2013 Ford F-150: The Chicago (Winter) Way
Photos by Evan Sears
By Matt Avery
When winter weather strikes Cars.com's Chicago office, it's great to take a pickup out on the city's sloppy, wet roads. Several inches of snow and ice piled up around our Chicago offices recently, making me more than eager to jump in the 2013 Ford F-150 XLT EcoBoost for a weekend. I had high expectations for the blue-oval hauler, but it fell short in a few areas.
Our Green Gem XLT 4x4 SuperCrew tester came equipped with the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 engine mated to an electronic six-speed automatic transmission. Despite sloppy road conditions, the powertrain made for confident highway passing when traffic was moving, and when we had extended idle times (waiting for the cabin to warm up) our mileage numbers didn't suffer. EPA fuel economy figures rate the V-6 at 15 mpg city and 21 mpg highway, and that's not too far off from what we saw.
Driving through unplowed residential areas and side streets did not faze the truck, as it stayed planted with minimal wheel spin. We experienced little road noise; the only detectable engine noise were the turbos and then only under heavy acceleration.
Visibility around the truck was excellent, helped in large part by the commanding seating position. I especially liked the LED turn signals mounted in the rearview mirrors; heavy snowfall and nighttime driving can be unnerving sometimes but these small touches helped me feel more confident about being visible to other drivers.
Inside, our F-150 had gray cloth bucket seats along with a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a six-way power driver's seat and a 4.2-inch LCD cluster screen. That center-mounted screen is positioned high in the center stack and is easily read from anywhere in the cabin. One key feature, especially useful when temperatures dropped, was the thick, chunky button layout across the dashboard. Even while wearing heavy gloves, all of the center and steering-wheel-mounted controls were easy to toggle, allowing us to keep our hands warm but still make adjustments. Not so great is the position of the climate control, which is a manual, single-zone unit. The twin dials are located at the bottom of the center stack, and the only indicator of fan speed or temperature is with small dots that are not easily identified with a quick glance. The adjustments are even more difficult to see at night.
Our tester came equipped with power and heated mirrors, which made quick work of overnight icing. The SuperCrew easily held a load full of adult passengers, and several noted how much legroom they had in the back seats. However, getting in and out was a different story. While the vehicle came equipped with sidestep running boards, they proved to be a bit hazardous. The oval-shaped steps were narrow and when wearing boots or any other snow footwear, they were almost too small to provide solid footing. Additionally, any short drive around our slushy, snow-covered town or on the highway quickly added a layer of packed mush on to the steps, making them challenging to use. After a quick run to the grocery store, attempting to step in and reach into the second row to retrieve our last bag and a rolling can of soup proved to be quite a task with the slippery steps.
Other Chicago Voices:
Here are some other voices from our Chicago colleagues and their thoughts about the new 2013 Ford XLT F-150 with the EcoBoost engine after they spent some time behind the wheel.
The truck moves out well and doesn't feel labored, and I especially appreciated its power reserve when navigating traffic on the highway. The engine's turbochargers sounds are most interesting, kind of a cross between a big-rig semi and a heavy-duty diesel pickup truck.
Even with an empty cargo box, it rode relatively well, though the suspension wasn't quite as compliant as I remember the one on the new Ram 1500 being. You especially feel expansion joints on the highway in the F-150.
It's pretty easy to acclimate to the F-150's size, and that's partly because of its precise steering, which holds up well against newer competitors. There isn't a lot of play in the wheel, and its heft feels appropriate for a truck. It's a nicely tuned setup that doesn't require making small steering inputs to keep the truck cruising straight.
Less appealing are the truck's brakes, which stop the pickup without drama but which have a very numb pedal feel.
The backup camera and parking sensors are useful, and they made navigating our downtown Chicago parking garage less stressful. The tow mirrors, though, make an already-wide truck even wider; I had to keep a close eye on them when pulling to the gate of our garage so as not to clip the ticket machine. A power-folding feature for mirrors like this would be welcome.
