1/2 ton trucks?

Here is my experience with 'half ton' folks...

Mom-n-Dad owned a tiny speciality grocery/butcher shop that sold as much
if not more than the Safeway in town. Worked my butt off from grade
school till after college working as a designer. Worked there weekends
mainly because dad had his third back operation and needed my help

One of his best buddies owned a custom commercial sheetmetal shop specializing
in stainless kitchens for restaurants & industrial kitchens. Uncle Bill
had 4 pickups. All 3/4 ton with wooden beds. One flatbed with slate
sides. All 'strippers' as Uncle Bill knew they had the highest cargo
capacity (he believed in the ratings system)

Dad knew nothing about automotive and depended on his buddies and me...

The 1955 313-V8 Ford station wagon was replaced by a 1964 383-V8 Dodge
Custom station wagon, which was replaced by a 1974 409-V8 Buick
station wagon, which was replaced by the Silverado I now own

Dad and Uncle Bill almost came to blows talking about the pickup he
had needed decades ago

Dad would NOT consider anything other than a half ton. Mainly because
of the ride quality (his back) and that they all looked the same
anyway, so why pay more and have it ride badly...his perception

Uncle Bill told me to just buy the 'fake half ton', which was the 'Big
Ten' back then and is the 'HD' of today's half tons

Dad told uncle Bill: "Told you so" and they almost ended their
friendship that weekend

Never mind that I had put in over load coils on the Dodge and Buick
wagons. That I also put in 1 ton coil helpers on the Silverado.

Never mind that until I put in those helper springs...dad was coming
back from the produce market, slaughter house, canned goods warehouse, etc
with the wagons on their bumper stops. That I made up ABS liners for
the Dodge & Buick so the spilled liquids wouldn't stain the carpet (blood,
produce juices, etc). Even 4-5 beef quarters in the 250-350 lb range...todays
supermarket quarters are in the 150-200 lb range

Dad was totally ignorant and could care less in learning anything about
the metrics of it all. It just worked to his satisfaction and that was
all there was to it...end of story...

If anything broke because of his over loading...he just told me to 'fix it'
and/or talk to the mechanic if I couldn't fix it.

This is what is envisioned in my mind everything one of these 'half ton'
threads shows up...

Gebrown wrote:
So whats the point in 1/2 ton trucks? They can't haul much, are they the grocery getters of the truck world?

Yes. You are correct.

They are just cars with big, open trunks. Generally speaking, people who drive these are either wannabe cowboys, college girls or nervous men who are frightened by the power output of a real tow vehicle.

To put it another way, 1/2 ton trucks are to tow vehicles as the French are to military prowess.

Mr.Beebo wrote:
When I had my half ton, I used to have to spread the groceries out across the backseat and truck bed. Overinflate the tires and anticipate red lights and turn offs. Usually heavy items like potatoes and milk went into the cab, and then I could stack lighter items like bread and cereal towards the tailgate.
Now that I have a 2500, I can do all of my shopping in one trip and even fill up the gas tank before going home. There is also now enough capacity for the wife, which for some may or may not be a plus.
As you can tell, my 2500HD is my daily driver. When I need to take the kids and dogs with us I use our 1 ton.

Too funny.:)

IndyCamp wrote:
Here is what I haul with my 1/2 ton:

Shoot, that's less than 1 load with my dually.

Kevin O. wrote:
I have to disagree. . There is no Ram 1500 that is close to being every bit as capable as a F150 with the Max tow and HD payload pkg. At least not yet. ..

That's why RAM makes a 2500.

When I had my half ton, I used to have to spread the groceries out across the backseat and truck bed. Overinflate the tires and anticipate red lights and turn offs. Usually heavy items like potatoes and milk went into the cab, and then I could stack lighter items like bread and cereal towards the tailgate.
Now that I have a 2500, I can do all of my shopping in one trip and even fill up the gas tank before going home. There is also now enough capacity for the wife, which for some may or may not be a plus.
As you can tell, my 2500HD is my daily driver. When I need to take the kids and dogs with us I use our 1 ton.

