A light truck is a vehicle classified as a truck or similar to a truck with a payload capacity of under 1,814 kg. Also referred to as light-duty trucks, they are in the same fuel economy class as vans, minivans, and sport utility vehicles (SUV). As opposed to aheavy-duty truck, this style is sometimes built on a unibody frame rather than being built on a body-on-frame chassis and therefore does not have the same towing capacity. Though this classification includes vans and SUV, a light truck is typically a small to mid-sized pickup truck.
This type of truck typically has a smaller engine and smaller wheel base than a full-size or heavy-duty truck. Gas mileage is often better as well. Both the light and the heavy-duty truck are considered utilitarian vehicles for insurance classifications.
Many companies and businesses purchase light trucks for their company fleets because they are less expensive and achieve better
gas mileage than full-size models. For the same reasons, many individuals choose them for personal use.
It is important to remember that though the light truck is a utilitarian vehicle, it is not built to withstand the same
utilization as a heavy-duty model. Many people abuse their trucks by overloading them either with excessive cargo or towing weight. Exceeding the payload or towing capacity of a vehicle can damage its frame and its engine. Overloading a vehicle can greatly reduce its usage and life span.