Exactly. If Ford was doing the test they would do a 20,000# test up a mountain. They would win because they make the most torque and gear ratios. Put 4.30 gears on a F350 and 850 FT TQ and it's lights out for the competition.
What I think is funny is why anyone in their right mind would buy a diesel for 10,000# towing jobs? It's not 1996. Gas trucks are stronger than the diesel stuff of 15 years ago. I have a 1/2 ton that has no problem with 10K. I don't get my diesel out of the garage till I am a ton north of that.
Chris
Which is EXACTLY what I did, and that's because I do NOT want to be towing right at the limit of what a vehicle is rated. That is asking for problems in my mind. My comfort level due to confidence in the tow vehicle, is way better. I test drove ALL available brands of 1/2 ton trucks (GM, Ford, Toyota, Dodge, and Nissan, when I bought my GMC in 2006. NONE of them overly impressed me in the braking department, so why would I triple the load on the already mediocre brakes?
Personally I think the test is as fair as it can be, BECAUSE it's the choice the mfg's make to market their certain models with powertrain components only available if you buy the top dog. Not everyone can afford a $70,000 truck, so a $55K 3/4 ton is probably the most popular model in terms of sales numbers.
Hey, when people test a Toyota Carolla against a Honda Civic, they don't complain because brand x only has a 6 speed vs brand y's 8 speed. That's EXACTLY what sends buyers from one brand to another. It's not a test to see which mechanical design is superior, its a test to see which marketing packages will perform THIS PARTICULAR test the best. If it were a test to see how much payload you could put in the bed of the truck, we all know the GM offering would most likely be dead last. Ford markets their commercials with HUGE loads in the bed of the truck, for a reason.
Hey, if I were going to be hauling heavy almost every day, I might have bought a different brand. I wanted a truck that pulls hills like they are not there, pulls my RV in comfort and hauls me around town empty in comfort, or as comfortable as a 2500 HD can be anyway. I had several Dodge and Ford drivers all tell me if you want a better ride, go GM.
For me I don't really care who has class leading whatever, I want reliable, comfortable, and power on tap when I need it.
Personally I wouldn't be defending Dodge or Fords decisions to limit torque on start, I'd be chewing out some exec online or on the phone for making that decision, instead of building the rest of the power train to handle it.
I do know GM/Allsion beefed up the Allison when they added more power to the LML Duramax. They increased the diameter of the main transmission shafts to handle the added torque. My 06 has 360hp and 650tq, and the LML's have 397hp and 765tq, so at least GM upped the power train to go with the engine. Obviously they are proud of that fact and showed it off in this test.
SO make them do a fair test, put 3000lbs in the bed and see which one does not shine headlights on the moon. But then I could say that test wasn't fair because they KNEW the GM had less payload capacity. They are what they are, ya buys what ya likes and wants and needs.
