2018 Ford F-150 Wins Truck of Texas Award
By Tim Esterdahl
The Texas Auto Writers Association held its annual Texas Truck Rodeo from Oct. 15-17 at the Longhorn River Ranch outside of Austin, Texas. The annual event has 21 categories for automakers to win, but these are the ones we think are most important — the ones focused on pickup trucks, obviously:
- Mid-Size Pickup: 2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro
- Full-Size Pickup: 2018 Nissan Titan Midnight Edition
- Heavy-Duty Pickup: 2018 Ram 2500 Limited Tungsten
- Luxury Pickup: 2018 Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn Southfork
- Off-Road Pickup: 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor
- Best Commercial Vehicle: 2018 Nissan Titan King Cab SV
- Truck of Texas: 2018 Ford F-150
Most notable was the second straight win for Ford as the Truck of Texas, with the updated F-150 taking this year's top honors and the all-new Super Duty winning last year. The Nissan Titan half ton won in the full-size category, while the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro triumphed in the mid-size category. In the highly contested Luxury Pickup category, the 2018 Ram Laramie Longhorn Southfork beat out the new 2018 Ford Super Duty Limited trim package.
In the commercial category, the Nissan Titan King Cab, with its rear-seat delete, beat out an eclectic group of vans and pickups, including a Ram 5500 chassis cab with a dump bed.
Surrounding this year's event was the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey causing an estimated 300,000 to 500,000 vehicles (1 out of every 7 registered in the area) to be destroyed. As a result, it seems likely that there will be a new- and used-vehicle purchasing surge in the coming months as insurance companies cut checks to the insured. And many of those in Texas looking for their next SUV, crossover or pickup truck are likely to look to the Truck Rodeo for some ideas.
Founded in 1985, the Texas Auto Writers Association is a collection of journalists from throughout the country.
Kevin McCauley images
Comments
How ironic that Nissan is rated the top half ton pickup, but the F150 is the Truck of Texas (whatever the bleep that's supposed to mean).
I guess Nissan's truck got a trophy and a photo-op too, but PUTC is going to cover the Ford boys receiving their made-up award instead.
This reminds me of the youth soccer league where my 4 year old grandson plays. Everybody gets a trophy, win-lose-draw.
Nicely done Ford, once again, the people have spoken, notice there is no GM trucks in this list of winners, sorry you guys will have to defend.
Ford doesnt raise the bar, THEY ARE THE BAR!
Great job Ford!
And Nitro...was there a need to comment on GM?? Just take your victory and move on....come on man!!! Another reason why people don't like Ford!
Good job Ford, Nissan, RAM, Toyota.
GM is shut out once again. lol.
Truck of Texas is the top award.
Look at Papa. He is p#ssed. Too funny.
Great job to all!
@tnt, incorrect, people love ford, hence why they are number one, I was just simply pointing out what GM doesnt seem to get,that if you dont have updated trucks, people will flock to the new innovative ones. Seriously Gm needs to wake up, I mean, nissan and Ram beat them out in this event. Freakin Nissan! Sounds like there is alot of papajims at GM that dont understand.
Truck of Texas award is good only in Texas. Other awards are more valuable in my point of view.
Once again FORD enters FORD wins!
All the GM chest puffiery in the world does not change the facts; FORD F series is The Best selling brand period, FORD is the most recognizable brands when people are queried about pick up trucks, FORD consistently has the highest value retention , highest reliability and greatest longevity.
Right about now the hate squad is foaming at the mouth, punching through Moms kitchen wall and spit choking their Frosted Flakes across the room.
All the predictable pundits will be wailing away with supposed "facts,figures, links of convenience and opining opinions
Wail away kids, it is what it is. Brace yourselves for more bad news in January.
GM doesn't need a phony award from Texas. How is Ford's stock price doing in October? GM wins the only award that matters. Stock valuation!
@gms, sorry you need to defend the twins, just like papa, you cant see the writing on the wall, but the rest of us do, good luck with that stock price.
FAKE news.
The news in this is that anything with Titan in the model name won anything.
Ford F-series = Truck of recalls.
