Andy578 - 9/24/2017 17:50
1/2 ton doesn't mean they can only hold 1/2 a ton. my ram 1500 is rated for something like 1400lbs in the bed and 10k lbs towing. people demand more and more from their trucks so manufactures keep uping their ratings which also means the trucks have to get bigger and stronger. marketing also plays a big role with everyone trying to best their competitors ratings
as for trucks sitting so high that's mostly for ground clearance as well as bigger tires and a beefy suspension. ground clearance is important for going off road as well as snow in the winter. it makes the bed harder to use but you also have remember most people buying trucks these days will likely never actually use the bed
On a 1/2 ton they actually seem to sit a lot lower to the ground with the stupid 2 foot tall bumper they put on the front end. But your still stepping up higher to get in the cab and box. The bottom of the bumper is literally 4" off the ground on these new pickups and hard snow drifts wreck them. As for what you haul in the box we always put full seed totes in and away we go. I don't know if I would do that with these new pickups often. We had a 93 dodge 3/4 ton and dad used to always put two totes in the box.
The larger tires is also a joke most can't clear a 33" without 2-4" of additional lift then they are really getting some height and the tires still can/usually rub. | 
size of pickup's today
