payload, rating, and my ignorance

From: Traci Pearson (pearsontechcomm@comcast.net)
Date: Fri Mar 02 2007 - 20:16:01 EST


Hi all!
I was talking with a friend today about
trucks--specifically the new Toyota Tundra--and
he said something about my truck (1997 Club Cab,
5.2 L V8, heavy duty towing package and
everything else, and then some...) being a "1/2 ton" truck.

Well, I had to admit my ignorance. Having never
owned a full-sized truck, and not growing up with
them, I actually have never known for sure what
"1/2 ton" and "3/4 ton", etc., means.

So, I did some asking and some research, and
apparently it applies to the truck's payload. Right?

Anyway, so I tried to look up my truck's payload.
I can't find an exact rating, but it seems to be
about 1600 or 1700 lbs. Well...1500 is 3/4 of a
ton! But...a friend's F150 has a similar payload
rating, and it's considered a half-ton truck.

So, two questions. Does that mean, if I have to
describe my truck to a "real" truck person, that
I should say it's a half-ton truck? And, if the
payload is at least 1500 lbs, why do they call that a half-ton truck?!

Thanks!
Traci

Traci Pearson
Pearson Technical Communication
Writing, Editing, Information Design • Print and Online
pearsontechcomm@comcast.net
(303) 410-9101



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