OMG! THIS IS HUGE – 2014 Ram 3500 vs. 2014 Ford F350 Frame Twisting Test!
On the video below we have two gorgeous white American diesel trucks made by two giants in the truck industry. On one side we have the 2014 Ram 3500 4×4 and on the other side is the 2014 Ford F350 Super Duty. They are both terrific trucks with proven capabilities and high quality. But, today it’s time to find out which one of them has a better frame. That’s why the guys in the video are going to do a frame twisting test.
I bet all the fans of Ram and Ford pickup trucks will be very interested to find out the results of this test. For all the neutral truck lovers, we ask you this question: after seeing this frame twisting taste, which truck would you choose?
Waiting your comments below!
The effects show Ford’s independent front suspension as opposed to the solid front axle on the Dodge.
Thanks for the information JB.
Thats the.beauty of a ford. Let it flex its suppose to. Its better than cracked boxes, bowed axils and cracked frames .i drive a f 250 in the oil field and drive the. Hell out of it. She cleans right up. What ever fkrd uses or y it does what it does is because. Uhhuh
Glad you’re happy with your Ford truck Sam 🙂
The ford frame is flexing which is what you do NOT want. You want the suspension to do ALL the flexing. If the frame flexes, it will work harden and crack. Rock buggies have ultra rigid frames with essentially zero flex and the suspension flexes to insane limits. The Dodge does not have flexy suspension but at least the frame wont crack. The Ford needs a stiffer frame and the Dodge needs better suspension flex.
Ford Super Duty “4X4’s” do not have Independent Front Suspension. (The 2WD Ford Super Duty has IFS)
The “4X4” F-150’s have IFS,
Thanks for letting us know that Dave.
I F S independant front suspension
Jb the ford is solid axle just as the Dodge is
Hmmm…Why are the right rear tires half empty on the Ford?
I wonder the same Noel…
Yeah, you’re right! The lack of air pressure has everything to do with the obvious frame twist…
Hahaha 🙂 Bill that was funny man!
That is incorrect, the 2014 Ford Super Duty does not have independent front suspension. You may be thinking of the F 150.
Ford doesn’t have independent. They scrapped the twin traction beam IFS in the 90s. Fords use a 4 link solid front axle with coil springs same as the dodge…
Thanks CR!
FORD Super Duty do NOT have independent front suspension. Only the F150 has IFS. Both Ford and Dodge have solid front axle with coil springs.
Thank you Joe for this information.
if that was the case how come the tailgate wouldn’t open…… the frame is twisting so the bed is Pinched shut on the tailgate.
You’re right Bill.
No it doesn’t. IFS has nothing to do with the rigidity of the frame. That Ford is a flexible piece of crap. The frame is twisting and the entire body is being distorted, and it won’t go back to ‘normal’ when this is over. Both the materials and engineering are inferior to the Dodge. I don’t even want to imagine the stress on the drive line. I don’t own or give a shit about trucks but I am an engineer. This shows the foresight of a company that uses 8mm bolts on trucks where Nissan uses 14mm bolts on a CAR.
Dodge all the way Blake 😉
Dodge all the way…you couldn’t pay me to own a ford…my dads lemon of a ford truck put the end of me wanting a ford truck…I’d joined the dark side a got a 3/4/1ton 4×4…..with a big block…never had any troubles with it…and my dads along time ford man switched over to Chevy…lol
I’m glad you found the right truck for you Joseywales 😉 Cheers friend!
What stress I guess u never seen a semi suspension it does the same as the ford so u say that they r crap to
this test? Failed, crew cab dodge, six foot bed as opposed to extended cab ford long bed. Of course it’s going to flex more
They are both crew cabs with full 8′ beds. The only 6′ bed dually is on a mega-cab and that RAM is not mega-cab.
Dodge does not have a solid front axle it hasn’t for years it has independent front suspension.
Sorry my mistake let me correct myself.. I was thinking of the ram 2500 as it still offers an independent front suspension option with air bag suspension. Though it does also have a solid axle version too
2014 and up rams have independent front suspension
Absolutely NEVER has Dodge manufactured a 3/4 ton 4×4 truck with IFS. All 2wd drive trucks have IFS though due to the lack of an axle. Let’s all pray they keep solid axle 4×4’s a tradition.
The Ford also has a solid front axle.. same with the Dodge.(Ram)
Ford does not use IFS on super duties Its a dana 60, do your homework before you make ignorant comments…
From this video it is not a practical test . The ford is showing better flex over uneven surfaces which is what you want to due to traction issues while pulling a trailer. The doors still open as designed and most people who are loading anything of any kinda real payload will be doing such on flat ground with some sort of lift. conclusion on my part the ford still is the better vehicle. Pick real world events not some partial setup that serves nothing.
Thanks for your opinion Josh!
