Origin of names half-ton, one-ton, deuce and a half, etc.

[davepl]

What did these things mean initially? I assumed when I was a kid it had something to do with cargo capacity, but 1000lbs isn't much. Maybe that's all a 1/2 ton pickup can carry?

Then I thought maybe it was the weight of the frame, an indication of structural capacity, but not likely.

If you know, let me know, and how you know (I already have the 'thought that when I was a kid' and 'Dad always told me that' answers sewn up, looking for something more authoritative).

[In The Ten Ring]

I was thinking the exact same thing just today! My 1/2 ton has had A LOT more than just 1000 pounds in the bed. I am sure a "1 ton" can carry more than 2K pounds.

[special-K]

It started out as actual payload capacity, but as time went it just represents one of three weight classifications.

[davepl]

Yeah, but I want a source! The best I can find is Consumer Reports, which isn't exactly Britannica:

"The terms "half-ton" for the 1500s and "three-quarter-ton" for the 2500s are widely used but obsolete: a holdover from decades ago when the number referred to the maximum cargo weight capacity. Conversationally, the 2500-series and heavier trucks are known as "heavy duty," but that's not technically correct, either. The U.S. Government considers any truck that weighs less than 14,000 pounds, including 3500-series, to be a light-duty truck. "

[kwmech]

With what my 3/4 ton truck weighs and the GVW at 7500. Theoretically I can haul 2400 lbs. I have had more than that in it. My GMC flatbed has a GVW of 10k, does that mean I can haul almost 4k?

[bronze 72 super]

Here's something to think about, today's H D 3/4 and 1 ton's were Camper Specials years ago. Check the G.V.W. on some of these, and they might have been ordered to haul campers. I have owned two Camper Special pick-ups from the mid '70's a '75 and a '78. Both Camper Specials with higher G.V.W. ratings than a standard 3/4.
I think the modern H D pickups are the same, G.M. just dropped the Camper Special name?

[Sicklajoie]

Going off on a different tangent here but the wheelbase on today's regular cab longbeds is the same as the 67-72 Longhorns - 133".

[Alex V.]

My '85 C3500 (454/auto, SRW w/PS, PB, PW, PL, and A/C) weighs in at around 5,300 with me in it. So, fill it up with fuel and it can carry approx. 3,500 lbs. before it exceeds its GVW of 9,000 lbs. Coincidence, but interesting.

[Stocker]

Possibly just a general ballpark guesstimate of their recommended safe maximums. Sure, they can haul more, but to be safe in varying traffic and weather conditions, the manufacturer doesn't want you to be pushing the limits.

FWIW, I have hauled 6,000 pounds in the bed of my K20.... yeah, 3 tons in a 3/4 ton truck. Not the smartest thing I ever did, but the truck & I lived to tell the tale. It was quite obvious that the truck was grossly overloaded.... but it saved me a second trip over the mountain and down to the city.

[special-K]

Originally Posted by davepl

Yeah, but I want a source!

The source was the auto industry in general, the manufacturers. They made a truck and rated it's capacity. Back to the beginning trucks have been identified by their weight capacity, then came marketing schemes using names (with light trucks). Just like in this new century they decided to start calling anything bigger than a 1/2t a HD. It's just a 3/4t and yes, they are heavier duty than a 1/2t. It started off with automobiles and heavy trucks. Pickups came along once cars became more common and people were converting them to haul light loads. It's no different than full-size, mid-size, compact general designations. All for the sake of comparison, not an actual measurement. Just a general classification that is the standard manufacturers follow, since what one does determines what the other does.

[ERASER5]

Yes, not a actual measurement. I've had 6 tons of wet gravel/sand in my 3/4Ton. Maybe I shouldn't have, but I did. I will agree that the moniker are somewhat confusing. A 10 is a1500 is a 150. And a 20 is a 2500 is a 250. A 30 is a 3500 is a 350. Weird.

As for cars, lets compare a 2016 full size car with a 1968 full size car. Those land yachts make todays full size look like compacts!

[kwmech]

Originally Posted by ERASER5

I've had 6 tons of wet gravel/sand in my 3/4Ton. Maybe I shouldn't have, but I did.

6 tons? Really? 12,000 lbs? plus the weight of the truck (about 4500-5000) I'm not quite believing that. I've had 4,500 in my 3/4 and it was scary even with almost new 8 ply tires

[Grumpy old man]

I hauled 4 tons (8,000 lbs) of wet pea gravel just yesterday it took two trips in my 1995 3/4 K2500 4wd Z-71 with 10 ply Michelin tires and the load was over the top of the bed ,I've also hauled 2 full pallets of bricks and that's about 4600 lbs in a 3/4 ton truck and it wasn't fun .Out here in the country on back roads is one thing but I'd never do it in stop light traffic .

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by ERASER5

Yes, not a actual measurement. I've had 6 tons of wet gravel/sand in my 3/4Ton. Maybe I shouldn't have, but I did. I will agree that the moniker are somewhat confusing. A 10 is a1500 is a 150. And a 20 is a 2500 is a 250. A 30 is a 3500 is a 350. Weird.

As for cars, lets compare a 2016 full size car with a 1968 full size car. Those land yachts make todays full size look like compacts!

It's all marketing. The marketing groups can call it whatever they want without respect to reality.

Doesn't a "1500" sound heavier duty than a "10" series?

Once you've worked with truck marketing groups it all becomes readily apparent.

K

[davepl]

I accidentally towed about 30,000 pounds with my wife's half-ton Escalade once. Someone left the plug in the boat over winter and it was full to the gills. They said it'd hold 5000 gallons so I'm really only guessing the weight.

I didn't know it was full, I just went to move it and noticed the tires were flat (or I thought they were, they were just being crushed) and when I tried to get it going to the gas station to air them up, it was really tough to move. But when I couldn't get it -stopped- that's when I knew.

I pulled a 1/2 NPT gravity plug and let it drain for 2 hours, had lunch, then towed it home still draining all the way, but much lighter...

(I'm not bragging or recommending you do any of this, I made several obvious mistakes, just relating the story).

The Escalade had the power (430hp?) to pull it, but not the frame to manage it!