The configurable instrument display looks great - nice color graphics and useful information, all selectable by steering wheel controls.
I was impressed by the amount of legroom offered in the second row, and the easy-fold bench seat flips up and out of the way nicely for extra, enclosed cargo room. — Mike Hanley
I've driven the F-150 a few times for PUTC shootouts and am still impressed with how un-truck-like the F-150 drives. There's very little road or wind noise at highway speeds, which makes the truck a joy to drive long distances. My commute averages roughly 90 minutes, though one day I had an especially brutal snow-filled commute of 2 hours and 27 minutes into the city.
The EcoBoost totally surprised me with a 15.2 mpg average over that bumper-to-bumper commute - after looking at the EPA numbers of 15 mpg city with four-wheel drive, that was spot on with my real-world mileage.
There is more room in the backseat than just about any other SUV I can think of, and the floor is perfectly flat. I don't think I'll ever need a pickup truck, but the amount of room in the back is expansive enough to convince me that it could be a dual-purpose family car. I loved how high up I sat and also how quickly the EcoBoost responded.
Driving the truck through our parking garage was a headache. Every time the antenna hit a sign hanging from the roof I thought for sure I clipped a car with one of the massive side mirrors. Luckily I never hit anything other than the signs hanging from the roof.
It was really interesting to see where the $46,000 went because, even at that price, it didn't have the usual luxury features we often see, such as leather or navigation. The cloth bucket seats are actually optional ($300). The truck featured numerous mechanical options like the EcoBoost engine, 3.73:1 gears, the off-road package, a trailer brake controller, the trailer towing package and a 36-gallon fuel tank. Buyers beware: The 36-gallon tank is so massive I couldn't fill it all the way because of my credit card's $100 pump limit - I made it to 25 gallons from empty (the low fuel light was on). — Joe Bruzek
I didn't get a chance to do much driving but did get to check for baby seats in the F-150 and I LOVED how easy it was to install the seats. We were able to get three car seats across the rear bench (booster, convertible and infant) with room to spare. The seat was really wide and flat, and the Latch anchors were visible with tons of clearance around them. Connecting to the anchors was really easy, too. — Jennifer Geiger
Here are a few thoughts from my commute: Acceleration doesn't feel as effortless as it does in the Ram V-6. I didn't clock it; it just felt that way.
All pickups still seem to have some shudder in the structure, but this one seemed looser than others after hitting bumps.
Even without the full MyFord Touch system, this Sync with MyFord system was a disaster to operate. The four-way disc and small display just didn't make sense. Cycling through options just to find out what you can do in each sub-menu seems horribly outdated to me. — Joe Wiesenfelder
Comments
Only out done by the Ram. And considering the trucks age, and it is still better then the 2014 options from Gm and yoda, that is quite the accomplishment. Good job ford.
Look at the cheap odd shape plastic's. Looks very outdated like something you'd find back in 1995.
these things are ugly, the FX series look better but still not great.
At Joe Bruzek. Just call your credit card company like I did and raise your limit to $125. That took care of the problem for me with a 34 gal. tank. Most people think that the gas station sets the limit, but it's really the credit card co.
Some of the complaints were nitpicky or just plane stupid.
The running boards were slippery when ice built up on them? Duh? What do you expect in the winter?
The antenna hit low hanging signs in the parkade? You gotta be kidding? Did anyone check the posted height restrictions for the parkade?
They didn't like the width with the tow/haul mirrors? WTF?
The heater dial was hard to visualize which setting it was in?
Wow - here is a novel concept - turn the dial to where the fan gets the job done or set the heat to where it gets the job done. No need to take your eyes off the road that way.
I am surprised that they didn't say anything about the backup camera getting slimed by snow and slush during crappy road conditions. Same for the backup sensors, snow coating the bumper will block the sensors giving a false signal.
What kind of winter conditions are they talking about?
This is what happens when you give car guys a truck to test - lame comments.
