Bloated Ford, GM, Ram Towing Numbers Continue
Tim Esterdahl | Apr 08, 2013 | Comments 17
GM continues to ignore the J2807 “truth in towing” standards when it released its 2013 Twins towing ratings. Ford and Ram still won’t comply either. When will the lies stop? It seems that the truth in towing numbers belong to Toyota.
Once again Ford, GM and Ram are ignoring the J2807 towing standards – truth in towing. What will it take for them to tell the truth?
With Ford, GM and Ram locked in what looks like an adolescent battle over fictitious towing numbers, Toyota continues to deliver what it promises the customer. For example, GM’s new towing rating of 11,500 pounds is at least 1k difference more than Toyota states. However, there isn’t THAT much difference between GM and Toyota’s gear ratio, max towing package and power/torque specs to dictate a 1k pound difference.
The truth is that when Toyota adopted the J2807 standards, it’s max towing dropped by 1k pounds or so. Over the past several years, Toyota has made improvements to the Tundra that raised the maximum towing numbers back up.
Another truthful statement, in regards to towing, is that last year GM announced new ratings based on the J2807 standards. Guess what? Their maximum towing rating on some of the biggest trucks dropped by 4,800 pounds. In response, GM quickly changed their tune and rescinded those numbers.
What’s the deal with the lies from GM, Ford and Ram? GM told Pickuptrucks.com on a conference call that:
GM did follow the J2807 towing standards in regard to performance and procedures but will not fully comply until the industry (meaning competitors) decides to follow the same guidelines. As stated earlier, GM does not want to put its customers in a situation where they need to figure out how to compare GM’s apples to the competition’s oranges. When all manufacturers use the same standard, so will GM. Unfortunately, Ford and Ram Truck could say the same thing.
Blah, blah, blah… It might be time for the often-criticized Federal Gov’t to step in and mandate a rating. The reality is that this issue is really becoming a safety issue with ill-informed consumers towing well beyond what the true towing capacity is on the light-duty, 1/2 pickups.
What do you think? Will we ever have truthful numbers from GM, Ford or Ram?
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Filed Under: Auto News
So true and the rabid fan boys on some of the other forums just can’t admit that the manufacturer to which they pledge their undying loyalty could be inflating their numbers even though a 4 year old could figure out they are.
GM – your customers (and Ford’s and RAM’s) are comparing apples to oranges now because you all use your own different standards. The whole purpose of J2807 is to allow your treuck to be compared to the others apples to apples.
Follow the common standard or fully disclose how your marketting team determines the numbers advertised. Let Toyota have J2807 to itself or step up and show you can compete with them – you scared? Worried your customers won’t know your lies are better are bigger – release numbers in your own and J2807.
Actually – I am surprised Toyota does not hire an indendant (reputable) firm to buy competor trucks off lots and put them through the tests.
They probably do. Yet, they won’t tell us since they would just join everyone in the pissing contest. LOL!
-Tim
The “often-criticized Federal Gov’t” needs to stay out of this all together.
Pickup owners need wake up and learn the math. What sane person will tow 25000 pounds with a pickup. Thats the weigh of about 5 Tundra trucks, are people going mad?
Larry,
I put that line “often-critized …” for you. 🙂
LOL!
-Tim
The new 2013 Tundra looks to much like the Ford 150, Is Toyota gonna build the FTX Tundra?
They did build the FTX. It is the 2007+ body style. 🙂
-Tim
Maybe the govt needs to get involved since the idiot consumers don’t want to look at reality. The govt already involved with safety, epa and other things. Why not mandate this “J” standard for all trucks period and end this childish game the Big 3 are doing.
Mickey,
My thoughts exactly!
-Tim
Seems I remember someone named Darwin having some thoughts about idiots and nature.
We seem to have lost our inalienable right to screw up our own life and in the process the ability to learn.
Let the buyer beware.
Any unskilled driver who has never towed real heavy loads and who reads that their truck no matter what the brand is okay to tow 30000 pounds (like the new Rams) is in big trouble and could kill them self and others. I have towed heavy equipment behind dump trucks and I wouldn’t even think of doing it on the highway at 70 MPH behind a pickup of any kind.
And,,,,, the modern engines have to power to do it.
This is outside the realm of safety no matter who defines the rating systems for towing.
having owned several 1/2 ton silverados vs. 3 2007 on up tundras, speaking from light duty experience 2500-3000lbs. and also loading the bed with tons of bricks, the tundra engine, brakes, and handling, and towing power is by far superior in the tundra. Either way, if I had to tow over 5,000 lbs., maybe 6,000 lbs., a 1/2 ton would not be adequate at least in my opinion. Best to get a true 3/4 to 1 ton pickup no doubt about it. All this macho stuff is overkill.
imo, no truck should tow more than 25% their gvwr on the bumper pull and/or %50 more for 5th wheel. no matter how strong the any component is on the truck. to me, all trucks have the pwr to get their rated weigh moving… what worries me is that the weight being towed is heavier than the tow vehicle which in turn dominates the tow vehicle in an emergency case.
I think it (towing more than the weight of the truck itself) can only be justified by trailer brakes. It makes trailer running gear critical – good tires, brakes, axles and bearings. I was surprised to see over 2000lbs and trailer brakes required in owner’s manual – but this is what its about.
What scares me is all the people towing without trailer brakes and this is the only reason (beyond convenience) that OEMs should have integrated trailer brake controllers. However, I think it should go a step further – all trailers that can exceed 2000lbs (cargo+trailer) should have brakes.
Why aren’t trailers held to safety standards more comparable to those forced on the tow vehicles – it would be easy and cheap to add an inch more brake and axle with auto adjusting shoes and standard bearing buddies. He11, gov’t could force annual inspections and big year stickers that it has passed be displayed. To pass the test – must be towed to inspection with owned tow vehicle that must be of sufficient capacity and hitched proper.
I have new RV that is at my Gen1’s max – no problems – though I did just move to gen2 for more power/weght/brake to add control and comfort too. But RV is new – running gear in great shape – what about all the vintage RVs on the road that sit for years with rusty bearings and drums?
Trucks need real tow specs and integrated controllers – but trailers are probably more critical as that is where the saftey is needed.
[…] down. Same as Ford. Neither would be towing 11k lbs. Dodge would have the worst loss in towing. Bloated Ford, GM, Ram Towing Numbers Continue | Tundra Headquarters Blog __________________ MIDNIGHT RIDER THIS TRUCK CAN TAKE A HIT AND KEEP ON TICKIN' VOTE NOW! […]
please guys leave the government out of this crap! let the companies battle it out on their own, after all we already have to much government intruding in our life.
[…] I actually pulled a lot of the quote from auto news. Let me see if I can find a better version. http://www.tundraheadquarters.com/bl…owing-numbers/ Sent from AutoGuide.com Free App __________________ -Tim Esterdahl Editor […]