Are You Buying All These Half-ton Claims?

DaveF-250SD wrote:
If you are talking about payload, the modern half tons are not even in the same hemisphere as most 70's 3/4 ton trucks. I am considering purchasing a '76 F-250 Super Cab from a friend. I do not NEED a second truck, but it has character, and is calling my name. :B It is a 2 wheel drive long bed (155"wb) Camper Special, 390 4V, no A/C. the Title shows unladen weight at 4,400 lbs. GVW is 8,100 lbs. Payload would be 3,700 lbs. He is not sure if both tanks were full when he had it weighed, but one was full for sure. It has dual batteries, and front and rear stabilizer bars, as well as a factory helper leaf on the rear springs. Camper Specials also have doubled frame sections to handle increased loads, such as slide in campers. This truck's payload is approximately 2 1/2 to 3 times as much as most modern half ton trucks. Trailer tow ratings do differ a lot with the modern trucks, though. Back then, three quarter ton trucks had tow ratings around 7,500 to 8,500 lbs, and one ton dually's were rated for 10,000 lbs. towing capacity. Half ton trucks of the day normally had 6,000 lb. or lower tow ratings, but some could go as high as 7,000 when equipped with certain factory heavy duty options. A 3,000 lb. plus payload rating was the norm for a three quarter ton pickup in the 70's.

I am talking about everything BUT a simple payload rating, because by itself, it's not a good metric of safe towing ability.

Case in point - a lot of mini Asian trucks, such as Japanese Kei car trucks, have a higher payload than a 1/2 ton. Are they anywhere NEARLY as capable (600cc engine)? Not even close. All they have is one thing - a stiff set of springs.

I'm quite aware of those older pickups, and their relatively low curb weights, which gave high payloads. But the point I'm making is that current trucks have much higher standards of safety and performance than those 70's trucks ever dreamed of.

Load up the 76 F250 with 3700 lbs, and overload a modern F150 with 3700 lbs (regular cab long bed). I am willing bet the F150 can: out accelerate, out brake, and out slaloom the F250. Take those inboard mounted shock absorbers for instance, they gave very poor roll stability. Which one would you trust in an emergency manuver with a 10k trailer?