The running boards (same as what's on my truck) don't hold up well to rock chips and salt. Same can be said for the chrome tow hooks. The tow hooks look like hell on my tuck. Tons of rock chips. The front bumper has been okay for rock chips but there has been some mild surface rust show up on the front and back bumpers at the end of the winter. It buffs out easy but it shouldn't happen. I've noticed the same thing on Chevy and Ram trucks of similar age. I'd probably opt for a trim package with painted bumpers next time around.
I'm not a fan of the centre display on this truck. I keep hearing complaints about the "MyTouch". Mine doesn't have it, just the basic Sync system which works well.
I like the green colour. Too bad they didn't get a good picture showing it.
I am surprised they didn't complain about MFT, or the Spitting PLUGS. LMFAO!
@Lou,
LMFAO!
Yes, some of the comments made seem to be unnecessary and "nitpicky."
I will agree with you on the running boards--our family always tried to get aftermarket steps because they were a little lower from the cab, so snow wouldn't build up as much (and it was a little easier to get in and out). Also with MyFordTouch--you'd think that Ford would have gotten the message by now, and changed the interface.
But complaining about height and width? Honestly? This is what happens when a bunch of city slickers think they need an offroad 4x4 "testosterone-mobile" to get around in slushy, wet paved roads. RWD served our forefathers just fine in past generations.
And as for the price: 46K can get you a luxury car with leather and navigation, but can that car pull nearly 10000# while seating six in relative comfort? I'll let you answer that one for yourself.
But I digress...it's a free country, and anyone can do what he (or she) pleases with his (or her) money.
That Green Gem is really a sharp color, though.
Somebody should have told them Ford has class exclusive power-fold/power-extend tow mirrors but not on the base XLT. If a car guy is hitting things it just shows his inexperience and ignorance on how to drive a truck. This is an XLT and is not a MyTouch sytem. It's just regular buttons.
@David,
For Asian sourced sourced Pickups here 4X4 is basically it. Car/Truck Utes like the Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore versions are 4 X2. Used to be specialist suppliers who did 4X4 for them but not many takers.
Heavy gloves? Come on, doesn't the heater work? Side steps are for looks and to knock the mud/snow down from spraying the side of the truck not to use as a step.....
The side steps get slippery in the snow. Really! What an idiot! LOL
Car guys testing a truck , I thought this was pickup trucks .com not cars .com !! if you work for a pickup truck site you should at least own a truck !!!!
I think these guys should test drive a Yugo. !!
Mixed bag: $45k for a pickup means it better be a real love boat. Cloth seats? The Ram and the Denali present options that offer similar straight line performance with better creature comforts. I recently checked out a 2013 Lariat that had the 6.2 V8 and it MSRP'd for just a few bucks more than this EB V6. Hello, there's something goofy there. If the EB gave you something better than 15 mpg, I could warm up to it more, but the V6 only really offers big V8 style torque and no improvement in mileage unless you are cruising the Interstate. The EB is more hype than hero in my eyes.
46,000 for an XLT just aint right. No bashing Ford but I just don't get it. they are all too much money.
A complete waste of time reading a nothing article written by a neophyte pickup driver.Slow news day I figger.......
And the final reviewer points out why I will probably never own another Ford after my 1990 F-150: Sync is essentially a Microsoft product designed more for geeks than everyday users. I don't want a vehicle that's MORE confusing to operate.
The only difference between this and the pre-2011 F-150 is the productivity screen in the dash and the larger non-touch screen in the center. Otherwise it functions exactly the same as Lou's 2010.
After a quick run to the grocery store, attempting to step in and reach into the second row to retrieve our last bag and a rolling can of soup proved to be quite a task with the slippery steps. - Matt Avery
http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/about-us.html
"Matt Avery, multimedia coordinator: "As the primary videographer for Cars.com"
I would be embarassed if I wrote that closing statment. I think Matt should stick to the videos or the cars.com side of things and leave the truck reviews to somebody else. He may be a good at shooting videos but he knows nothing about trucks.
@Lou (Nitpicker): How about actually reading those reviews next time. You flat ignored every qualifying statement.
