One-and-One-Half-Ton Diesel Pickup - 7%, 15%, and 25% Grades W/20,000# Trailer
You've read about the 7% and 15% grades, but there was one truck we really wanted to stress test and Ford was more than willing to oblige by lending us MPG's 25% grade. Read on to see how well the Ford F-450 did towing 10-tons of spare parts up a hill most would find difficult to walk.
We know some folks who would be hard pressed to run 100-meters in 17.36-seconds on level ground, let alone up a 25% grade. But the mighty Ford F-450 was able to move a GCWR of almost 30,000-pounds in that time up this insanely steep inclination.
It was a demonstration of pure, gratuitous, triple axle-rated towing capability.
| The Results: Ford F-450 Super Duty Crew Cab 4x4 DRW 5-speed auto 4.88 |
| 7% Grade with 20,000-lb Trailer |
| Distance (Feet) | Time (sec) | Speed (mph) |
| 164 | 8.16 | 23.63 |
| 328 | 12.94 | 28.95 |
| 656 | 19.6 | 34.09 |
| 984 | 26 | 36.28 |
| 1312 | 32.07 | 37.95 |
| 1476 | 35 | 38.75 |
| 15% Grade with 20,000-lb Trailer |
| Distance (Feet) | Time (sec) | Speed (mph) |
| 164 | 9.19 | 18.55 |
| 328 | 14.8 | 21.17 |
| 492 | 19.99 | 22.17 |
| 656 | 25.03 | 22.51 |
| 820 | 30 | 22.69 |
| 25% Grade with 20,000-lb Trailer |
| Distance (Feet) | Time (sec) | Speed (mph) |
| 82 | 6.24 | 15.62 |
| 164 | 9.79 | 15.48 |
| 328 | 17.36 | 16.15 |