| When shopping for trucks, you probably have | | | | cargo and tongue weight. |
| encountered the terms half-ton, three-quarter ton and | | | | Many people will measure these weights by taking |
| one ton. What do each of these terms mean? And if | | | | their loaded truck and trailer to a scale to find its |
| you buy a half-ton truck does it mean your truck | | | | weight. To determine the safe towing capacity of a |
| weights 1,000 pounds? | | | | loaded truck, one would take the GCWR and subtract |
| A half-ton truck actually does not refer to the weight | | | | the curb weight and the weight of everything in the |
| of the truck. Half-ton pickups actually weigh more than | | | | truck, including passengers and cargo. They would |
| a ton. The weight of a truck is actually described in | | | | then, take the GVWR and subtract the curb weight of |
| terms of its 'curb weight'. According to Edmunds, a | | | | the truck. Many manufacturers do not advertise these |
| 2007 half-ton pickup would normally have a curb | | | | details and only promote the towing capacity of a |
| weight of around 9000 and 11000 pounds. The term | | | | truck based on only one driver whose weight is |
| half-ton then refers to the truck's payload capacity. | | | | approximately 150 lbs. Realistically, your vehicle would |
| Payload therefore means the truck's carrying capacity | | | | have other passengers and cargo as well - all of this |
| of both cargo and passengers. And yet, statistically, | | | | adds up. |
| most modern half-ton pickups can actually carry more | | | | Other considerations when looking at purchasing a |
| than 1000 pounds. Early model trucks could carry | | | | truck for towing capacity is looking at variables such |
| only max loads of 1000 pounds, but this was back in | | | | as the engine, transmission, quality of brakes and rear |
| the 1960s. Yet, the term half-ton has stuck, even | | | | axle. |
| though it doesn't mean exactly that. But in terms of | | | | Although terminology of trucks isn't completely |
| classifying trucks, it helps to differentiate the half-ton | | | | accurate, it is still pretty much known that a half-ton |
| from the larger three-quarter-ton and one-ton vehicles. | | | | truck is known for light duty and towing capacity while |
| So, if you are looking to see how much your truck can | | | | the three-quarter-tons and one-tons have bigger |
| haul, you will want to check out the truck's specs within | | | | frames, firmer suspension and more powerful engines |
| the manual or online. Remember that also when looking | | | | for pulling larger loads. |
| for hauling capacity, you are only looking at the weight | | | | In the automotive industry, it can be difficult for |
| carried, not towed. Towing capacity is completely | | | | consumers to accurately compare truck towing |
| different than hauling capacity. | | | | performance as there is little to no criteria. This is |
| In towing capacity there are again more terms to be | | | | expected to change as the Society of Automotive |
| familiar with. One is Gross Combined Weight Rating or | | | | Engineers (SAE) has created a committee that is |
| GCWR and the other is Gross Vehicle Weight | | | | working on a standard for measuring towing capacity. |
| Rating(GVWR). GCWR is the maximum weight of a | | | | Until then, do your homework, ask questions and |
| truck, including the truck itself, cargo, passengers, fuel, | | | | evaluate your needs before purchasing your next |
| trailer and trailer cargo. The GVWR is just the | | | | truck. |
| maximum weight of vehicle including passengers, | | | | |