* The running boards were slippery when ice built up on them? -- Note the qualifier was that they were also too small. Too small means that they were even harder to use to step up into the truck when they were slippery with ice.
* The antenna hit low hanging signs in the parkade? -- So you're telling me you don't go into a parking garage just because you MIGHT hit your antenna on a sign? The antenna is almost never the measuring point for the height of a vehicle--especially since most vehicles either use a whip antenna or some shark-fin styled one.
* They didn't like the width with the tow/haul mirrors? -- This clearly points out that the truck is simply too big for most people. I have to watch out for my old-style truck mirrors on my 1990 because they make the truck too wide for some places.
* The heater dial was hard to visualize which setting it was in? -- When a driver is not familiar with the layout of a dashboard/center stack, they have to look. The longer they have to keep their eyes off the road--especially in dangerous driving conditions, the more likely they are to get in trouble.
Finally, the writer clearly pointed out that this was the simply Ford Sync, NOT the MyTouch package. It's still that difficult to use compared to some of the others.
He said "almost" too small so they weren't too small. It's not that they are too small, it's that these are so close to the truck and tuck under the cab. They do make some wider boards if you need them: chrome package boards are 1" bigger, they have the power running boards, the patform boards, and the Raptors. The photo shows they can get the entire foot on even on the smallest board.
Wow. This site is sure going down hill fast. Nothing but terrible articles and trolls. Becoming more irrelevant by the day.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ytCEuuW2_A
You can tell these reviewers rarely, if ever, drove or used a truck before. If you don't want the tow haul mirrors for city driving, then why buy a Max Tow optioned truck? You wouldn't.
Or how about driving on slushy and snow covered streets and then complaining you got slush and snow on the running boards. And then, as shocking as it sounds, if you try to step on something you covered in slush and snow without cleaning first, it will be slippery! That's like hauling soil in the bed, commenting that the soil left the bed dirty, and complaining that when you crawled into the dirty bed before cleaning it, you got your jeans dirty. Lemon law time!
Hey Ford guys....sorry your blue oval lost this time. Guess you'll have to weep elsewhere, trolling and defaming the reviewers won't get you anywhere.
the only thing i would change is the motor for the 5.0, but that is just my opinion and i am ram man.
@Lou
do you prefer the 3.5, 3.7, 5.0, or 6.2 if you traded in you F-150 for a 2013?
Nomater what they try to change nothing change old body,and is a ford,,,,,is not a better truck...
@DWFields
"I don't want a vehicle that's MORE confusing to operate."
In that case, you won't be buying a new vehicle from anyone any time soon.
So this site is now 'Pick-up trucks tested by car guys.com'. whats worse is it has been that way for awhile, trolls, and car guys, yahoo.
"The running boards (same as what's on my truck) don't hold up well to rock chips and salt. Same can be said for the chrome tow hooks. The tow hooks look like hell on my tuck. Tons of rock chips. The front bumper has been okay for rock chips but there has been some mild surface rust show up on the front and back bumpers at the end of the winter. It buffs out easy but it shouldn't happen. I've noticed the same thing on Chevy and Ram trucks of similar age. I'd probably opt for a trim package with painted bumpers next time around.
-etc-
Posted by: Lou | Mar 19, 2013 12:55:53 PM"
As someone who details a lot of trucks, I can tell you the painted bumpers don't fare much better, unfortunately. They're actually a little harder to get the rust off since most of that is chips in the paint all the way to bare metal.
@Josh - I'd probably go with the 5.0. The 3.7 V6 is too small. The 6.2 is too heavy and too thirsty. I'd like to see the EB3.5 get some more miles on it in the real world before I'd consider it. The 5.0 by all indications has been a good engine for Ford, it seems to need more RPM to work as opposed to what I'm used to in the 5.4. I'd have to find a dyno chart on it and compare it top the 5.4.
