What is considered a 1 ton truck?

The 1-ton truck is arguably the big papa of light-duty trucks. However, the true meaning of “1-ton trucks” gives most people, including seasoned automotive enthusiasts, the slip. And with good reason too.

The truth is that classifications have changed significantly since the introduction of the first light-duty trucks. Read on to find out how.

What Is A 1 Ton Truck

A 1 Ton Truck or should we say Truck classification was the capability of the one ton truck to carry 2000 lbs, but now a lot of the newer one ton trucks can carry more.

History of the 1 Ton Truck

Before the 1960s and during World Wars 1 and 2, one-ton trucks were primarily the preserve of the army.

Military uses for these trucks included:

  • Moving supplies
  • Transporting personnel
  • Artillery and munitions

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At the time, a one-ton was simply a truck that had a maximum payload capacity of up to 2000 pounds or about 907 kilograms.

But what is payload capacity anyway?

It is simply the weight that a truck can carry. It encompasses passengers and any cargo in the cabin or on the truck’s bed.

However, the payload capacity does not include the weight of the empty vehicle i.e. curb weight. An empty vehicle in this case means one with no passengers or cargo.

Present-day definition of what is a 1 ton truck.

Here is where things get a little bit confusing. Today car makers do not use the term “one-ton truck” as a strict payload capacity rating.

Instead, carmakers use the term as a general classification for medium-duty pickup trucks that have a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of above 10,001 pounds and up to 16,000 pounds.

As per federal classifications, this means that what is a 1 ton truck range between Class 3 and 4

It is worth noting that GVWR refers to the maximum total weight that a truck can carry.

This includes the weight of the vehicle itself, passengers, and any cargo on the vehicle or in tow.

Most importantly, modern one-ton trucks can carry loads that are way higher than the traditional 2000 pound limit.

In fact, most are capable of carrying a payload of up to 4000 pounds (just over 1,800 kilograms) while some can even carry payloads of over 7,000 pounds (over 3,175 kilograms).

On top of that, some of the latest one-ton trucks are advertised as being capable of towing loads of up to 37,000 pounds.

Considering that car manufacturers keep improving the specifications of their trucks, the carrying and towing capabilities of one-ton trucks are likely to keep increasing.

Furthermore, the car industry lacks standardization when it comes to performance criteria like towing capacity.

Therefore, the only way to know a truck’s true capacity is to look at its published payload rating, towing capacity or GVWR.

1 Ton Pickup Truck

If you are planning to get a one-ton truck, you can expect to find any of the following features:

  • Four-wheel drive
  • Dual rear wheels to support towing
  • Gas and diesel options
  • Built-in trailer brakes
  • Powerful powertrains

Nonetheless, if you are going for a one-ton truck, you can also expect the following disadvantages:

  • They are bulky, which makes it more challenging to drive them
  • They have poor fuel economy due to their heavier capabilities
  • Relatively less ride comfort than smaller trucks
  • They are pricey

how much does a 1 ton truck weigh

A 1 ton truck can weigh up to 9900 lbs or even more for these pickup trucks depending on manufacturer and legal limits they have to follow upon.

how much weight can a 1 ton truck carry

A key metric to look out for when handling a one-ton truck is the gross combined vehicle weight rating (GCVWR). This metric represents the combined weight of a loaded truck and its trailer.

According to Federal regulations, you need a commercial driver’s license (CDL) to operate any one-ton truck whose GCVWR is above 26,000 and where the gross weight of the trailer is above 10,000 pounds.

how much can a 1 ton truck tow

For example, if you are driving a truck with a GVWR of 16,000 pounds and towing a trailer with a gross weight of 11,000 pounds, you need a CDL.

However, you will not need a CDL if the gross weight of the trailer is below 10,001 pounds.

For example, you can drive a truck whose GVWR is 16,100 pounds and tow a trailer weighing 10,000 pounds without a CDL.

The best way around the CDL issue is to keep the GCVWR below 26,000 pounds.

what does a 1 ton truck mean

This clearly means you can a have a cargo of 1 ton or 2000 lbs of weight in your cargo area of the pickup truck and it also refers to the size of the pickup truck that is understood as the super size of the pickup truck line.

One-ton trucks in the market.

People shopping for a one-ton truck have several options to choose from.

These include:

  • The Ford F-450 Super Duty truck
  • General Motor’s Chevy Silverado 3500HD
  • The GMC Sierra 3500HD
  • The Ram 3500
  • The Ram 4500
  • The Ford F-350 Super Duty

What about pricing?

Buying one of the latest 1-ton pickup truck is likely to set you back at least $35,000 for a model with basic features.

Any additional features will drive the cost up. For example, adding a Power Stroke diesel engine on the Ford F-350 will set you back an additional $10,500.

A 1-ton truck with all additional features may cost close to $90,000.

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Conclusion

The 1-ton truck has come very far with towing and carrying capabilities as well as the technology that goes into them.

Most 1-ton truck buyers are buying these trucks to make them work for the job they are required for.

When it comes to buying one of these 1-ton trucks not everyone is looking for the same options as most people some prefer the gas model as others would rather have a diesel.

When it comes to riding comfort you may have to sacrifice ride quality compared to the lighter duty pickup trucks that are offered to you today.

All in all the 1-ton truck is a great truck for all your hard-working needs and when you’re looking for a truck to put to work this is the truck for you.

What makes a truck a 1 ton truck?

Historically, a truck was referred to as “1-ton” based on its payload capacity of 1 ton (or 2,000 lbs.), but this classification has become very flexible since many 1-ton truck models can carry much more than that.

What is an example of a 1 ton truck?

1-Ton Truck Examples Chevy Silverado 3500HD. RAM 3500. GMC 3500. Ford F-350 Super Duty.

Is a 3500 a 1 ton truck?

1500: Half-Ton. 2500: Three-Quarter-Ton. 3500: One Ton.

What trucks are considered 1 ton trucks?

Some one-ton pickups can tow in excess of 35,000 lbs. Models are often numbered “350” or “3500” and include the Ford F-350, Chevy Silverado 3500, and Dodge Ram 3500.