4X4, I too believe a 4X4 should sit higher, but one thing pointed out in both the mag (I subscribe to) and the TV show (my TV) the Ford stands 6" taller than the chevy, but only provides 1/2" more ground clearance than the chevy, which is more important than overall hight. Although I would take the 1/2", with 6 to work with there I think they could have done more. Just to show they were not testing the true workhorse ability C&D made sure to point out how comfy the interiors were (testing a lariat w/optional leather in the Ford and leather in the chev).
Jeff

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1999 F150 Lariat
Reg cab Short box Styleside
5.4L 3.55ls
Deep Wedgwood Blue/Silver
Lund Interceptor hood shield, VentVisors, Class III hitch, Ford molded mud guards, soft tonneau, factory CD with changer (thanks Dusty), tinted windows

 

I saw this show as well, and to be honest, here are my impressions:

1) between 50 and 70, towing thousands of pounds, 1.5 seconds is not going to give me an advantage.. pulling that trailer safely has nothing to do with 1.5 seconds faster.

2) that 1.5 seconds gain is lost in the hours spent in the shop getting your chev fixed, just ask my cousin with his 99 chev.

3) which gets better gas mileage? if your towing, and your gas mileage sucks because you get 1.5 seconds extra, who cares?

4) no one turns around and looks at you driving your chev down the street, but they sure love my F150!

5) 1.5 seconds could be less, simply based on reaction time of the driver, reaction time of the guy with the stopwatch etc.. if it was 10 seconds, ok, worry, but 1.5 seconds? means nothing.

Ok, that's my 2 seconds worth

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David
['99 F150-4X4, 5.4L]

 

Put a chain or strap between the two trucks and have them do a "Tug of war". I'll bet the Ford would drag the GMC around like a little puppy dog. All I can say is "Bigger Is Better" Just ask my wife

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98 F150 2WD,Bright Red, Regular Cab, 4.2, 3.55, Superchip, 3 Inch Bullseye Lift Spindles, Manik Grill Guard,Nerf Bars, Vent Visors, Fog lights, Kc Lights, Alpine CD Player, 2 Kenwood Amps, Tinted Windows. And Coming Soon: 3 Inch Body Lift Kit, 16x8 American Racing Baja Wheels Wrapped With 33's
And Sooner Or Later A Superchips Decal Or Two

 

Your right, you'd think that if the truck sits 6 inches higher then the ground clearance should be better than 1/2inch.
Another area in which I think Chevy goofed was that they only offer the 3 door ext cab. Now that Ford has 4 doors standard and Dodge has the option for the quad cab, I think GM acted ignorant. I know a few people that are waitng for the 2000's just because of the 4 door option.

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99 F250SD Black Lariat Crew Cab 4x4, 4inch Procomp lift, 35x15.50 Swampers, 16.5x9.75 Weld Scorpios, Full Billet grill, LIne-X liner, Procomp and Rancho shocks, 40 Series Flowmaster, recalibrated speedo, superchipped,K&N filter



[This message has been edited by 4x4 (edited 08-03-1999).]

 

If the Ford is 6 inches taller with only 1/2 more ground clearance, doesn't that have something to do with tires? I know that the Ford can handle 33's on the stock rims without a lift. That should increase both the ground clearance and ride height. (shoot, I know those wimps a Car and driver like to step down into a vehicle but who cares about them. Personally I wouldn't mind Having to jump up into that rig. Imagine pulling up next to a new (more expensive ) GMC and being able to look down that guy's wife's shirt. HA HA

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98 F150 2WD,Bright Red, Regular Cab, 4.2, 3.55, Superchip, 3 Inch Bullseye Lift Spindles, Manik Grill Guard,Nerf Bars, Vent Visors, Fog lights, Kc Lights, Alpine CD Player, 2 Kenwood Amps, Tinted Windows. And Coming Soon: 3 Inch Body Lift Kit, 16x8 American Racing Baja Wheels Wrapped With 33's
And Sooner Or Later A Superchips Decal Or Two

 

I don't think it has anything to do with tires. I have a 5 inch lift on mine and no matter what I do, my axles are going to be the same height from the ground. This is my understanding of "ground clearance." I sure hope some hot momma pulls up next to me in her new GM because I wouldn't hesitate to sneek a peek!