@DWFields - I've lived with the same running boards found on this truck and it is rare that I find them slippery. They are a tad small and tucked in but I don't find that too problematic. They are great for minimizing body damage from flying road debris or worse gravel road travel. Take a close look at everyone else's running boards. Most are similar in size. Some sit lower or further out from the body which gives you more "purchase" on the board.
One may need to glance down to adjust an unfamiliar controller but as previously pointed out by me, you don't need to stare at the little dots to adjust the heater. Just set it to where you need it.
Are you the type of guy that needs a numeric volume control so you can bypass setting #13?
The stuff they critisized was nitpicky stuff.
I stand corrected it was not my touch but "MyFord" Sync system.
I've been living with basically the same truck for 2 1/2 years and 3 winters. I could do a better job of reviewing the truck under winter conditions. I already offered some of my comments.
The traction stability control system works well and unless you are a lead footed clutz, it isn't intrusive. Yaw will cause the engine power to reduce drastically. I'd rather power out of a gentle slide than loose power.
The retractible side steps (this one didn't have them) will ice up and freeze in place in the winter. If it is milder and you plow through some deep snow, the button on the side step could get hit and the step will deploy.
The Wrangler SR-A's like on this truck are okay in the winter when new but as they wear, they obviously won't be as effective.
The F150 doesn't have a low washer fluid warning light which I thought was odd.
I find that when it is really cold(-20C or -4F), the truck will be slow to shift into 4x4.
I prefer a mechanical rear locker as it will engage at any speed where you need it. The Ford e-lockers IIRC disengage at 20 mph which I don't like.
If I was being critical because I was a fanboy, I would not of mentioned the "real world" issues I encountered.
I strongly dislike the power running boards, I have them on my Expedition. Absolutely HORRIBLE!!! Freeze up and everything. Also the timing is atrocious. Open the door ans get ploughed in the shins by the wretched protrusions as they come out, then when you go to get out of the vehicle they are so slow you stumble and tumble out of the vehicle. Done that many times and its very embarrassing. My recommendation: stick with the conventional running boards, they don't bite!
I should mention a few more things that really have nothing to do with Ford. Larger rims like the 18's on this truck or worse 20's make it much harder to find decent rubber. There is a huge selection of winter, mud/snow, all season, and highway tires for 17's. I would prefer 17's after finding out the hard way by looking for replacement "3 season" tires and winter only tires. Michelin for example only has 4 ply P metric or 10 ply LT for 18's. Other brands will offer a 6 ply LT in the 18 but they aren't the best on the market. I like Nokian winter tires but I'd have to go to a heavy ply LT for 18's.
Another point of interest is the stupid tire pressure sensors. Those can be very expensive and you have to buy them to run a second set of winter tires. Many shops won't mount tires without the sensors even though it isn't illegal in most jurisdictions to leave them off.
@Luke in CO: Nope. Just Fords. The rest of the American trucks at least make sense and aren't so geek-centered.
I get 17.5 mpg in city, 21 mpg on two lane and 18 on 75mph interstate with my F 150 SC long box heavy duty 4X4 XLT. Forget running boards...man up and step into your truck....good grief. Don't measure these rigs by their farkles. Order a truck if you need a truck and run it like a truck...or else...buy a car...and shut up. Operating Sync is easy for us geeks....the rest of you are hopeless.
@Ham - are you talking about the EB3.5?
17.5 is pretty good in the city, 21 highway not so much. The 5.4 which many regard as a pig on gas, well, I've gotten 15 city and 20.4 highway. I don't know what it will get at 75 on the freeway because I'm at least 500 miles from the closest freeway.
I was looking at the "window sticker" for this truck and it comes with 9,000 of accessories. 37,900 is the base truck price. There is a Equipment group 302 discount dropping 1,750 off of the truck.
The only option differences between this truck and mine are 3.73 electronic diff, EB3.5, max tow/haul package, bucket seats, power sliding rear window, and spray in liner.
Mine had the plastic liner, mudflaps, tutone paint, retractible box steps, and 6.5 box.
The display/productivity console is different, it has touch shift through all the gears, and Ford's yearly BNG - bold new grill.
