(April 9, 2015) BOULDER, Col. — Fast Lane Truck announces their 2015 Gold Hitch Award recipients. The TFLtruck Gold Hitch Award recognizes mid-size, half-ton, heavy-duty and (truck-based) full-size SUVs for their ability to perform under the most demanding driving conditions. Five TFLtruck Gold Hitch Awards have been announced.

A majority of the judging is predicated on the trucks' performances on the Ike Gauntlet. The Ike Gauntlet is designed to be an extreme test of any truck's towing and overall performance. The test loop consists of an eight mile stretch of the I-70 between Dillon, Col. (9,111 feet above sea level) and the Eisenhower/Johnson tunnels (Continental Divide at 11,115 feet above sea level).

The highway grade reaches 7 percent, the maximum allowed on a US Interstate. The trucks are loaded with trailers near their maximum towing capacity.

"These tests use high elevation and steep grades to challenge the trucks to the maximum," said Andre Smirnov, Producer and Managing Editor. "TFLTruck is glad to award five vehicles for their outstanding performance."

The five TFLtruck Gold Hitch Award categories are: midsized pickup truck, half-ton pickup truck, heavy-duty gasoline pickup truck, heavy-duty diesel pickup truck and (truck-based) full-size SUV.

The winners:

Mid-size pickup truck - 2015 GMC Canyon 3.6L
Half-ton pickup truck - 2015 Ford F-150 EcoBoost 2.7L
Heavy-duty gasoline pickup truck - 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD 6.0L
Heavy-duty diesel pickup truck - 2015 Ram 3500 HD dually 6.7L
SUV - 2015 GMC Yukon XL 6.2L

"We are excited to be part of a test that truck makers find challenging," said Roman Mica, presenter and publisher. "Being that TFLtruck is video-based, our results are presented to viewers in an easy to access format."

About TFLTruck

TFLTruck is an online video reviews, news and views publication. Nearly 2.5 million truck buyers watch TFLTruck video reviews and tests every month. This includes the signature "TFL Ike Gauntlet" extreme towing test, which challenges the trucks to the absolute maximum of their performance capability.