Why do ¾ ton and 1-ton trucks have 8 lugs?
The simple answer is that 8 lugs are better than 4, 5, or 6… You have a truck that’s engineered to haul heavier loads so you have a beefier or heavier axle, your suspension is designed to hold up under more weight, linkages are stronger, and in most cases, your engine will output more torque to compensate for the heavier load. When you upgrade all of these things to handle the increased weights that a ¾ ton or 1-ton truck will haul, then you need to make sure the wheels and hubs are prepared for the task at hand.
What does ¾ and 1-ton actually mean?
When it came to older trucks, the ¾ and 1-ton axle labels were the literal amount of weight the truck could haul in its bed. A ¾ ton truck had a maximum bed cargo weight rating of 1,500 lbs. and a 1-ton truck had a maximum bed cargo weight of 2,000 lbs. These labels are now used to keep trucks from different makes in the proper weight class but today’s trucks can hold and haul, a lot more than the old max ratings of 1,500 and 2,000 bs. If you’re not sure what your vehicle’s GVWR or Gross Vehicle Weight Rating is, you can usually locate this on the inside edge of your truck’s door jam. Otherwise, you can always look it up by the year, make, and model of your vehicle.
How can I tell what axle my truck has?
This is a common question that we get a lot and simply put if you know that the axle is original then you can trust the original specs on your truck. If you don’t know the vehicle’s maintenance or repair history, there are a lot of different axles that could possibly fit your truck. In general, if you have a ¾ or 1-ton 1973-2000 Chevy truck, you likely have a 14-bolt rear axle. If you have a 1986-1997 Ford F250 or F350 then you should have a Sterling 10.25 rear axle.
Could my heavy-duty truck have a rear axle that isn’t stock?
Yep! That’s why it’s important to know how to identify your rear axle. There are several ways to do this. You can do it by the labels, engravings, and other markings or simply by the shape of the rear differential housing. For more information on “Which rear axle does my ¾ ton or 1-ton truck have?” or questions about heavy-duty rear axles and how they pair with the best heavy-duty disc brake conversion kits that money can buy, check out our blog and the Lugnut4X4 FAQs page.
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