I watched a truck tug -a war between 2 chevys last night
one was a 2003 1500 Z71 ext cab 5.3 3.73posi(G80) geared-checked the glove box, auto, stock tires no passangers the FIRSTtime around.
the second truck a 2002 2500HD Crew cab 4x4 auto 4.1 geared posi
6.no go on 33" with massive ranch hand F/R bumpers. I thought it would
be COMPLETLEY one sided on the smaller Z71 but I was dead wrong both
where in 4LO, Drive Tow haul engaged WHAT THE HELL !! that is not
really with the law of phisics the Z71 took the slack out of the chain
anI was on my black F150 and sounded the horn and then they pulled
the 2500 barly got 6" with the Z71 and the Z71 just spun-and was hopping
but started to drag the 2500 and soon got full traction and was dragging it around like the 2500
wasn't even pulling?Then I went home and got my 78 and drugg the winner Z71 in 2wd all
over the place I got going about 35mph in 3rd gear and the guy in the Z71 hit his 4wd high
button and then BANG! Something in the transfercase went.
I'm just a kid in high school showing poeple why it's not good to pull against
a little 6 cylnder FORD
Dusty
PS What up with the law of phisics these days?

 

rack another on up for the big 6

 

heh....

that's always fun... i would never do it with my truck, not worth tearing the bumper off, or grenading a transfer case....but highly ammusing!


another interesting story close to this one...

two of my cousins decided to tie up and tug one afternoon....

truck #1, a 88 dodge D50 4x4 4cyl (2.0L?) 5 speed.

truck #2 75 jeep cj5, BUILT 350, turbo 350 trans, 4.56 gears, 36" dick cepek tires...

they tied up, both into 4lo, and the d50 pulled the jepp all over the place. not even my cousing who owns the d50 (with 30x9.50 gy a/t tires) could believe it. they tried several times, and the jeep never once moved the dodge an inch.....highly ammusing!


anyhoo, great story, glad nobody got hurt.

 

When you consider a truck with stock tires actually pulling a more powerful truck with larger tires.
If you ever pay attention to thaose largere tires and how much of the tires is actually CONTACTING the road or field, then the OEM tire would have an advantage. usually the large aftermarket tires only have an advantage when they sink a bit.

Ron
00 Excursion Limited 4x4 V-10

 

Kool this summer I'm going to hook my 78 f150 351m2x4 to my buddies 94 Dakota 4x4 318 and see how i'll do He has close to 290rwhp and 250ftlb I have about 156rwhp and 260flbs He has a stock tranny and I have a 4spd with granny low. how do yall think I'll do?

 

just tell him 2wd at first then once he is roling BACKWARDS about 35 the tell him ok and he will not stand a chance! These old trucks are really tough
dustin

 

I got one of these tug a war things goin on with my neighbor. My ranger, 4x4, 31's 2.8, 3.45's vs his 1962 jeep j200 pickup, 258 31's 4.10's , 4x4. Im gonna lose, but its worth a shot.

 

I would really love to put my 77 F250 against one of these new Silverado HD trucks. Who do you guys think would win this one: I am running a healthy 351m, NP435, NP205 with 4.10 gears, and a tall skinny set of Cooper Discoverer ATs. And lets say the Silverado has the 6.0 liter Vortec, with whatever auto, and 4.10 gears with posi. Who do yall think would win?

 

Pkupman82,

My guess is that you would win. Nothing can compare to the sheer weight and power of the old trucks.

On the other hand...I would gladly slide my '78 GMC K1500, with a mighty 406 small block, TH350, NP203, with 3.90 gears, and a tall skinny set of Cooper Discoverer AT's behind your big Ford anytime. If I remember my history correctly, either the half ton Ford of that era or the 3/4 ton didn't have "2 Wheel Low" on the transfer case...the GM's did and I would be happy to use it to "equalize" that granny gear in your truck.

My guess is we'd put on a much better show than the one you describe!

