New Pick em up Trucks

[Heywood Jannockitov]

...but after owning 2 3/4 tons and 3 1 ton SRW trucks I can tell you the 3/4 tons were a waste of money for me when I found out like Builder did you can get a 1 ton SRW for $500 to $600 more than a 3/4 ton and have 1000# to 1500# more payload with the same size truck. When it comes to towing 12,000# or more the 3/4 tons take a hurting but the 1 tons SRW still feels stable and safe.
Chris

I pretty much agree with the 1 ton SRW sentiments expressed by Builder and MU-300 pilot. I don't think 3/4 tons are useless though. Although 1 ton SRW Dodges weren't available in 1995 when I got my last new truck, I essentially turned it into a 1 ton (or better) by adding Firestone air helper springs. I would start to worry about stability and tire loading though if towing up in the range they are talking about. That's a lot of weight on only 2 rear tires.

If you ask me, it is 1/2 ton pickups that are useless. Yooperdave's photo validates this. For a vehicle the size of a full-size pickup, it should START with a payload of 1500-2000 lbs. A 1/2 ton is great if you want to carry a full load of ping pong balls or rigid styrofoam insulation. The manufacturers have finessed the suspensions to the point that even 1 ton duallies ride pretty good.
A japanese kei mini truck will support almost as much as a full size 1/2 ton.

 

[Diamondpilot]

You validate my point. You spent the money to add bags when you could have gotten a SRW 1 ton for about the same money and had a better resale and a truck you would not have had to modify with bags.

Good catch on the MU-300. I also fly a NA265-65 and a C-525 for jets. The list is long for the Turbo Props although I have not been in one since 2000. The NA265-65 should keep a few stumped for awhile.

Chris

 

[Heywood Jannockitov]

I only added the air springs when I got the Sooner 3-horse with LQ. Couldn't get a 1 ton SRW in 95. Wasn't interested in a duallie.
Because the LQ made the trailer front-heavy, I needed them. My previous trailer was a bigger 4 horse head-to-head, but without LQ, I didn't need the helper springs for it.

If you want to believe it , or not, according to the Sooner dealer who sold me the trailer, if I had a "new" 1 ton SRW or duallie, I'd still need the air helper springs. He says all the new trucks, even duallies are under-sprung, and benefit from them. He wasn't trying to sell me springs because that is not part of his business.
Weren't Sabreliners the first purpose-built bizjets? Or was that the Jetstar?

 

[Diamondpilot]

The Sabre/Jetstar fight will go on forever. I see you know your flying machines.

Chris

 

[Heywood Jannockitov]

The Sabre/Jetstar fight will go on forever.

Oh no, not another Gear vs. HST debate!

I see you know your flying machines.

Luv 'em!

 

[slowzuki]

I was pretty shocked when I started looking into the load and towing capacities in light trucks these days. A few differences in options means the difference in towing 3500 lb or up to I think it was 7000 lb+ with an F-150.

The 250 vs 350 debate is pretty complicated too, as when optioned a certain way, all you get in the 350 is slightly heavier rate springs and worse ride. The 250 with airbags may be the better way to go if you drive it every day.

The trucks from today are quite a different story from the 70's. Back then some half tons came with spindly little axles while some 3/4 tons came with what were 1 ton rear axles in the next decade. The 1/2 tons back then all came with terrible brakes.

No doubt some of them where sprung stiff enough to take a load, but the flexy frames, weak brakes etc certainly wouldn't be up to it long term.

 

[Builder]

I was pretty shocked when I started looking into the load and towing capacities in light trucks these days. A few differences in options means the difference in towing 3500 lb or up to I think it was 7000 lb+ with an F-150.

The 250 vs 350 debate is pretty complicated too, as when optioned a certain way, all you get in the 350 is slightly heavier rate springs and worse ride. The 250 with airbags may be the better way to go if you drive it every day.

The ride is actually almost identical in most 3/4 & 1-ton SRW's F-250/F-350.

The reason is because of the helper on top on a 1-ton. The helper on top of a 1-ton spring doesn't touch the overload pads until the truck has at least 1,500lbs on it. The 3/4 ton springs don't usually have the upper overload springs. So empty, they ride almost identical. Now when they're loaded heavily, the 1-ton helper touches the overload pads and helps stabilize the load. The standard 3/4 ton spring just flattens out and errodes the handling quality of the truck.

 

[asylum575]

Heywood wrote:
"If you ask me, it is 1/2 ton pickups that are useless. Yooperdave's photo validates this. For a vehicle the size of a full-size pickup, it should START with a payload of 1500-2000 lbs. A 1/2 ton is great if you want to carry a full load of ping pong balls or rigid styrofoam insulation."

I disagree, the 1/2 ton trucks work well with a do-it-yourself homeowner kinda guy. They're great for picking up materials at a home store or loading firewood. I have a 3/4 ton and have only had one time in the last two years that a 1/2 ton would not do what I needed. A 1/2 ton can tow up to 7000lbs, not that I would go that high with one.
If your're in business, doing real hauling or plowing snow, no way. You have to go to a HD and then youe might as well go for the 1 ton for the small difference in price.
They sell alot of 1/2 tons and if they weren't up to the task, the manufacturers would stop making them before performing all the warranty work. Most 1/2 ton buyers won't take it anywhere near the max performance ratings. Anyone who might push it, are smart enough to know to go for a bigger truck.

 

[shvl73]

If you ask me, it is 1/2 ton pickups that are useless. Yooperdave's photo validates this. For a vehicle the size of a full-size pickup, it should START with a payload of 1500-2000 lbs. A 1/2 ton is great if you want to carry a full load of ping pong balls or rigid styrofoam insulation. The manufacturers have finessed the suspensions to the point that even 1 ton duallies ride pretty good.
A japanese kei mini truck will support almost as much as a full size 1/2 ton.

I would think it would depend on the desired use whether it is a 150, 250, or larger that is needed. For a truck that is, for the most part a commuter vehicle, our F150 certainly meets our needs. It pulls the horse trailer, hauls the wood pellets (full pallet), hay and shavings and still has a car like ride with good interior room and reasonable fuel mileage for what it is. To each his own I guess.

 

[Heywood Jannockitov]

They sell alot of 1/2 tons and if they weren't up to the task, the manufacturers would stop making them before performing all the warranty work. Most 1/2 ton buyers won't take it anywhere near the max performance ratings. Anyone who might push it, are smart enough to know to go for a bigger truck.

I would hazard a guess that most 1/2 ton P/U buyers almost never put anything in the back. Many are bought because for years that was about all you could buy if you wanted something with a big throaty V8 and rear wheel drive. For occasional use picking up building supplies or throwing some firewood in, you can do the same thing with a 4x8 box trailer towed behind a Saturn, or at least a compact pickup. My point was really, that for the physical size of a vehicle such as an F150, it should have better standard payload.