GMC vs Ford Trucks

[georges]

Hey Gang,
Looks like its time for a new tow vehicle for work and play. Ford is pushing the new Ecoboost engine (3.5LV) vs. the 5.0L V8. HP and torque are comparable, believe it or not! Sounds crazy, but they are saying this new engine pulls and has better overall highway mileage. Hard to believe! I've been a GMC fan (5.3L), as there older vehicles had good torque, and plenty of power. I'd really like to move to the 2500 series, but I'm running 3000 miles/month and gas mileage would kill me. I'm looking at SLE/XTS 4wd option line. Any experience or thoughts would be appreciated. I'm pulling a 211 which isn't the heaviest, but I don't want to be underpowered. Towing can be hilly interstate.
Thanks for any input!

[SkiTower]

my suggestion is to go drive both of them. There is a recent thread discussing this that I suggest you check out (see below). In short, I'm a Dodge guy at heart, grew up with Chevy, but drive a 2005 F150 I bought new. I will never go back to Chevy. My truck with 165K miles vs my in-law's Suburban with 175K is no comparison. Mine still almost feels like a new truck. And the new EcoBoost rocks from all the reviews as long as you don't expect great mileage towing (great not towing)

http://www.planetnautique.com/vb3/sh...14-Chevy-Truck

[NCH2oSki]

I've had a 2005, 2007, and 2011 gmc's and drive around 3-5 k per month, most reimbursed thankfully. The 2011 with the 5.3 and 6 speed gets 19-21 on the hwy depending on terrain and speed. If I keep it 70 or under than its the upper end +, if I'm heavy footed and see 75-80 then its 19 and less. I'm still not used to the low rpms at slow speeds--- my subdivision and school zones.

The towing mileage is 11-14 depending on hills and how heavy my foot is, I rarely tow less than the speed limit, and am never the slow guy with the boat, if that tells you anything.

All that being said, if I could find an american version of the vw toureg tdi diesel I'd be all over it. (23city-29hwy- 7k towing), but its not out there. I'd love the towing capacity and power of the 3/4 ton diesels, but I dont want to pay the $$ or ride in them for 3-5K per month.

I think there are both ok vehicles, the dealer is the driving factor for me, just like my first nautique was (white lake)

[AirTool]

I still own a 93 C1500 4x2 short bed reg cab w/4.3z and a 99 K1500 2 door Tahoe w/5.7 Vortec.

My daily driver is a 2010 F150 SuperCrew 4x4 long bed w/5.4 and the highway rear end.

I can say there is a snowball's chance I'll buy another GM product before I die.

One hint on trucks...no matter the brand.

For trailer towing, first look at gear ratios before upping the payload of the vehicle. In other words, if you can get a gear ratio in a 1/2 ton to pull your trailer weight, consider doing that before going to a higher payload truck.

These Nautiques have heavy tongue weights but yours is still under 500 lbs. Nobody needs a 3/4 ton for 500 lb tongue weight. If a trailer with a 500 lb tongue weight happens to be heavy, check the 1/2 ton with the lower gear differentials. I've seen cases where a 1/2 ton with low gears is rated to pull a heavier trailer than a 3/4 ton with the highest gears and the same engine. The main reason is because the added weight of the vehicle itself takes away from the GVWR for a given engine/rear-end combination.

I probably didn't make myself as clear as I could have....(I have other things to do) but maybe you get my point.

[DanielC]

What AirTool is getting at is this.
For a tow vehicle, you want a low (higher numerically) rear axle ratio. Example, I tow a 1997 Ski Nautique with a Ford Aerostar, 4.0 Liter engine, 3.73 rear axle ratio, 14 inch wheels, with a normal aspect ratio tire. No trouble on boat ramps, no trouble around town. What I give up, is high hiway speeds, that in many cases are not legal anyway. I also cannot charge up a 6 % grade at 70 plus miles per hour, towing the boat.
I have driven pickups with V-8 engines that it would seem better for towing, but with a fairly high rear axle ratio, (3.00 to 1) and even with the greater power of the V8, the truck pretty much needed a fan to get out of its own exhaust.

[AirTool]

What AirTool is getting at is this........

Exactly.