 

That would be a good pull off, those 400 Chevy small blocks do have some torque! My buddy has one in a 79 Chevy van...that sucker will pull anything. I am not familiar with the gear ratios in a TH350 tranny. What kind of first gear does it have? I know both of my Fords have the " Cast Iron Hoss" NP435 4 speed with a 6.81 granny low. And the 77 has an NP205 (cast iron gear driven...bullet proof) with a pretty deep low range, but it definately would be fun to watch. It sounds like your Chevy has good set up for pulling, I know those trucks are pretty heavy too. The Fords from the 70s did have the NP203 Xcase available in "Highboy" (Highboys with 203s only came with automatics) and all other F-series trucks including Broncos until I believe 78 or 79. I honestly don't know who would win but I do know there would be some really deep ruts dug after we got done!

 

Pkupman82

The TH350 has a 2.52:1 low gear. The NP203 offers a 2.00:1 reduction. So, I could go as low as 5.04:1 at the driveshaft (final drive ration would include the diff ratio).
Your NP205 offers a 1.96:1 reduction. So, with a 6.81:1 grandmammy, you would have a whopping 13.35:1 low gear!
If you chose to use low range, there's no way my auto juice box could muster the same reduction. But, you'd also be turning churning your wheels at a much lower rate...the ruts, as you said, on both sides of the chain would be pretty deep!

By the way...NP205's are without question, bullet proof. The 4-Speed Chevy/GMC's used them as well.

 

In tug of wars. HP seems to not really effect the out come. In the case of the 1500 VS 2500, it is more about traction. With the softer rear springs of the half ton, it allows the weight to transfer to the rear wheels. This is just my theory.

 

92f150i6,

I would agree with your theory. In fact, I'll go further out on a limb and say that TOO MUCH horsepower will cause you to lose the battle if you don't have some good rubber on the ground.

My grandfather had a logging business years ago. He pulled is logs out of the woods on 1-1/2 ton Chevy's equipped with inline sixes. After years of being a Chevy dude...he bought one of those new fangled Furd's (remember, this was YEARS ago) that had a V8. He got stuck in the woods the first time out and had to pull the Furd out with one of his trusty Chevy's. After that, he hated Furds.

Now was it the Furd's fault? Heck no. That Furd V8 just had way more horsepower and when Grandpappy applied his heavy right foot he just sunk the backend to the frame ane WHAMMO! He was stuck.

Horsepower is great. But is merely a measurement of how fast you can apply torque. If you apply torque too quickly, you can lose traction. This can be proven by trying to walk on ice. If you try to take off running as fast as you can...you'll end up on your rear...an example of applying too much torque, too fast (high horsepower). You can apply the same torque to get you moving gradually and eventually be running on the ice.

So...I'd say you are exactly right about what you said. It's also why, I think, automatics sometimes do much better in tug of wars than do stick shifts because can torque can be applied gradually.

Once someone's wheels begin to slip, horsepower and torque advantages go out the window!

 

Just gotta say, I used to have an 89 D50. NOTHING took a beating like that thing. I have owned several other vehicles, and that one was the ONLY one that held up the the punding I put on it while I was a teenager. After I sold it (felt like it was a part of my soul ), it was in the junkyard 2 weeks later from various little things breaking. I guess she loved getting the abuse from me as I loved giving it to her.

 

D50:

Got one behind the barn.
Only use it to go bashing through the woods.
Ripped driver's door off yesterday.
Knocked out window on passenger door.
Head on with a tree, broke all but one radiator mount.
That dang thing is still going...tough little booger.

The bad thing...it ain't built by Dodge, it's built for them by Mitsubishi. I've also got a Mazda B2000 (also a woods buggy and the same thing as a Ford Courier) that I can't seem to kill, try as I may!

The nice thing about these little trucks? I've got a grand total of $50 bucks total, in both of them. That's way cheaper than any ATV!!!!!