These trucks are hauling a maximum load up and down the highest and steepest interstate highway in the country.
It’s time to find out how all the new 2020 HD trucks can handle the Ike Gauntlet™ – the world’s toughest towing test. On this episode, the thoroughly updated 2020 Ford F-350 dually diesel is going up against the all-new 2020 GMC Sierra 3500 HD dually diesel. The are both towing a 30,000 lbs trailer with a Next Generation Cat Mini Excavator. Here is how they stack up.
The Ike Gauntlet™ is the world’s toughest towing test because it’s an 8-mile stretch of I-70 highway with a 7% grade and a top elevation of 11,153 feet above sea level.
2020 GMC Sierra 3500 HD
The Sierra HD is all-new for 2020 with one exception. It has an updated frame, new body/bed, updated interior, and lot of new technology. However, the turbo-diesel engine remains the same as before. Under the hood is still a 6.6-liter Duramax V8 with a rating of 445 hp and 910 lb-ft of torque. The engine is mated to an all-new 10-speed Allison automatic transmission.
While the power ratings remain the same, the chassis and many other updates boost the towing capacity of the 2020 GM HD truck to well over 30,000 lbs. The maximum tow rating is 35,500 lbs, but the crew cab 4×4 Denali truck you see is rated at a still impressive 31,100 lbs of towing.
2020 Ford F-350 SD
The Ford Super Duty undergoes some significant changes for 2020. Which the chassis and the body/bed are mostly the same as before the powertrain is significantly different. The 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 turbo-diesel has a new turbocharger, fuel system, pistons, and more to produce 475 hp and 1,050 lb-ft of torque. This diesel is mated to a new 10-speed automatic transmission. The King Ranch crew cab 4×4 truck you see here is rated to tow 31,300 lbs. The maximum 2020 F-450 towing number stands at 37,000 lbs.
Here is how the two trucks stack up. We reached out to Ram for a 3500 HD truck for this comparison, but a 2020 Ram HD truck (or any other Ram dually) was not available for this comparison. We will be testing a 2020 Ram dually with the same trailer in February 2020.
| GMC Sierra 3500 | Ford F-350 | |
| Engine | 6.6L V8 : 445 hp, 910 lb-ft | 6.7L V8: 475 hp, 1,050 lb-ft |
| Transmission | 10-speed auto | 10-speed auto |
| Rear axle | 3.42 ratio | 3.55 ratio |
| Fuel tank | 36 gal | 48 gal |
| Payload | 5,207 lbs | 5,314 lbs |
| Towing | 31,100 lbs | 31,300 lbs |
Here are the Ike Gauntlet results.
| GMC Sierra 3500 | Ford F-350 | |
| Downhill | 9 brakes | 5 brakes |
| Uphill Time | 11 min 47 sec | 10 min 20 sec |
| Uphill MPG | 2.4 MPG | 2.4 MPG |
| Subjective score | 22.5 pts | 23.5 pts |
| Ike score | 59 pts | 81.5 pts |
Ike Gauntlet scoring system is as follows. Each truck can get a maximum 100 points.
- The maximum for the downhill section is 25 points. We subtract one point for each brake application.
- The maximum for the uphill benchmark time of 10 minutes is 25 points. Every 5 seconds over the benchmark takes off a point.
- The maximum for uphill fuel economy of 4.0 MPG is 25 points. Every 0.2 MPG below that takes off a point.
- Each reviewer has a maximum of 25 subjective points to score each truck. Five categories are: mirrors, interior comfort, suspension squat, handling while loaded, and towing assist technologies.
Watch all of the details in the video below.
