Ford has promised that its new aluminum-bodied 2015 F-150 pickup would set new standards in capability from the moment the sheet came off the truck in January. It's the sort of marketing speak that typically draws eye rolls—but it turns out Ford wasn't joking.
According to the 2015 F-150′s officially stated towing and payload numbers, the thing will be able to tow up to 12,200 pounds and haul up to 3300 pounds in the bed. The latter figure is particularly impressive, as the Chevrolet Silverado and Ram 1500 models can officially haul just 2270 and 1900 pounds in their beds. The F-150's trailering figure bests the Ram's top tow rating of 10,650 pounds and squeaks by the Chevrolet Silverado 1500's max trailer weight of 12,000 pounds.
Of course, the numbers are seldom all that cold or hard when it comes to full-size trucks. While every truck shopper should be happy to see numbers like this, Ford didn't break down its numbers by body style or configuration (although the top tow rating requires the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6, and peak payload comes courtesy of the 5.0-liter V-8), so it remains difficult to draw any apples-to-apples comparisons. It's worth noting, however, that Ford spokesman Mike Levine told us that these calculations are the result of following SAE-recommended practices, which state that the manufacturer should keep the entire vehicle intact when determining ratings. Ford, if you recall, was one of the few manufacturers not following the practices—in that case for its Super Duty trucks—before reversing course earlier this month.
- That Dam Tow Test: SAE J2807 Towing Test Explained
- Five Cool Ways Ford Stripped Weight Out of the 2015 F-150′s Chassis
- Ford F-150 Research: Photos, Reviews, Info, and More
Even if Ford didn't follow the SAE's guidelines, though—and particularly when it comes to payload—the F-150 appears to have enough of a commanding lead that it could probably have six bumpers removed from each end and still come out ahead. And in any case, the ratings prove that aluminum—"high-strength, military-grade" aluminum, anyway—can work for trucks. We're looking forward to loading one up ourselves and putting it through its paces soon.
from Car and Driver Blog http://ift.tt/nSHy27
Put the internet to work for you.
No comments:
Post a Comment