X-Ton truck, what does that mean?

[Shrek1985]

So I am going through a book of mine, just for fun; the observer's military vehicle directory, from 1945.

And I am reminded of a subject which as always puzzled me.

When a truck is rated as, say a 2 1/2 ton truck, what does this rating refer to? Is it cargo weight? Because the M35A2 is supposed to be a 2 1/2 ton truck and it can carry 5 tons on a highway according to a book I have on Vietnam Guntrucks. So that would be an odd way to do it. And it's obviously not the gross weight of the vehicle. Our old MLVWs are/were very similar vehicle and i remember they have a gross weight in between 4 and 5 thousand kg.

Other examples would be a Faun 70-ton tank transporter or a White 20-ton truck.

I'm sure it's probably a really simple answer, i just can't figure it out and wiki didn't help.

Thanks for your time.

 

[mariomike]

When a truck is rated as, say a 2 1/2 ton truck, what does this rating refer to? 

For the M135 2 1/2 ton Cargo Truck, it meant maximum cross-country payload.

For highway operation, maximum payload was increased to 5 tons.

 

[Shrek1985]

For the M135 2 1/2 ton Cargo Truck, it meant maximum cross-country payload.

For highway operation, maximum payload was increased to 5 tons.

So for a "10 ton" truck, it can carry 10 tons cross country and 20 on road?

 

[George Wallace]

So for a "10 ton" truck, it can carry 10 tons cross country and 20 on road?

If that is what the manufacturer's specs say.  If not, NO.

 

[Shrek1985]

If that is what the manufacturer's specs say.  If not, NO.

So, it's more a general class of vehicle than a specific technical designation relating to a capability?

 

[cupper]

So, it's more a general class of vehicle than a specific technical designation relating to a capability?

That's a better description of the situation.

That's part of the reason that the designations changed to Light / Medium / Heavy.

 

[Shrek1985]

That's a better description of the situation.

That's part of the reason that the designations changed to Light / Medium / Heavy.

Hmmm, okay. My books are old sure enough, but it's so hard to get current info.

What weight classes are encompassed in light-medium-heavy?

Light .25-4.9
medium 5-10
heavy 10+

?

 

[Black Watch]

As for the HLVW, the maximum payload off-road is 10 metric tons and 16 on road. The PLS version has 11.5 tons of capacity, regardless of road condition.

 

[Shrek1985]

Thank you, this has all been very helpful.