@ Nitro
Are you serious!
The Duramax BEAT your Super Duty in all performance categories! +1
The ZR2 beats....owe ya Ford doesn't have mid sized truck!! +2
Plus it just beat your crappy Raptor in a comparison test at Motor trend!! +3
GMC/Silverado with a 6.2L beat your eco-bust in performance categories as well!! +4
GM sells more trucks than Ford does!!!! +5 (this one I could care less about BTW!!!)
LAST SELLING POINT>>>GM makes the best v8 engine line-up in a pickup truck...FORD couldn't make them, so they decided to turbo charge v6's....what a fail!!!
So I'm sorry you have to constantly defend a company that lies to you and you are NOT EDUCATED enough to realize it!!
@ Nitro
GO drive a new Nissan Titan. Its a pretty darn good truck. You need to have a more open mindset on things, instead of being a closed mindset Fan-boy!! GEEEZZZZZ
THEY ARE THE BAR! Posted by: Nitro | Oct 23, 2017
@Nitro
Actually it sounds like you have BEEN to the bar.
Nitro. Seriously, if my favorite brand was Ford, and they had to invent an award so all the Ford fans don't get their feelings hurt, I wouldn't be yelling about it.
Go take a spin in that new Titan. Are you afraid you'll like it too much?
Got love ford . Garbage motors didn't won 💩. Hahaha hahaha
Truck of Texas is the top award.
Look at Papa. He is p#ssed. Too funny.
Posted by: Tom | Oct 23, 2017 8:15:20 AM
He has ran out of Prep-H.
From someone who has owned most or at least driven all of the trucks on the market in the recent decade. They all are good choices from a build, fit and finish and just general reliability standpoint. I now look at more than just the end product but where its made and what the companies themselves do. Bailout money and outsourcing of IT and finance/accounting jobs to 3rd party companies with heavy foreign workforce. It's really tough to make a decision when you factor everything in. Do i support a company that can't keep themselves above water without financial support from the US tax payers like GM and Chrysler? Do i support a company that outsources American IT workers like Ford? Its tough to not only pick the best product but also who favors the american worker and can run their business properly.
Where is the trophy presentation for the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro?
Biased media once again...
what trim levels can you get that grill shown on the red truck above without the cross bars?
With Nissan taking home TWO awards for their big pickup, the Ford guys in Dearborn would have blown a fuse if the promoters of this event didn't make up a title just for them.
Hey Tim Esterdahl! hope all is well
Wouldn't it be worth mentioning that the Tacoma Trd Pro took the mid size award for the second year in a row?
Ford doesnt raise the bar, THEY ARE THE BAR!
Posted by: Nitro | Oct 23, 2017 7:22:32 AM
Yup, Most recalled truck brand. Get R Done!
Yup, Most recalled truck brand. Get R Done!
Posted by: HEMI V8 | Oct 23, 2017 12:03:23 PM
Consumer Report: The most and least reliable vehicles for 2017
Here are the full car brand rankings for 2017:
1.Toyota2.Lexus3.Kia4.Audi5.BMW6.Subaru7.INFINITI8.Buick9.Honda10.Hyundai11.Nissan12.Mazda13.Porsche14.Mercedes-Benz15.Ford16.Volkswagen17.Chrysler18.Chevrolet19.Acura20.Jeep 21.Tesla22.Lincoln23.Volvo24.Dodge25.Ram26.GMC27.Cadillac
Hey Nitro, I’m with ya! I’ve been driving Ford F150’s and F250’s for 33 years! Great trucks! Everybody else is just jealous their brand of truck didn’t win the top award. Those Texans know something about trucks.
Hahahaha...you got to hand it to the GOVT motor fangirls, when their beloved truck brands of mid & full with 4 different variants are not even considered in Texas, they jump ship to now Nissan try defend their looser status...LOL
How ironic that Nissan is rated the top half ton pickup, but the F150 is the Truck of Texas (whatever the bleep that's supposed to mean).
I guess Nissan's truck got a trophy and a photo-op too, but PUTC is going to cover the Ford boys receiving their made-up award instead.
