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, 10:35 PM

Yeah, but I want a source! The best I can find is Consumer Reports, which isn't exactly Britannica:

"The terms "half-ton" for the 1500s and "three-quarter-ton" for the 2500s are widely used but obsolete: a holdover from decades ago when the number referred to the maximum cargo weight capacity. Conversationally, the 2500-series and heavier trucks are known as "heavy duty," but that's not technically correct, either. The U.S. Government considers any truck that weighs less than 14,000 pounds, including 3500-series, to be a light-duty truck. "

12-30-2015, 10:35 PM	#4
davepl Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Redmond, WA Posts: 6,334	Re: Origin of names half-ton, one-ton, deuce and a half, etc. Yeah, but I want a source! The best I can find is Consumer Reports, which isn't exactly Britannica: "The terms "half-ton" for the 1500s and "three-quarter-ton" for the 2500s are widely used but obsolete: a holdover from decades ago when the number referred to the maximum cargo weight capacity. Conversationally, the 2500-series and heavier trucks are known as "heavy duty," but that's not technically correct, either. The U.S. Government considers any truck that weighs less than 14,000 pounds, including 3500-series, to be a light-duty truck. " __________________ 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