Pickuptruck.com hosts Heavy Duty Truck Shootout to end all shootouts
Mike Levine from PickupTruck.com is our go-to guy for truck news. His brain is like the bed of a Ford F-450 filled with the esoteric details of heavy duty diesel pickups and 3/4-ton gassers. Plus, he's from the old school of automotive journalism and has made a successful transition to the web, which means his reporting is always knowledgeable and balanced despite it being delivered digitally. When Levine told us he was planning on doing a comprehensive comparo of today's heavy duty pickups, however, we were unprepared for the depth of the final product.
The 2007 PickupTruck.com Heavy Duty Shootout pits six HD pickups from Chevy/GMC, Ford and Dodge against each other on a totally level and unbiased playing field. Levine went so far as to hire a third-party company to perform all of the instrumented testing to remove any trace of subjectivity in the results. The players are three gas-powered 3/4-ton pickups including the 2007 Dodge Ram 2500 SLT Quad Cab 4x4, 2008 Ford F-250 FX4 Super Duty Crew Cab 4x4 and 2007 GMC Sierra 2500 HD SLE Crew Cab 4x4, and three diesel-powered one-ton pickups including the 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 LT Crew Cab 4x4, 2007 Dodge Ram 3500 SLT Quad Cab 4x4 and 2008 Ford F-350 King Ranch Super Duty Crew Cab 4x4. Ford also threw in a 2008 Ford F-450 Lariat Super Duty Crew Cab 4x4 so that Levine and his team could attempt to prove how powerful this big rig really is.
We've just finished reading Part 1 and 2 of the three-part series, which includes an extremely knowledgeable and fact-filled introduction as well as the first battery of tests, including a "squat" test and 1/4-mile performance runs. Each part may appear like a lot to read, but we flew threw it faster than an unloaded GMC Sierra 2500 through the quarter mile.
Check out Part 1 here and click here for Part 2. The final installment should be out sometime this week, and we'll be eager to find out definitively which of these pickups outperformed its competitors in PickupTruck.com's battle royale of heavy duty trucks.
[Source: PickupTruck.com]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
l.i.dave 11:34AM (7/03/2007)
Why couldn't he include those cute little foreign pick ups?
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Barney 12:00PM (7/03/2007)
It seems to be a futile effort for Levine to go through all the trouble and expense, when the first response is from someone who doesn't read or pay attention. Why don't you do your trolling elsewhere. Are you just illiterate or dense?
Rambo 11:46AM (7/03/2007)
Best Design: Dodge Ram
Best Value: Dodge Ram
Best Capability: Ford F-Series
Best Reliability: Chevy Silverado
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Barney 12:05PM (7/03/2007)
I don't think the Chev will do to bad but agree with Rambo. The Ford will prove to be the true work horse, even with a gas engine. It's nice to see the gas engine used in these tests, as it is the most common engine people buy. Some posters will state that the diesel engines will make the difference, but the diesel is not yet the average engine.
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Paul 12:09PM (7/03/2007)
I will be the one that makes that statement - frankly, if you buy one of these trucks with a gas engine, you dont know what you are doing... diesel may not be the average engine, but it is the true heavy duty engine, and therefore the one that should be used in these tests.
Barney 12:15PM (7/03/2007)
"if you buy one of these trucks with a gas engine, you dont know what you are doing"
I agree Paul but average don't mean optional. Until the diesel is a standard engine, the gas will still outsell.
"therefore the one that should be used in these tests.
The 2nd group in the test are diesels.
motorman 1:05PM (7/03/2007)
here is the story about gas vs diesel cost to operate. A diesel costs a consumer an average of $6,660 more than a comparable gasoline engine. But after 4½ years of ownership, a diesel truck is worth $4,700 more than a gasoline-powered truck, according to a study by the Martec Group, a marketing and consulting firm.
Also after 4½ years, the diesel owner has spent about $4,200 less on fuel than the gasoline engine owner, Martec says. Last week the average price of a gallon of diesel fuel was $2.91, 7 cents less than for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline.
