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patriotgrunt's avatar
patriotgrunt
Explorer
Jan 22, 2016

Upcoming half-ton truck challenge

Looks like pickuptrucks.com is going to release the findings of their new half ton truck challenge recently done.

"Not long ago we promised to get all the half-ton pickup trucks together for a max-tow competition, and it's almost here."

"For this contest we gathered model-year 2016 4x2 crew-cab half-ton pickups, each equipped with their best maximum towing package, and put them in a towing-biased head-to-head competition just outside of Houston. We pulled trailers, we ran at and above full payload, we did fuel-economy testing with 10,000-pound trailers, and we let our truck-loving judges dig through each pickup with a magnifying glass and micrometer."

"We collected as much data as possible and will deliver all the numbers and our impressions on Monday. As you might expect, quite a few unexpected things happened. Here are our Texas Truck Showdown 2016: MaxTowing players:

2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LTZ (5.3-liter V-8, eight-speed transmission)
2016 Ford F-150 Lariat (3.5-liter V-6 EcoBoost, six-speed transmission)
2016 GMC Sierra 1500 SLT (6.2-liter V-8, eight-speed transmission)
2016 Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn (5.7-liter V-8, eight-speed transmission)
2016 Toyota Tundra 1794 Edition (5.7-liter V-8, six-speed transmission)"

Here's the link:

http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2016/01/texas-truck-showdown-2016-our-half-ton-max-towing-contest.html

I'm looking forward to seeing the results. Its interesting the new Titan was not included but they may have had a hard time trying to find one for the test.
Tow Vehicles
  • BB_TX's avatar
    BB_TX
    Nomad
    Jan 22, 2016
    Ho-hum. I suppose it sells magazines. And influences buyers who want to say they supposedly have the top dog.
  • scojohnson's avatar
    scojohnson
    Explorer
    Jan 22, 2016
    I'm exceedingly happy towing my 25 foot Kodiak Express with my new 2015 Colorado (maxed out version). Realistically, it has as much horsepower as my Armada did, it carries and tows more than my 93 Silverado before the Armada, looks mean, and is perfect for my regular weekend hunting trips that normally include an OHV/Jeep Trail just for fun. I live in California, so driving around in a dually for a daily driver is just not practical (or affordable).

    In doing the research, the new Colorado towed exactly the same as the same-priced Silverado options, unless you went way-up the option totem pole, the 1/2 ton Silverado (all 6 inches wider and same-length of it) did nothing different. I actually confused a new 2016 Silverado for the new 2016 Duramax Colarado Trailboss at the dealership this week actually when I had to drop mine off for a software program update.

    I'm looking at a chip upgrade for it that will bring it from 7000 lbs towing to around 8500. My trailer is about 5000 lbs, but the added torque would be helpful here around Tahoe, as every time I leave home, a mountain climb is involved.

    You always sacrifice some with 4WD, but I don't have any flexibility on that, neither for personal preference on looks, I don't like the squishy ride feel of a 2wd, nor for the non-practicality of having a 2wd in the mountains.
  • N-Trouble's avatar
    N-Trouble
    Explorer
    Jan 22, 2016
    Even though it is a gas comparison I would have liked to have seen the new Titan Cummins thrown in there to see how it compares.

    Would have been a better choice IMO to opt for 4x4 versions as many more are sold vs 4x2
  • 45Ricochet's avatar
    45Ricochet
    Explorer
    Jan 24, 2016
    Rigged test no doubt :B
    Really are they putting up the turbo Ford and a 6.2L GMC vs a little 5.7L Hemi and Tundra.
    I don't have to read the outcome here PTC, it's pretty obvious.
    Why would they leave out the two Diesel offerings?
  • rjstractor's avatar
    rjstractor
    Nomad
    Jan 24, 2016
    45Ricochet wrote:
    Rigged test no doubt
    Really are they putting up the turbo Ford and a 6.2L GMC vs a little 5.7L Hemi and Tundra.


    It was my understanding that it is a "1/2 ton" max tow contest, the highest rated trucks in the 1500 class. Those "little" 5.7L engines that Ram and Toyota have are the best they have to offer. (and both have more HP than the 3.5 Ecoboost). The Ecodiesel was obviously left out because the Hemi can tow more. Good point in not including the Titan XD. Maybe the writers haven't figured out what class that truck belongs in.
  • 45Ricochet's avatar
    45Ricochet
    Explorer
    Jan 24, 2016
    rjstractor wrote:
    The Ecodiesel was obviously left out because the Hemi can tow more.


    REALLY? We are talking about the 5.7L Hemi here not the 6.4 :B
    I don't think the 6.4 is offered in the 1500 Rams.
    Just me but the Ram 1500 ED seems to pull a bunch more weight than the 5.7L Hemi, with better mileage to boot!
  • Deep_Trax's avatar
    Deep_Trax
    Explorer
    Jan 24, 2016
    scojohnson wrote:
    I'm looking at a chip upgrade for it that will bring it from 7000 lbs towing to around 8500. My trailer is about 5000 lbs, but the added torque would be helpful here around Tahoe, as every time I leave home, a mountain climb is involved.


    Not sure who is trying to sell you some snake oil, but a "chip" cannot possible increase your towing capacity. GM designed and built the Coloroado to meet certain GAWR, GVWR, and GCWR specs and there is nothing any chip can do to change that.

    Your signature says you are getting 18mpg towing 7000 bls. Guess what, that is not happening either. Equipment World tested the 2015 V-6 Colorado towing a 3800 lb boat and a 5000 lb equipment trailer and got 9.5 - 11.2 mpg. Posted below is their MPG summary:

    On the plus side, Colorado does deliver on unladen fuel economy. My highway numbers were steady at 25 miles per gallon and city driving in the mid-17 mpg range. (The EPA rates the truck at 17city/24 highway.) Those are class-leading numbers. Highway towing fuel economy has varied between 9.5-11.2 mpg, with the higher number coming while towing a 3,800-pound Hewescraft boat/trailer combo and the lower mpg towing the lightly loaded Landoll equipment trailer. - See more at: http://www.equipmentworld.com/review-2015-chevrolet-colorado-z71/#sthash.se921mcu.dpuf
  • patriotgrunt's avatar
    patriotgrunt
    Explorer
    Jan 24, 2016
    45Ricochet wrote:
    rjstractor wrote:
    The Ecodiesel was obviously left out because the Hemi can tow more.


    REALLY? We are talking about the 5.7L Hemi here not the 6.4 :B
    I don't think the 6.4 is offered in the 1500 Rams.
    Just me but the Ram 1500 ED seems to pull a bunch more weight than the 5.7L Hemi, with better mileage to boot!


    Actually Ram's 5.7 can tow 1500 lbs more than the eco-diesel according to their towing guide which is why they went that route.

    Ram's Towing Guide http://www.ramtrucks.com/en/towing_guide/

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