"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 29 Dec 2007 19:43:35 -0500, "Eisboch" wrote:


"Larry" wrote in message
. ..
"Canuck57" wrote in
news:wWydj.41779$vd4.27101
@pd7urf1no:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRfE_XAk2mE

I find THIS video much more interesting.....and telling.

What a piece of ****!

That's an impressive demonstration. Obviously done by the Ford folks, but
damn .... over 3 inches of frame deflection on the Toyota versus under an
inch on the Ford for the given load.

3 inches seems like a lot of dynamic flex on metal of that length over
time,
even though I am sure both frames are hardened. Probably not anywhere
near
it's yield, but thoughts of longer term metal fatigue start to come to
mind.

By comparison, the Ford suspension is stiffer certainly. And I
suppose that over time and heavy at-the-limits carrying capacity, it
probably is meaningful. But you have to remember that the test is
designed to show "flex" but how often do you load one corner of the
pickup at the max to make it flex like that? The object of load
carrying is to level or center the loads - not put all the weight on
one corner.

On the other hand, I would be interested in seeing what that torture
test track test would look like with the trucks loaded to their
maximums. An empty pickup truck is going to bounce - some more than
others.

That's not what I was really interested in though. I wanted to
compare HD trucks side-by-each in a tow test. I half made up my mind
to get another F-250 when Mrs. Wave said one of her collegues husbands
sold Toyotas - why not try one of those?

I did and was sold on it's ability to tow which is all I'm interested
in. And according to the on-board fuel economy computer the lowest
mpg was 13 and the highest 16 on the highway. Beats the hell out of
my F-150 by comparison at 6 and 10. And it held speed without
shifting on slopes on the highway. It was compariably equipped to the
F-150 and in terms of price - about $12,000 cheaper than a XLT Ford
after rebates and a little price haggling helped by the fact that the
dealer hasn't sold a lot of trucks in the past couple of months.

If it will do what I want it to at better gas milage with a bigger
engine swinging bigger gears with the same high end audio and interior
appointments why would I not buy it?


It's got a magic cargo light which, when used correctly, will make
tailgaters go away.