What do you do when a single trailer does not provide enough load to test the latest dually pickup trucks on the Ike Gauntlet HD extreme towing test? Use two trailers in tandem! This is exactly what we did to the 2015 Chevy Silverado 3500 and the 2014 Ram 3500.
What Are We Towing?
First up is a Logan Coach gooseneck trailer with just under 9,000 lbs of weight. Next up is a Logan Coach bumper-pull trailer with just under 10,000 lbs of load. This is a legal rig setup (at least in Colorado). You are allowed to tow a bumper-pull behind a gooseneck or a fifth-wheel, if both trailers have brakes. We have brakes on all the trailer axles, so we are good to go. It is usually better to have the first trailer loaded with more weight than the second. We had it the other way around, but the whole train was stable and we had no issues. Total weight of both trailers and people is 19,250 lbs.
The Way Up
The engine and transmission will be stressed to the max gaining more than 2,000 feet of elevation in just eight miles. The average grade of this climb is 7%. And the engines will be starving for oxygen and struggling to make power at the 11,158 ft finish line. The test is to use maximum throttle input on the way up in order to maintain the 60 MPH speed limit (or the maximum speed the truck is able to maintain below that). This is also a test for the driver as very slow moving semi trucks and other vehicles are obstacles to maintaining momentum and staying at 60 MPH.
Going Down
We want to know how capable the brakes and transmission are descending from the tunnel to Silverthorne. This is perhaps even more important than being fast on the uphill. The trucks must be safe and practical on the way down. The measurement is simple. The trucks must maintain a safe and practical speed at or below the 60 MPH on the way down. We measure the brake rotor temperatures at the bottom and the truck with the coolest brakes is the winner. Of course, we also monitor the transmission and engine temperatures on all runs.
The Chevy was first up to take the Ike Gauntlet HD challenge. Watch this video to get all the details.
| 2015 Chevy Silverado HD | 2014 Ram HD | ||
| Model | 3500 Crew Cab 4×4 | 3500 Crew Cab 4×4 | |
| As Tested $ | $65,310 | $66,340 | |
| Engine | 6.6-liter V8 | 6.7-liter I6 | |
| Transmission | 6-speed Allison | 6-speed Aisin | |
| Power (hp / lb-ft) | 397 / 765 | 385 / 850 | |
| Payload Rating (lbs) | 5,205 | 5,560 | |
| Tow Rating (lbs) | 19,600 / 22,600 (3.73 axle) | 28,890 (4.10 axle) | |
| Test Load (trailer + cargo + ppl) | 19,250 lbs | 19,250 lbs | |
| Suspension Sag | 0.5 in | 0 in | |
| Ambient Temp F | 60F | 65 | |
| Relative Humidity | Low (25%) | Low (25%) | |
| Barometric Pressure (at top) | 19.76 inHg | 19.76 inHg | |
| Calculated Power Loss | |||
| Down: Brake Temp (Front / Rear / Trailer) F | 408 / 227 / 87 & 91 | N/A | |
| Down: Transmission Temp | normal | normal | |
| Up: Time | 9:59.55 (~20 sec traffic) | 9:38.0 | |
| Up: MPG | 3.0 | 3.3 | |
| Up: Interior dB | 69 | 70 | |
| Up: Transmission Temp | normal | normal | |
Ram went next. We had a technical problem and were not able to get the brake temperature measurements for the Ram, but everything else went smoothly. Check the video for all the details.
In the end, the Cummins/Aisin combination in the Ram pulled up the hill a little quicker than the Chevy. We had a small traffic delay at the very end of Chevy’s run that we estimated at approximately 20 seconds. Still, the Ram went up the hill in 9:38.0 and even showed a slightly better 3.3 MPG on the way up.
Andre Smirnov is a life-long automotive enthusiast, writer, reporter, and software engineer. He has been a contributor at TFL since 2011. When not working or spending time with the family – you can find him tinkering in the garage or simply ‘going for a drive’.
