Why's it called a 2 ton??? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Nobighurry · 05-20-2019, 12:29 PM

So my 1970 C60 has a 2 ton designation - but why? The doggone thing ways 10k pounds and payload is 14000. So where does the 2 ton come from? How much the tire weighs??? HAHA

rpmerf · 05-20-2019, 01:00 PM

14K - 10K = 4k = 2 tons. 14K is the total weight of vehicle and payload

C10 - C90 Bill · 05-20-2019, 02:24 PM

Actually, I believe his GVW is 24,000.

But good question, I've always wondered that myself.

Even a 1-Ton. My old '64 C-30 weighed 5,000 and carried 5,000.

Nothing 1-Ton about it, lol.

Nobighurry · 05-20-2019, 07:20 PM

You are correct my Va based friend. My gvw is 24000. Kinda goofy telling people I have a 2 ton truck but I have no idea why it is called that. I just change the subject.

C10 - C90 Bill · 05-20-2019, 08:25 PM

Even my 9500. I would not refer to it as a 3-Ton, I would just say Tandem or sometimes Twin Screw Tandem.

But for some reason, 1-Ton and 2-Ton names stuck.

1976gmc20 · 05-20-2019, 09:53 PM

Well, it probably started out that way, then as years went by the empty weight and load capacity increased but the nomenclature stayed the same:

C-10 "half ton"
C-20 "three quarter ton"
C-30 "one ton"
C-40 "ton and a half"
C-50 "two ton"
C-60 "two and a half ton"
etc etc etc

My old C-50 GVW was 16K# but I think it only weighed about 6K# cab and chassis. Geez, half ton pickups weigh about that much these days.

In those days, there was no GCVW so I could safely ignore that

Killer Bee · 05-20-2019, 11:29 PM

I get asked this question a lot, here ya go

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truck_classification

C10 - C90 Bill · 05-21-2019, 12:26 AM

Interesting link.

Ton Rating well explained.

Thanks for posting it.

**special-K** · 05-21-2019, 09:25 PM

Why do they call it a 2 x 4 when they measure 1 1/2" x 3 1/2"?

It's just a nominal term for identification purposes. It's not the payload, but it's simpler to say. Plus, within the same series the payload can differ. Even a 1/2t pickup has different GVWs by engine. I had a SRW K3500 regular cab w/bucket seats with a 9,200 GVW. DRW would have given it 10,000 GVW. That's an 800# difference. How much more weight do you think DRWs, crew cab, carrying 2-4 more men would add? Mine would have more payload. Even GVW is relevant.

Gokart Mozart · 05-30-2019, 09:29 PM

So my 72 C50 is considered a class 7 because it has a 31,000 lb rating, 8,000 front springs and 23,000 rear?

Nobighurry · 05-30-2019, 10:09 PM

My c60 have 24k rears and 9k fronts. My gvw is 24k which is what the dot is going to hold me to. I'd never try to go over the 24k.

C10 - C90 Bill · 05-30-2019, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gokart Mozart

So my 72 C50 is considered a class 7 because it has a 31,000 lb rating, 8,000 front springs and 23,000 rear?

If your truck was factory built that way, it should have been a C-60. I never heard of a C-50 with that much GVW.

Airdirect · 05-31-2019, 03:09 AM

My C70 has a GVW of 25,160, 9000 front, 16,160 rear. The rear axle is a Eaton 17201 which is capable of 23,000 lbs.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=721374

jerry.t · 05-31-2019, 06:44 PM

kinda on the same subject, why are there wide fender c50's, and narrow fender c60's ? seems like a 60 has a higher GVW than a 50. which is why the wider fenders and axles are used. but i am seeing them in either option

Gokart Mozart · 05-31-2019, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C10 - C90 Bill

If your truck was factory built that way, it should have been a C-60. I never heard of a C-50 with that much GVW.

I was told it was a 50. could be a 60. what do you think?

Nobighurry · 05-31-2019, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gokart Mozart

I was told it was a 50. could be a 60. what do you think?

It's a c50. First number in serial number designates the size.

C10 - C90 Bill · 05-31-2019, 06:56 PM

It looks like you do have a C-50, but to go in deeper detail, it seems like you have a 5000 Lb Front Axle (F-050) with 8000 Lb Springs on it. What does your GVW Plate state?

