Meet the New TFLtruck Trailers: Towing Tests Get a Makeover!

To prepare for the 2017 model year Ike Gauntlet towing tests, TFLtruck has partnered with Big Tex Trailers and CM Trailers. We will be using three new trailers and revised weights to better reflect what you guys are towing every day. The new trailer setups will also be used for our 100-mile MPG tests, as well as the new Super Ike Gauntlet test.

Big Tex Cargo Mate horse trailer

For midsize pickups and some SUVs , we have a 14-foot horse Stocker trailer (CM Trailers is a division of Big Tex) with a 7,000-lb max weight rating. This trailer will be used for trucks like the Toyota Tacoma, GM Colorado/Canyon twins, the Nissan Frontier, and most crossover/SUV testing. Its final test weight for MPG tests and 2017 Ike Gauntlet tests is yet to be finalized.

Big Tex Cargo Mate 20 foot trailer

Next is the 20-foot cargo trailer seen above – the CM Trailers Cargo Mate. It has already been used for our Gas vs Diesel Super Ike test where we max out the GVWR and/or GCWR for all trucks we evaluate. It will be loaded to 7,000 lbs for half-ton and XD truck highway MPG runs. This trailer has torsion axle suspension and will be used to test half-ton pickups, XD trucks, HD trucks, and full-size SUVs.

Big Tex gooseneck trailer

Enter the heavy 30-foot, 30,000-lb gooseneck trailer from Big Tex. It has a 12-inch steel frame with two 15,000-lb axles rolling on 16-ply tires. You can see the gooseneck in action from when we took the Chevy Silverado 2500 up the mountain towing an old Lincoln Continental. The final Ike Gauntlet test weight for this trailer has yet to be finalized, although we will surely be using it to test the new 2017 Ford Super Duty with its 925 lb-ft. Speaking of the 2017 Super Duty, Andre will be driving it this week, so stay tuned for a video coming very soon.

The results of towing these trailers will be a major factor in the 2017 Gold Hitch Awards. Check out the video at the top of the page to get more details on the new test trailers.