As gas prices continue to rise, automakers continue to come up with more electrified options for their lineups. This includes the half-ton pickup segment with both RAM and Ford. While RAM continues to offer its popular eTorque mild-hybrid system on both of its Pentastar V6 and HEMI V8 powertrains, Ford has entered the 2021 model year with its new Ford F-150 with an all-new 3.5-liter PowerBoost full-hybrid V6.
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People who buy pickup trucks, tend to use them for towing their favorite weekend toys. Whether it be a travel trailer, boat, or conventional trailer, half-ton pickups outsell their heavy-duty counterparts by a large margin. But can there be a package that can achieve good towing and fuel economy in a single package?
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Our friends at TFLTruck recently got their hands on both a 2021 Ford F-150 Platinum Super Crew 4×4 with the PowerBoost V6 and a 2021 Ram 1500 Limited Longhorn Crew Cab 4×4 with the HEMI eTorque V8. Both trucks sticker for around $71,000 USD and offer premium amenities, but that’s about as similar as they get.
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The Ford makes a combined output of 430 horsepower and a whopping 570 lb.-ft. of torque. It also uses a 10-speed SelectShift® automatic transmission with a 35-kilowatt (47-horsepower) electric motor integrated into the transmission, as well as software calibrated specially for truck use, including drive modes like tow/haul mode to help customers better manage to tow heavy trailers. The particular truck that TFL got their hands on an F-150 with a 3.73 rear-axle ratio and is rated to two 11,000 lbs.
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When it comes to the Ram 1500, this Limited Longhorn with the HEMI eTorque V8 delivers 395 horsepower and 410 lb.-ft. of torque and mated to a ZF-sourced 8-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmission. This particular truck comes with the fuel-efficient 3.21 rear-axle ratio, the same rear end in our long-term 2019 Ram 1500 Laramie Sport. The 3.21 ratio means that this Ram 1500 is only rated at 7,800 lbs. of towing.
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But how do both trucks hold up on the “Ike Gauntlet”, TFLTruck’s signature towing stress test? The Ike Gauntlet involves both a downhill decent testing braking capabilities, as well as a grueling climb with elevations in excess of 11,153 feet, a 7% increasing grade up an 8-mile stretch of I-70 near Denver, Colorado.
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The results may surprise you. Be sure to check out the video and then check out the 5thGenRams.com owner’s forums to discuss more towing conversations with real-world Ram 1500 owners. And check out both TFLTruck.com and Mr.Truck.com.
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