what defines a 3/4 ton?

philh wrote:

Grit dog wrote:
Is this really a serious discussion or have the last 77 posts been tongue in cheek?

I started this as a serious question after watching a F150 struggle with a 5th wheel. I don't know the wt of the trailer or capacity of the truck, but I was thinking that given the common mantra, you need a 3/4 ton for a 5th wheel, and it is technically possible to have a F150 with a 1500+ payload capacity, what is a 3/4 ton?

Oh, I thought even the original post was just to get folks fired up.
Oops, my bad. Well, it worked anyways.
I guess the answer is, aside from the inane banter that has now become this thread, "1/2ton, 3/4ton, 1ton" is not an accurate designation or literal description that relates to anything at all really other than general order of magnitude, but rather they are kinda like synonymous terms like Kleenex and Thermos.
It takes a special breed to take things so literally though and that type of behavior is typically exhibited in children of a young age, but for some reason, it is also exhibited by many members of this forum. Probably 10x more at least than any other forum chat I frequent.

JIMNLIN wrote:

No...the different year model 350/3500 have their own gvwr/gawrs and are what they are.

I disagree especially when talking about what a truck can handle. There will be a huge difference in towing 13k with a 98 SRW F350 versus a 2014 Ram 2500. Year model will play a big role.

JIMNLIN wrote:
We all have our own definition of what numbers defines a 3/4 ton truck.

Exactly, which is why I say these terms are subjective and can mean different things to different people.

JRscooby wrote:

ShinerBock wrote:

JRscooby wrote:

ShinerBock wrote:
RGAWR

What in sam hill is RGAWR?

Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating.

It is the weight rating of the front or rear axle system which includes axles, suspension, brakes, and tires.

I have messed with trucks my whole life. I understand Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. Front/Rear Axle Weight Rating, but when you throw "Gross" into then you are implying 2 or more axles involved...

I have too, but mainly in the medium and heavy duty industry. The front and rear have their own independent gross axle rating in every manufacturers technical specifications charts like the one below.

2014 Ram 2500 Base Weights/GCW/Payload/Trailer Tow

And it is on most door stickers like this one.

Grit dog wrote:
Is this really a serious discussion or have the last 77 posts been tongue in cheek?

I started this as a serious question after watching a F150 struggle with a 5th wheel. I don't know the wt of the trailer or capacity of the truck, but I was thinking that given the common mantra, you need a 3/4 ton for a 5th wheel, and it is technically possible to have a F150 with a 1500+ payload capacity, what is a 3/4 ton?

JIMNLIN wrote:
The F150HDPP has a 4800 rawr which is small and limits it to approx 2400-2500 lb payload in the bed.

Where does one find the RAWR for a specific truck?

Since you are going based on GAWR, does that mean the many old pre-2006 350/3500's are now considered 3/4 tons since today's 250/2500 have higher GAWRs?

No...the different year model 350/3500 have their own gvwr/gawrs and are what they are.
My reply is toward the OP 2 part connected questions about a F150 payload vs a 3/4 ton payload. And along the line some rv folks think the gvwr based payload stickers determines a trucks actual payload.

We all have our own definition of what numbers defines a 3/4 ton truck.

ShinerBock wrote:

JRscooby wrote:

ShinerBock wrote:
RGAWR

What in sam hill is RGAWR?

Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating.

It is the weight rating of the front or rear axle system which includes axles, suspension, brakes, and tires.

I have messed with trucks my whole life. I understand Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. Front/Rear Axle Weight Rating, but when you throw "Gross" into then you are implying 2 or more axles involved...

Since you are going based on GAWR, does that mean the many old pre-2006 350/3500's are now considered 3/4 tons since today's 250/2500 have higher GAWRs?

Then there were the years GM had two versions of the the 2500 in the late 90 early 2000's . The 2500LD with semi-floating axles and then the 2500HD with full floating axles. Ford also made a lighter duty F250 in the late 90's as well. Then there is the Titan XD that some say it isn't a 3/4 ton(which technically is incorrect since its GVWR is in the same class as other 250/2500 trucks) which has semi float rear axles as well. Are these still a 3/4 ton? Does everyone agree on that decision?

This is why I say is all opinion since there is no correct answer since there is not set rules or guidelines that determine where each truck goes. There is also contradicting arguments for every case too.

Is this really a serious discussion or have the last 77 posts been tongue in cheek?

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

The OP question was 2 part.
His opening line was "what defines a 3/4 ton truck ?

Then compares it to a a payload capacity from a properly equipped F150.

Payload capacity in todays high 8200-7850 gvwr F150's can and have caused overloaded rear axles especially 3100-3300 lb pay loads are placed in the bed like a truck camper or pin or bumper hitch loads. One truck camper owner found this out the hard way when he bought into his F150HDPP 2982 lb payload sticker.
The F150HDPP has a 4800 rawr which is small and limits it to approx 2400-2500 lb payload in the bed.

Enter a 3/4 ton with its much heavier duty full floater rear axle that has carried 6000-6500 + lb RAWR... 6084 lb back when the C6P chassis was the HD line in the '80 era.
The 3/4 ton truck rear axle is good for up to 3200-3400 lb in the bed payload so ....

Fords F150HDPP doesn't match up with any 3/4 ton trucks real world payload numbers.