1/2, 3/4, 1 Ton designations?

[Sri Ram]

It's probably obvious to everyone but me But, what is the significance of these numbers? Are they just manufacturer's way of designating duty level?

 

[BPaulsen]

Yes.

Completely outdated. Way back when, they were used to designate the load that could be carried safely on the bed; nowadays none of this matches anymore.

 

[Sri Ram]

Thanks, Bernard. It always had me confused .

 

[JasonCzerak]

I've always liked to call the S10s, Rangers and dakotas 1/4 tons



What would you call an el camino? 1/8 ton?



heh

 

[Sri Ram]

What would you call an el camino? 1/8 ton?

:-laf :-laf



Are the higher designations (2 ton, 3ton) outdated as well?

 

[Troubleshooter]

I've always liked to call the S10s, Rangers and dakotas 1/4 tons

Actually, the old M-38 and M-141 series (military) Jeeps were known by the 1/4-ton designation.

 

[Simplysmn]

you mean M151

 

[6BT-Dakota]

Actually, the old M-38 and M-141 series (military) Jeeps were known by the 1/4-ton designation.

Believe it or not Dakota in PA are classified as a 3/4 ton vehicle and have a class 2 sticker that is $81. 00 vs. $52. 00

 

[JasonCzerak]

Believe it or not Dakota in PA are classified as a 3/4 ton vehicle and have a class 2 sticker that is $81. 00 vs. $52. 00

That's about as retarded as a PT cruiser classified as a truck.



So what's a 3500 Dualy? 4 ton? and require a CDL?

 

[Sri Ram]

How are 6BTA Dakotas classified? :-laf

 

[6BT-Dakota]

Like the liscense plate says "JUST WRONG"

 

[JFaughn]

After being in the auto repair buis. [ employee & my own shop ] for about 30 yrs. ,
The way I look at it is that , to think of all as 2-3 weight classes , becouse of the verity of parts that you run into when they need replacing .
Our trucks are a good example , the Dana 44 can be found in both the 1/2 & 3/4 gaser , but with the Commins , it starts with the Dana 60 , the 60 can be 3/4 & 1T ,
Then the springs have at least 2 choises , also , bearings , brakes , wheels , tires .
Some yrs. ago US cars started at 1/2 , now maybe as low as 1/8 .
It seems that the parts supplyers just change again , went looking for ajustable upper ball joints for my truck , talked to about 5 derrerant [ parts guys , from napa to the manufacture ] becouse they were hard to find , becouse they no longer look up the parts the way they did last time I did these , ex. they asked yr , mld , 3/4 or 1T , did not ask about eng. or GVW [ witch they used to ]

 

[NIsaacs]

Like Bernard said, it was a net weight rating mostly pioneered by the military. After WWII, it kinda overflowed into the civilian market. Since not many vehicles were available for the general public during the war (all manufactures were building for the military) they started buying military excess after the war. Since the military builds in a huge over kill "GI Proof", the civilian market soon found they could overload the net weight rating of the vehicles to the point the rating become obsolete, yet the term is still used some today. (disclaimer) I have no scientific proof of any of this





"NICK"

 

[WadePatton]

i b derned

Learn something every now and then. I used to think that there tweren't much difference in a 1/2 and a 3/4.



Right after I got my "3/4-ton" truck I quickly dismissed 1/2 tonners completely. And I'd driven ef-one-fiddys most of my life and done a lot of work with them(overloaded them silly). Very little difference in a 3/4 and 1-ton in my experience, but a halfer is pretty much a car with a truck shell on it.



No use for halfers anymore. 3/4 or 1-ton or Deuce-and-a-half for me!

 

[Troubleshooter]

you mean M151

You are correct sir. Of course, the mind is the SECOND thing to go as we get older. (Sorry, but I can't remember what the first thing is... ) :-laf

Since the military builds in a huge over kill "GI Proof",

Anyone who thinks that underestimates us GI's !!!