2014 Ultimate 1 Ton Challenge results

I am not sure there is any whining going, at least none from me. It's more a discussion about the mechanical side.

IMHO with the hp/tq the Ford has, and the strong gearing advantage it should have done much better. That's not to say it did poorly, just could have been better.

I knew we would hear some whining. Interesting test and lets go with on with rving and enjoy what ever truck we have. At this point "what difference does it make" I heard this somewhere.

chevman

Cummins12V98 wrote:
How much did the different transmission ratios help GM?

Where would they each be if they put their best performer out there? Example RAM's 4:10 VS 3:73?

Why not show the best of what they each offer?

I thought about that too, but the GCWR's are all pretty dang close so it's still a fair comparison.

Maybe that's why Ford feels it has to use the F-450 to compete against the 4.10 Aisin Cummins.

The 6R100 is lower in every gear than the other two transmissions. The don't even have a direct drive, 4th is 1.14:1.

If you compare the final drive ratio in each gear between Ford and Ram, and you give the Ford 3.73's and the Ram 4.10's the Ford is lower in 2,3,4, and 5th. So a 4.10:1 Ram is only lower than a 3.73:1 Ford in 1st and 6th, no wonder it's quicker off the line.

3.73's are the only GM option.

How much did the different transmission ratios help GM?

Where would they each be if they put their best performer out there? Example RAM's 4:10 VS 3:73?

Why not show the best of what they each offer?

Just goes to show the duramax with no raised power hype, can make it happen against latest and greatest. Way to go GM !!!

What i like GM and Ford throw there BEST and NEWEST trucks in there and Ram still takes 2nd with a old 2014.

Just remove the portion of the test where the RAM was a "struggled" off the line and it would have won the competition. You drag racers there is a reason for that it's called massive torque down low. I appreciate a company that is concerned about longevity and not what the truck will do right out of the box for initial impressions.

Once the truck get's rolling it's game on and that is why the RAM caught up near the end.

They have ways to compute EXACTlY the amount of fuel/DEF was used but I am sure it would have cost more to do the tests. Ever watched Myth Busters?

If you are using the click method to determine fuel economy when filling it takes many tanks to average the true outcome.

I am sure they all are close enough to not worry about. And RAM supposedly won the solo fuel economy. Whatever!

What this really shows is that FORD can keep adding Band-Aids to it's 1999 platform but the facts show that their claims are not legit!

When I laid down 304 HP and a Ford with 50 more HP only was 23HP more I knew they were blowing smoke with their HP claims.

6.7 liters is still 6.7 liters whether you have 6 cylinders or 8 cylinders...

Powerstroke and Dmax V8s will make their power in roughly the same RPM range. Don't understand the "laid back" comment...

In reality you will probably find wider ranges of fuel mileage across trucks of the same brand vs what was reported across these three different brands. Don't read so much into the numbers and assume every truck from the same manufacturer is going to produce the same mileage results because they don't.

4x4ord wrote:
The results don't really surprise me. The Duramax is tuned to be aggressive. It will rev a little higher and is eager to downshift and run at the rpm where it makes power. The Ford is tuned to be more laid back. The fact that the Chevy can save me fuel might be enough to put another bow tie in my garage.

Didn't it say the Ram got the best mileage with no trailer attached?

For a lot of people, myself included, that's the more important number. I'm not a contractor with a trailer behind me all the time - in an average year I'd put quite a few more miles on it unloaded as my daily driver. I've been following a Cummins forum lately too because I'm thinking about buying one of the new Rams and the mileage those guys are reporting on the '13 and '14 models (with the DEF) is impressive. I shouldn't say I've been thinking just of the Ram, I've been shopping all three - it's just that the Ram is my fairly strong lean at this point.

I've always heard that the Cummins tended to get the best mileage of the three motors because it has fewer cylinders and tends not to rev up as much. Maybe that was only true back in the 5.9 days, though.

Very interesting test. This is probably the closest apples to apples test I've seen in regards to the HD trucks. Usually, whenever I see a test, they pick each company's best tow configuration versus putting everyone on an even plane with the 3.73 rear end. In the end, it does show that all the trucks are really close. Also surprised at the superior braking performance of the RAM. I was under the impression that the GM would have nearly the same braking system given that they both use AAM axles and the RAM is a bit porkier than the GMC. 23' separate shortest and furthest stop. That makes a difference between hitting a vehicle or making it just in time should the trailer plug ever fall out for some reason.