The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network - View Single Post - Origin of names half-ton, one-ton, deuce and a half, etc.

davepl · 12-30-2015, 10:08 PM

What did these things mean initially? I assumed when I was a kid it had something to do with cargo capacity, but 1000lbs isn't much. Maybe that's all a 1/2 ton pickup can carry?

Then I thought maybe it was the weight of the frame, an indication of structural capacity, but not likely.

If you know, let me know, and how you know (I already have the 'thought that when I was a kid' and 'Dad always told me that' answers sewn up, looking for something more authoritative).

12-30-2015, 10:08 PM	#1
davepl Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Redmond, WA Posts: 6,334	Origin of names half-ton, one-ton, deuce and a half, etc. What did these things mean initially? I assumed when I was a kid it had something to do with cargo capacity, but 1000lbs isn't much. Maybe that's all a 1/2 ton pickup can carry? Then I thought maybe it was the weight of the frame, an indication of structural capacity, but not likely. If you know, let me know, and how you know (I already have the 'thought that when I was a kid' and 'Dad always told me that' answers sewn up, looking for something more authoritative). __________________ 1970 GMC Sierra Grande Custom Camper - Built, not Bought 1969 Pontiac 2+2 427/390 4-speed Coupe 1969 Pontiac 2+2 427/390 4-speed Convertible