How do you really judge TV adequacy anymore?
I've spent a lot of time looking at the ever-changing capabilities of pick-ups, and a separate thread earlier today really go me thinking about the uselessness of truck categories. The 1/2, 3/4 and 1...
Forum Discussion
valhalla360 wrote:
How old are you that the 1/2, 3/4, 1 ton designation told you the exact capabilities?
My first pickup was back in 1986 and even back then you had to look at the actual ratings to know the capabilities.
As far as the quirky 1/2 and 1 ton with similar ratings...hook up a trailer that pushes them to the max and drive them cross a mountain range...then come back and tell us how they are the same. 3/4 to 1ton SRW, you might not be able to tell the difference but I'll give you 100-1 odds, you know the difference going 1/2 ton to 1 ton towing at the max rating.
To your first question, I'm not that old. I didn't mean to suggest that they were ever clear designations in my adult life, simply that they are increasingly blurred and pointless.
To your final paragraph, that is precisely my point. The two vehicles I mentioned in the OP would, essentially, be maxed out with the same trailer - but you can't tell me they truly have the same real-world limitations. So, while I may have distracted the thread with my side-comment about badges, my real question is how do you judge capability.
With the F150 listed in the OP, one could tow an 11k trailer with a family of four and still have 1,000+ pounds of GCVWR and 300+ pounds of GVWR to spare. Do we really think that truck would handle that trailer? If not, ratings don't serve as the realistic judge anymore - which is a challenge for anyone trying to buy a truck in today's market.
