I see we have somewhere in the vicinity of 750- 800 ft. lbs. of torque in 2014 pickups, with turbo diesel engines.A number of years ago 450-500 ft. lbs of torque was considered a torquemeister.Where will it end ? In 5-10 years are we going to have available... 8 liter turbo diesels in one ton pickups that will be producing 1100 ft. lbs. of torque ?Do we need more than 750-800 ft. lbs. of torque in a pickup ? If so.....shouldn't the person look at a MDT or HDT for his particular application ?

Lessmore wrote:If so.....shouldn't the person look at a MDT or HDT for his particular application ?Yes. It would appear the torque is going to eventually be too much for the transmission, rear axle and frame to handle. But I'm sure the engineers are well aware of that limitation.I just got an MDT and man, just the weight of the thing makes towing seem so much safer.

Stepping into the way-back machine, I remember reading a truck mag around 1990-1991 talking about the Dodge Cummins and it's 400ft-lb of torque being "enough to tow a house!" Here we are, with trucks putting out DOUBLE that amount of torque, and more than 2x the HP of the engine being praised.I do think there's a limit though; there will come a point when the tradeoff of power vs. economy just won't make much sense, unless fuel burning technology gets so good that we can have 550hp and 1000+ft-lb and still get reasonable MPG.Besides, as mentioned, what good would that type of output do for a chassis that couldn't handle loads that called for that much power?

Sadly those numbers are not in all gears and definitely not with a manual transmission. Personallyabout a thousand if it was available across the gears would be great. Since its not ill just have to stick with my meadly 650 till the cows come home.

There is torque measured at the wheel, flywheel and then there is advertised torque. Did I read somewhere that you only get about 75% of it to the wheels? Pretty soon (already happening) the EPA is going to be the limiting factor.

I've always had 420 TQ, and I'll soon have 850 TQ. I've always been able to get where I needed to go, but I think I'll be able to get where I'm going next with a bit more oomph.

Torque.... how much is needed for a pickup ? | Good Sam Community

29 Replies

4x4ord
Explorer III
Oct 05, 2013
I'll use what they give me. Right now my little truck is good handles about 40,000 lbs gcw. If I get a 2015 I might get a little bigger gooseneck to go with it.
glazier
Explorer II
Oct 05, 2013
tomman58 wrote:
Waiting for the 2015 2500 GMC DMAX. I think it is 675 torque but the 6 speed trans is very, very nice. I currently have a 2008 and welcome the new truck.. How much torque do you need??? all you can get it makes life soooooooo much nicer!

Same here, but I look for the 15 to be rated around 400/800 when it hits the dealers, probably around late May. That new truck is some kind of nice, I can't wait to get mine.
artguys
Explorer
Oct 05, 2013
A consequence of the torque debate comes at the expense of not discussing a area that rarely if ever gets mentioned...frame twist. If I were to buy one of the newer small trucks with a engine claiming to out-muscle the competition my first question to the seller would be about what has been done to upgrade the frame.
hone_eagle
Explorer
Oct 05, 2013
bmanning wrote:
hone eagle wrote:
Vulcaneer wrote:
You can get a Freightliner or a Volvo that has great gobs of torque. Maybe 1200 ft lbs or more. But, towing a moderate weight trailer, gets you 7 MPG. At 850 ft Lbs. and 12 MPG with my F350, I am good with that. Does what I need. Very comfortably at 14,000 towing.

Close but to be exact 1650 ft lb and 9.4 mpg.;)

Good golly Miss Molly 1650ft-lb!!

Even hooked up to your 5er do you use 1st gear or launch in 2nd or 3rd?

3rd 5th 7th 9th 10 then 12th , freedomline (automated trans no clutch peddle)

It senses load and picks the gear ,up or down makes me giggle to myself listening to it double clutch and rev match,like a bunch of mini me's down there pulling levers and turning valves.
The only way I can get the wife to take a turn as she wasnt going to learn to 'float '
jerem0621
Explorer II
Oct 05, 2013
Supercharged wrote:
Red neck needs more than some one who works in a office. They like more shoot, they can't help it they just need it.
fla-gypsy
Explorer
Oct 05, 2013
It's gone from more than enough to stupid silly. If they would put some effort into efficiency and take some of that ridiculous twist out of them they would probably sell more.
Supercharged
Explorer
Oct 05, 2013
Red neck needs more than some one who works in a office. They like more shoot, they can't help it they just need it.
AlmostAnOldGuy
Explorer
Oct 05, 2013
If the Cummins V8 with 500 ft lbs of low end torque and a six speed were available and it could net 20% better milage than the 800+ ft lbs engines that might be a very good choice for many folks. I am just speculating here, I am not an engineer so the 20% was just for the sake of discussion.

Oh, and no knock to Nissan, but my preference would be to see that engine in a 3/4 to 1 ton chassis.

Choice is a good thing.
bmanning
Explorer
Oct 05, 2013
hone eagle wrote:
Vulcaneer wrote:
You can get a Freightliner or a Volvo that has great gobs of torque. Maybe 1200 ft lbs or more. But, towing a moderate weight trailer, gets you 7 MPG. At 850 ft Lbs. and 12 MPG with my F350, I am good with that. Does what I need. Very comfortably at 14,000 towing.

Close but to be exact 1650 ft lb and 9.4 mpg.;)

Good golly Miss Molly 1650ft-lb!!

Even hooked up to your 5er do you use 1st gear or launch in 2nd or 3rd?
Vulcaneer
Explorer
Oct 05, 2013
hone eagle wrote:
Vulcaneer wrote:
You can get a Freightliner or a Volvo that has great gobs of torque. Maybe 1200 ft lbs or more. But, towing a moderate weight trailer, gets you 7 MPG. At 850 ft Lbs. and 12 MPG with my F350, I am good with that. Does what I need. Very comfortably at 14,000 towing.

Close but to be exact 1650 ft lb and 9.4 mpg.;)

OK... But I am still good with 12 MPG at 850 ft lbs. For my14,000 pounds.