What does "three-quarter ton" really mean?

[Alluminati]

What is the definition of half ton? Three-quarter ton? One ton?

These designations supposedly indicate payload. These days payload varies widely across makers, models, and installed features. Saying “A three-quarter ton can do this” or “a half ton can’t do that” is outdated and meaningless.

A quick Google survey (subject to major correction) of current models’ payloads is revealing:

“Half Ton”
Nissan Titan........1329 - 1616
Ram 1500...........1237 - 1933
Chevy 1500.........1740 - 2020
Toyota Tundra......1440 - 2080
Ford F-150...........1641 - 2320#

“Three-quarter Ton”
Ram 2500.............1466 - 3060
Chevy 2500...........2968 - 3559
Ford F-250............3305 - 4267#

So a half ton pickup can carry a half ton to well over a ton (1237 to 2320 lbs); it just depends. And a three-quarter ton truck can carry three-quarters to over two tons (1466 to 4267 lbs). Any half ton with the right equipment can carry more than a three-quarter Ram with the wrong setup.

“Half ton”, “three-quarter ton”, “one ton”. These designations are outdated and meaningless. All that matters are the trucks’ individual specs.

Welcome to the 21st century. It’s different here.

[FCStreamer]

Yup, that about sums it up.

[AWCHIEF]

Excellant post, thank you

[dznf0g]

They are archaic, meaningless "monikers" which, once upon a time, were accurate indicators of payload capacity.....we're talking many decades ago. The descriptors hang on as "slang" or "jargon".

Accurate descriptors are "series" descriptors like 1500 series, 150 series, etc....or class 1, class 2, class 3.....class 8.

Sometimes also know internally as "family 1, family 2"...etc.

[blahargoue]

All of us old guys know what we mean...

[MarkFinATX]

So what it really means is that Ford builds the BEST truck. Want gas, reasonable tow capabilities= F-150. Diesel, tow virtually anything, higher torque= F-250.

[lovetokite]

Originally Posted by MarkFinATX

So what it really means is that Ford builds the BEST truck. Want gas, reasonable tow capabilities= F-150. Diesel, tow virtually anything, higher torque= F-250.

ha...still love my Ram Ecodiesel better...
ps thanks to the OP for the post

[TomKirk]

Think of it this way:

A half ton is pretty much a passenger car with a truck bed.

A one ton is a full blown commercial rig.

A 3/4 ton is a little less (400 lbs GVW, more or less) than a single wheel one ton.

Tom

[jcanavera]

The jump from half ton to 3/4 ton does make a big difference in the GM van world. More spring capacity, bigger wheels, brakes just to name a few items. It also opens up the door for different engine options, transmissions, and rear axles. I went from a half ton van to my latest 3/4 ton. It was a very positive experience. The only down side was a loss in gas mileage when not towing, and the van sits a little taller which meant a modification of the trim on my garage door to give me the clearance necessary to store the van.

Jack

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by jcanavera

The jump from half ton to 3/4 ton does make a big difference in the GM van world. More spring capacity, bigger wheels, brakes just to name a few items. It also opens up the door for different engine options, transmissions, and rear axles. I went from a half ton van to my latest 3/4 ton. It was a very positive experience. The only down side was a loss in gas mileage when not towing, and the van sits a little taller which meant a modification of the trim on my garage door to give me the clearance necessary to store the van.

Jack

There are no more (full sized) 1/2 ton vans. CAFE drove all of them to a minimum of 8601 GVWR...so they are not "counters" in the CAFE calculations.

[paiceman]

Good post, it's why we went to an F350 and if my wife would allow it, I'd go to an F450 just because. But I do what I am told and what I am allowed to do, 50 years has taught me well.


Bud

[Bill M.]

The names are nominal, not an exact measure of capacity. I do not have a problem with that. Sorta like, how long is a 28' Airstream. If you do not like "3/4" ton call it a 250 or a 2500. Again not a measure but a name.

[jcl]

Any discussion of 1/2 and 3/4 ton trucks is incomplete without mention of the F100/D100/C10 models. Those were the original half tons. Passenger cars with a box, as mentioned above.

The "heavy half" models (F150/D150/C1500) were designed with a heavier load rating than the half ton models, and a GVWR over 6000 lbs, to skirt the then-current emission rules, which didn't apply above 6000 GVWR. When compact pickups came along (Ranger, etc) the original half tons made less sense and so were all eventually dropped.

When the "heavy half" models came out, they offered much of the capability of the 3/4 ton models sold at the time.

[jcanavera]

Originally Posted by dznf0g

There are no more (full sized) 1/2 ton vans. CAFE drove all of them to a minimum of 8601 GVWR...so they are not "counters" in the CAFE calculations.

Didn't know that. Just went over to the GMC van page and the 2500 seems to be the only model. Thanks for the clarification!

Jack

[Bill M.]

Do the 3/4 ton pickups count in the CAFE now?

[Isuzusweet]

Someone forgot about the heavy half tons.....didn't have 3/4 ton axles, but sprung almost the same as a 3/4 ton. Ford I know had one and so did Chevy/GMC at one time. I would class the new Titan XD as a heavy half ton and the Ridgeline as a light half ton.

Great thread, everyone good; clear as mud?

Cheers
Tony

[A W Warn]

I've been under the impression (don't remember where I got this) that a pickup truck should carry the weight of an adult in each seat position and additionally the rating ( 1/2, 3/4, 1, or etc. tons) as cargo.

[overlander63]

I remember the F150 came about because people wanted to be able to have a full tank of gas, three adults, and more than one concrete block in the bed without being overloaded.

[tjdonahoe]

I/2 ton used to have a single wheel bearing on the outer rear axle, the 3/4 ton had a double wheel bearing and a floating rear axle, except a few years on the Chevy 3/4 ton which had a single wheel bearing..if you don't have a floating rear axle, you are close to a car rear end, with car wheels and tires....I like my new ram 2500 ,6.7..

[Alluminati]

Originally Posted by jcl

Any discussion of 1/2 and 3/4 ton trucks is incomplete without mention of the F100/D100/C10 models. Those were the original half tons. Passenger cars with a box, as mentioned above.

Ah! Sweet nostalgia! But you failed to mention the T-100 from not nearly so long ago. Ford sued for copyright infringement, and somehow won.

The infallible authors of Wikipedia say the last passenger-car-with-a-box was 1947, and the 1948 F-100 was really and truly a truck.

Honorable mention also belongs to the mid sixties F-250 Camper Special which came standard with a long bed, heavier transmission and alternator, and perhaps larger radiator. There was also reference to a more rigid body than other F-250s, but details are hard to find.