PUTC's 1/2 Ton V8 Challenge

Posts : 1925 Join date : 2013-02-27

2015 Light-Duty V-8 Challenge: Overview

PUTC's 1/2 Ton V8 Challenge Image10

Quote :: A lot can happen to pickup trucks in just a few years, especially in a segment as brutally competitive as half-ton four-door V-8 pickups. Sales are on a torrid pace and incentive wars are heating up. In the middle of all this, every one of the pickup makers are bringing out more new products and technology, the likes of which we've never seen before.

The last time we got all the half-ton pickups together in 2013, we had one of the most competitive head-to-head battles we've ever conducted, and the previous-gen Ford F-150 won by a slim margin.

This time, we invited each of the half-ton pickup players to submit their best 4x4 crew-cab V-8 pickup as long as the final price was less than $55,000. Within that price cap, manufacturers could equip their trucks however they wished. The competitors for this Challenge were:

- 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Z71 LTZ**
- 2015 GMC Sierra 1500 SLT **
- All-new 2015 Ford F-150 XLT
- 2015 Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn
- 2015 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro
**(each GM had a brand-new 6.2-liter overhead-valve V-8 and eight-speed transmission)

Unfortunately, Nissan declined to participate, noting that it will be debuting a new Titan at the 2015 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, which opens to the media Jan. 12.

We conducted all of our testing in Arizona, with empty and loaded track testing done at the Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in Chandler. Fuel economy testing ran from Chandler up to the Apache Trail and back. Because we wanted to know how well these trucks handle towing, we enlisted Logan Coach Trailers to provide us with three closely matched horse trailers that we picked up at Imperial Trailers in Tempe. We even made a road trip to Kingman, where we conducted acceleration tests with our loaded trailers up the infamous Davis Dam grade on Arizona Route 68.

After all our driving tests, we collected some engine dynamometer data on each engine (at Arizona Dyno Chip in Chandler) so you could compare how each of these engines stacked up against one another. We'll have more on these particular results later.

Finally, we enlisted the help of five experts to judge how these trucks compared with each other, scoring the half-tons in six separate categories:

- Performance
- Seating comfort and ergonomics
- Technology and entertainment
- Ride and suspension
- Visibility
- Value

Our judges included longtime freelance writer Dave Boldt, truck expert Bruce Smith, Cars.com Road Test Editor Joe Bruzek, MrTruck.com owner/operator Kent Sundling and PickupTrucks.com Editor Mark Williams.

When calculated, our empirical tests amounted to two-thirds of total points awarded, with the remainder determined by the judges. So let's get to it.

Overview

Acceleration

Quarter Mile

Braking

Fuel Economy

Davis Dam

RESULTS

PickupTrucks.com

Posts : 474 Join date : 2013-02-28

How about a real world tests for people who actually use truck for "work" maybe testing bed dent resistance by throwing firewood in the bed or the gravel in bed test or driving across a rutted farm field at speed and throw in a hundred miles or so of mining and logging roads at 45 0r 50 mph for shits and giggles .

Posts : 1916 Join date : 2013-04-17 Location : Texas

GM owned this test. The 6.2 with eight speed is the ticket. Surprising fuel economy as well. Puts my 3.5 EB to shame.

Posts : 517 Join date : 2013-02-28 Age : 48 Location : IL

agreed, the 6.2 8 speed from GM is a beast.

too bad most people can't get one, it's starts in the LTZ or SLT trim only.

I will probably look at a SLT version next time I shop.

unless this Ram turns out to be a POS and breaks down, they will be hard pressed to get my money with all the storage, features, and options Ram has. Love my ramboxes, push button keyless enter n go, ect.

hopefully they are past all those issues they had getting this new truck launched, I read about way too many issues. But that was a while ago.

phuckin toyota sends a TRD Pro to a hauling and towing contest, come on man..

