What is a 3/4 or 1/2 ton pickup? What does the "ton" mean?

Question

I have a 1979 C10 pickup, how do I know if its 1/2 or 3/4 ton?

Answer 1

Its based on the load capacity of the axles. If you have full floating axles, you probably have a 3/4 ton or larger. Normal axles, and full time 4wd, 1/2 ton

Answer 2

The "ton" means the total weight of the cargo and passengers that the vehicle was engineered to hold safely. In the case of a 1/2 ton that means 1,000 pounds and 3/4 ton 1,500 pounds total cargo and passenger weight.

The 1/2 ton will only have 5 lugs/bolts on the wheels and the 3/4 ton will have 8 lugs/bolts on the wheels. The differential is more substantial on the 3/4 ton too and the rear ends on 3/4 tons has four bearings inside the axle housing like a 1-ton.

And the 3/4 ton has bigger brake drums and shoes and is very much like a 1-ton rated van which only has two tires on the rear end vs. 4 tires like a 1-ton "dually". A 1-ton dually just has a hgher tongue rating and the extra tires are needed to disperse the weight of a heavy trailer but he hardware in the rear end is the same as a 3/4 ton.

There are, obviously, people who over-load 1/2 tons (for example, gravel is really heavy) but this will put the frame right down on the axle housing and can fracture the leaf springs and damage other stuff not to mention it will take you two to three times the distance to stop since the the brakes are not adequate.

Good Luck!

Answer 3

Yes a C10 is a Chevy 1/2 and is rated at 1000pounds. Also Chevy made a heavy half, it was rated at 1,400pounds and also refered to as a camper special, although it is only 100pounds different then a 3/4 ton it only has stronger springs and still has the same 5-bolt differentials as the regular 1/2's. The Chevy 1/2 only had 5-bolt wheels up in till the late 90's when they switched to 6 bolt. Also the newer Chevy 1/2's are refered to as 1500's. The 3/4 is the same truck as a 1/2 but has heavier axles with 8 bolt wheels, also they have heavier springs and are rated at 1500pounds. 1 tons are of course rated at 2000 pounds and have a stronger frame, springs and bigger 12 bolt differentials. If you need to pack a bit heavier load in you 79 C10 then it is rated for you can add another leaf to the springs to make them stronger.

Answer 4

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
What is a 3/4 or 1/2 ton pickup? What does the "ton" mean?
I have a 1979 C10 pickup, how do I know if its 1/2 or 3/4 ton?

Answer 5

A ton = 2000 pounds. So a 1/2 ton truck is rated to carry a maximum 1000 pound payload, and a 3/4 ton, 1500. Your C10 is rated as a 1/2 ton, but can handle more if it's in good shape.

Answer 6

1 2 Ton Truck

Answer 7

C10 designates 1/2 ton C 20 is 3/4 ton C 30 is 1 ton. The ton is a designation of what is is designed to carry. Look on the door post and it will tell you what your gvw is and what the gcwr. I know you are more confused than before. Unless you are using the vehicle to haul something it usually doesn't matter to most people. The GVW it the maximum amount that you are legally allowed to have on the vehicle including the weight of the vehicle. GCWR is the amount that you can haul.

Answer 8

C means 2 wheel drive K is 4 wheel drive. 10 is h1/2 ton. 20 is 3/4, 30 is 1 ton. All the way up through 60

Answer 9

1/2 ton should be 6 lug wheels, and a 3/4 ton should be 8 lug wheels this is the easiest way to tell them apart,some of the big 10,s they called 3/4 ton trucks because they had a lot heavier springs under them,and some of those also had the 8 lug wheels,the difference in them is the amount of weight they will haul safely,good luck on it.

Answer 10

1 Ton Axles