This reminds me of the youth soccer league where my 4 year old grandson plays. Everybody gets a trophy, win-lose-draw.
Posted by: papajim | Oct 23, 2017 7:21:04 AM.
Unlike your grandsons league where everyone get's a trophy, GM did not get a trophy. That was a pretty weak comparison.
Texas hates GM trucks. GM has come up empty handed here at the Texas Rodeo 3 years in a row! But once again Ford is the truck of Texas.
Congratulations, Ford.
Yeah, that's how we do it 'round here!
https://youtu.be/p1oL37ycONQ?t=1m2s
PS GM needs to rethink their truckline. Twice the trucks: GMC + Chevy and they got nothing again. This is embarrassing for GM.
this trophy it's like win a toy in a crackerjack box ,,it mean nothing,,,
These awards from a Texas Auto Association really mean nothing to me. Congrats to those who got a trophy.
How is it that most other Comparisons the ZR2 beat Ford Raptor?
I like the Raptor so i can see it winning especially in Texas where Ford is King.
Toyota got mid size trophy but gets no exposure???
Ram should have got truck of Texas.
Titan?????
I still have my 1970 F150. Fantastic truck for its day, and outlast any new Ford product of today. Too much plastic and wires in the new trucks.
GM did not get a trophy. That was a pretty weak comparison.
Posted by: 2.7EcoBoostRoost | Oct 23, 2017
@ecoboostroost
So please help me understand. Nissan won TWO awards for their half ton full size trucks, but Ford wins the "texas" truck award.
What is a Texas truck exactly. Is it bigger than a half ton or is it more like a Jeep or is it like a Ranger. I don't understand.
I don't understand how we won The Truck of Texas either?! Mikey, that grille is a available in the STX package on the XL trim level, or the Sport Appearance package on the XLT trim level.
Correction to my earlier post: the grille Mikey was asking about is available in the XLT Special Edition package and the Lariat Special Edition package as well as in the STX Appearance package on the XL trim level.
Correction to my earlier post: the grille Mikey was asking about is available in the XLT Special Edition package and the Lariat Special Edition package as well as in the STX Appearance package on the XL trim level.
PS GM needs to rethink their truckline. Twice the trucks: GMC + Chevy and they got nothing again. This is embarrassing for GM.
Posted by: Dave B. | Oct 23, 2017 7:07:07 PM
GM's truck is on the verge of being replaced by an all new truck platform.Rewind back to 2014 the Ford F-150 was a dumpster fire with wheels. The truck was a mess and getting dominated by its half-ton competitors. The engines were terrible, the interior was outdated, it lost every fuel efficiency comparison, the Ecoboost was building its rep as a taxpayer sponsored gas guzzler with an appetite for timing chains, the 5.0 Coyote was a rod-knocking cylinder-distorted piece of junk, etc. The four wheel drive system was (and still is weak piece of junk). The 8.8 was a chinese piece of junk. The front suspension was weakened up by late 2013, the forged control arms that Ford had bragged about a couple years earlier were replaced with weak, thin stamped steel junk parts. The brake system would fail without warning and Ford wouldn't lift a finger to fix it. The fuel pump driver module that had left owners with a stalled out truck rolling down the freeway at high speed. Certain configurations were notorious for high-speed vibration or "shake" problems, and many Ecoboost trucks had severe take-off shudder. Most were nevery fixed by Ford.
@tnt, I have never driven a Nissan, I will admit, So I wont comment on them. Who cares if some article test says the duramax wins, I said before the duramax is a good engine, but I'll still take the Ford Powerstroke all day.
@pap, so sorry you have to continue to defend the twins, I would be upset too if I were you, and your gms cant even reach the bar that is raised year after year. As I have told you before, you need to get out more and actually drive trucks, based on your past comments and lacking knowledge on these subjects, please go back to the bike forums, where you are more suited.
@ Vincent
And in 2014 GM issued one (not the only one) recall for 800,000 trucks. Ram issued 10 recalls...
What’s your point? They all suck. Some suck worse year on year vs others.
