ranger still the best pickup ever made,bar none.ford needs to bring back the ranger,everyone and his brother in law owns a f150

The wheels are current/last generation Raptor wheels painted black. The tires look to be BFG All Terrains with a modified tread pattern.

The best never rests! Definitely interesting ,this will have the competition sweating even more than they are now. I would suspect there will be multiple specialty F150 models.

For some reason those tires and wheels scream 285/75/17 or possibly a size taller, they dont look big enough to be 35's so maybe they are custom 33's our F250 has 295/75/16 on it which are 33.5's while they have more sidewall due to smaller rims they look similar in height.

Oh and its too long of a wheelbase and that front air damn hangs waaay to low for this to ever be called a rock crawler. If ford does call it that it will be nothing but a marketing gimic, and this is coming from a jeep guy who has offroad experience from beaches to mud covered mountain climbs.

If the rest of the truck looks basically stock then it may be a tire testing mule.
A tape measure would give rough dimensions.

It appears that truck paparazzi are just as bright as celebrity paparazzi.

"The FX4 package can now be added to most model designations (instead of the stand-alone appearance package on previous F-150s), adding meaningful off-road aids like underbody skid plates, hill descent control and off-road-tuned shock absorbers."

Did these photo's come from Ford PR??????????

Yeah a pickup will never be a match for a Jeep Rubicon SWB for hardcore off-road, but as long as people are realistic in their expectations, a little more capability is never a bad thing.

"The lack of any distinguishing, identifying characteristics seems to suggest that this might be a special tire being developed between an unnamed manufacturer and Ford."

It's clearly a Bfgoodrich All Terrain KO2

It looks like the ecoboost badges are torn of the doors, or might they have said something else? Also something "sport" badge on tail gate.

Looks like a tire test mule for the next raptor. As taw said those are KO2's

I'd say it's tyre testing for a tyre company.

There is not data on the tyre's side wall. The tyres also don't look as if they've had a hard time either.

The exhaust is nothing special. It looks like a locally manufactured item, a one off.

The underneath of the truck looks very clean as well for off roading, unless it is getting a comprehensive cleaning frequently.

The tire is the new BF Goodrich AT2

"which has us wondering if a new F-150 'rock-crawler' might be under consideration"

Funny, because the Raptor was no such rig. It was merely a mid-travel truck with prerunner flares.

Ford hasn't made a rig that would be considered a "rock-crawler" for many years, they do sell trucks that are considered "mall-crawlers" in the eyes of the true offroad community.

Raptor mule with blacked out rims from a 2012 Raptor...

http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2011/09/ford-unveils-changes-for-2012-f-150-svt-raptor.html

See what happens when the new 2015 F-150 tows at maximum payload over the Dempster Highway – a rough, desloate, 900-mile stretch of gravel road that goes through the Arctic Circle.

http://youtu.be/jJ7JqX3Aa-A?list=UUFTCJH8G8eGCHOd93HsyAPQ

I think the buy in this video may be Lou. He has a 2010 5.4L in Canada and drives on gravel roads.

@Chris - I've been in that part of the world shown on that last video. I was in a blizzard heading into Dawson over the Top of the World Highway from Tok, Alaska. I crossed on what most likely is the same Ferry.
Remote country, very remote.

Guys talk about off-roading Glamis or other such parks which I think is funny.

Try routinely traveling the roads that fellow went on.
Posted by: Lou_BC | Nov 28, 2014 6:34:06 PM

Thanks for the comment. The rural gravel roads reminded me of you. Ford must be reading your comments PUTC.

I'm sure they're testing a new tire but why bother with the dual exhaust? I'm betting this is a more rugged off road package with the wheels and tires and the dual exhaust and hopefully the 5.0 with the plow package

One thing I love about Ford trucks is you can still use the front bumper to push something if needed. Since the advent of tinfoil bumpers over the last decade, Ford still saw fit to make a truck like a truck and kept 2 pusher pads like old vehicles had. Try pushing something with a Chevy, you'd end up with thousands in front end damage. Same with GM, Nissan and Dodge trucks.

Inside of the dual exhaust tailpipes look pretty clean.... Hmmm. Wonder if the photographer stuck around to listen to it run?

ut oh ! I see it coming that Ford is going to do away with the solid live rear axle and replace it with an independent suspension axle like they did on the 2015 Mustang.

another thing nobody talks about is the front suspension, its just as important for a true off-road truck, since 2009 the F-150 got whimpy using small sheet metal lower control arms and bringing back the same 1997-2003 upper arm design.

The 2004-2008 F-150 was a better off-road truck

The Ram 1500 has a beefy front suspension compared to any other truck.

