Truck Trend Talks Towing Numbers

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Posted by Mike Levine | September 3, 2009

The fine folks at Truck Trend have published one of the best pieces we've read about how truck manufacturers calculate how much a pickup can tow. The article, by Gary Witzenburg, skillfully tackles the delicate balance of power between the engineering team responsible for rating a truck's capabilities and the marketing team's quest to use ever-growing numbers as sales tools. There's also an update on SAE's industry-wide effort to create uniform tow testing standards.

Regardless of what kind of truck you drive, this is a topic that's important to almost every owner out there.

[Source: Truck Trend]

Comments

About towing/hauling: http://blogs.edmunds.com/straightline/plane-950.jpg - it probably isn't even a heavy duty truck (an older F150?)!!! And some people say US pickup trucks are crap...

Posted by: ARON | Sep 4, 2009 5:28:32 AM

ARON, the pic in your link is definitely an F250/350 from the early/mid 90s. If nothing else gives it away, the rear axle does from that pic. Same truck my uncle has. 7.3 Powerstroke.

Who says US pickup trucks are crap....oh yeah...those guys driving the Titans and Tundras and trying to tow what should be left to Big 3 3/4 and 1-ton trucks. Any of todays half tons, American or otherwise, are no stout enough to be hauling around anything above 8k.

Been there, done that, not worth it. I will take my 07 5.9 Cummins for towing anyday. I can never go back.

Posted by: Ernie | Sep 4, 2009 6:25:48 AM

Ernie: thanks for Your advice... Despite the fact, that I live in Poland, I can honest tell you - I love US Cars! Doesn't Your '07 Cummins (Ram) have a 6.7L instead a 5.9L?
Greets form Europe!:)

Posted by: ARON | Sep 4, 2009 7:30:07 AM

ARON- that truck is defininetly a F-250 or 350 probably with the 7.3L (444ci) Powerstroke diesel, or maybe a 460 with some work done to it. The U.S.'s quality of cars has had peaks and valleys just like most car companies. One things we have ALWAYS done well is pick-up trucks! Ernie's 07 Ram has a 5.9L Cummins, because the 6.7L came out in the second half of the 07 model year, first quarter still used the 5.9L Cummins.

Ernie- I agreed. I wouldnt want to haul more than 8000lbs in a half ton for very long. Too much stress on the frame and axles. You'd go through a lot of transmissions and the engine would wear quickly. Plus terrible fuel mileage. I dont know why youd bother to get a truck and not have it be at least a 3/4 ton diesel. Saw and 07 Ram 3500 Dooley today driving for a while. Awesome truck! 5.9L Hearing the diff is easy. Cummins is king for towing. My 6.0L does good, but I try not to tow more than 15k for very long. Dont want any issues, not that its had any yet. I got one of the good 6.0L's :)

Posted by: Garrett | Sep 4, 2009 3:08:26 PM

Looks like a 1992 to 1997 Ford F250HD 4x4 ECLB .,

Posted by: Taylor | Sep 5, 2009 12:04:51 PM