tow vehicles that *aren't* pickups
#61
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Originally Posted by NetManiac
So is this where they get the 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton, or 1 ton label from?
So, anyhoo, it would seem to me that 1/2, 3/4 or ton rating seems to be pretty loose these days as payload and towing have gone up. Thats why I wouldn't concern myself with that figure but again with the GVWR and the actual weight of the truck. That determines how much actual capacity you have both for payload and towing without colapsing your rear axle. And as I see you have a 450, you have a helluva lot!
Its really the same deal with trailers BTW. The capacity of the trailer is determined by taking the weight rating of the axles and subtracting the weight of the trailer. Thats why you might have an enclosed trailer with a rating of 7000#s ( two 3500# axles) thats only really capable of handling an SRF insted of a 930. If you load the trailer up with cabinets, generator, lights interior walls, tires, tools etc, you can rapidly overcome the trailers GVWR, which is why a lot of manufacturers offer 5000# axles optionally.
And so is your little F-250! Let me know when you get a real truck and we'll talk .
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Originally Posted by RJay
I think so, at least originally. These days I suspect its really more a class of truck thing. For example an F150 regular cab 4x4 has a curb weight of 5129, GVWR of 6850, tow capacity of 8400. While the Super cab version weight 5577 with a GVWR of 7200 and a tow capacity of 9200. While the gross payload of these trucks is roughly 3/4 of a ton, I believe they are considered 1/2 tons as you have to factor optional equipment, somebody actually sitting in the driver seat etc. A F250 Lariat 4x4 weighs 6299 with a GVWR 8800 with a towing capacity of 14200, again with the 5.4 V-8 as above, so really over a ton (and I think the 250 is consider a 3/4). So the important point about GVWR is that although the F150 Crew can tow 9200, if you ran a trailer which weighed in at 7500#s, seemingly well within the trucks capacity, if the trailer produces 15% "tongue" weight equaling 1125 pounds, your not left with a lot of room for passengers and stuff before you exceed the vehicles GWVR. So if you needed to carry 1000 pounds of people and stuff your real towing capacity is far lower than the 9200 pound rating quoted. In fact with a 10% tongue weight you could only safely tow roughly 6000 pounds.
Originally Posted by RJay
Its really the same deal with trailers BTW. The capacity of the trailer is determined by taking the weight rating of the axles and subtracting the weight of the trailer. Thats why you might have an enclosed trailer with a rating of 7000#s ( two 3500# axles) thats only really capable of handling an SRF insted of a 930. If you load the trailer up with cabinets, generator, lights interior walls, tires, tools etc, you can rapidly overcome the trailers GVWR, which is why a lot of manufacturers offer 5000# axles optionally.
Originally Posted by RJay
Well you may have a bigger body buddy, but if I recall the 450 is a 6.0 too, so I'd say the size of my motivator is the equal of yours fat boy!
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Originally Posted by NetManiac
You are correct. Same engine and transmission. But it's more than just a bigger body. Suspension, brakes, wheels (19.5" ), diff, etc. Soon after I got it I pulled up next to an Excursion and looked down in it. It was then that I knew I had a BIG truck (Crew Cab 4X4 Dually).
Won't make that mistake again. I'm saving my pennys for my next truck, say in another 6 or seven years. Pulling out all the stops... gotta have a Unimog one day. That way, if I can't beat the competition on track, I can at least roll over them off it
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Just to muddy the waters around the Ford 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton, 1 ton, etc. trucks....those who are bit more "experienced", "mature" like myself may remember way back in the '70s and prior when Ford's 1/2 ton truck was the F100. the F150 started as the "Heavy Duty 1/2 Ton". Never could figure out why to by one of those when the F250 should be the entry level truck!
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Wow, this info is both timely and indispensible. Thanks all, for a superb thread, and especially to RJay for the lesson in how to figure out all the specific numbers!
Edward
Edward
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Originally Posted by RJay
Won't make that mistake again. I'm saving my pennys for my next truck, say in another 6 or seven years. Pulling out all the stops... gotta have a Unimog one day. That way, if I can't beat the competition on track, I can at least roll over them off it
Yeah baby. Now THAT's a tow vehicle. I'd dig having a Unimog as a tow vehicle. Heck, I'd dig having a Unimog period.