Ford Is Benchmarking The Chevy Silverado 1500’s Towing Abilities
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As is the nature of business, automakers are constantly competing with one another to provide the most compelling product to customers. Often, in order to gauge how a rival’s vehicle performs, automakers will buy and test out said vehicle as a comparison to their own product. Thanks to GM Authority photographers, we’ve caught Ford doing exactly that, as the Blue Oval was captured testing out the towing abilities of a Chevy Silverado 1500.
This particular Silverado example is furnished in the range-topping High Country trim level, and is riding on 22-inch painted aluminum wheels with Chrome inserts (RPO code RPT), as well as equipped with the power-retractable assist steps with rearward articulation (RPO code BRS). Additionally, the Bow Tie pickup truck appears to be rigged with the naturally aspirated 5.3L L84 V8 gasoline engine, as opposed to 6.2L L87 V8 or the Duramax diesel. If this truck was running either one of the latter engine options, a hood badge would’ve indicated as such.
As a measure of towing ability, Ford has this Silverado 1500 example towing what appears to be a Coachmen 192RBS Freedom Express Ultra Lite camping trailer, which has an unloaded weight of 4,418 pounds. Due to the enclosed nature of the trailer, it’s unknown if there was any additional weight on the inside.
This isn’t this first time Ford has been caught testing GM products. GM Authority photographers have captured images of the Blue Oval testing various General Motors’ vehicles, including the Chevy Tahoe PPV, the all-electric GMC Hummer EV Pickup, and a Chevy Silverado Duramax Diesel (notably, Ford currently doesn’t have a diesel F-150 equivalent).
As a reminder, the 2023 Chevy Silverado 1500 is available with a slew of engine choices for almost every owner’s needs. These options include the turbocharged 2.7L L3B I4 gasoline engine, rated at 310 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque, the atmospheric 5.3L L84 V8 gasoline engine, rated at 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque, the atmospheric 6.2L L87 V8 gasoline engine, rated at 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, and the 3.0L LZ0 I6 turbodiesel Duramax.
Under the skin, the 2023 Chevy Silverado 1500 rides on the GM T1 platform, while production takes place at the GM Fort Wayne plant in Indiana, the GM Silao plant in Mexico, and the GM Oshawa plant in Canada.
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If the picture above shows Ford testing a Silverado in tow, they’re doing wrong. Look how the rear of the truck has a squat, and the camper is nose down. I would like to hope they are using a matched weight distributing hitch with sway control on both Ford and Chevy trucks to make the comparison fair. What you see is NOT a proper setup, and if Ford is basing their evaluations on this setup, they are going to be giving misleading comparisons. Just sayin’
I noticed the same thing as David.
Looks like snow on top of the camper. Must be a lot of weight in the nose of the camper. Don’t seem a camper that size should have the kind of tongue weight. Setup looks sketchy!
You can load the pass through compartment on any camper and get it tongue heavy , my camper is 21 foot and fully loaded in the pass thru and my 2014 f150 3.5 ecoboost tows it just fine and doesn’t squat
They need to test the 2.7 gasoline engine towing a loaded 1500 up long grades like Interstate 80 eastbound out of Salt Lake City to Evanston, Wyoming or eastbound out of Spanish Fork, Utah on Highway 6 to Soldier Summit. Each is a 30+ mile constant upgrade. Midwest flatlands are not an accurate measure of vehicle and engine performance.