Chilton says 1/2 tons came with semi, and 3/4 and 1 ton came with full, but later goes on the specify full floating only in the years 80-83, I have an 85.

Is there a quick way to visually identify which type I have?

1/2 ton trucks came with 10 bolt semi floating axles. Some 3/4 tons had the 14 bolt semi floating axle (with eight lug nuts) while others came with the 14 bolt full floating axle (also eight lug nuts - this is the HD axle). There were also a few light 3/4 tons that came with six lug axles and rims. 1 tons usually had the 14 bolt full floating axle but some have different variations of that axle depending on whether the truck is a single rear wheel or a dually.

You can tell a semi floating axle from a full floater easily. The hub of a semi floating axle looks like one in the picture on the left (in this case a 3/4 ton 14 bolt axle). A full floating axle has a hub that looks like the one on the right (in this case a Ford 1 ton axle).

Or if the axle is BOLTED to the driven hub, its a full floater. If the axle is held in with C-clips and you have to remove the diff cover to get at them, its a semi.

Exactly. The bolts in the center hub of the full floater retain the axle.

Thanks guys, the explanation and the pics! I've got a semi-floater.