Super duty frame flex
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Junior User
Joined: Dec 2011
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Super duty frame flex
Not sure if this really means anything but it was brought to my attention when I had said I was saving for a new Ford with the 6.2. My 92 F250 does this, maybe worse could say for sure, but anyhow what to you folks make of this?
Billy Mike
Billy Mike
Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,022
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From: Redford, Mi.
So the Chevy has a stiffer frame, which is good or bad. I would have to say that that particular stunt is kinda extreme for situation to put a truck through.
Having said that a buddy of mine worked on Semi's and heavy equipment for 40 years and this particular subject came up while I was rebuilding my 65 442 convertible frame. I was going to add stiffeners, gussets, to the frame before I painted it. He recalled having to do frame repairs on many heavy haul double wall frame semi's that were just so stiff that cracks were not unusual.
Having said that I go back to my first statement of that particular stunt is something we wouldn't put our trucks through. So did my rambling on mean anything>> maybe just that I wouldn't base a purchase of a truck on a test like that without doing a lot of investigation on weather superduty frames fail. Besides the Chevy is just butt ugly!!
Having said that a buddy of mine worked on Semi's and heavy equipment for 40 years and this particular subject came up while I was rebuilding my 65 442 convertible frame. I was going to add stiffeners, gussets, to the frame before I painted it. He recalled having to do frame repairs on many heavy haul double wall frame semi's that were just so stiff that cracks were not unusual.
Having said that I go back to my first statement of that particular stunt is something we wouldn't put our trucks through. So did my rambling on mean anything>> maybe just that I wouldn't base a purchase of a truck on a test like that without doing a lot of investigation on weather superduty frames fail. Besides the Chevy is just butt ugly!!
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2009
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Well its pretty obvious it is a Chevy commercial first of all. Who knows how many factors played into the filming of this. It is an interesting test idea. I want to see a third party go to a random ford dealer, and a random chevy dealer and take the trucks through the same test and see if it really is that big of a difference
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Isanti, MN
I agree with Bubba, this particular twist ditch test is taking things to an extreme that I've never heard of in the real world. There are advantages and disadvantages to a fully boxed frame like anything else, but I don't see the average user seeing much benefit from it.
I'm no marketing guru but there's nothing presented in that video that seems questionable. There's no doubt that a fully boxed frame is going to resist twisting, and Ford used that exact same principle to bludgeon the competition with back in '04 with the introduction of the fully boxed frame in the F150s. Big companies have far too much to lose in a legal battle over false advertising, I'm confident that these tests were legitimate.
Put it in it's proper perspective, nobody can build a perfect truck for every situation. All the manufacturers try to do the best they can, and when it's time to advertise they point out their strengths and the other's weaknesses. One test that represents a completely unrealistic situation doesn't mean that the Chevy is the better truck overall. Unless of course you plan to put 1,000 lbs in your bed and drive over ramps like that.
Well its pretty obvious it is a Chevy commercial first of all. Who knows how many factors played into the filming of this. It is an interesting test idea. I want to see a third party go to a random ford dealer, and a random chevy dealer and take the trucks through the same test and see if it really is that big of a difference
Put it in it's proper perspective, nobody can build a perfect truck for every situation. All the manufacturers try to do the best they can, and when it's time to advertise they point out their strengths and the other's weaknesses. One test that represents a completely unrealistic situation doesn't mean that the Chevy is the better truck overall. Unless of course you plan to put 1,000 lbs in your bed and drive over ramps like that.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,450
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From: South Jersey
your truck is suppose to flex when its stuffed like that, and like said above its a Chevy commercial! Kinda funny how Chevy had a HD camera right on the tailgate at the exact moment when it popped the bed huh? And Ive had my truck flexed out off road before and Ive opened and shut my tailgate with no problem at all. I have pictures somewhere on my laptop and ill post them, if not ill go take new ones!
Token Redneck
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9,339
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From: Breckenridge, TX
Well the next time I buy a stock 1ton diesel to take across the Golden Crack I guess I'll have to buy a Chevy. It's a shame the IFS and tie rods wouldn't hold up for the trip in to get to it 
Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2012
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It's very lucky for Chevy that their truck won the test in their commercial 
Really though, who cares?
Really though, who cares?
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Southern Colorado
Well the next time I buy a stock 1ton diesel to take across the Golden Crack I guess I'll have to buy a Chevy. It's a shame the IFS and tie rods wouldn't hold up for the trip in to get to it
Beautifully stated! - Thanks!
Beautifully stated! - Thanks!
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Junior User
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Yeah I figured if lack of flex is an advantage thats about all the advantage a chev would have. Its not very real world but something similiar did happen to me about 18 years ago while living in Alaska. I had a cabover camper on my F250 and was making a right hand turn from a stop. Took the turn a little too tight and the rear wheel drop in a mini culvert. The bed flexed pretty good but no damage was done.
BTW I'm still saving for my 2013 or 14 F250. As the saying goes I'd rather push my Ford then drive a Chevy
BTW I'm still saving for my 2013 or 14 F250. As the saying goes I'd rather push my Ford then drive a Chevy
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Isanti, MN
There is lots of blind brand loyalty going on in this thread. 
All those "advantages" of having a flexible frame were shouted to the heavens by the competition back in 2004 when Ford introduced the fully boxed F150 frame. Since then the competition has capitulated, and every half-ton truck made today has one. Of course there are differences between a half-ton and a super duty.
And secondly the new 2011+ GM heavy duty trucks have a completely new front end under them, and for the first time they are rated for the same 6,000 lbs GAWR that the Super Duty can handle. Comparing a new Ford to their old front end is like comparing the new LML D-max to a 2003 6.0L Powerstroke. I'm not trying to say that the Chevy is the better truck, I voted with my dollars in 2011 with my 6.7L Super Duty. But if the intent to compare trucks is even halfway honest facts have to be involved rather than heavily biased assumptions.
All those "advantages" of having a flexible frame were shouted to the heavens by the competition back in 2004 when Ford introduced the fully boxed F150 frame. Since then the competition has capitulated, and every half-ton truck made today has one. Of course there are differences between a half-ton and a super duty.
And secondly the new 2011+ GM heavy duty trucks have a completely new front end under them, and for the first time they are rated for the same 6,000 lbs GAWR that the Super Duty can handle. Comparing a new Ford to their old front end is like comparing the new LML D-max to a 2003 6.0L Powerstroke. I'm not trying to say that the Chevy is the better truck, I voted with my dollars in 2011 with my 6.7L Super Duty. But if the intent to compare trucks is even halfway honest facts have to be involved rather than heavily biased assumptions.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 9,303
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From: Lyndonville, Vermont
Ford frames work really well on their SD's. So whats the commotion about..I think ford SD's are the best trucks period..Mine works well ,takes a beating and comes back for more.
Dick
Dick
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: Stephensville WI
Oddly enough, I was just speaking with a GM Mechanic a while back abut GM pickup frames. He told me that he had seen at his service department where Chevy was forced to buy back 2 1 ton DRW trucks because the frame had cracked from gooseneck towing of horse trailers. These were on newer trucks (less than a year old) that had not exceeded their towing capacity. The frames were cracking just behind the cab.