Silverado 2500 HD refuses to twist with the Ford F-250 [News]

Silverado 2500HD vs. Ford F-250 Frame Twist
2015 Silverado 2500 HD vs. Ford F-250 Super Duty – Frame Twist

The competition in the world of full size trucks is arguably the fiercest in the automotive industry. Add to the fact that these are heavy duty trucks built to move enormous loads; trucks that bring in large percentages of the manufacturer’s revenue; and you get very little room for error in a heated rivalry. The 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD just added fuel to the fire by revealing a weakness of one of its top rivals – the Ford F-250. The “frame twist” test pushes the strength of the trucks ladder frame to the maximum. This test is achieved when the truck is driven slowly onto uneven ramps, much like a jeep or off-road rig testing its suspension flex.

TFLtruck's ditch twist
TFLtruck’s ditch twist

AMCI, an independent third party research agency conducted the test and measured that the 2015 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD allowed just 0.26 inches of frame twist when driven and parked on the ramps. On the other hand, the Ford F-250 Super Duty allowed over 250% more frame movement with a measured differential of 0.94 inches. This may not sound like giant numbers and does this really matter? Well, the 0.94 inches of twist on the F-250 is enough to make the tailgate inoperable while on the ramps. The Silverado however, had full functionality of its tailgate including the easy down and easy lift features. The rigidity of the Silverado HD’s frame can likely be accredited to the fact that it now uses fully boxed rails made of high strength steel and even ultra high strength steel.

ram, hd, ditch, frame, twistWill you ever drive over ramps and need to open your tailgate? You may go off-roading to camp, and this may become an issue. This test is also a simple and measurable test to get a detailed look at how strong the frames are in just about any situation. Good results on a test like this means that the frame and the truck are up to the task of hauling whatever you put behind it.

Watch as the new 2015 Silverado 2500HD takes on the the unforgiving Ike Gauntlet in the steep Rocky Mountains of Colorado.