TFLTruck tests 2017 Chevy 3500

4x4ord wrote:
I get the idea they are going to test all three trucks again. Both the Ford and GM should have just enough power to tow 23000 lbs up the hill at the 60 mph speed limit. With 3.73 gears the Ford would be running about 2600 rpm in 4th gear at 60 mph. The Chevy would only be turning about 2275 so maybe the Ford will have the advantage. If it ends up that both trucks drop to third gear the advantage will be in GM's favor.....
If the Ford can't manage 60 mph it might have to drop to third and rev to 3000 rpm where it's only able to do about 52 mph. If the Chevy drops to 3rd and revs to 3000 rpm it will be making 57 mph.
I'm going to guess 8 minutes 40 seconds for the winner.

2017 Ford F-350 diesel dually doesn't come with a 3.73 gear.

blofgren wrote:

IdaD wrote:
The timing on those tests would have merit if there wasn't traffic, or if they went full throttle all the way. But there is traffic, and they don't go full throttle. Given that, the times don't mean much of anything. With an equal load I would expect the Duramax to be the fastest followed by the Powerstroke and then the Cummins. In the real world they're all plenty fast and powerful, though - it literally wasn't something I even considered when I evaluated the three.

x2. Even with higher ratings the Ford just can't seem to outpull the GM. It's surprised me a couple of times.

My lowly G56 powered Cummins would be a couples of minutes behind everyone but it will keep doing it reliably for years to come with less heat and easy maintenance so I'm OK with that!

The GM and the Ford will perform this task reliably for years to come too, and the maintenance is much easier on those as well. :W

Looks at it this way the truck that can pull up a hill the fastest is typically the truck that can pull that load the easiest.

Towing Just Got Easier! :B

IdaD wrote:
The timing on those tests would have merit if there wasn't traffic, or if they went full throttle all the way. But there is traffic, and they don't go full throttle. Given that, the times don't mean much of anything. With an equal load I would expect the Duramax to be the fastest followed by the Powerstroke and then the Cummins. In the real world they're all plenty fast and powerful, though - it literally wasn't something I even considered when I evaluated the three.

x2. Even with higher ratings the Ford just can't seem to outpull the GM. It's surprised me a couple of times.

My lowly G56 powered Cummins would be a couples of minutes behind everyone but it will keep doing it reliably for years to come with less heat and easy maintenance so I'm OK with that!

The timing on those tests would have merit if there wasn't traffic, or if they went full throttle all the way. But there is traffic, and they don't go full throttle. Given that, the times don't mean much of anything. With an equal load I would expect the Duramax to be the fastest followed by the Powerstroke and then the Cummins. In the real world they're all plenty fast and powerful, though - it literally wasn't something I even considered when I evaluated the three.

I get the idea they are going to test all three trucks again. Both the Ford and GM should have just enough power to tow 23000 lbs up the hill at the 60 mph speed limit. With 3.73 gears the Ford would be running about 2600 rpm in 4th gear at 60 mph. The Chevy would only be turning about 2275 so maybe the Ford will have the advantage. If it ends up that both trucks drop to third gear the advantage will be in GM's favor.....
If the Ford can't manage 60 mph it might have to drop to third and rev to 3000 rpm where it's only able to do about 52 mph. If the Chevy drops to 3rd and revs to 3000 rpm it will be making 57 mph.
I'm going to guess 8 minutes 40 seconds for the winner.

4x4ord wrote:
Too bad they can't put a 30,000 lb trailer behind the GMC.

How are they going to compare the big three? Are they going to dumb down the other two to tow 23k???

Too bad they can't put a 30,000 lb trailer behind the GMC.

The 2016 Duramax was pushing the limits of the Alison 1000 in it's present form then. They have stayed out of the power race for a reason and it was not the Duramax or the AAM rear axle. Chris

They SAY the Allison is so robust nothing needed to be done. I don't believe that! I think that is exactly why they have a very low tow rating. Maybe next year they will have the trans strong enough to handle 31-32k like Ford and RAM already do.