Nobighurry · 05-31-2019, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gokart Mozart

I was told it was a 50. could be a 60. what do you think?

You should have a metal plate on drivers side door jam that designates the gvw.

C10 - C90 Bill · 05-31-2019, 06:59 PM

Nobighurry, looks like we are both posting at the same time, lol. One minute apart on the last 3.

Nobighurry · 05-31-2019, 07:04 PM

Yet again, great minds think alike.

Gokart Mozart · 05-31-2019, 07:16 PM

Ok. Guess it's "only" 24,000 gvwr.

Nobighurry · 05-31-2019, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gokart Mozart

Ok. Guess it's "only" 24,000 gvwr.

Yep. I work my truck and 24k gvw is plenty. I wouldn't want any more with the old style single stage master cylinder. Braking is important.

Gokart Mozart · 05-31-2019, 07:37 PM

Working on lowering weight capacity and increasing stopping capability.

C10 - C90 Bill · 05-31-2019, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gokart Mozart

Ok. Guess it's "only" 24,000 gvwr.

Even that is pretty heavy for a C-50. I believe most C-50's have a GVW of 19,500.

Nobighurry · 05-31-2019, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C10 - C90 Bill

Even that is pretty heavy for a C-50. I believe most C-50's have a GVW of 19,500.

I agree. It looks like it has the heavy 10 lug wheels.

05-20-2019, 12:29 PM	#1
Nobighurry Registered User Join Date: May 2017 Location: Lexington SC Posts: 119	Why's it called a 2 ton??? So my 1970 C60 has a 2 ton designation - but why? The doggone thing ways 10k pounds and payload is 14000. So where does the 2 ton come from? How much the tire weighs??? HAHA

05-20-2019, 01:00 PM	#2
rpmerf Registered User Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Parkville, MD Posts: 1,024	Re: Why's it called a 2 ton??? 14K - 10K = 4k = 2 tons. 14K is the total weight of vehicle and payload __________________ 1970 C20 Custom Camper - 350, TH350 1997 GMC Suburban 1994 Acura Integra GSR 1987 Dodge Daytona Shelby Z

05-20-2019, 02:24 PM	#3
C10 - C90 Bill Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Moneta, VA USA Posts: 3,087	Re: Why's it called a 2 ton??? Actually, I believe his GVW is 24,000. But good question, I've always wondered that myself. Even a 1-Ton. My old '64 C-30 weighed 5,000 and carried 5,000. Nothing 1-Ton about it, lol. __________________ '60-'72 Chev/GMC Fan GMC 9500 Fan Detroit Diesel Fan

05-20-2019, 07:20 PM	#4
Nobighurry Registered User Join Date: May 2017 Location: Lexington SC Posts: 119	Re: Why's it called a 2 ton??? You are correct my Va based friend. My gvw is 24000. Kinda goofy telling people I have a 2 ton truck but I have no idea why it is called that. I just change the subject.

05-20-2019, 08:25 PM	#5
C10 - C90 Bill Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Moneta, VA USA Posts: 3,087	Re: Why's it called a 2 ton??? Even my 9500. I would not refer to it as a 3-Ton, I would just say Tandem or sometimes Twin Screw Tandem. But for some reason, 1-Ton and 2-Ton names stuck. __________________ '60-'72 Chev/GMC Fan GMC 9500 Fan Detroit Diesel Fan

05-20-2019, 09:53 PM	#6
1976gmc20 Registered User Join Date: May 2015 Location: Montana Posts: 3,696	Re: Why's it called a 2 ton??? Well, it probably started out that way, then as years went by the empty weight and load capacity increased but the nomenclature stayed the same: C-10 "half ton" C-20 "three quarter ton" C-30 "one ton" C-40 "ton and a half" C-50 "two ton" C-60 "two and a half ton" etc etc etc My old C-50 GVW was 16K# but I think it only weighed about 6K# cab and chassis. Geez, half ton pickups weigh about that much these days. In those days, there was no GCVW so I could safely ignore that __________________ Current/past Chevy/GMC trucks: 1958 Chevy C-60; 1965 GMC C-50; 1965 Chevy C-10; 1971 Chevy K-10; 1973 Chevy K-20; 1976 GMC C-20; 1977 Chevy C-10 Suburban; 1980 Chevy K-10; 1989 Chevy K1500; 1991 GMC V1500 Suburban; 2016 Chevy K2500 HD Other vehicles: 1988 Jeep XJ; 2011 Toyota 4Runner

