Can an F-150 be a 3/4 ton truck?

[Pelican]

Forgive me if this has be discussed, but I could not locate a thread on this specific topic. My truck has a payload capacity of 1,743 and a towing capacity of 11,600lbs. If a ton is 2k lbs, isn't my truck technically a 3/4 truck if ratings (1/2 ton, 3/4 ton, etc) were based on payload? I understand people refer to a 3/4 ton as an F-250, but by the capabilities of today's trucks, if properly equiped, an F-150 is a 3/4 ton truck. I'm speaking strickly about the numbers, not about feelings (i.e. I would feel more comfortable hauling an 10k trailer with an F-250 b/c it has a larger frame, axels, diesel, etc). I say that about feelings because I believe the frame on a F-150 today is much stronger thus more capable than in the year when trucks were categorized as a 1/2 ton, 3/4, etc.

This is my first full-size truck. I'm not trying to start an arguement, I'm just trying to understand.

Thank you in advance for your thoughts.

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[12Lariat21]

Short answer is yes, your truck is technically a 7/8 ton truck or should be called an F-170... An F-150 in 2022 has more towing capacity than an f250 from 2002, its still just short on payload, a 2002 F250 has payload of 2,000lbs or a bit more.

The terms are outdated, and don't mean anything anymore, except for a general guidance to the capability of the truck, but you could just as easily call them A,B,C.

Back in the 1920's when pickup trucks came about, the term actually meant the capacity of the truck, so a 1/2 ton truck had a payload of 1000 lbs.

I never put much thought into it until they brought the Ranger back and I thought it was huge, compared the last generation. The new Ranger is the size and capacity of a 90's F-150.

 

[12Lariat21]

Well holy crap. The ranger is almost a 'one ton' truck!

 

[Pelican]

Short answer is yes, your truck is technically a 7/8 ton truck or should be called an F-170... An F-150 in 2022 has more towing capacity than an f250 from 2002, its still just short on payload, a 2002 F250 has payload of 2,000lbs or a bit more.

The terms are outdated, and don't mean anything anymore, except for a general guidance to the capability of the truck, but you could just as easily call them A,B,C.

Back in the 1920's when pickup trucks came about, the term actually meant the capacity of the truck, so a 1/2 ton truck had a payload of 1000 lbs.

I never put much thought into it until they brought the Ranger back and I thought it was huge, compared the last generation. The new Ranger is the size and capacity of a 90's F-150.

Thank you for the feedback. I appreciate it. Yes, the new Ranger is a lot bigger now. I had a 1993, 1995 and then a 2002. Those all seemed to be about the same physical size in appearance, but the new one is definitely a step up. Take care

 

[Pelican]

Well holy crap. The ranger is almost a 'one ton' truck!

That is wild. A Ranger, properly equipped has more payload capacity than my new F-150. That's it, I'm taking out all my seats but the one for the driver (maybe the carpet, too)

 

[Snakebitten]

F150 special order. (My brother)

You can drop 1000lbs on the bumper or a pin and still have more Payload left than the average F150.
If only Ford would let you put the Powerboost in it for that generator.

 

[hotrodmex]

Yes.

If only Ford would let you put the Powerboost in it for that generator.

Or on a trim higher than 301a!

 

[Snakebitten]

Yes.


Or on a trim higher than 301a!

You can add just about everything in the 302A a-la-cart, but you aren't going to get a heated seats or electric passenger seat no matter how hard you try.

Still, it's a unicorn truck when it arrives.

 

[GDN]

If you go back in time you will find half ton trucks that are beefed up some and referred to as a heavy half. I can't define what they were, I believe they had an extra spring or two, but it was a half ton truck with some extra payload.

 

[Pelican]

If you go back in time you will find half ton trucks that are beefed up some and referred to as a heavy half. I can't define what they were, I believe they had an extra spring or two, but it was a half ton truck with some extra payload.

Interesting. That makes me think about a '70's F-100 I was considering buying a few years ago.
It had the camper package with a 351 (I think). It felt like I was driving a brick with an engine - a lot of power with what seemed like no control (loose steering and spongy brakes)

 

[Jglew82]

If you go back in time you will find half ton trucks that are beefed up some and referred to as a heavy half. I can't define what they were, I believe they had an extra spring or two, but it was a half ton truck with some extra payload.

