2017 Ford F250 Crew 4×4 on the Ike Gauntlet Review: World’s Toughest Towing Test [Video]

2017 ford f250 power stroke turbo diesel towing extreme review test ike gauntlet

How does the 2017 Ford F-250 do on the Ike Gauntlet, world’s toughest towing test, with a 6.7L Power Stroke V8, a 6-speed automatic transmission, and 12,500 lbs in tow? You are about to find out!

2017 Ford F-1250 Crew 6.7L Power Stroke V8 4×4 King Ranch

  • Engine: 6.7L V8
  • Power: 440 @ 2,800 rpm
  • Torque: 925 @ 1,800 rpm
  • Transmission: 6-speed automatic
  • Rear Axle Ratio: 3.55
  • Max Towing: 15,000 lbs
  • Max Payload: 2,080 lbs
  • GVWR: 10,000 lbs
  • GCWR: lbs
  • EPA-estimated Fuel Economy: Not Rated
  • As-tested Price: $66,275

All 3/4-ton trucks are hitched up to the same 12,500 lbs enclosed CM Trailers 20-foot CargoMate trailer. We always use water for ballast, and set up the tongue weight between 1,200 and 1,300 lbs. We calculate and always recommend the tongue weight at approximately 10% of the combined trailer weight.

We weighed this truck at the CAT certified scales, and (with a full 34-gallon diesel tank) this King Ranch crew cab 4×4 tipped the scales at 7,920 lbs.

Downhill

We test downhill performance by starting the 8 mile downhill at 50 MPH (which is the speed limit inside the tunnel). We use the tow/haul mode (and exhaust brake if equipped) and let the truck do its thing. If it accelerates past 60 MPH, which is the speed limit, then we apply the brake firmly to slow down to 50 MPH. We count the number of time we have to apply the brakes in this fashion. Every time we touch the brakes on the way down, the truck looses a point.

Uphill

We time the truck on the way up (8 mile stretch of the interstate on a 7% grade going from around 9,000 feet to 11,158 feet of elevation). We also take note of the truck’s average MPG as reported by the trip computer. The benchmark time is 8 minutes. This assumes that the truck accelerated quickly, and maintained 60 MPH the entire way up the hill. Every 5 seconds over the time goal subtracts a point from the truck’s overall score. The benchmark MPG number is 6.0MPG. Every 0.2 MPG below that, and the truck looses a point.

Subjective

Each reviewer that participates in the test is given a maximum of 25 points for their subjective opinion. These scores are averaged and added to the downhill and uphill objective scores. The final score is stated out of maximum possible 100 points.

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Get all the details and the final Ike Gauntlet score in the video below.