General Driving Impressions With a slightly wider rear track, wider tires, improved suspension and geometry, the truck drives very smoothly, and rides a little flatter in the corners for a confident driving experience even under load or trailering. I had a bit of a start when my seat started vibrating - haptic safety technology - a warning system using sophisticated camera technology to let you know you’re close to an object or driſting out of your lane – you have the ability to turn this off (and I did).
Trailering Te Chevy test used a trailered UTV with a combined trailer/ UTV weight of roughly 6,500 lbs. Te test went off without a hitch (pun intended). Te truck pulled up hills and accelerated effortlessly. Although the max torque is at 4100 rpm, the torque curve for the engine is fairly flat so power is available throughout the rpm range. Testing the Sierra, we hauled a 26’ RV weighing in at
roughly 6,500 lbs across southern Alberta. Tis is real world trailer testing. With headwinds, side winds, hills and descents, we had hours to test anti-sway, grade braking and integrated trailer brake features. Pulling up hills and passing slow moving vehicles, we were able to test and feel the dependable torque, acceleration and real world fuel mileage of these new trucks. Cruising at 110 kph through the relatively flat terrain
around Calgary with the trailer in tow, we averaged 24.5l/100km, in the hillier terrain around Okotoks, 29.5l/100km and without the trailer, 11.6l/100km.
Summary The Dodge 5.7l Hemi or the Ford 3.5l EcoBoost provide marginally better power and torque but the Sierra/Silverado offer better fuel economy, the most comfortable cab, excellent trailering specific features and what we expect will be a more reliable truck with lower maintenance and fuel costs in the long run. Of all the gas powered, half-ton trucks that we tested
(Toyota Tundra, Ram 1500 with 5.7L Hemi and 3.6L VVT, Ford F150 with the 3.5L EcoBoost) this was our favourite and the strongest contender for “2014 Truck of the Year”. You can read the full reviews of all the trucks in the current issue of our truck publication - 4WDrive Volume 15 Issue 4 – available on newsstands now.
SNOWBIRDS & RV TRAVELERS 75
SUNCRUISERMEDIA.COM
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