GM's truck is on the verge of being replaced by an all new truck platform.Rewind back to 2014 the Ford F-150 was...
@ Vincent
I went back further to 2014 and 2013 and GM didn't win a single award here. So a new truck is no guarantee of success. In 2013, RAM got the top award and others, and the Ford Raptor got the off-road award even though Ford was getting ready to replace they still won something. GM with their all new trucks? Surprisingly or not, the new 2014 GM trucks did not win a single award here. Then in 2014, Ford got the top award again. 2015 was Nissan Titan XD and Toyota stole the mudize award from Colorado. 2016 was Super Duty. 2017 was F150. 2018? Maybe GM will finally win something but they will be going up against the new RAM, Ranger, disel F150 and whatever else. Like I said GM needs to rethink their truckline. The because if Texas hates GM trucks, there is something wrong.
http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2013/10/ram-1500-wins-2013-texas-truck-rodeos-top-award.html
I would be upset too if I were you, and your gms cant even reach the bar that is raised year after year. Posted by: Nitro | Oct 24, 2017
@Nitro
General Motors made another all time high in the markets today.
Ford? Still bumping along a dollar under their 52 week high.
How can the DJI Index be up seven thousand points this last year and Ford is actually off its 12 month high?
Sorry you have to defend a slumping industrial dinosaur. Hope you don't have any Ford shares dude!
@Nitro and Dave
Got stocks?
Ford stock is $12. per share. GM stock is almost $50. Any questions?
All the phony trophies Ford wins don't mean anything if the stock price is failing.
Seek help.
I live in Texas trust me no one cares about this award.
Ford Fail150
@papa,
I don't make up the awards, I was just referencing your comment. I could care less what the auto writers in Texas think. I have a 16' F-150 that thru 20,000 miles has exceeded my expectations. I'm happy with it no matter what Texas, you or johnny or GMS think. If it turns into a p.o.s. before my lease is up, I'll probably buy a Titan next. If it keeps performing flawlessly, I'll buy another. It's simple to me. I figure if I keep buying Ford's it may keep them in business past the 5 year mark that you say they won't make it to.....
Dave B - You're only looking at the Truck of Texas award. Nobody outside of Texas gives a dang about it, it's completely meaningless. Vincent is right though, the 2014 F-150 was an old turd of a truck, getting destroyed by the competition all year. The engines were plagued with problems (still are too), the brakes on the ecoboost trucks were failing without warning, the interior was trash, the front suspension was completely weakened and cheapened, the 4x4 system was cheap plastic vaccuum assisted junk, the paint was literally flaking and bubbling off the aluminum panels, etc.
The competition was getting big upgrades in 2014. The GM twins got a totally new line of engines and an updated interior, and Ram just got a new 8-speed transmission and a diesel option. They embarrassed Ford's F-150 (and did so again in 2015 and 2016). Even in 2016, the all-new Ford wonder truck got dominated by the older GM twins in the 2016 Texas Truck Showdown.
Hold on now. You can not care about the award, but that doesn't take away from what they said or explain why GM trucks cannot win a single award at this place. And I bet more people hear about the Truck of Texas than the Texas Showdown.
As for the Texas Showdown by Putc, it was a very good test. On fuel economy, Ford won. On towing, Ford beat the Chevy 5.3. And the 6.2 beat the 3.5 V6. But don't brag that the NEW big 6.2 engine with 8 speed barely beat he first gen 5 yr old V6 with 6 so if Ford. It wasn't all new vs all old like you claim. And only like 4% if buyers go for the 6.2 so what it does matters very little to most buyers. This is another area GM needs to rethink for its next truck.
Breaking News!
Ford just picked up another safety award.
Be sure to visit Putc tomorrow for all the details and all the whining and complaining.
@Dave, Nobody in or out of TX cares about this award! Ford trucks are made in Mexico from Chinese parts and are JUNK!!!! Truck of China is more like it!!!!
Man some idiots on this site - only shaky Govt motors continue to build trucks in MEXICO (RAM too).... stop w fake news wankers😆 & accept it FORD is truly the only leader....41 yrs & counting😊
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