My dad routinely towed a very heavy (read: lots of weight) travel trailer (read: lots of wind drag) with a blue one of these:

http://media.motortopia.com/files/94...73_olds_98.jpg

http://images.google.com/search?num=...w=1280&bih=648

[Nautiquehunter]

This is a tough one . I'm a just little bias I have hated ford since the late 70s and nothing they build today has changed that. I was a mechanic for 20 years my last 5 at a Olds-GMC dealer. My personal drivers are both GM . My tow pig is a 05 GMC Savana
with a 373 rear gear and a 6.0 L engine [15 hwy not towing 10 towing 5500lbs] That being said IMO there is no replacement for displacement. Sure a smaller engine will do for a while but overall longevity will be effected. Make sure you do your homework before you jump to the latest gas saving gimmick. As far as repair and maintenance I have read some frighting things about the EcoBoost . Your best bet is to keep the tow pig you have and but a gas sipping car for work.

[LKN210]

IF you're looking at NEW trucks I'd say that both are great vehicles and i'll give you a small list of pros and cons for each. It's going to come down to personal preference. I've historically been a GM person and my current truck is a 2004 Crew Cab Silverado 2500HD Duramax. Night and day difference from the 01 1500 Z-71 I was using before to tow my 2007 210. When not towing, my diesel gets almost 20mpg on the highway with 33" mud terrains on it, but as we all know, fuel is pretty high right now compared to unleaded. So let's rule out the diesel for comparison's sake and stick with the 1/2 Tons from GM and Ford. For comparison's sake let's also assume you only are wanting a crew cab.

Latest Generation F-150 (2010-current):
Over the last year I've put 35K miles on a new 2012 F-150 Ext Cab 4x4 with the 5.0 and 6-speed automatic powertrain. The 5.0 is a great sounding and running base V8, wayyyyyy better than the 5.4 ever dreamt of being. Coupled with the 6-speed it is hard to beat. Now with that said, you have the 3.5L EcoBoost and 6.2 options above that. The 6.2 is rare in anything other than the Raptor, but comes as the base V8 in SuperDuty trucks. It's a beast, period. I agree with what was said above about the EcoBoost potential maintenance costs vs the fuel economy savings. Usable power it makes and actually the economy is negligable vs the 5.0 so I really dont see that motor paying off it's higher purchase cost in economy anytime soon. Besides, the 5.0 sounds great (stock, not with aftermarket set-up) and we all know what the EcoBoosts sound like (nothing.).

PROS:
Huge Cab - nothing other than a mega cab Dodge or crew max Tundra comes close to the rear seat room of the new F150
Huge Wheel Wells - Leveling Kit on a 4wd clears 35s on stock wheels (try that on your Chevy)
ZERO squeaks/rattles - my truck runs gravel roads regularly and is used on wind farm construction sites

CONS:
With the huge cab comes a short 5.5' bed. UNLESS you get the 6.5' option and then your truck will be lucky to fit in the garage
Seats have never been as comfortable as GMs
Traction Control is annoying. Turn it off and it behaves decent offroad


GM (2010 - Current):
Similar to Ford in that the new powertrain options are great. No turbo 6-cylinder option though, but who really cares. The base 5.3 has a great history and makes plenty of power, economy. The optional 6.2, like the Ford big motor, is a beast. Economy is a wash between brands.

PROS:
Comfort is 2nd to none in these trucks.
Larger bed in the crew cabs than Ford.
Great E-locking rear-end.

CONS:
Smaller rear seat in crew cabs than Ford
Smaller wheel wells than Ford, can still run 33s so not a big deal

As said, decision between the Ford and GM will ultimately come down to personal preference.

Hope this sheds a little light on the two.

[sodbuster88]

+1 for Mack Titan (MP10); 605hp/2060 lb-ft; maxitorque 15 spd. Just might handle that G25....but not sure. If you can't fit it in the garage, then +1 for Ford F150 EB (ain't a bad truck despite all the gadgets).

[georges]

My thanks for your input. I thought I had to drive a 2013 off the lot, but just didn't want to write the check. I lucked on a 2010 F150 Supercrew 4X4 barely used, custom stereo, bed cover, and custom stereo. Looks like I'm in tall cotton.

[sodbuster88]

My thanks for your input. I thought I had to drive a 2013 off the lot, but just didn't want to write the check. I lucked on a 2010 F150 Supercrew 4X4 barely used, custom stereo, bed cover, and custom stereo. Looks like I'm in tall cotton.

Congratulations..! Welcome to the Ford club.

[AirTool]

My thanks for your input. I thought I had to drive a 2013 off the lot, but just didn't want to write the check. I lucked on a 2010 F150 Supercrew 4X4 barely used, custom stereo, bed cover, and custom stereo. Looks like I'm in tall cotton.

Good choice - I have a black 2010 4x4 Lariat SuperCrew with the longer bed I'll be selling in March.