TFLtruck already tested five light duty trucks at this extreme high altitude towing challenge. However, we were not satisfied. We listened to your comments and took the test to another level! Enter – the Ike Gauntlet 2.0! New trailer. More weight. It’s a whole new gauntlet!
The criteria for selecting the pickups for the Ike Gauntlet 2.0 is simple. The truck should be a Crew Cab with 4×4. It must be properly equipped for towing with a 7-pin connector and trailer brake controller. There is no price cap for trucks to participate in this test, but we regularly remind the manufacturers that outright towing capability is the name of the game. So pickups with long wheelbases, long beds, and luxurious options may be at a disadvantage. Manufacturers provide TFLtruck with the test vehicles for this test.
The Trucks:
Due to popular demand, we have the 2014 Nissan Titan KingCab 4×4 PRO-4X. You have asked for the current Titan and here it is. This pickup is entering its tenth year on the market, and an all-new Titan is coming in about a year. It would be a shame not to give the current Titan a chance at the Ike 2.0. Titan does not come with a trailer brake controller, so an aftermarket unit was installed. (Note: we made an exception. Titan CrewCab was not available to participate.)
Next is the 2013 Ford F-150 SuperCrew 4×4 – the returning champion – that tied the Ram 1500 on the previous Ike Gauntlet with a lesser load. The Ram was not available for this round of testing, and this F-150 EcoBoost is the same exact truck we used last time.
Last, but certainly not least – is the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado CrewCab 4×4 LTZ with the all-new EcoTec3 6.2-liter V8. This truck has the Maximum Trailering package and comes with the 3.73 rear end. This is the one you have been asking for.
The Load:
New trucks are getting more powerful and more capable with every update. Enter the new Logan Coach Stockman Combo 16 foot horse trailer. Water tanks add ballast for a total of 10,000 lbs (actually, 10,010 lbs to be exact). Don’t forget that Roman, Nathan, and Mr Truck Kent Sundling are in the truck to provide the data and commentary. Lets just say that the guys and gear add another 850 lbs – if we are rounding up. The total Ike Gauntlet 2.0 test load of trailer, ballast, and people is approximately 10,850 lbs.
The Test:
This extreme towing test is designed to showcase how the trucks cope with towing a 10,000 lbs trailer at high elevation and up/down a steep grade. The Ike Gauntlet 2.0 is going down and up the eight mile stretch of interstate I-70 between the Eisenhower/Johnson Memorial Tunnel and the town of Silverthorn. There is more than 2,000 feet of elevation change with an average 7% grade. The finish line is at 11,158 feet above sea level!
Ike Gauntlet 2.0 – Light Duty Edition
| 2014 Nissan Titan | 2013 Ford F-150 | 2014 Chevrolet Silverado | |
| Model | KingCab 4×4 PRO-4X | SuperCrew 4×4 Limited | CrewCab 4×4 LTZ |
| As Tested $ | $43,355 | $54,550 | $51,560 |
| Engine | 5.6-liter V8 | 3.5-liter V6 Ecoboost | 6.2-liter V8 EcoTec3 |
| Transmission | 5-speed Auto | 6-speed Auto | 6-speed Auto |
| Power (hp / lb-ft) | 317 / 385 | 365 / 420 | 420 / 460 |
| Tow Rating | 9,500 lbs (4.10 f.d.) | 9,600 lbs (3.73 axle) | 11,800 (3.73 axle) |
| Payload | 1,842 lbs | 1,300 lbs | N/A lbs |
| Wheelbase | 139.8 in | 145.0 in | 153.0 in |
| Test Load (trailer + ppl) | 10,850 lbs | 10,850 lbs | 10,850 lbs |
| Down: Brake Temp (Front / Rear/ Trailer) F | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| Down: Transmission Temp | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| Up: Time | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| Uphill MPG | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| Up: Transmission Temp | TBD | TBD | TBD |
Here is the Ike Gauntlet 2.0 video trailer. Enjoy!
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’.
