a grocery getter, or 4 wheeling with it's better articulation, or for use with a camper shell. Light runs to the hardware store or just towing a ski boat. It will be lighter and may get better mileage, uses cheaper tires.
Just a general heavier vs lighter duty comparison. Most times the 1/2 ton is just fine. I got the 3/4 because I wanted the CTD and the 1 ton is the same truck with overloads. The 1/2 ton would do 90% of what I do, but it has smaller brakes and lighter springs and I don't want those for towing. Plus no CTD option. Heavy duty is good, but it doesn't have to be way heavier duty than you'll ever need.
Wetspirit
05-31-2007, 06:26 PM
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I had a f 150 94 or 95, and a 97 ram 1500, anything over 1500lbs and it was squating bad. I had 2700lbs in the bed and the tires were up in the fender wells.
My friend has one of them f 450s, well he had to put air bags on it to stop it from squatting. With his car trailer on empty 6700lbs it would look like it had a leveling kit on it. One car and dowm she went so that commercial is bs.
My friend has one of them f 450s, well he had to put air bags on it to stop it from squatting. With his car trailer on empty 6700lbs it would look like it had a leveling kit on it. One car and dowm she went so that commercial is bs.
05-31-2007, 06:41 PM
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You used to buy a truck based on hauling capacity, and they were marketed as such. They created marketing classes based on the actual capacity: half ton, 3/4 ton, and a full ton.
As the one-upmanship played out over the years, the actual capacities increased substantially, but the marketing terms still stuck.
Hence, my "3/4" ton 2500 actually has a payload capacity of a full ton (8800 GVWR minus 6800 curb weight). Duallies are much higher.
Always keep in mind that many things that don't make sense today usually did at one point in the past, and while times change, often our language and culture do not.
For example, why do we say "the whole nine yards?" In WW2, .50 cal ammo was packaged in 27-foot chains stuffed into an ammo can. Hence, if you used all your ammo on an enemy plane, you "gave him the whole nine yards".
There are lots of things like this...
Justin
05-31-2007, 11:17 PM
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1/2 and 3/4 are just simple rating systems. Old Jeeps used to be considered 1/4 ton.
They could be style "A" and style "B" and make about as much sense. And a half ton will not break just because it has 1,100 lbs instead of 1,000. A vehicle has to be able carry it's rated load in a safe manner over rough roads. So, under smooth conditions on level ground you can easily double the rated load and be fine. A ton in a half ton and 2 tons in a 3/4 are common without problems. Just don't go down steep mountain passes or fast on rough roads. Common sense.
Probably the best way to look at it is just that the 3/4 is heavier duty than the 1/2. Larger, full floating axle, bigger brakes, stiffer springs. The 3/4 is always going to be better for towing, hauling anything heavy, and for a high or heavy camper. The 1/2 is best as a grocery getter, or 4 wheeling with it's better articulation, or for use with a camper shell. Light runs to the hardware store or just towing a ski boat. It will be lighter and may get better mileage, uses cheaper tires.
Just a general heavier vs lighter duty comparison. Most times the 1/2 ton is just fine. I got the 3/4 because I wanted the CTD and the 1 ton is the same truck with overloads. The 1/2 ton would do 90% of what I do, but it has smaller brakes and lighter springs and I don't want those for towing. Plus no CTD option. Heavy duty is good, but it doesn't have to be way heavier duty than you'll ever need.
Wetspirit
They could be style "A" and style "B" and make about as much sense. And a half ton will not break just because it has 1,100 lbs instead of 1,000. A vehicle has to be able carry it's rated load in a safe manner over rough roads. So, under smooth conditions on level ground you can easily double the rated load and be fine. A ton in a half ton and 2 tons in a 3/4 are common without problems. Just don't go down steep mountain passes or fast on rough roads. Common sense.
Probably the best way to look at it is just that the 3/4 is heavier duty than the 1/2. Larger, full floating axle, bigger brakes, stiffer springs. The 3/4 is always going to be better for towing, hauling anything heavy, and for a high or heavy camper. The 1/2 is best as a grocery getter, or 4 wheeling with it's better articulation, or for use with a camper shell. Light runs to the hardware store or just towing a ski boat. It will be lighter and may get better mileage, uses cheaper tires.
Just a general heavier vs lighter duty comparison. Most times the 1/2 ton is just fine. I got the 3/4 because I wanted the CTD and the 1 ton is the same truck with overloads. The 1/2 ton would do 90% of what I do, but it has smaller brakes and lighter springs and I don't want those for towing. Plus no CTD option. Heavy duty is good, but it doesn't have to be way heavier duty than you'll ever need.
Wetspirit
06-01-2007, 02:00 AM
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Jax-- Do I think you are being arguementative? No way
It's good that people question what others post, and or respond differently or add to information ect.
The info you pointed out is good info that I did not post, I think It goes along nicely with what I did say, or was trying to say.
The exchange of information and good old chit chat is part of what makes this site worth coming to.
Westspirit makes a good point--Just a general heavier vs lighter duty comparison. Most times the 1/2 ton is just fine. I got the 3/4 because I wanted the CTD and the 1 ton is the same truck with overloads. The 1/2 ton would do 90% of what I do, but it has smaller brakes and lighter springs and I don't want those for towing. Plus no CTD option. Heavy duty is good, but it doesn't have to be way heavier duty than you'll ever need.
It's good that people question what others post, and or respond differently or add to information ect.
The info you pointed out is good info that I did not post, I think It goes along nicely with what I did say, or was trying to say.
The exchange of information and good old chit chat is part of what makes this site worth coming to.
Westspirit makes a good point--Just a general heavier vs lighter duty comparison. Most times the 1/2 ton is just fine. I got the 3/4 because I wanted the CTD and the 1 ton is the same truck with overloads. The 1/2 ton would do 90% of what I do, but it has smaller brakes and lighter springs and I don't want those for towing. Plus no CTD option. Heavy duty is good, but it doesn't have to be way heavier duty than you'll ever need.