60s pickups vs modern pickups

[sodly]

Just out of curiosity, has anyone ever compared specs (towing capacity, cargo capacity, axle weight ratings, etc.) of the 60-66 pickups in relation to a modern Chevy/GMC pickup? I know today's trucks are much more capable than they used to be (relative to their size) but I've never actually quantified it. How would a 1966 C20 stack up against a 2014 2500 Silverado/Sierra? Would a 3/4 ton from the 60s... even with its full-floating rear axle... be closer in ability to a 1500 of today? Have pickups improved/changed that much over the years? I'm not sure since I'm not that up on the newer trucks. Has anyone ever made that comparison? I would be curious to know how things have changed.... or not. Obviously, today's truck are MUCH more powerful than ours ever were. You see pickups nowadays pulling loads that would've required a semi not too many years ago. And brakes are much better. But those two things aside, how do they stack up against each other? Any thoughts?

[LVPhotos]

Brakes and frame account for GVW. Just because it can pull it doesn't mean it will stop it. My diesel will pull 30k. My 62 c-10 is rated at 5000lbs now buddy's truck is 9200lbs. It is 5.3 Chevy which is about 327 cui.

[sodly]

If I'm reading the specs correctly, a 1500 Silverado regular cab has a GVWR of 6800 lbs. For some reason the crew cabs let you have more GVWR than the standard cabs. You can spec a crew cab up to 7200 lbs GVWR... just 300 lbs. less than a 66 C20!

And even with the old C20s big drum brakes I would think a new Silverado might just handle more towing, too.

[66Submarine]

Originally Posted by sodly

If I'm reading the specs correctly, a 1500 Silverado regular cab has a GVWR of 6800 lbs. For some reason the crew cabs let you have more GVWR than the standard cabs. You can spec a crew cab up to 7200 lbs GVWR... just 300 lbs. less than a 66 C20!

And even with the old C20s big drum brakes I would think a new Silverado might just handle more towing, too.

Also check the curb weight of a '66 C20 vs. a new 1500 Silverado when you're comparing:

1966 C20 is something like 3,900lbs; 2014 1500 Silverado LWB regular cab is something like 4,600-4,700 (crew cab is 5,000-5,100).

The GVWR has gone up, but a "half ton" truck is also over 1,000lbs heavier than it was back in '66; not really a direct comparison IMO.

A '66 C30 is listed at about 4,100lbs and has a 10,000lb GVWR; that's double the C10 rating and only 600lbs or so heavier! (EDIT: I'll add that I know the 10,000lb rating was for a dually instead of a SRW pickup, but I feel that's because of the tires of the time rather than the truck itself--it is exactly the same, after all.)

A 2015 LWB 3500HD is 6,000lbs and rated @ only 10,400lbs; not as spectacular in that case.

[66Submarine]

The dually trucks apparently get a 9,825lb rated rear axle and 13,500lbs GVWR, though; that's more like what I would have guessed (6,300lbs curb weight for one of those).

(EDIT: Again, to use the rating of the new dually axle with a SRW truck you'd need tires from hell--like good load range "H" 19.5's with a 16 ply rating @ 110PSI. Probably wouldn't be super popular...)

[64 wedge]

I didn't know that chevy made a truck after 1987. My 66 has more style and functionally than any new model.

[sodly]

I've just always wondered what would be a direct replacement for my 66 C20 (7500 lb. GVW) if I walked into a Chevy dealership today. Sounds like a 1500 long box would be a pretty close match, eh?

[66LSx]

old vs. new? why have them fight.... make them friends ...... old AND new

power, MPG, EFI, cruise, even selectable tow/haul mode in retro looks....
(2005 Silverado 5.3L Vortec and 4L60e)

[Revoh]

I wrote kind of a fun story about that on my blog not too long ago. I don't know if you'll learn much, but you might enjoy it anyway.

HERE IS THE LINK TO THE STORY

[sodly]

I'm also partly curious because my C20 happens to have the 327 V8 and TH400 auto transmission as options which make it rather similar to a modern truck in many key respects. I think the comparison becomes a little more of a stretch when you start comparing a straight 6/4 speed manual 60s truck with a modern truck (which would not have either of those things). They're much more apples and oranges in my mind. But contrasting todays trucks with the 1966s, with their modern 3 speed auto and the perennial small block powerplant, is rather intriguing to me.