2014 Truck Comparison: Truck Towing and Room

So now that we are sufficiently knowledgeable about how strong the 2014 full size trucks are, lets see  how much they can haul, both inside and behind it.  Even the strongest struck is not much good if it can't carry a load or if it is a pain to ride in due to lack of room.

Many of the gains in truck amenities over the past two decades has come in the addition of room and in the addition of towing capacity.  Trucks have become large family vehicles in many cases and can haul more weight than most people need.

So lets take a look at who has the most room inside and just how much they can haul and pull.  You will want to note, all towing capacities and hauling capacities depend on which package you buy, including cab size, engine size, 2WD/4WD, and more.  For the purposes of this comparison, we will be using the best numbers for each make reported from their own websites.

First, lets all agree that a "half ton truck" does not carry just a half ton.  With enhanced suspension and stronger frames, these trucks do much more.  Here are the maximum hauling capacities:

                 Ford                          3,120 lbs
                 Chevy                       2,101 lbs
                 Toyota                      2,040 lbs
                 Ram                          1,910 lbs

Notice that Ford is well beyond the other three.  Chevy, Toyota and Ram are all within a couple hundred pounds of each other, but Ford is a half ton more in capacity.  Impressive.

Next, the Towing Capacities:

                 Chevy                      12,000 lbs
                 Ford                         11,300 lbs
                 Toyota                     10,500 lbs
                 Ram                         10,450 lbs
                
These weights are fairly close, but one should note that with all of the changes and improvements made by Dodge over the past few years, their hauling and towing capacities have a bit further to go.  Although, their top fuel efficiencies would probably take a hit if they did so.

Another note for Ram buyers, the new Ram EcoDiesel V6 is not included in these two lists since Ram had not released their hauling and towing numbers at the time of this comparison.

Finally, the cab room comparison will look at the head room, hip room, and leg room of each of the main types of half ton truck packages: Single Cab, Extended Cab, and Crew Cab.

Single Cab Numbers:

                          Head Room     Hip Room     Leg Room
     Ford                    41"                 60.5"             41.4"
     Chevy                42.4"               60.7"             45.3"
     Ram                   39.9"               62.9"              41"
     Toyota               39.7"                 62"              42.5"

Extended Cab Numbers: (Front/Rear)

                          Head Room     Hip Room     Leg Room
     Ford               41"/39.6"       60.5"/65.4"   41.4"/33.3"
     Chevy           42.8"/38.6"     60.7"/60.2"   45.3"/34.6"
     Ram               41"/39.7"       63.2"/62.9"     41"/34.7"
     Toyota          39.7"/38.7"     62.6"/62.6"   42.5"/34.7"

Crew Cab Number:  (Front/Rear)

                           Head Room     Hip Room     Leg Room
     Ford                 41"/40.3"      60.5"/64.6"   41.4"/43.5"
     Chevy            42.8"/40.5"     60.7"/60.2"   45.3"/40.9"
     Ram                 41"/39.9"      63.2"/63.2"     41"/40.3"
     Toyota           39.7"/38.9"     62.6"/60.4"   42.5"/42.3"

I won't even attempt to break all of those numbers into a snippet of information, so you can just compare and get an idea of which trucks have the shape of cab best to fit you.    I will say, however, that it does look as though Chevy makes the better truck for those who have longer legs.

Be sure to check back next week to catch the full size comparison of amenities and price.

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Changes In The 2013 Full Size Pickups

Every year the big three truck makers roll out their new year's model some time after summer, each with their own new bells and whistles. Sometimes the new model is just a slightly changed version of the prior year's truck, and sometimes the truck maker brings out a whole new design, looking to capture truck of the year awards and every truck buyer's attention.

For the most part, truck makers - Chevy, Ford, and Dodge - only truly change their truck model every 4 or 5 years or so. They simply make minor tweaks and adjustments and add new colors or a new interior option and then slap a new year on it. This year the overall models are not changing, but several big changes are happening with powertrains and such along with some preparations being made for big changes in the next couple of years due to changes in "Cafe" standards.

The following sections will break down the changes for each of the big 3 American full size truck models, along with some coming changes in 2014 and so forth. And finally, I will add a comparison of the reported changes. I will come out with a whole 2013 Full Size Truck Comparison when the models are released with finalized Hp ratings and so forth. Please feel free to share any other changes you have heard of in the comments section at the bottom.

What's New On The 2013 Ford Trucks

The new full size model for the Ford lineup, the 2013 F150, will also be staying with its same basic layout, but will include more visible updating, especially to the front of the exterior. Although the basic look is the same, Ford has reworked the grille, the headlights, and the hood, to give the F150 a slightly flashier feel. Ford's F150 is currently working off of a 2009 platform, so they are 2 years younger than the Silverado, and in less need of a new platform.

