Why are trucks call half tons and one ton? They weigh more then that right? Does it have to do with the load it can carry?

Thanks,

Pete

 

That's a good question!!!!!

Well, my truck is a half ton, and my truck's curb weight is about 4500 pounds, or 2 1/4 tons!!! And just today, as I mentioned in another post, I hauled a total of 2800 pounds to the dump (including passengers and accesories, tools, etc.), which is 1 2/5 tons. So I don't know why they call it a 1/2 ton???

 

I think that means what they are rated to carry in the bed

 

i hope not, because then mypoor little 1/2 ton has passed its max hauling rating by a lot! i think it just has to do with the style of suspension, not necessarily the tow rating or th weight of the truck. maybe we can get a definite answer from someone who knows for sure...

 

Thats what I have heard, but it always sounded a little low maybe a half ton at the bumper, that makes sense. My class III hitch is rated at 1000 pounds a 1/2 ton that must be it

 

you could be right

 

I think someone posted the answer here before and it had something to do with how much weight they could carry in the bed a long time ago. For the past 20 years 1/2 ton trucks have always been able to carry more than 1/2 ton but they kept the 1/2, 3/4, 1 ton designations around to sort of designate the different body styles and suspensions.

At least i think thats how it went???

I saw an S-10 yesterday loaded with so much much firewood that the back bumber was dragging on the road and sparking!

-Jon

 

LOL! nice!


Thanks for the info. I've always wanted to know that!

Pete

 

May be it has something to do with the axles.....maybe.

 

Half ton truck is the nominal load a truck can haul in addition to its own weight, also referred to as payload. I say nominal, because most half ton trucks can carry more than 1000 lbs. "Half ton" is just an easy way to classify light duty trucks. Ford F-100 used to be rated for 1/2 ton, F-150 was 5/8 ton, F-350 was 3/4 ton, and F-350 was 1 ton. But now 1/2 ton is just a generic classification for light duty trucks. The ACTUAL weight a truck can carry depends on the combination of engine, transmission, axle ratio, suspension, etc. It can be found on the plate on the door jamb. BTW, this is different than towing capacity. Towing capacity is usually considerably more than payload capacity.

 

I just read that the 2003 lightning is rated to carry 1,400 lbs in the bed, and thats with a sport suspension.

-Jon