By Tim Esterdahl, shared to GM Authority
One of the little reported pieces of information from the unveiling of the all-new 2015 F-150 is that Ford will finally adopt the J2807 towing standard. With Ford being the nation’s leader in light-duty trucks, this will create a domino effect, with other makers like GM adopting the standard as well. What does this mean for GM’s towing numbers? Simply put, they will drop.
The J2807 towing standard has been around since 2009 and was scheduled to go into effect in the 2013 model year. It was developed with the Society of Automotive Engineers and truck makers working together in devising a set of tests to determine safe towing weights. These tests went over items like acceleration at load capacity including up the Davis dam, braking safely with different load capacities among other things.
One of the main beneficiaries of the towing standard will be consumers. For the last several years, truck makers have been locked in a game of one-upmanship. Engineers from all companies have consistently come out with larger towing numbers when a rival releases their new towing numbers. This practice, known to journalists as “magical towing dust,” of recalculating towing numbers without making mechanical changes has created public mistrust over the numbers.
What does all this mean? The current towing numbers are higher than they will be after the standard is adopted, though they may not all have a big drop. For example, two years ago GM released towing numbers for 2013 trucks that adhered to the standard (they retracted these numbers are they heard Ford wasn’t going to adopt the standard). These numbers showed a mere 300 lbs drop from 2012 Sierra 1500 and 2013 GMC Sierra. The big news, though, was in certain HD models like the 2500 models with a 5th hitch. This truck dropped 3,400 lbs.
Does that mean that your current GM truck isn’t able to safely tow the current maximum towing limit? Yes and no. Yes, in that GM engineers have tested it with their methods at that load limit and found it safe. No, in that it doesn’t meet the standard set by the SAE. Confused?
The confusion is simply what is considered safe. Truck makers are long known to develop their towing standards by setting the vehicle up specifically to achieve the highest number possible. This means the truck’s payload is calculated with empty bed and a 150-lb driver. There is also some “recalculating” done as to regards to what is really safe when cornering and stopping. In short, they are trying to maximize their towing number to claim the most towing in their class.
It is easy to see that the manufactures towing test doesn’t mirror real life, based on multiple third-party tests and findings. Much like the way vehicles are setup to achieve high MPGs and “game” the EPA testing cycle, towing tests do the same thing. The new standards are meant to not “game” the system and mirror more of what real-life towing is like.
Now, the advancements GM has made to both the Sierra and Silverado will drastically offset the towing “losses,” so to speak. The truth is that ever since the standard has come out, manufactures have used it to test their vehicles. They don’t tell you this, but every truck maker has their “J2807 towing numbers” already calculated. It is also truthful that if they would have adopted the standard when it was first developed, the trucks would have had their towing numbers dramatically reduced. Why? With the standard out for a while, truck makers have worked hard to improve their product to minimize the impact.
In the end, what will happen when the 2015 F-150 adopts the standard? All truck makers will adopt it (everyone besides Toyota which already did) and towing numbers will change slightly for some to dramatically for others based on configuration. One thing is for sure, the consumers will finally have some truthful towing numbers.
Comments
This will be the same thing that happened to the engine’s back in the 70’S when they changed the method of testing a engine’s output! SAE!
In a few years people won’t even remember there was a change and it will be back to normal just like it was with the engine’s!
Yes the Gross HP to Net HP change was big news and was forgotten. But then again as low as they went after 1970 they did not want to talk about them anyways.
The changes all will be similar for all of them. A standard is a standard. It is like advertised duration of a Cam now and they will all be at 30 degrees.
@ mr. Scott what is this 30° you speak of. Does this replace the old standard of measuring the duration at .050 inch of valve lift.
I don’t see this being a big deal! GM will be just fine and their trucks will tow what ever they want
You know the media will do anything that can be twisted to make Ford look good and GM bad!
Why do you think that is?
Yes!
Sorry Typo.
Brian, GM is doing a great job making itself look bad. Still making mediocre cars and trucks, even as they received billions from taxpayers.
So your talking about the loan they got from the government! That one little detail most people like yourself seem to forget or refuse to point out!
It was a loan that GM paid back in full! Plain and simple!
GM doesn’t make junk and you don’t need car mags and press releases to know this!
I don’t think anybody would suggest that a new corvette, camaro, ats, cts, full size trucks and suvs, etc are bad cars and trucks
As the author of this article, I would like to point out that I never said GM would be screwed by adopting the J2807 standards. I was merely aiming to inform people as to the upcoming change and why it is happening. In fact, after writing this piece, Autonews has confirmed that GM, Ram and Ford will all adopt the standard.
For the comment about Ford looking good and and GM bad, I think you are taking this article out of context. It is an informative piece that doesn’t have nor do I have an agenda to prove one truck is better than another.
Lastly, I would wholeheartedly agree with Brian’s initial assessment that this will be talked about and then forgotten. However, in the mean time, articles like this will help explain to future truck buyers what is going on.
Thanks for reading my work,
-Tim
Several online references state GM adopted J2807 and published them in 2013. I have a 2013 Sierra and per the 2013 GM towing guide I can tow 4700 lbs with my truck, 4.8 V8 with 3:23 rear end. Are you saying under the standard I will be able to tow less? I’m really just trying to find out how much I can safely tow.
@Brian If you are posting something sarcastic you should label it as such since it doesn’t shine through over an internet posting.
If you were actually being serious then you are a liar plain and simple. GM did *not* take out a “loan”, they held a gun to the head of the taxpayer and forced the taxpayer to fork over huge sums of cash. This cash was *never* repaid and the taxpayers took a massive bath on the whole ordeal. The Obama administration also flagrantly violated centuries of creditor law and preference in order to ensure that the UAW survived the ordeal (which it would not have otherwise). Since the primary beneficiary of coerced taxpayer monies were the union, and since the taxpayers are still down more than $10 billion, I would like to see IRS liens placed on every member of the UAW until that amount is paid back with interest. If they don’t like it – tough. Don’t steal from people in the first place and you won’t have a problem.
I don’t like sarcasm and I don’t need it! I said what I really wanted to! I wish I could unleash on you but I have been warned!
Only because it’s true, want a truck to put your lawn mower in, maybe some groceries, buy a GM. Need a truck that works hard and pulls a load with engines that don’t have to scream to do it, buy a Ford
Hehe, it’s funny because it’s the other way around lol