GM had a lot of what people referred to as "heavy Halfs" in the GMT400 platform. It was badged a 2500, had 6 lugs instead of 8, same front suspension and brakes as the 1500, an additional rear leaf, and a 9.5 rear end with duo servo brakes instead of the 8.5" with leading-trailing. Also referred to as a "light duty" 2500 with 7200gvw, whereas the heavy duty 2500 was 8 lug with higher gvw and beefier suspension. Older square bodies actually had "heavy half" badging.

 

[Mtnman1]

Forgive me if this has be discussed, but I could not locate a thread on this specific topic. My truck has a payload capacity of 1,743 and a towing capacity of 11,600lbs. If a ton is 2k lbs, isn't my truck technically a 3/4 truck if ratings (1/2 ton, 3/4 ton, etc) were based on payload? I understand people refer to a 3/4 ton as an F-250, but by the capabilities of today's trucks, if properly equiped, an F-150 is a 3/4 ton truck. I'm speaking strickly about the numbers, not about feelings (i.e. I would feel more comfortable hauling an 10k trailer with an F-250 b/c it has a larger frame, axels, diesel, etc). I say that about feelings because I believe the frame on a F-150 today is much stronger thus more capable than in the year when trucks were categorized as a 1/2 ton, 3/4, etc.

This is my first full-size truck. I'm not trying to start an arguement, I'm just trying to understand.

Thank you in advance for your thoughts.

Outdated terms. Show me a F150 or 1500, etc, with only 1k payload. Cant do it. Modern 1/2 tons are able to handle more than a 3/4 ton from the 80's or 90's.

 

[Pelican]

Outdated terms. Show me a F150 or 1500, etc, with only 1k payload. Cant do it. Modern 1/2 tons are able to handle more than a 3/4 ton from the 80's or 90's.

I thought so, but I didn't want to assume and I never really paid much attention to this type of detail until I bought an F-150. Thank you

 

[Bryan Simon]

GM had a lot of what people referred to as "heavy Halfs" in the GMT400 platform. It was badged a 2500, had 6 lugs instead of 8, same front suspension and brakes as the 1500, an additional rear leaf, and a 9.5 rear end with duo servo brakes instead of the 8.5" with leading-trailing. Also referred to as a "light duty" 2500 with 7200gvw, whereas the heavy duty 2500 was 8 lug with higher gvw and beefier suspension. Older square bodies actually had "heavy half" badging.

73-87 had 3 different payload packages that were available
4900GVW was the base pickup suspension---payload in the 500lb range
5400GVW was in the middle. a bit beefier front springs and maybe 3 rear leafs
6200GVW had heavy front springs, 7 rear leafs, front stabilizer, oversize radiator, finned drums.
payload right at 1500lb.
These trucks could actually be built completely a'la'carte
Mine has the good suspension stuff and came new with L78 radials and 8" steel wheels (Not Rallys).
Truck was retired about 12-13 years ago with 420,000 and its just sitting at the side of the house now, rotting away.

C-20/C25 3/4 ton trucks started with:
6400GVW -----not much of an improvement over the 6200lb 1/2 ton
But, you did get bigger brakes, a 14" rear end with fully floating axles available and 8 lug 16.5 wheels.

Pretty sure that Ford had similar packages available back then as well.

My 2021 XLT 301A SuperCab 8' box 5.0 and 3.31 locking rear-----2003LB payload

 

[Pelican]

73-87 had 3 different payload packages that were available
4900GVW was the base pickup suspension---payload in the 500lb range
5400GVW was in the middle. a bit beefier front springs and maybe 3 rear leafs
6200GVW had heavy front springs, 7 rear leafs, front stabilizer, oversize radiator, finned drums.
payload right at 1500lb.
These trucks could actually be built completely a'la'carte
Mine has the good suspension stuff and came new with L78 radials and 8" steel wheels (Not Rallys).
Truck was retired about 12-13 years ago with 420,000 and its just sitting at the side of the house now, rotting away.

C-20/C25 3/4 ton trucks started with:
6400GVW -----not much of an improvement over the 6200lb 1/2 ton
But, you did get bigger brakes, a 14" rear end with fully floating axles available and 8 lug 16.5 wheels.

Pretty sure that Ford had similar packages available back then as well.

My 2021 XLT 301A SuperCab 8' box 5.0 and 3.31 locking rear-----2003LB payload

Thank you for the detailed information. Things have come a long way. I bet the trucks back then felt like you were driving a box with bricks for tires. I still cannot believe how much much my truck is capable of hauling (especially yours at 2003lbs) and yet how smooth the ride is.

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