[spd98]

Don't forget a lot of people lift these trucks and a SFA lift kit is easier to install, cheaper, and is much stronger with the extra weight of larger tires and wheels.

There is a reason people buy more heavy duty Fords than Chevys and GMCs. Obviously from this test we know its not because of engines.

Yea it's generally beacue they are cheaper.

this test was a poor comparison at best. They didn't correct anything for gearing and that was the biggest difference in performance.

 

[RamJet502]

This test was a poor comparison at best. They didn't correct anything for gearing and that was the biggest difference in performance.

That's the embarrassing part for Ford, the 4.30 gears should have given the F450 a huge advantage in pulling power. It will be interesting to see how much those 4.30 gears hurt the F450's fuel economy.

And this was the updated Ford diesel with the power increase - brutal.

 

[Wolfman01]

The dyno test tell us that the Ford f-450 got the best numbers.

But in the real world, Denali wins it upright!

That's the way to test those big horses!

Good job GM.


Lessy2009

It means that GM did a better job with the fuel/turbo/gearing combination. Looking at how badly the Ford fell on its face tells me that the turbo is not up to the task of properly compensating for altitude. Fords gearing should have made the truck walk up that hill no sweat. Apparently, they flunked on getting said power to the pavement.

I noticed a similar thing between my old Isuzu I-280 and my Tacoma. The Isuzu posted better hp/torque numbers. The axle was WAY too tall, and it fell on its face hard on hills. The 2010 Canyon that I test drove was similarly afflicted, despite having a better axle ratio and more power. My tacoma on the other hand, pulls the same hills better, despite having less displacement and lower hp/torque specs. My Tacoma has a 4:10 axle, and still manages to get slightly better fuel mileage than the Isuzu did. It is unfortunate that GM got the drivetrain wrong on the Colorado/Canyon twins. IMO, they are overall better trucks, despite their crudeness.

 

[eurohazard]

And the last picture in the article is really a striking example of automotive Darwinism. Look at the size of those trailers! It's amazing that an average American these days without any special licensing (though with a fairely fat wallet) can purchase a vehicle that can tow that kinda weight. Others on this site might not be too impressed, but to me that's simply amazing. Long live competition!

You're not joking! I was drving 85 mph (cruise control locked in) passing everyone on the road, safely. Then in my rear view mirror I see a big truck, towing something big. The huge rig was a F-350 dually towing a massive triple-axle 5th wheel. Again, my cruise is still locked at 85 mph, This tool had to be running 95 mph or more at times. Not only that, there was a nearly identical F-350 towing a very similar triple axle 5ther behind that guy. I never saw them again.....I though for sure at least one of them would have blown out a tire, seeing how most trailer tires are rated fro 65 mph.

These trucks have impressive capabilities, to include power.....but I wish people were smarter as how to use it. With 20,000+ lbs of GCVW, it is not a good time to travel at 100 mph.

 

[RamJet502]

It is unfortunate that GM got the drivetrain wrong on the Colorado/Canyon twins.

You're 100% correct, that's exactly what killed the Colorado/Canyon from the start. It should have been introduced with the I4, 3.6L V6, and 4.8L V8 but GM tried to get fancy and it burned them.

 

[ChevroletTough]

i love how they test a 3500 vs a 450, why not use the f350 and compare them in there true classes

/agree.

 

[FanOfDurant]

I find the tucked up frame a pain. Try lifting a Dodge or Ford

I haven't found it to be an issue on my Dodge. I've never put a lift on a Ford so I wouldn't know how tough it is. I see tons of em around howver.. It's the preferred truck of choice for the off roaders around here.

The thing is, for basic offroading (like farmers driving through fields and such), the Ford and Dodge don't Have to be lifted one bit. Their frames offer several more inches of ground clearance over the GM twins straight from the factory. You don't have to worry about dragging the frame on a Dodge or Ford. You do on a Chevy and it sucks.. I watched a new HD Silverado pulling out of a construction site over a large curb. Something pretty typical and seen every day by those guys. Sure enough, the frame bottomed out as he scrapped his way over it to get onto the street. If that thing was tucked up like it should be he wouldn't have to worry about crap like that.

 

[91fairladyZ]

Wards auto just chose the Ford in a tight shootout:
http://wardsauto.com/ar/ford_power_diesel_100920/

Autoline Detroit has some info in their autoline daily podcast and John's journals sections.

 

[MrCritical]

Not a word from Ward's about axle ratio's.

 

[TruckMan]

I wonder what is a more heated topic to debate in automotive circles: Chevrolet Camaro versus Ford Mustang, or Chevrolet Silverado(/GMC Sierra) versus Ford F-series?

And the last picture in the article is really a striking example of automotive Darwinism. Look at the size of those trailers! It's amazing that an average American these days without any special licensing (though with a fairely fat wallet) can purchase a vehicle that can tow that kinda weight. Others on this site might not be too impressed, but to me that's simply amazing. Long live competition!

It'd be nice if Lincoln and Cadillac looked at Lexus, Mercedes and BMW with similar intention.