Ford will also be including a return of the F150 Limited from 2011. The high-end model has all of the upgrades and includes the hard to find V6 Ecoboost engine with its 365 Hp and 22 MPG. It is not known, as of yet, if Ford will make the V6 more common on their lots, as over the past two years they have been very difficult to find and always brought at or close to full price.

With preparation to ready their fleet for the new fuel standards, Ford is reportedly dropping as much as 700 lbs from their trucks, but will not be doing so until probably 2015, a year after GM.

Changes To The 2013 Full Size Chevy Truck

Although the Chevy Silverado is a great truck and has a large share of the market, the 2013 Silverado does not bring much to the table as far as new improvements. This year's Silverado has only added some incidental changes to minor stylings (location and size of logos, addition of some chrome, etc). Instead of spending time changing the 2013 model, GM has, instead, decided to spend more effort working on the 2014 line and allow the strengths of the old model carry it for one more year.

Chevy's current strengths (many options, dependability, comfortable ride) are great but with the upgrades you will see in the other two trucks combined with their upgrades the past couple of years, Chevy is beginning to fall behind. Although this may not mean a mass exodus of brand loyal customers from Chevy to Ford or Ram, GM will have to worry that more of their loyal customers will simply wait until next year.

Where Chevy has the other two makers trying to catch up is in preparation for the next set of Cafe standards. Chevy is reportedly preparing to drop 500 lbs from the truck in its coming 2014 model which will be coming with small block V8's and standard 6 speed transmissions.

The New 2013 Ram Full Size Trucks

The Ram full size trucks have, by far, the most upgrades for the 2013 selling year. Ram, no longer "Dodge Ram", has a new, higher front grille, a new, bumper design, and now it has standard halogen headlights and LED rear lights. Small changes, yes, but so are the newly available rain-sensing windshield wipers and power folding side mirrors. All of these have been available in one way or another in the other two trucks, but Dodge has definitely stepped up its game.

Under the hood, Chrysler has given the Ram a definite upper hand. Ram has added horsepower to its V6 area to compete with Ford's Ecoboost. The Pentastar V6 has 305 Hp which is still 60 less than the Ford, but is almost as much as Chevy's 5.3 Liter V8. It is also matched up with Ram's "TorqueFlite8" eight speed transmission. The Hemi has 5 more Hp to add to its might, and will also receive an upgrade to the eight speed transmission some time mid-year. The downside, for some, is that the trucks with the eight speed will lose the column shifter and use a European-sports car like dial to the right of the steering wheel on the dash. Which brings me to the interior...

The Ram designers have reworked their interior with new materials to bring the model up to date for 2013. The Ram has also added a touch screen panel in the center dash along with a multifunction, 7 inch screen to replace the gauge cluster. These additions, along with a new locking feature that includes the tailgate and side boxes, similar to Chevy's Avalanche, have made the Ram truck much more modern and user friendly at the same time.

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Chevy Vs Ford: Who Has The Best Truck Brand?

 Every truck owner in the U.S. has their preference of which brand they would drive, and no brands are more competitive with each other than Ford and Chevrolet. For years Ford has put out hundreds of thousands of trucks that are used as family vehicles, work trucks, and emergency services vehicles. They have had a history of producing both cost efficient and comfortable lines and options all in between to satisfy a wide range of consumers.

Chevrolet has developed a brand with a reputation of highly dependable, comfortable rides that can last for many miles. Although they have not always been as competitive with Ford's low prices as they are today, Chevrolet now competes strongly for emergency vehicles and fleet options. If you do not have a preference between the two of these brands, you have never driven either or do not care to drive a pickup truck.

GM Midsize Trucks: GMC Canyon And Chevy Colorodo

The design of both GM and Isuzu, the Chevy Coloroda/GMC Canyon began production in 2004 to replace the S-10/Sonoma. Although the truck is not large, in looks and size it is a step up from the old S-10, and you can definitely see the Isuzu influences in the design, if not, just look at one parked by a Isuzu D-Max which began production 2 years prior to the joint venture.

The Colorodo has a bit more height to the cab, causing the larger look, than the S-10, and compares well with other small to midsize trucks on the market today in size and power. The truck has options for a 4 cylinder, 5 cylinder, and the 5.3 L v8 that is the main powerplant for the larger Silverado. Fuel efficiency for the platform is close to the top of the field in each of the sizes of engines, so even though there is plenty of strength under the hood, your wallet won't sacrifice.

Ford Ranger, Ford's Small Package

Although the Ford Ranger has ceased as a U.S. Ford product, their are still many 2011 Rangers on the market. Ford ceased its production of the Ranger in the U.S. in December of 2011 after 29 years of production of the small pickup truck. Though the Ranger was never known for comfort or a smooth ride, it was, however, known for dependability and utility.

