TFLcar.com sister site – TFLtruck.com – is getting ready for the second round of the very popular Ike Gauntlet Extreme Towing test for light duty pickup trucks. We already tested three 1500 trucks, but we cannot stop there. We aim to put every new pickup truck through the Ike Gauntlet. Stay tuned for more at www.tfltruck.com
The data from The Fast Lane Truck’s first Ike Gauntlet – Light Duty edition is in. Here is the summary of the results so you can see it all in one place. This extreme towing test saw the following three pickups: 2013 Toyota Tundra CrewMax 4×4 Limited TRD Off-Road, 2013 Ford F-150 SuperCrew Ecoboost 4×4 Limited, and 2014 Chevrolet Silverado Crew Cab 4×4 Z71.
This extreme test is designed to showcase how the truck cope with towing a load, which is 85% or higher of their maximum tow rating, at high elevation and up a steep grade. The Ike Gauntlet is going down and up the eight mile stretch of interstate I-70 between the Eisenhower/Johnson Memorial Tunnel and the town of Silverthorn. There is more than 3,000 feet of elevation change with an average 7% grade. The finish line is at 11,158 feet above sea level!
Light Duty Edition
| 2013 Toyota Tundra | 2013 Ford F-150 | 2014 Chevrolet Silverado | |
| Model | CrewMax 4×4 Limited TRD | SuperCrew 4×4 Limited | CrewCab 4×4 Z71 |
| As Tested $ | $46,518 | $54,550 | $48,750 |
| Engine | 5.7-liter V8 iForce | 3.5-liter V6 Ecoboost | 5.3-liter V8 EcoTec3 |
| Power (hp / lb-ft) | 381 / 401 | 365 / 420 | 355 / 383 |
| Tow Rating | 9,000 lbs (4.30 axle) | 9,600 lbs (3.73 axle) | 6,600 (3.08 axle) |
| Payload | 1,330 lbs | 1,300 lbs | 1,957 lbs |
| Wheelbase | 145.7 in | 145.0 in | 143.5 in |
| Test Load (trailer + ppl) | 8,000 lbs | 8,000 lbs | 6,500 lbs |
| Down: Brake Temp (Front / Rear/ Trailer) F | 306 / 350 / 185 | 450 / 400 / 180 | 230 / 180 / 219 |
| Down: Transmission Temp | normal | normal | normal |
| Up: Time | 8:13.0 | 7:50.3 | 8:23.3 |
| Avg MPG | 9.4 | 11.3 | NA |
| Up: Transmission Temp | normal | normal | normal |
Heavy Duty
| 2013 RAM 3500 | |||
| Model | CrewCab 4×4 Laramie Longhorn Dually | ||
| As Tested $ | $68,000 | ||
| Engine | 6.7-liter Cummins | ||
| Power | 370 hp / 800 lb-ft | ||
| Tow Rating | 30,000 lbs (4.10 axle) | ||
| Payload | lbs | ||
| Wheelbase | in | ||
| Test Load (trailer + ppl) | 17,650 lbs | ||
| Down: Brake Temp (Front / Rear/ Trailer) F | NA | ||
| Down: Transmission Temp | normal | ||
| Up: Time | 10:12.2 | ||
| Avg MPG | 5.9 MPG | ||
| Up: Transmission Temp | normal |
Andre Smirnov is a life-long automotive enthusiast, writer, reporter, and software engineer. He has been a contributor at TFLcar since 2011. When not working or spending time with the family – you can find him tinkering in the garage or simply ‘going for a drive’.