Yes please!

 

[RamJet502]

Wards auto just chose the Ford in a tight shootout:
http://wardsauto.com/ar/ford_power_diesel_100920/

Even before many GM dealers could receive their first new HD pickups, Ford delivered a crushing blow: Software tweaks enabled the Power Stroke to reach 800 lb.-ft. (1,084 Nm) of torque, a threshold never before reached in the segment.

Yet later on in the same article:

And as good as the new Power Stroke is, GM’s Duramax consistently delivered the fastest times.

Seems more like a "jab that failed to connect" rather than a "crushing blow".

 

[EcoBustier69]

In another test, Ford won the Diesel challenge with the 735 torque rating over GM & Chrysler. They said that the Ford took the climbs with ease...engine not laboring...1300 rpm while the Duramax made a loud high pitched sound and went to 2000 rpm. Interesting to see the two competitions with widely different results.

 

[OLDSCHOOLGMFAN]

Awesome trucks both, but I'm glad the GMC won!

 

[chakis24]

pointless. why compare a 3500 and f-450? its like comparing a half ton to a 2500. two different reasons for buying these vehicles.

and yeah, trucks of this caliber should require a commercial license. i think anything over a half ton should. they all require combo/commercial plates as it is.

 

[mikeputc]

pointless. why compare a 3500 and f-450? its like comparing a half ton to a 2500. two different reasons for buying these vehicles.

The timing for both trucks worked out so we had them simultaneously. The Denali drive has been planned for months. The F-450 happened to become available in the last three weeks or so. It's clearly pointed out in the story that both trucks are different classes -- though I still say the 2011 F-450 is the most robust F-350 you can buy.

Both trucks deserved to be tested in real world towing conditions, which just happened to be the Rockies pulling big trailers.

Since the F-450 was delivered in Los Angeles, I suppose I shouldn't have driven it outside of SoCal? Is that what our readers would want? I didn't think so. As much as I'd like, I don't have the budget or time to keep driving back and forth to Colorado with each new truck we review.

Separate reviews for each truck are coming soon. People still would have compared dyno results and speed up the grade, so those we posted in the single story.

 

[newdude]

pointless. why compare a 3500 and f-450? its like comparing a half ton to a 2500. two different reasons for buying these vehicles.

and yeah, trucks of this caliber should require a commercial license. i think anything over a half ton should. they all require combo/commercial plates as it is.

If you want to get picky about it...the 3500hd might as well be a 4500 when you look at the technical frame specs. I find this test to be very interesting to say the least and a good thing it was compared to an F-450.

I find the tucked up frame a pain. Try lifting a Dodge or Ford

I haven't found it to be an issue on my Dodge. I've never put a lift on a Ford so I wouldn't know how tough it is. I see tons of em around howver.. It's the preferred truck of choice for the off roaders around here.

The thing is, for basic offroading (like farmers driving through fields and such), the Ford and Dodge don't Have to be lifted one bit. Their frames offer several more inches of ground clearance over the GM twins straight from the factory. You don't have to worry about dragging the frame on a Dodge or Ford. You do on a Chevy and it sucks.. I watched a new HD Silverado pulling out of a construction site over a large curb. Something pretty typical and seen every day by those guys. Sure enough, the frame bottomed out as he scrapped his way over it to get onto the street. If that thing was tucked up like it should be he wouldn't have to worry about crap like that.

...re-read what I wrote...dont just disect...

 

[FanOfDurant]

...re-read what I wrote...dont just disect...

my bad.

 

[newdude]

my bad.

Its all good haha.

 

[Canyonaro]

No way would you pull that much weight in the Rockies even 5 years ago on purpose, let alone have the hp/tq numbers we have today.

A testament to how well these new trucks are designed and tested. And much better for the GM, they really have their stuff together on these trucks. If they can only refresh the interior a tad, they will be ok.

 

[chakis24]

The timing for both trucks worked out so we had them simultaneously. The Denali drive has been planned for months. The F-450 happened to become available in the last three weeks or so. It's clearly pointed out in the story that both trucks are different classes -- though I still say the 2011 F-450 is the most robust F-350 you can buy.

Both trucks deserved to be tested in real world towing conditions, which just happened to be the Rockies pulling big trailers.

Since the F-450 was delivered in Los Angeles, I suppose I shouldn't have driven it outside of SoCal? Is that what our readers would want? I didn't think so. As much as I'd like, I don't have the budget or time to keep driving back and forth to Colorado with each new truck we review.

Separate reviews for each truck are coming soon. People still would have compared dyno results and speed up the grade, so those we posted in the single story.

ahhh, i see. so it was more of a "well we got'em so let's drive'em." i figured these trucks were specifically requested for this comparo which didnt make sense to me.

If you want to get picky about it...the 3500hd might as well be a 4500 when you look at the technical frame specs. I find this test to be very interesting to say the least and a good thing it was compared to an F-450.

yeah i know, i was kind of disappointed actually. the original f450 was a monster.