Should have shown the trucks back on level surface and see if there were any lasting effects. An airplane wing is designed to flex, it improves it’s strength, a truck frame may be a similar situation. I recently traded my Ford for a Dodge so hope to be impartial.
I agree Chuck. How do you like your new Dodge?
How can you say ford is the better truck? Even ford says the the 450 not the 350 matches Ram. I hate it when people who don’t have all the facts talk.
Which truck do you like better James?
Sorry Josh, I disagree.
A flexing chassis acts like a spring. And the flex won’t be linear. The combination of these two factors mean a flexing chassis can make the vehicle behave erratically. Also, a flexing chassis will change the suspension geometry. Quality suspension designed for the type of work is the key to traction, not a flexing chassis.
See the clip below (similar to the one above), they load up the tray and manage to buckle the tailgate. I don’t think the manufacture designed that to happen, because it is NOT meant to happen.
JB independent suspension vs solid axle shouldn’t change chassis flex, but can affect wheel articulation or suspension travel (more chance of keeping 4 wheels on the ground over uneven terrain).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKMQjm7i2Jw
Thanks for sharing that with us Frasaer!
Frasaer,
The buckling of the tailgate on the Ford is an indication that its frame is stiffer than the GM frame. The F-series frame isn’t going to flex nearly as much and consequently a percentage of the stress will act on other parts of the vehicle, particularly the bed/tailgate in this example. Some people would consider this to be a loss in the comparison, or a “fail” or whatever, but i’d much rather have a damaged tailgate over a frame that I don’t trust.
Thanks for sharing your opinion with us Matt.
This is not suspension flex. This is chassis flex. If it were just suspension flex the truck bed wouldnt be twisted like this. Only the suspension would be twisted.
You’re right Jason.
The vehicles suspension is supposed to flex. Not the vehicle. That truck is clearly begging for mercy in this video. This test is absolutely practical.
There are cars better than my 300zx. Admitting that doesn’t make me feel bad about myself. Don’t try to justify obvious failure as a “feature”. Two or three guys jump on that Ford like that, it will snap something. Bottom line, its weaker. Not ” more capable”.
Its not an aircraft wing. The ability for those to flex enables them to tolerate the extreme pressures of lifting giant planes while impacting air molecules at an imperfect angle. This is neccesary because the wings will snap under the stress if they are too rigid. A jet with solid wings capable of withstanding infinite force would in every way handle better than one with flexible steel wings. Its just that such a material doesn’t exist until carbon nano tubes are more common. The Ford doesn’t have a reason or excuse. The Dodge is better at “being a truck.”
You’re right Blake!
that is exactly what i was thinking blake,you are so right.when its comes to traction on dirt roads and rocky terrain the ford is most definitly the better truck for the job
Thanks for your comment aubrey!
Well, I don’t recall parking that bad very often, But my 2015 F350 is still tows my 18,000 lb toy hauler like it aint even there. I was surprised to get 11 mpg, on a recent trip, towing the 43 ft Raptor, fully loaded (including an 1100lb mule) in high winds. I think Dodges look great, but after my son has owned a few, I’ll stick with Ford (He finally moved up to a Super Duty as well) …
You are a lucky to own a Ford truck 🙂
Towed 14 and 1/2 tons half way across the USA with my super duty they built them tough as hell. What I would like to see is both trucks pull the same load on a trailor across and see how welding trucks flex then. You can put a truck on two ramps when you put weight on it stress builds. And something is going to give.
You got a point Leslie. Your suggestion would enable seeing the true capabilities of the trucks.
I agree with Josh. These kinds of tests are not practical. I have personally ridden in both these your model vehicles and in my opinion the Ford is a much smoother ride over rough surfaces and asphalt. I’m not going to try to unload my truck on a surface such as that. It’s impractical to think that anybody will try to open a tailgate on surfaces simulated in this demonstration. 1. It would be dangerous. 2. if you’re going to pay that much money for a truck you’re not going to purposely abuse it.
these kinds of tests are only meant to sell trucks to people who don’t know me better if you want a real test why not take it for a test drive for yourself. Like I said this is just my opinions.
I agree Cory. Thanks for you opinion, we appreciate it.
Your going to spend that much money on truck amd not abuse it? This is a work truck its going to get a abused, why buy it if you not going to use it out in the field? I understand some people use it just to haul trailers on the road, but what about the people using them on pipeline roads, logging roads and etc. this could be very important on those kind of roads. This chassis flex on these kind of roads could be the down fall to this truck, once it gets up there in miles.
True indeed Wayne.
I like the way ford decided to pick on dodge for this kind of test sense ford buckled there bed doing the same test against chevy a few years back…
What was the result of that test?
Exactly…. it keeps failing tests against rivals. Towing and pulling capabilities are there but the frames are junk.