As a car guy, people think I know the answer to just about every car related question any one could ask. But, if I’m being completely honest, there are occasions when even I’m stumped. One such occasion happened recently, when a good friend asked me what pickup truck numbers, like F-150 or 1500, mean.
It got me thinking. I know that a Ford F-250 has more payload capacity than an F-150, just like a Chevrolet Silverado 2500 is more capable than a Silverado 1500. But I didn’t know exactly what those numbers mean.
So, in an effort to answer his question and save my self a little embarrassment in the future, I took it upon myself to do some research. What I found is pretty interesting:
Pickup truck numbers reference the historical payload capacity of a pickup truck. Since modern pickup trucks have a much higher payload capacity than early pickup trucks, these designations are no longer relevant and are now used to identify the size of a pickup truck within a manufacturer’s lineup.
Basically, that’s it. They’re essentially a holdover from pickup trucks of yesteryear. Though, to get a better understanding of how these numbers came about it’s important to look at the history. First, let’s start with the definition of payload capacity since it will be important to the story.
What Is Payload Capacity?
Payload capacity is the weight your pickup truck can safely carry without being overloaded. Everything you carry in the bed and cabin, like tools, equipment, or passengers, will count towards this weight.
In a previous article, I mentioned that there are a lot of weight ratings associated with pickup trucks. To calculate payload capacity, however, you will only need to know two – gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) and curb weight.
Once you have these two numbers, the equation is simple:
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) – Curb Weight = Payload Capacity
For an example, let’s take a look at a 2022 Ford F-150. This pickup truck has a gross vehicle weight rating of 6,010 lbs. and a curb weight of 4,021 lbs. So, the equation will look like this:
6,010 lbs. – 4,021 lbs. = 1,989 lbs.
We now know that our brand new Ford F-150 has a payload capacity around 1,989 lbs. However, to make this relevant to the original question, “what do pickup truck numbers mean?”, we have to look at early pickup trucks like the 1917 Ford TT.
This pickup truck had a gross vehicle weight rating around 2,500 lbs. and a curb weight of 1,543 lbs. If we insert these numbers into our equation, we get the following:
2,500 lbs. – 1,543 lbs. = 957 lbs.
This early pickup truck has a payload capacity of almost 1,000 lbs. or 1/2-ton. Later, Ford would introduce pickup trucks with a payload capacity of 1,500 lbs. and 2,000 lbs. or 3/4-ton and 1-ton, respectively. We can start to see where these numbers come from.
Who Used Payload Capacity Numbers First?
Payload capacity has been used by most US truck manufacturers since the beginning. For example, Chevrolet introduced their first pickup trucks, aptly named Half Ton and One Ton, in 1918. That same year, Dodge introduced their first commercial pickup truck, the half-ton screen-side commercial car.
Ford, on the other hand, used the TT designation for their pickup trucks from 1917 through 1928, the AA designation from 1927 through 1932, the BB designation from 1932 through 1934, and so on.
It wasn’t until 1948, with the introduction of the first F-series pickup truck, that Ford started to use numbers to name their vehicles.
Funny enough, pickup trucks of this era already had more payload capacity than their 1/2-ton, 3/4-ton, and 1-ton designations would indicate. As an example, the 1/2-ton 1948 Ford F-1 had a payload capacity around 1,500 lbs.
Modern Pickup Truck Numbers
Ford is really responsible for modern pickup truck numbers. The first Ford F-series were called the F-1, F-2, and F-3 to differentiate between 1/2-ton, 3/4-ton, and 1-ton pickup trucks.
In 1953, Ford would change the designation to F-100, F-250, F-350. Finally, The F-150 would be introduced in 1975.
In 1960, Chevrolet started to use the C10 and C20 designation for their 1/2-ton and 3/4-ton, 2-wheel drive pickup trucks and K10 and K20 for the 4-wheel drive versions.
This would change to C/K1500, C/K2500, and C/K3500 with the introduction of their fourth generation pickup trucks in 1988. The Silverado name would replace the C/K designation in 1998 but would keep the 1500, 2500, and 3500 to differentiate between models.
Dodge started to use the 100, 200, and 300 designations with a few of their C-Series pickup trucks around 1957. But it didn’t become standard until the D-Series pickup trucks for the 1961 model year.
In 1994, Dodge began using the 1500, 2500, and 3500 for their new Ram pickups – a naming convention they still use.
The Future Of Pickup Truck Numbers
It’s impossible to predict the future – if I could I would be retired on a beach somewhere enjoying my lottery winnings. But, if history is any indication, pickup truck numbers are not likely to change any time soon.
Not only do these numbers have historical significance, they’re part of the branding, too.
Everyone knows that a F-150 is a Ford, a Silverado 1500 is a Chevy, and a Ram 1500 is (or was) a Dodge. And, since pickup trucks are selling like hotcakes, why mess with a good thing?
The latest Ford F-150 was rolled out in 2021 and the latest Silverado and Ram were rolled out in 2019. At this point, there is no indication that anything will change.
Recap
I really enjoyed the history and hope I was able to shed a little light on the question, “what do pickup truck numbers mean”?
Just to recap, modern pickup truck numbers are derived from early trucks, which, typically, had a payload capacity around 1/2-ton, 3/4-ton, and 1-ton.
As pickup trucks became more capable, these weight ratings became rather meaningless but the distinction stuck around.
Eventually, manufacturers started to use numbers as a simple way to differentiate between the models.
The numbers we have now have been around quite a while and there seems to be no indication that will change.
That’s it! Feel free to add your perspective perspective below.
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