@Lou, totally agree regarding the rim sizes. 17 inch rims offer huge choice of really good tires and values. I just bought a set of General Grabbers, 245/70/17 which rate pretty well, for a very good price balanced/installed ($600 plus tax). Disagree with you regarding the 5.4 V8--it's really long in the tooth. Very stout engine for durability but it is past its prime in terms of torque/hp. Just not a very effecient motor. The Ford 5.0 engine would be even better with more displacement but even at 302 c.i. it's making a lot of power and torque for its size and it still is decent on the Interstate for mpg. The EB motors have a big advantage down between 1500-3500 rpms, which is where pickup motors really live, but the extra complexity and expense of having a blower under the hood is a turnoff. In a few years we'll know if the guys who bought 2011 EBs came to regret it (or not?)
I can't believe they are basing their mileage off of the truck display. That is nothing more than an inflated guess, if your gonna quote fuel economy numbers, DO THE ACTUAL MATH!
"What doesn't it have a 100 gallon gas tank?"
"Why is truck so big?"
"Why aren't the running boards 5 ft wide and heated?"
"What is a computer? Why didn't it show me the secrets of life in .21006701 seconds or less?"
"Why doesn't the twin turbo 365 hp 420 lbft tq v6 get 42 mpg city?"
"Why doesn't it have the solid mass of a Tiger II with the suspension of a modern Rolls Royce?"
"Why didn't Ford make the HVAC controls readable for the legally blind?"
"Why does it feel like i'm driving a truck and not my SCCA prepped Miata?
"Why did I forget that this was the Ecoboost v6, not the base v6 and made the dumb comment about how it felt slower than the v6 Ram to help further promote them?"
"Why is the heavily optioned xlt somewhat expensive?"
Lou i went with the Raptor to get an selectable locker that i could use at any speed and in any drive mode, i was not a fan of the G80, its better than nothing but i still find the set up in the raptor to be the most adventagous, you think that finding rubber for an 18' wheel is hard try the 17s in the raptor size, i was very fortunate that my prefered winter tire the good year wrangler duratracs are avalible in 315-70r17 it took me 4 months to get them though and i had them studded for my winter adventures, I was going back and forth with tire on the same wheels but just bought another set of factory takeoffs for my summer set, the TPS sensors where 240 USD. and i can honestly say i have yet to find a well rounded summer tire that i like. Im with you on the MPG before my accident my truck got around the same milage that your reporting, now it doesn't hit 15 on the freeway taking it back to the body shop, i wish my insurance totaled it out.
@DWFields
My point is all vehicles are moving toward elaborate infotainment systems (touch screens, bluetooth connectivity, voice recognition, apps) and all are far more complicated than your old F-150. Oh, and you can get an XL or STX without Sync (for now anyway).
@DW feilds
I drive a raptor which is as wide as you can get without duals and i haveent had problems except in some parkinglots with the suicide doors when getting into the back seat, my truck fits on the narow trails by where i live, but i have test drove ecoboost trucks and i hate the trailer miorrs, they opbstruck visability and increase your blind spot and i will never buy a truck with them optioned.
@Luke in CO: Not all "infotainment" systems are created equal. The simple fact that Ford's was created in partnership with Microsoft is one reason why the Sync system is so bad; it wasn't designed with the driver in mind, but rather the geek. There are better systems out there that are much easier to use. Even RAM's system is easier to use than Ford's.
@carilloskis: Today's cars are much, much smaller than the older ones. Quite honestly when I owned my '73 Ford Gran Torino, I was always nervous about crossing certain bridges because it felt so big and I couldn't even park it comfortably in the down-sized parking slots at the local shopping mall. Even with 4 doors and not the much longer 2-doors of the coupes, I could hardly get into or out of the car even when the car beside me was centered in its own slot. Today's trucks tend to exaggerate that issue to the point that I usually have to park much farther away from the store when I'm driving even my 1990 model yet my '08 Jeep Wrangler fits them just fine.
