"U.9,000" on my doors. Is this really the capacity?
 

My '69 Custom 20 LWB 3/4 ton has these stickers on each door. They look like they are probably as old as the truck. I'm assuming this is the weight the truck was rated to carry, but on the metal door plate, it says 7,500. So, which is it? Did the truck get some sort of extra add on to allow it to carry more weight, or is this sticker the 1960's equivalent of someone buying emblems from a higher end Mercedes off eBay, to put on a lower end Mercedes to make the neighbors think they've got something they don't?

Maybe I'm missing how the weight is calculated, so please let me know. Thanks

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r...c5b3e15034.jpg
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Re: "U.9,000" on my doors. Is this really the capacity?
 

Utah's registration laws that were in effect when your truck was registered required all 1/2 tons to post U6000 and 3/4 tons to post U9000 somewhere on the sides. It didn't actually reflect the manufacturer's gross weight rating. The requirement is long gone and you can get rid of it. It looks like maybe they're vinyl letters you could remove with a heat gun.

Re: "U.9,000" on my doors. Is this really the capacity?
 

Thanks man. Part of me just wants to keep them for the nostalgia. I kinda like it. In fact, if I ever repaint it factor blue and white, I'll probably have it painted back on somewhere on the side
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Re: "U.9,000" on my doors. Is this really the capacity?
 

We kind of touched on this before when you first got the truck. The max. capacity of your truck is 7500 lbs as are all C/20s IF PROPERLY EQUIPPED! The number on your fender is simply stating that your truck has a gross weight under 9000lbs for licensing purposes. Some regions had this requirement and it was often a decal or painted by a sign painter.

The earlier trucks had the one rating on the plate. Later trucks had gross, front and rear capacities for "as built" and maximum capacity. Again IF PROPERLY EQUIPPED. The Owners Handbook in all cases will show the capacity requirements. These are broken down into the spring and tire options required to meet the various capacities. Some of these old tires are very hard to find in the heavier capacities. If you have changed to tire sizes and wheels that are not listed you need to make sure they are up to the task.

Re: "U.9,000" on my doors. Is this really the capacity?
 

Ah. Makes perfect sense. So, the U likely stood for "under", which meant it was under a certain weight, and therefore didn't require a special license to operate, etc.

Tim to the rescue. Thanks again
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Re: "U.9,000" on my doors. Is this really the capacity?
 

Oh, and lol at that pic you posted. Looks like they used mailbox letters from the hardware store
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Re: "U.9,000" on my doors. Is this really the capacity?
 

Here is a chart from a '71 handbook.
If you do repaint the numbers, I have always liked them either below the front fender series emblem or on the front lowermost bedside.

Re: "U.9,000" on my doors. Is this really the capacity?
 

It used to be that they sold some nice decals that were in kind of a script. Seems like every little store had them. The 'U' stickers went away around the same time when we no longer had inspection stickers on the lower left corner of our windshields. I'd say off hand sometime in the mid to late '80's. I used to have a '88 Ford pick-up that had always been in Utah and it never did have the 'U' sticker, but now that I'm thinking of it, my kid had a '86 and I'm pretty sure it had them.

Re: "U.9,000" on my doors. Is this really the capacity?
 

Finally found a picture I've been looking for.

Re: "U.9,000" on my doors. Is this really the capacity?
 

If memory serves me right... Some states even let you register the vehicle for farm work and you then letterd the words "FARM USE" or "FARM TRUCK" on a rig, and then it was excempt from licensing laws. Didn't even need a license plate. Could only be used on the farm or for short trips "in to town" for supplies.

Gary