IndyCamp wrote:
Here is what I haul with my 1/2 ton:

Must have a big dump bed on it, as the pile of dirt was not delivered by Pickup.
Top of pile has been flatted by a dump trucks tailgate.

Kevin O. wrote:

jerem0621 wrote:

Kevin O. wrote:

Old-Biscuit wrote:
OP has a 08 Ram 1500, was looking at getting a TT or TH that would have overloaded his truck so he is upset with his 1/2 ton.

OPs truck is a very capable tow vehicle.......within it's ratings namely payload

Maybe when he calms down he will realize it.

But if OP wants bigger TT/TH...will need to get rid of the grocery getter and go bigger truck

That's only if he stays with Dodge. If he had a Ford 1/2 ton with the Max tow and HD payload pkg then he would probably be a "happy camper".. With most of the Ram 1500's having such a low payload# all there good for is getting the groceries. .

If Ram calculated payload like Ford Does on the Max Tow F150 then the playing field would be even. Fact of the matter is that Ford calculates payload at almost 100% of the axle ratings on the Max Tow package. Ram on the other hand has the GVWR at 800-1000 lbs under the sum of the Axle Ratings.

I think the Max tow package gets you Towing mirrors , heavy duty bumper, and 3.73 axles. Yet, the payload increases substantially. It actually doesn't, ford just takes excess from the axle ratings and adds it to the payload.

My guess is that Ford feel comfortable doing this because if you are asking for max tow you are probably a little more educated on towing (because you know to ask for this) and payload. But that is just a hypothesis.

Ram is every bit as capable as the F150....just the stickers on the sides are a little different.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

I have to disagree. . There is no Ram 1500 that is close to being every bit as capable as a F150 with the Max tow and HD payload pkg. At least not yet. ..

I 100% agree with you. If you re-read my post I never mention the HD payload package. I was very specific to only mention the Max Tow package. The HD F150 is a light duty 3/4 ton truck.

Re-reading the person I quoted, they did mention the HD payload package which I missed.

I haven't personally looked at a HD F150 to review the axle ratings vs the GVWR.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

jerem0621 wrote:

Kevin O. wrote:

Old-Biscuit wrote:
OP has a 08 Ram 1500, was looking at getting a TT or TH that would have overloaded his truck so he is upset with his 1/2 ton.

OPs truck is a very capable tow vehicle.......within it's ratings namely payload

Maybe when he calms down he will realize it.

But if OP wants bigger TT/TH...will need to get rid of the grocery getter and go bigger truck

That's only if he stays with Dodge. If he had a Ford 1/2 ton with the Max tow and HD payload pkg then he would probably be a "happy camper".. With most of the Ram 1500's having such a low payload# all there good for is getting the groceries. .

If Ram calculated payload like Ford Does on the Max Tow F150 then the playing field would be even. Fact of the matter is that Ford calculates payload at almost 100% of the axle ratings on the Max Tow package. Ram on the other hand has the GVWR at 800-1000 lbs under the sum of the Axle Ratings.

I think the Max tow package gets you Towing mirrors , heavy duty bumper, and 3.73 axles. Yet, the payload increases substantially. It actually doesn't, ford just takes excess from the axle ratings and adds it to the payload.

My guess is that Ford feel comfortable doing this because if you are asking for max tow you are probably a little more educated on towing (because you know to ask for this) and payload. But that is just a hypothesis.

Ram is every bit as capable as the F150....just the stickers on the sides are a little different.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

I have to disagree. . There is no Ram 1500 that is close to being every bit as capable as a F150 with the Max tow and HD payload pkg. At least not yet. ..

IndyCamp wrote:
Here is what I haul with my 1/2 ton:

Nice looking stuff!!! Three separate trips?