In fact, when I took my truck to the store yesterday, the only thing that kept me from clipping a mirror on a car that parked over the line on my side was the fact that my mirror was much higher than his and literally passed over it. I know some of you would consider a 23-year-old truck a "beater", but it's less than two years from becoming an official "antique" as a survivor--never rebuilt and only getting regular maintenance (at least since I've owned it. Of course, the repairs needed when I bought it can't count because the truck sat idle for almost 12 years so I had to fight some dry rot and repair some items that broke due to disuse.)
Yes, there are places where such size make little to no difference, but there are other places where a Wrangler can go that a full-sized truck can't without getting stuck one way or another. That only means that a smaller truck would have an advantage over the larger one in some circumstances--including gas mileage.
@DWFields
I'll concede the MyFordTouch system has been farily widely panned, but for the most part the standard Sync system has been praised since it's first introduction in '07 (well before most mainstream competitors). This is one of the few reviews I've read that have described Sync as difficult. I've never had a problem using Sync, but I've never had much of a problem operating any of the infotainment systems I've tried (Entune, iDrive, COMMAND, UConnect). Making the blanket statement that Sync is a bad system probably has more to do with you as the user rather than the system itself.
@DWFields - I have the basic Sync system in my 2010. It is as good as the devices connected to it. It is very simple to use. I don't have a touch screen just steering wheel controls and dash controls like a regular stereo.
As far as size, get real. I owned a 1990 F250 long box reg cab 4x4. I don't find that it was much different than my current truck for width. My current truck is longer but what do you expect - crewcab versus reg cab.
Camper mirrors are wider for obvious reasons lost upon the testers - to give you vision around a camper. My brother in law has the exact same mirrors on his F150. I don't hear him or his wife complaining about width.
If size is an issue, don't buy a full sized truck with camper mirrors. The "testers" and I use that term loosely NEVER carried or towed with the truck. They probably would of complained about a Tacoma or Frontier being too wide. BTW, don't you usually whine about those trucks being too big? Go put that conversion kit on your Wrangler and see how uselful it makes your Jeep. I've seen one conversion 1st hand. I wouldn't waste my money. The stock Wrangler Unimited is vastly superior to the slaughtered boxed version. Find yourself a '70's era Toyota truck. It probably would be cheaper than a conversion.
@PaPa Jim - I never said the 5.4 was better than any of the new engines. The 5.0 makes more power higher up the rev range. I like the torque of the 5.4. I chose a 2010 over the 2011's because the year end clearance prices were huge and I've always made a point of not buying first run technology as there are always glitches and bugs to sort out. I'm happy with my truck and have no complaints about the drivetrain , ride or comfort of the truck.
I still think this body design is the best looking 1/2 ton on the market. It's the GMT-400 of the new era. I remember when Chevrolet came out with the new Silverado in 1988 and it was the best looking truck money could buy until they discontinued it 10 years later. The 99-02 Silverado was ok at best but then came 10 disasterous years of Chevrolet truck design. I'm worried when Ford changes from this body style that they'll follow the same path. Do something similar for a few years to keep their new fanbase on board and then completely screw the truck up. Luckily for them, I only see Dodge as the beneficiary. The new Silverado's are better looking than the current models but not by much. I'd say the Avalanche body would have made the best contender to this F-150. Chevrolet should have made it the Silverado instead of that ugly thing they stuck out there. I just hope Ford doesn't completely screw the next F-150 body design up like what Chevrolet did to the Silverado with those massive body flares and odd front end. I never got why they wrecked such a once sharp truck.
@FordTrucks1 - I always wondered the same thing, why did Chevy put the good looking design on the Avalanche and big SUV's.
Nice truck! My boyfriend has the same truck and I have been looking to buy Nokian tires for his birthday because I heard they are the best. His tires are so bald and it doesn't look like hes going to do anything about it.
It is a shame that your having some issues with your truck, my boyfriend hasn't had any problems yet. I will have to send this to him, thanks so much for sharing.
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