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99 F250SD Black Lariat Crew Cab 4x4, 4inch Procomp lift, 35x15.50 Swampers, 16.5x9.75 Weld Scorpios, Full Billet grill, LIne-X liner, Procomp and Rancho shocks, 40 Series Flowmaster, recalibrated speedo, superchipped,K&N filter

 

Think aboout it 4x4, If you add a tire that is 4 inches taller, then you increase your ground clearance by 2 inches. Because there is two more inches between your axle and the ground. Adding bigger tires is the only way to raise the axles.

Come on fellas Back me up here.

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98 F150 2WD,Bright Red, Regular Cab, 4.2, 3.55, Superchip, 3 Inch Bullseye Lift Spindles, Manik Grill Guard,Nerf Bars, Vent Visors, Fog lights, Kc Lights, Alpine CD Player, 2 Kenwood Amps, Tinted Windows. And Coming Soon: 3 Inch Body Lift Kit, 16x8 American Racing Baja Wheels Wrapped With 33's
And Sooner Or Later A Superchips Decal Or Two

 

CCLA, you are exactly right. One can lift a truck so high that they can't reach it to get into it, but that doesn't change the location of the axles: the center of the tires. If a taller tire is added then the height of the center of that tire is also higher and the axle is taken with it.

Take it easy,
Mark

 

Doh!, You guys got me. Thanks for knocking some sense into me.

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99 F250SD Black Lariat Crew Cab 4x4, 4inch Procomp lift, 35x15.50 Swampers, 16.5x9.75 Weld Scorpios, Full Billet grill, LIne-X liner, Procomp and Rancho shocks, 40 Series Flowmaster, recalibrated speedo, superchipped,K&N filter

 

Don't worry about it 4x4.
You're not the first one here I've seen make a missteak.

 

I've read the article and saw the comparison on T.V. The specs in the magazine noted the Ford had a 4.30 rear axle while the Chevy had the 4.10. I was shocked that the Chevy out accelerated the Ford during the towing segment on the T.V. show.

I hate to say it, but if the only way the Ford will outperform the Chevy is by 5th wheeling over 10,000 lbs, then the Chevy seems to be the clear winner. It took too many performance categories to have not been the winner.

The test would have been more lopsided if the Ford had come equipped with the 3.73. And I bet it would have lost its 5th wheel tow rating advantage - not sure of the specs.

While I agree that car mags do blow it sometimes when doing truck tests, I wonder what they could have done differently.

 

what kind of tires did each vehicle use for the test?

 

I am bringing this topic back up to the top only because of the most recent comparison by Motor Trend (April). Motor Trend got two trucks with similar configurations (rear end ratios, etc) and the Ford 250 trounced the Chevy. What was most impressive was the Ford used the 275 hp version of the V-10, not the new 310 hp version. Chevy needs the 8.1 liter to compete.

 

This is really crap! My dad's company has a 2k CrewCab 2wd with a v-10,5-speed, 3:73 gears, and it runs like a scalled monkey!

 

My Father-in-Law was really proud of the way his new Chevy towed his 30', 9,000# trailer. Used to brag about it.
Now he sees me towing my 34', 12,000# trailer (and getting better mileage) and he never mentions towing any more.
What gives????

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1999 F-250 XLT Super Duty Crew Cab Long Bed
V-10, Automatic 4R100, 4.30 Limited Slip.
GVW = 6700# Towing Capacity = 13,300#
4 Wheel ABS disks + Reese 15K hitch
Dark Hunter Green. Ford Running Boards.
Grey Rhino-Liner. Captain's Chairs. CD+Tape
Polished Stainless Steel Wheel-well Molding http://members.home.net/jchartier/jnctrk.html