2018 Ford F150 or Nissan Titan XD? Towing 11,000 Lbs on the Super Ike! (Video)

2018 ford f150 nissan titan xd towing heavy trailer
2018 Ford F150 or Nissan Titan XD?

Which truck is best when towing a 11,000 lbs trailer? Is it a 2018 Ford F150 or a Nissan Titan XD? The updated F150 is powered by a 3.5L EcoBoost V6 that is matched to a 10-speed automatic transmission. This is a Lariat model crew cab 4×4 short bed with a maximum towing package. This Nissan Titan XD is a king cab 4×4 SV model with a 5.6L gasoline V8 and a 7-speed automatic transmission.

We are towing a 20-foot CM Trailers Cargo Mate that is loaded to 10,800 lbs. Why use this weight? This load maxes out the rating of the Titan XD and also pushes the GCWR of the F150 near the limit when you consider that Ford recommends a lower GCWR at elevation (2% GCWR decrease for every 1,000 feet of elevation gained).

We call this test a Super Ike Gauntlet, because we load the trucks to the maximum and run them down and up the world’s toughest towing test. It is an 8-mile run at 7% grade to a top elevation of 11,158 feet above sea level. The steepest and highest elevation interstate highway in the United States.

This comparison is not part of the Gold Hitch Ike Gauntlet competition, but it attempts to answer the question “what type of pickup truck is best for towing a 11,000 lbs trailer?” Can a half-ton truck get the job done?

Watch the Super Ike Gauntlet runs here.