05-20-2019, 11:29 PM	#7
Killer Bee Registered User Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Barber City, CA Posts: 4,809	Re: Why's it called a 2 ton??? I get asked this question a lot, here ya go https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truck_classification __________________ *I started out with nothing - and I still have most of it*

05-21-2019, 12:26 AM	#8
C10 - C90 Bill Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Moneta, VA USA Posts: 3,087	Re: Why's it called a 2 ton??? Interesting link. Ton Rating well explained. Thanks for posting it. __________________ '60-'72 Chev/GMC Fan GMC 9500 Fan Detroit Diesel Fan

05-21-2019, 09:25 PM	#9
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Re: Why's it called a 2 ton??? Why do they call it a 2 x 4 when they measure 1 1/2" x 3 1/2"? It's just a nominal term for identification purposes. It's not the payload, but it's simpler to say. Plus, within the same series the payload can differ. Even a 1/2t pickup has different GVWs by engine. I had a SRW K3500 regular cab w/bucket seats with a 9,200 GVW. DRW would have given it 10,000 GVW. That's an 800# difference. How much more weight do you think DRWs, crew cab, carrying 2-4 more men would add? Mine would have more payload. Even GVW is relevant. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~ Last edited by special-K; 06-01-2019 at 06:06 AM.

05-30-2019, 09:29 PM	#10
Gokart Mozart Registered User Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Detroit Posts: 432	Re: Why's it called a 2 ton??? So my 72 C50 is considered a class 7 because it has a 31,000 lb rating, 8,000 front springs and 23,000 rear?

05-30-2019, 10:09 PM	#11
Nobighurry Registered User Join Date: May 2017 Location: Lexington SC Posts: 119	Re: Why's it called a 2 ton??? My c60 have 24k rears and 9k fronts. My gvw is 24k which is what the dot is going to hold me to. I'd never try to go over the 24k.

05-31-2019, 03:09 AM	#13
Airdirect Registered User Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Powderly Texas Posts: 306	Re: Why's it called a 2 ton??? My C70 has a GVW of 25,160, 9000 front, 16,160 rear. The rear axle is a Eaton 17201 which is capable of 23,000 lbs. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=721374 Attached Images

05-31-2019, 06:44 PM	#14
jerry.t Registered User Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: okc okla Posts: 13	Re: Why's it called a 2 ton??? kinda on the same subject, why are there wide fender c50's, and narrow fender c60's ? seems like a 60 has a higher GVW than a 50. which is why the wider fenders and axles are used. but i am seeing them in either option

05-31-2019, 06:56 PM	#17
C10 - C90 Bill Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Moneta, VA USA Posts: 3,087	Re: Why's it called a 2 ton??? It looks like you do have a C-50, but to go in deeper detail, it seems like you have a 5000 Lb Front Axle (F-050) with 8000 Lb Springs on it. What does your GVW Plate state? __________________ '60-'72 Chev/GMC Fan GMC 9500 Fan Detroit Diesel Fan

05-31-2019, 06:59 PM	#19
C10 - C90 Bill Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Moneta, VA USA Posts: 3,087	Re: Why's it called a 2 ton??? Nobighurry, looks like we are both posting at the same time, lol. One minute apart on the last 3. __________________ '60-'72 Chev/GMC Fan GMC 9500 Fan Detroit Diesel Fan



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05-31-2019, 07:04 PM	#20
Nobighurry Registered User Join Date: May 2017 Location: Lexington SC Posts: 119	Re: Why's it called a 2 ton??? Yet again, great minds think alike.

05-31-2019, 07:16 PM	#21
Gokart Mozart Registered User Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Detroit Posts: 432	Re: Why's it called a 2 ton??? Ok. Guess it's "only" 24,000 gvwr. Attached Images

05-31-2019, 07:37 PM	#23
Gokart Mozart Registered User Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Detroit Posts: 432	Re: Why's it called a 2 ton??? Working on lowering weight capacity and increasing stopping capability.

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