L320 1 Ton?

[Fogdart]

New guy here....I posted this pic under a different topic today. I hadn't looked at this photo for a couple years but it brought to mind a question I had when I bought the truck. I started sanding on it a bit right after I got it and the lettering you can see on the fenders and cab became more evident. It says "DATSUN 1 TON" on both fenders and above both doors on the cab. Don't know if this was a dealership truck a one time or what but surely these little trucks were never rated for 1 ton, were they?

 

[wayno]

New guy here....I posted this pic under a different topic today. I hadn't looked at this photo for a couple years but it brought to mind a question I had when I bought the truck. I started sanding on it a bit right after I got it and the lettering you can see on the fenders and cab became more evident. It says "DATSUN 1 TON" on both fenders and above both doors on the cab. Don't know if this was a dealership truck a one time or what but surely these little trucks were never rated for 1 ton, were they?

 

 

 

I beleave they were all rated 1 ton back then, they were trying to compete with full size trucks back then. Datzenmike knows all the stats on this, he published/posted the details, but I cannot remember where it is on here(ratsun).

 

EDIT I just looked up the 320 weight specs, and found only 1/2 ton limits, maybe datzenmike will chime in here, and post the data he has posted before, as he might remember where it is.

[V320 KID]

have you looked on the vin tag ? it normally says the load rating . also you have a sweet workshop mate haha

[Fogdart]

I'll check the data plate....hadn't thought of that. I do airplanes for a living....mechanic and pilot, thus the big hangar/shop. It's usually messed up with my projects and I have to push it all aside when I bring a plane in.

[Stoffregen Motorsports]

I had to bring one of my 320s across the scales for registration and it WEIGHED on ton, exactly.

 

I put one ton in that same truck. No lies, it hauled 2000lbs of concrete to the dump. Man was that a scary drive.

 

Maybe the "one ton" was for shipping or a promotional thing, as in "this Datsun only weighs one ton" (???)

[ggzilla]

Yes, 320s were rated 1 ton and could haul it too.

Due to this carrying capacity it has heavy duty springs and rides very rough when empty.

 

620 pickups ride much smoother due lower rating. There is a 620 1 ton option though with much heavier springs.

[ggzilla]

[KFunk740]

(nevermind)

[datzenmike]

I only go back to the mid '60s 520 trucks rated at 1,000 kilograms which would be 2,200 lbs I believe. The 521 was rated at 500Kg but I wonder if the springes were actually changed or not as they also had a stif ride . I carried over 1,700 lbs on my old 521. It flattened them out.