I spent a bunch of time writing up a detailed reply then lost it in a network error. Drat. Let me try again.
(Disclaimer: While I dislike the outdated and inaccurate "-ton" monikers, they were used in the quoted material and are a clear way to compare models.)
watkins wrote:You have to get a real truck to get a manual in a Ram. 2500 or 3500 with a Cummins diesel. None of that pretend truck 1500 garbage.
Personally, I see no reason for 1/2 ton trucks to exist. Either get a 1/4 ton (which isnt really easy any more) or step it up to a 3/4+. People who buy 1/2 ton trucks either never load them much (buy a 1/4 ton) or overload them beyond the capabilities of the vehicle (buy a 3/4 ton or bigger). This is evidenced by all the trucks I see at work. 1500s with no hitch and no bedliner and not a scratch to be seen are the norm. Otherwise we see 1500s sagging and breaking from overloaded beds.
You are correct that 1/2 ton pickups are almost universally used for duties best accomplished by a subcompact car. However, I would not use bedliners as a benchmark; they are used by those same people to keep the bed pretty as much as they are used for truck work. Go check out a truck forum full of people who don't use their trucks as trucks, read some bedliner brand flame wars.
As for durability I can't be sure about Chrysler products, and Asian products (I'm looking at you, my dad's Tundra!) may in fact be as you describe, but Ford and GM build theirs with useful ratings and plenty of margin for those ratings. They are perfectly matched for spending the day on the road hauling 1000-2000 pounds of equipment/materials, which is a job I had. A 1/4 ton is undersized for the load and their cabs are not large enough for my comfort. A 3/4 or 1 ton may have a more bouncy ride, costs more to purchase, uses much more fuel, and costs more to maintain.
The modern 1/2 ton is also a perfect match for my up-to-6000lb camper. With the marketing-driven tow rating arms race, a modern 1/4 ton might be rated for it but may not be safe, stable, or have much margin for error. A modern 3/4 or 1 ton would be a wasteful amount of truck for the job.
I once accidentally hauled what I estimated as over 3000 pounds of mud (I asked for 1/2 yard of dry dirt but that's not what they dumped into my bed). It was safe and stable, but it was the first time I actually
felt a load rather than having to just remember that it's there. If I did that daily it would probably contribute excess wear and premature failures, but then it's more than 1000 pounds overloaded.
It's the 3/4 ton that I don't get. Reportedly the only build difference between the 3/4 ton and a single-rear-wheel 1 ton is the overload springs (and maybe available engines/options); even if there are more substantial differences the practical effect is minimal. Yes, SRW 1 tons are offered (I just checked in case that changed recently) and no they aren't pointless. I know if I wanted to haul a serious amount of weight in the relatively small bed of a full-size pickup I'd skip right over the 2500.