Ford is giving a $1000 Amazon gift card with any 2014 F-150 sold. Buy a new F-150 now and you have money for Christmas shopping!
I have been hanging out at my Ford Dealer waiting for the 2015 F-150's, they keep kicking me out saying they will call me when they arrive.
But I have been teaching all of the salesmen all the information I learned here on PUTC about the 2015 F-150, nobody knows if the powered tailgate can be opened or closed while the truck is moving or parked, we think Ford placed a safety in there so it can't be opened while moving. Can't wait till we get one and find out!
I will report my findings to all my friends here on PUTC

IF that F-150 pictured did any serious off-roading the front lower air dam would be broken off with tree branch scratches all over the side of the body.
My F-150 has tree branches stuck in the underbody for years!
Just yesterday I was driving my F-150 off-road thru big frozen mud puddles, some I broke thru the ice, others were covered with snow couldn't see them, I drive over top of downed trees blocking the trail, some of the trails are just narrow enough for an ATV so the tree branches scratch the paint, my air dam broke off a long time ago.

If Ford wants to really test their truck for some serious off-roading they should give me one, at least when I'm done it will LOOK like its been off-road.

oh yea! I do it all with a stock FX4, no add-ons, no mods!
I like to point and laugh at you guys ha ha ha that transform their truck with suspension and monster tires and they NEVER take it off-road!

duh!
Got an insurance quote on a 2015 F-150, (similar as my 2013)
My 6 month policy increased $82.20
paying $419.50 for my 2013 F-150
2015- $501.70

what? wasn't everybody in the past talking about that the cost to insure a vehicle made from aluminum would increase?

just to make sure I also did a quote on a new 2014 similar truck and the cost also went up $49.90

so my conclusion is its just a normal price increase because its a new truck, the aluminum body isn't a factor with the insurance.

yea! I do get a discount cause I insure multi vehicles with the same insurance co,, well do your own quote! I don't care!

2015 F-150 vin # 1FTFW1EG1FFA14709

After a bit of pondering, I really think I've nutted this one out!

The spare has a "standard" tyre fitted.

The underneath of the truck looks like the biggest off road challenge it had was a Detroit pot hole in a parking lot. It's clean as.

As Tom#3 highlighted, the front end of the truck has no damage, etc.

So, these tyres were fitted for the last storm that moved through the US.

They must of been lying around the shop and were fitted to see how well the truck handle the snow.

As for the tyres themselves. Well I'm running 265x17", 75s BF Goodrich AT's on my pickup and the construction is nothing like these.

The sidewalls on my pickup are very straight from the tread down to the rim. The tread sits out wider without the "ballooning" of the sidewall like these tyres exhibit.

My tyres are 10ply as well. Looking at these these are "car" type tyres. Look at the large radii on the tyres where the tread meets the side wall. This is for higher speed and on road handling. Where my tread meets the sidewalls it is very perpendicular with no radius.

No, if these are off road tyres then I'd rather walk. These are light tyres that look aggressive. They might be good for a dirt track or something.

Oh,

BFG have a protective profile on the bead to protect the tyre at the rims edge. These tyres don't have that.

If you guys aren't aware. The protective profile is to protect agains staking between the rim and tyre and to protect alloy rims from abrasion on rocks, logs, etc.

If these are BFG's then they are Walmart tyres.

Big al those are non labeled half worn out bfg's KO2's. The bfg AT ko2's is the newest at from bfg. Have a set on my truck.

Same tread and side wall if you compare them.
http://www.fourwheeler.com/news/1312-new-bfgoodrich-all-terrain-ta-ko2-in-the-works/

@Scott,
Like the article states it's more about looks than performance.

Still al those are bfg at ko2's. They are better then the previous at's from bfg.
http://youtu.be/K-mSQDOBmh8

@Scott,
The only advantage I see in them is in sand and loose dirt.

Maybe for the Raptor.

They are for Baja racing, not climbing ruts and rocks.

Off roading you want tread for traction. That is width, tread pattern and design.

Working around deep ruts etc, you don't want those radii on the edges, that gives you more opportunity for the tyre and vehicle to slide into the ruts.

Coming out of river and creek and up steep slopes I encounter this often. With ruts that go down between the wheels up to 4 foot deep. It's a pain in the butt to pull a 4x4 out of this situation.

I don't believe these are the best for 4x4ing. My tyres work well in sand and loose stuff as well as in rocky and deeply rutted work.

The biggest downfall is on road handling with my tyres.

This is where these tyres will excel on slippery flat or loose surfaces.

The other disadvantage I see with these tyres they do look light in construction compared to my tyres with less protection to the side walls which will allow for easier staking and spiking.

These are mall crawler tyres or for the beach, snowy roads, and dirt roads where the damage to them is limited.

So what you talking about al is a mud terrain which don't perform well in all terrain....

@Scott,
No, I have BFG A/T's as well. There are actually two types with similar tread pattern. The difference between them is the construction one is a lighter 70 Series and the heavier 75 Series like I bought.

I do know the lighter ones at Sears were $185 a throw and the heavier ones where quite a bit more at $265 a throw.

So one was more a highway tyre than the other.

My previous tyres had a similar profile on the sidewalls as these K/O's and they guillotined from just below the rim down to nearly the tread. A rock cause this. These tyres will do the same. This is caused by the protruding sidewalls from the tread up to the rim.

As I also mentioned there is not protection offered for the staking at where the bead meets the rim.