____________________________________
2023 Tundra Crewmax Platinum 4x4
2016 Tundra Crewmax Platinum 4x4
2013 Ram 1500 Sport 4x4, 5.7, 8-speed, Maximum Steel Metallic
2010 Tundra 4x4 5.7 , 33" Cooper ST Maxx on RW Wheels (sold)

Posts : 517 Join date : 2013-02-28 Age : 48 Location : IL

also, they say the Ram needs premium fuel, it does not

____________________________________
2023 Tundra Crewmax Platinum 4x4
2016 Tundra Crewmax Platinum 4x4
2013 Ram 1500 Sport 4x4, 5.7, 8-speed, Maximum Steel Metallic
2010 Tundra 4x4 5.7 , 33" Cooper ST Maxx on RW Wheels (sold)

Posts : 371 Join date : 2013-03-01

One of the biggest surprises to me (and it seems to be for a lot of people) was the 6.2 MPG. I'm kinda impressed with how well the 5.0 held it's own in the testing. I thought the displacement of the 5.0 would be a bigger disadvantage than it turned out to be. It did a respectful job competing with the bigger engines.

Posts : 1925 Join date : 2013-02-27

Breathing Borla wrote:: hopefully they are past all those issues they had getting this new truck launched, I read about way too many issues. But that was a while ago.

Automotive News wrote:: General Motors issues 3 new recalls

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Jan 1, 2015 - General Motors announced three new recalls affecting nearly 84,000 SUVs and pickup trucks, saying their ignition systems may have problems that could affect engine power and airbag deployment.

Ignition problems triggered dozens of recalls from GM throughout 2014. After accidents that caused more than 40 deaths, the automaker recalled more than 2.5 million vehicles.

With the three new recalls, GM boosted to 84 the number of record recall campaigns announced by the company in 2014.

The 84 recall campaigns in 2014 covering a record-setting 26.95 million vehicles in the United States and 30.43 million vehicles globally, GM records show.

No crashes or injuries were reported in the latest round of recalls, which largely focus on a potential defect in the electrical system of the vehicles. The issue was discovered in an internal review following warranty party returns, GM said.

Even though 83,572 vehicles were being recalled for this issue, the automaker expects that fewer than 500 will be affected by the defect of the ignition lock actuator having an outer diameter that exceeds specifications. The issue can lead to the ignition key getting stuck in the "start" position.

If the vehicle is driven that way and experiences a "significant jarring event," the ignition lock cylinder could move into the "accessory" position, affecting engine power, power steering and power braking.

"Also, the timing of the key movement into the accessory position relative to crash sensing could result in the airbags not deploying in certain crashes," company spokesperson Alan Alder said in a statement.

The recall covers certain Chevrolet Silverado light-duty and heavy-duty pickups, as well as Avalanche, Tahoe and Suburban; GMC Sierra light duty and heavy-duty pickups, and Yukon and Yukon XL; Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV and Escalade EXT. Models from 2011 and 2012 are covered by the latest recalls, as well as 2007-14 vehicles that have been repaired with defective parts.

Another of the announced recalls concerns a faulty hose clamp in 56 Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD pickup trucks from the 2015 model year.

The third covers 152 of the 2015 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC 1500 pickup trucks over concerns the rear axle shaft could fracture while the vehicles were being driven.

Most of GM's recalls in 2014 were related to an ignition system defect. The compensation program received more than 2,200 claims for injuries and deaths as a result of the issue.

The latest recalls were first reported by The Wall Street Journal and The Detroit News.

Posts : 1916 Join date : 2013-04-17 Location : Texas

The carry over 5.0 benefited from the lighter truck. Wish they would have posted the curb weights of the trucks.

Posts : 1925 Join date : 2013-02-27

joemac wrote:: Wish they would have posted the curb weights of the trucks.

From the overview...

PUTC's 1/2 Ton V8 Challenge Image12

Posts : 1916 Join date : 2013-04-17 Location : Texas

Thanks Greg. The F150 having 500 lb and 520 lb difference between the Sierra and Silverado respectively. This was the reason the F150 was even remotely close. The weight savings also helped keep the F150 economy pretty respectable. GM seems to have the AFM with the 8L90 tuned to a T. Incredible feat with such a large engine.

Posts : 474 Join date : 2013-02-28

Shout out to PUTC the beds on trucks are actually capable of having sharp scratchy paint scuffing stuff in the them . Some people actually load stuff in bed of their trucks , 2200# 3/4- gravel today to fill in the Grand Canyon deep ruts in the road in front of the shop , all that with a puny 195 horse power V6 .

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