what defines a 3/4 ton?

ShinerBock wrote:
Manufacturers use the terms externally with customers because most are ignorant to the vehicle class system and would not know what the term class 2B means, and even if you told them what it means they will likely still use the term 3/4 ton because most are resistant to change. They would rather keep doing what they always do even though it is incorrect instead of changing to what is correct.

I don’t think it’s just a matter of people not changing. While describing these truck by their class 2B, etc. accurately represents their GVWR it doesn’t tell you what model you have and that’s what people usually want to know. Depending upon the year, “3/4 ton” trucks have been in different classes.

You might argue that the class alone is misleading as it doesn’t take curb weight into account. As trucks have gotten heavier and heavier I don’t know if their cargo carrying capacity has really gone up that much (maybe more so in the most recent years). In the end, a “1 ton” will probably have more cargo carrying capacity than a “3/4 ton”.

I also suspect the if Ford called their trucks F2500/F3500 people may well just use 2500 and 3500 series to describe them all. Some already use 250/2500. Everyone knows that “1/2 ton” is 150/1500, “3/4 ton” is 250/2500, etc.

Me Again wrote:
On some trim levels of GM 2500s and 3500s, once you remove the window sticker no one knows what you have 3/4 or 1T, as they carry no model label.

People with the new GM 2500 may have a surprise at their state DMV registration office, when states figure out they can collect higher fees.

I recently bought a used Chevy 2500 and thought that the prior owner must have removed the badges. Perhaps it never had any?

Modern 3500/350 DRW trucks are limited to 14,000 GVWR. The trucks capacity is WELL beyond that now. BUT the licensing and insurance rates keep them within that number.

Simply math will tell you the trucks capability. My UNLOADED front axle weight is about 5,250# simply add the SAE RAWR of 9,750# to that. HMMMMM 15,000# how can it be that it's OVER 14,000 GVWR??????

So y'all that are on the "Sky is Falling" side when it comes to GVWR there are the facts.

Simply license that sucker to what the tires are carrying and enjoy the ride.

On some trim levels of GM 2500s and 3500s, once you remove the window sticker no one knows what you have 3/4 or 1T, as they carry no model label.

People with the new GM 2500 may have a surprise at their state DMV registration office, when states figure out they can collect higher fees.

BB_TX wrote:
1/2, 3/4, 1 ton. Those terms are obsolete and have been meaningless for years. But old habits die hard.

Exactly right. It is better if you just go by the manufacturers designation of F150, 1500, F250, 2500, and F350, 3500 series. Those will tell you which is the more heavy duty.

Most F150s, and 1500 series trucks have had more than 3/4 ton of payload for years. After all that is only 1500lbs. few if any (except diesel) F150s, 1500 series have only 1/2 ton, or 1000lb of payload.

philh wrote:
If it's payload capacity, then why isn't a properly equipped F150 considered a 3/4 ton truck?

Because it is still a lightweight grocery getter? :W

Lwiddis wrote:
Why isn’t a 2x4 two by four inches?

They are if you buy them rough cut from a mill or from the Amish

JRscooby wrote:
But I remember when somebody mentioned "Super Duty" you knew they where talking about a gas powered class 8 Ford...

And if you look back to the early 60's, they were talking about a Pontiac.

ShinerBock wrote:
...Most 3/4 tons are in class 2b which has a GVWR range from 8,501 to 10,000 lbs.

About a decade a ago, all 3500 SRW trucks were in this class. Now most 350/3500 SRW truck are in class 3 which has a GVWR from 10,001 to 14,000 lbs. There is no law that states a manufacture has to put a 250/2500 truck in class 2b, and they can put them in class 3 if they want just like GM. They can also put a 350/3500 in class 2b like Ford does.

The only point of contention here is that the F350's are class 2b. SRW are up to 11,500, and DRW well above that. Ford does over a 'paper derate' to 10,000 for the SRW, but that is to address the licensing and other government restrictions of being over 10,000#.

GM is certainly shaking things up with their new release, and pushing the boundaries that had become common. It will be interesting to see how Ford and Ram respond. I think for the most part it just show how they have derated the 250/2500 for a while now.

valhalla360 wrote:

ShinerBock wrote:
Nothing defines a 3/4 ton. It is not a term used by the industry. It used to be defined by payload decades ago, but not anymore. The term 3/4 is subjective and can change from person to person in its meaning. What does matter is the class the vehicles is in which is based on GVWR. Most 3/4 tons are in class 2b which has a GVWR range from 8,501 to 10,000 lbs.

About a decade a ago, all 3500 SRW trucks were in this class. Now most 350/3500 SRW truck are in class 3 which has a GVWR from 10,001 to 14,000 lbs. There is no law that states a manufacture has to put a 250/2500 truck in class 2b, and they can put them in class 3 if they want just like GM. They can also put a 350/3500 in class 2b like Ford does.

However, the problem with class 3 for commercial fleets is that anything over 10,000 GVWR has added regulation and cost associated with them so it is beneficial for manufacturers to make their GVWR below 10,001 lbs.

So to answer your question. The term 3/4 ton is just an old term that does not mean anything and is used by common folk because they don't know any better. Many still use it because that is what they were taught and they are resistant to change even if it incorrect. It is like the term "weight" many use for oil. It is incorrect, but people have been using it for years and are resistant to change.

Like many terms they start with a technical definition but over time, the term sticks around but the definition may change. It's still standard usage to refer to 1/2, 3/4 and 1 ton trucks.

And yes, you still see manufacturers referring to the highest rated ???? for a 1/2 ton truck in their advertisements and by automotive media when they do testing.

It very much terminology still in use in the modern world.

If you have a 250/2500 series truck and you tell someone you have a 3/4 ton truck, you will get a response appropriate to the truck you have. (If you refer to it as a 2500 series, you will likely get responses that call it a 3/4 ton.)

If you look at the payload on your 1/2 ton truck and call it a 1 ton because it's one of the 1/2 ton trucks with a higher payload, you likely will get incorrect information.

This is all well established and other than people trying to be pedantic, causes no confusion.

Similar example:
- We still call the pedal used to accelerate, the throttle even though diesels and many modern fuel injected cars do not have a traditional throttle.
- It's also often refereed to as the gas pedal...even if it's a diesel engine.

Most people have no idea that "throttle" refers to an engine part but in common usage it's the device that controls engine power.

Manufacturers use the terms externally with customers because most are ignorant to the vehicle class system and would not know what the term class 2B means, and even if you told them what it means they will likely still use the term 3/4 ton because most are resistant to change. They would rather keep doing what they always do even though it is incorrect instead of changing to what is correct.