A straighter sidewall and not a ballooning sidewall is needed.

The ballooning sidewall does offer better traction in sand, it "amplifies" the tyre width when deflated for sand/beach work.

The problem with a straighter sidewall is the railroading and the lack of flex for a more comfortable ride. The straighter sidewall also reduces the chance of sidewall staking from rocks and branches, etc.

My suspension kit fixed the "railroading" issue I had with the heavier BFG T/A's.

These tyres are designed for a more on road friendly use and not better off road performance.

They look the part, but how do the perform the part?

You must be a BFG guy. These tyres will do okay for a person who doesn't off road often. They look pretty and do have an aggressive tread pattern, which will provide better traction.

But, what I'm talking about is the design of a more durable off road tyre.

These would suit most pickup and SUV (4hi/lo) use. But for the more serious off roading, I wouldn't buy them.

These are more a compromise tyre from BFG. As I stated they will suit most shopping and going to the beach and driving in snow and highway.

These will be a cheaper offering from BFG. You can see this in the construction of them. Similar to the cheaper A/T's I looked at.

Bafo,
I'm thinking Michelin designed the new BFG A/T KO2 with undoubtedly many of the lessons they learned with the M/T KM2. The tire is actually 30% more puncture resistant than your current tire just to start with. Add in the mud ejector bars on the shoulder tread, and it's better in mud than your current tire. I also find it funny that you suggest that a tire without any sidewall bulge or ballooning is not good for off roading. The M/T KM2 looks this way the last time I checked. Afterall, when guys air down for rock crawling, mud, etc the tires do bulge. It makes sense to me that the additional bulge not only protects your wheels from being damaged, but also allows the tires to flex and conform obstacles...including the sides of ruts to pull you up, over, and out.

If your tires do not bulge, you must be over inflated. What are you running your pressures at? The maximum on the sidewall? Probably would explain why your vehicle'vehicle's ride and handling both suffer.

@MKL,
Reducing tyre press reduces the chances of staking through the treaded area of a tyre off road, not the sidewalls.

This is a very common practice here when using a 4x4 tyre like this K/O. A highway compromise tyre. They are a light tyre with not many plys to protect from staking.

Lowering the tyre pressure also allows a greater distortion of the tread to reduce the chance of a puncture. The tyre has a greater tendency to roll over a sharp object and push the treaded area out of the way.

No, I'm correct regarding the sidewall having a straight line.

Also, if you have your vehicle loaded the straighter sidewalls are able to bear loads better.

The only time you will use a sidewall is in loose conditions where the tyre "sinks" into the surface.

I have had many different styles of tyres off road and I'm finding the 10ply 75 Series BFG T/A's tyres quite good in most any condition.

I did lose on road comfort with them and encountered some tracking issues. This all changed when I dropped the Old Man Emu suspension kit in. The ride improve and the railroading stopped.

The ballooning of the sidewalls is more for the on highway performance of the tyres to improve comfort and handling.

The large radii on the shoulders also improves handling markedly.

These tyres looking at them are compromise tyres. Like I stated even down where the beads meet the rim there is no protection to stop branches staking between the rim and tyre.

Nice try Scott! Remember I do a lot of off roading.

BAFO, here in the states we spell it, TIRE

I had those BF AT's and they wore out at 42K miles, mainly because of towing so much, I am now trying the BF rugged terrain to see how they work out.

Hey PUTC, I see you removed my last post. Must be favoritism towards the regulars here that like to spout off useless information, fan boy-isms, unproven personal claims, or personal attacks against other members. Any post I've submitted has strictly been on a factual basis considering I actually work in the industry. When someone calls me out stating I am not whom I say I am, or claims for me to be someone I'm not I take offense to that. Nice to see my post was removed for defending myself in a civil manner, merely restating words that were already used against me. Why not remove the rest of my posts while you're at it?

@MKL,
What do you do in the industry?

I also work with tyres extensively. To the point where my study/report changed inflation pressure of tyres to prevent delaminations of the tread from the tyre casings when encountering different loads in different operating environments.

As for the sidewalls how many ply rated is it? I would say 2.

How else will you get on road comfort with a 4 ply rated wall?

How does this tyre manage a large and heavy load? How many psi or bars can this tyre be inflated too to manage the load and reduce the buildup of heat?

Also, if it is used on a truck what pressure with such a sidewall ply rating or the 4 ply tread rating can you use?

I do understand that tyre technology is improving. But to state that a 6ply or 4ply tyre offers better protection from staking is a big call.

As for the sidewall. How will this tyre perform running along the edge of rocks, logs, heavy branches?

I actually had a set of Wranglers that I staked on a dirt road.

These tyres are light highway tyres.

Yawn. All modern pickups look "odd" to me--exercises in male ego. Give me something that looks like a work truck, when real men worked hard, quietly, and didn't have to drive a rig the size of the Bismarck.

They's smoke most of us wimpy moderns. This "truck" is just ugly. The only truck I've seen on this site that got me interested was the Jeep J12 concept. What a ride that would be! No power nuffin' -- just a kick-butt work truck.