Ford is still producing the Ranger in Australia, although their newest version is a larger Ranger, much more comparable to the Chevy Colorodo or Toyota's Tacoma line. It is understandable that Ford decided to drop the current Ranger from its American line, considering lower sales in small trucks as half-ton trucks have risen in mileage, and they have joined Dodge in dropping the smaller end of their pickup line.

It will be interesting to see, when the U.S. truck market and auto market in general begin to rebound, if Ford will incorporate the flashy new Australian Ford Ranger design into its American Ford Truck brand.

Chevy Silverado / GMC Sierra, The GM Pick Up Flagships

The underlying design of the current Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra has been in production since the 2007 model was released and met with the North American Truck Of The Year and Motortrend's Truck Of The Year awards. Although the basic shape has stayed the same since the initial model, these trucks have incorporated some recent changes that have definitely strengthened the Silverado/Sierra brand.

First, the trucks now come with more packages that offer the 6 speed transmission which translates into higher fuel efficiency. Eventually, as 4 speed transmission are phased out, all of the full size GM trucks will have the 6 speed transmission, mostly to help reach the new cafe standards.

Second, the truck line is phasing out the 6.0 L V8 and replacing it with a 403 Hp 6.2 L V8. This engine, along with the standard 5.3 L, come with a "Cruise Grade Braking" option (Jake Brake) which downshifts the engine to assist with slowing so brakes are not overused.

Some other new options include a WiFi hotspot option which reaches 150 ft from the truck, mobile apps that can link your cell phone to your truck via On-Star, and Bluetooth options that allow you to answer and end phone calls without touching your smartphone. The new Silverado/Sierra truly has every toy you could think of. Some future options for this truck are rumored to include an option for a built in air compressor built into the rear of the truck, and side rails that actually lower down from the body when the truck is placed in park. What will they think of next?

F150, Ford's Bread And Butter

Beginning with the F-1 in 1948, the F series pickup truck has provided versatility and utility to Americans and Canadians alike for well over 60 years. What quickly became known as the F-100 was replaced by the F-150 as the half ton model and the main seller for the F series in the late 1970's. The F-150 is currently the best selling truck when the Chevy Silverado and the GMC Sierra sales are not added together, and it was once the most sold vehicle in the U.S. for 24 years.

The new F-150 has a stronger looking front end to make it closer to the design of the Ford Super Duty trucks. In 2011, the F-150 was given a small cosmetic change which carries over to the 2012 model, including a new grill, a more muscular hood design, and the addition of some more modern designs on the tailgate of the truck. The interiors are similar to the last few F-150's with a few small changes, including more packages with Ford's Sync system available.

The engine changes are some of the best that Ford has made to the F-150 in recent years. With the addition in 2011 of the 365 hp V6 Ecoboost and a relatively new 6 speed transmission that has Ford trucks at tied for the top in full size truck fuel efficiency. With a 411 hp 6.2L V8 also available, Ford has the horsepower competition pretty much in hand.

Although Ford has upped its warranty from the old 36/month 36,000 mile to a more competitive 60/month 60,000 mile warranty they still are behind the new standard of 60/month 100,000 miles. I mean, how many people are going to buy a truck that is as fun to drive and use as the 2012 F150 and only average 10,000 miles a year?

Chevy And GMC HD Trucks

After being totally redesigned for their 2007 models, the GMC Sierra HD and the Chevy Silverado HD quickly became a replacement for the Ford SuperDuty in many ambulance services as well as in work truck roles around the country. The move was largely due to the dissatisfaction with Fords 6.4 L Powerstroke Diesel which had plenty of problems. Whether or not the GM HD brand will maintain its new strength in the HD market is hard to know, considering the early reviews on Fords new 5.7 L Powerstroke seem to be great.

The current model of GM HD trucks has been given a heavier frame, a safer cab with more side protection, and more capability with best in class towing and only 3 Hp less than the Ford SuperDuty. With few changes from their JD Power Truck of the Year model in 2011, the 2012 is definitely pleasing to both sit in and drive.

Ford Super Duty Trucks

With a newly updated exterior from last years model, the 2012 line of Super Duty Ford trucks are bigger and better than ever before. These 2012 Super Duty Fords also include a larger diesel option, increased from the 6.4L Powerstroke to the 6.7L Powerstroke Diesel V8. They also upped the available size gas engine, from the 5.4 Triton V8 that is in most of the F-150's to the 6.2L "Boss" V8 engine.

Besides the bulkier and stronger looking exterior and the definitely stronger engines, the new Super Duty can carry more while burning less fuel than ever before. The fact that the F-250 or F-350 can pull over 8 tons with 400 horsepower and do so with less fuel is amazing. The somewhat recent addition of Ford's Sync system also adds even more creature comfort to one of the largest cabs in the truck market.

 

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