Barney 1:47PM (7/03/2007)
"Also after 4½ years, the diesel owner has spent about $4,200 less on fuel than the gasoline engine owner, Martec says. Last week the average price of a gallon of diesel fuel was $2.91, 7 cents less than for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline."
I have driven diesels for decades and until recently, the price of diesel was considerably less. Supply & demand dictates that diesel will go up higher and in some areas diesel is already higher in price then gasoline. Still a person would benefit with the diesel in a long range and if the buyer keeps the truck for a longer term. However, if a diesel is made more powerfull then it's gasoline counterpart, it may not give better milage. A 500 HP diesel will not give better milage then a 350 HP gas engine.
Rambo 12:19PM (7/03/2007)
Well said Paul,
Why would you buy an HD with a gas engine? I think that is the point Dave was making. Toyota likes to boast how powerful their 5.7L gas V8 is. However, the standard if you are towing and want big power is a diesel.
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Barney 12:25PM (7/03/2007)
RAMBO: The comparson is between HEAVY DUTY trucks NOT 1/2 tons. Why would Toyota or Nissan 1/2 tons be in the picture? Are you aware of those two making HD that the rest of us aren't? Why not compare a Ridgeliner as well if you feel oranges and apples should be in the tests?
l.i.dave 12:26PM (7/03/2007)
Barney get a hobby sweetie.
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Barney 12:30PM (7/03/2007)
Very bright comeback!
Rambo 12:32PM (7/03/2007)
Barney, I don't see the frame of the vehicle as being the only classificalition for Toyota, Nissan and Honda to hide behind. The truth is... a 5.7L Toyota Tundra is in the same price class an HD Ram. That is the reason for my comparison.
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Barney 12:49PM (7/03/2007)
"a 5.7L Toyota Tundra is in the same price class an HD Ram. That is the reason for my comparison."
Perhaps where you live but not here. Toyota and Nissan makes a pickup for the average truck buyer. Most of which are 1/2 tons. Dodge may sell their 3/4 ton at the same price as Toyota (where you live) but will not be what people want. As far as the diesel issue goes; I worked at an RV dealer and most people who came for their RV had gas engined trucks. I agree it's stupid and can't conceive why not diesel. Also the campers today cannot be toted in a 1/2 ton but again, the average pickup buyer don't buy them for campers or for work. Toyota and Nissan build trucks for the average driver and the HD truck tests are for those who need a work truck.
Aaron 12:42PM (7/03/2007)
I seem to recall a stat from Ford that 75% of heavy duty F series are diesel, so they do seem to be the majority..
I understand it is only enacdotal, but I rarely see a non diesel 3/4 ton. I know I can lookin to our yard and see 100 diesels (beyond the one I drive).
Either way, great comparo.
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Barney 12:53PM (7/03/2007)
Perhaps Ford but most 3/4 tons are not diesel. Once the diesel is quieter and don't smell like a diesel, more 3/4 tons will sell with them. Personally I have diesel in my blood and love the sound and smell.
Aaron 1:44PM (7/03/2007)
I would be shocked if 25% of the 3/4 tons here are gas.
i'm in Alberta BTW, basically the canadian equivalent of texas.
Barney 4:33PM (7/03/2007)
"i'm in Alberta BTW, basically the canadian equivalent of texas"
I still own property in Athabasca and will going up there this month. I know the guys leave the diesels running all winter when working in the field. Apparently the Duramax don't like it. The rest of Canada doesn't make the big bucks and would be considered more so, the average HD buyer. Albertans don't count!
l.i.dave 12:56PM (7/03/2007)
Well Barney, I wanted to keep it brief since you are so busy posting. Six posts on one thread in less then an hour, nice life.
I'll go now honey, your lips are probably getting tired. ha ha ha ha.
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Mr. Frank 1:09PM (7/03/2007)
I was actually surprised that the DODGE/GM didn't leave the FORD in the dust considering the FORD weighs 1000 lbs more then each other. And it sometimes the FORD came out on top, FORD and there fat TRUCKS. FORD is a true American Icon of TRUCK.
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