Why must we ALWAYS trail in HP!

[fonefiddy]

Originally Posted by SMIGGS

I most cases the rise in your operational costs (fuel) will get passed on to the consumer correct? Some business are always going to need trucks.

In most cases the operational costs are built into a bid.
Usually, the lower the bid, the better chance of getting the job.

So, The lower the operating costs=the lower the bid= the better chance of getting the job=more money in mine, and my employee's pockets= more money out there in the US economy.

Multiply that by millions of US contractors= billions of dollars into the economy

[SMIGGS]

Originally Posted by 150ford

Well if your in agriculture like me farmers cant pass the cost to the consumer. They take what the market gives them. Trouble is consumer spending is way down. Mainly due to fuel prices. Manufacturing is down as well. All in all the fuel is the biggest inflation factor we have right now. It drives the whole economy. Maybe we will have solar trucks some day or hydrogen powered vehicles. Who noes it could happen.

Good point.

I would imagine in your case, a 1/2 with a diesel would be your choice?

[150ford]

Well I just got my last truck paid for an now Il just sit back an relax. Not looking for any truck for awhile an mean while fuel keeps going up.

[FTE Ken]

Originally Posted by builtfordtough13

One big reason I want Ford to have competitive power is because my dad works at a Ford dealer and he's said that the F-150 sales have really went down, and he thinks its because the F-150 isn't competive power wise. We all know hp sells. But I still think it would be nice to have a truck that has 350 hp and over 400 ft lbs of torque.

All truck sales for the year are down, not just Ford. (Can't really throw Toyota in with those numbers because its an all new entry into the market). Gas prices have more to do with it than anything else. Look at car sales, especially cars with good mileage... they are up.

[FTE Ken]

Originally Posted by fonefiddy

Lets go one step further

Joe consumer is standing on the lot looking at 3 F150's

One has a 270 HP engine, gets 21/25 MPG
One has a 400 HP engine, gets 12/16 MPG, the price tag reads +$800 for the engine
One has a 260 HP diesel engine, gets 25/29 MPG, the price tag reads +$1800 for the engine.

What is Joe consumer going to do?

I guarantee you the price tag for a diesel is going to be a lot more then $1800. The Powerstroke is around $7000.

When it comes to engines, there is no "Joe consumer". Some want power, some economy, some towing torque. You can't lump in everyone with people who buy old penny pinching 300s for fuel economy. If that were the case... Ford would be coming out with an all V6 line-up instead of an all V8 line-up.

[MisterCMK]

Funny, seems to me that the F-150 still sold like hot cakes even though it didn't make the most horsepower. Hmm...

[MisterCMK]

BTW, the old 2v 5.4 that only made 245hp @ 4500rpm and 345lb-ft @ 2300rpm was plenty enough for me to pull my explorer on a trailer behind the Expedition.

[Ryan50hrl]

I really don't understand the HP bandwagon......the same people that hauled the same trailers with the 95 and 2000 pickup trucks now suddenly need twice as much power. Did you all go out and buy new, twice as heavy trailers? Or is it really just a bandwagon. Seems to me if you needed all 400 hp to tow something, you really should have a 3/4 ton with LT tires, heavier axles, ect.

[Power Kid]

Originally Posted by MisterCMK

BTW, the old 2v 5.4 that only made 245hp @ 4500rpm and 345lb-ft @ 2300rpm was plenty enough for me to pull my explorer on a trailer behind the Expedition.

First 5.4L made 235 Hp, then 99 model bumped to 260....

[Power Kid]

Originally Posted by Ryan50hrl

I really don't understand the HP bandwagon......the same people that hauled the same trailers with the 95 and 2000 pickup trucks now suddenly need twice as much power. Did you all go out and buy new, twice as heavy trailers? Or is it really just a bandwagon. Seems to me if you needed all 400 hp to tow something, you really should have a 3/4 ton with LT tires, heavier axles, ect.

Some of us use our trucks as daily drivers and as our tow vehicle so to go to a F250 is not an option as I want to be able to park in parking garages and to be able to turn into parking spots (never mind fit in my garage). The other issue is price!

My buddy bought a 07 Sierra w/vortec Max pkg and he pulls a 9800lb(dry) 5th wheel and he loves it, pulls easy. He almost bought a 2500 Duramax but cash vs. cash it was $15,000 more. Now after one season under his belt, he's so glad he got the 1500. Plus he can park his Sierra so many more places...

[sglaine]

Originally Posted by FTE Ken

Motor Trend has proven to be wrong many times.

Your correct there Ken and I have found them to be bias at times..

[aspade]

Truck sales in 2006 / 2007

              2004        2005        2006        2007        07 v 06    07 v 05    07 v 04
Silverado     680,768     705,980     636,069     618,257     -  2.8%    - 12.4%    -  9.2%
Ram           426,289     400,543     364,177     358,295     -  1.6%    - 10.5%    - 16.0%
F-series      939,511     901,463     796,039     690,589     - 13.2%    - 23.4%    - 26.5%
Sierra        213,756     229,488     210,736     208,243     -  1.2%    -  9.3%    -  2.6%
Titan          83,848      86,945      72,192      65,746     -  8.9%    - 24.4%    - 21.6%
Tundra        112,484     126,529     124,508     196,555     + 57.8%    + 55.3%    + 74.7%

Total       2,456,656   2,450,948   2,203,721   2,137,685     -  3.0%    - 12.8%    - 13.0%

Gas prices aren't being kind to the full size truck market. But Ford is having the worst time of it. Even worse than Dodge and Nissan, surprisingly.

[fonefiddy]

You guys are crazy pulling a 10K Trailer with a 1/2 ton!

I don't care what they rate the new Trucks at.
If your going to be doing serious towing, you need a heavier truck!
I see these guys all over the place, towing construction equipment with their 1/2 tons. Thinking they have the bull by the ba!!'s. UNTILL they need to stop, or manuver very quickly. Then they've got dirty shorts, or worse, are riding in a ambulance.

Is downright dangerous to them, and every other person on the road.

[SMIGGS]

Originally Posted by Ryan50hrl

I really don't understand the HP bandwagon......the same people that hauled the same trailers with the 95 and 2000 pickup trucks now suddenly need twice as much power. Did you all go out and buy new, twice as heavy trailers? Or is it really just a bandwagon. Seems to me if you needed all 400 hp to tow something, you really should have a 3/4 ton with LT tires, heavier axles, ect.

So if Ford anounced that the 5.4L in the 09 was bumped up to 400 hp with tq #'s to match, you would be in the " Why do we need that much hp? The current 5.4L is adequate enough".

[FTE Ken]

Originally Posted by fonefiddy

You guys are crazy pulling a 10K Trailer with a 1/2 ton!

I don't care what they rate the new Trucks at.
If your going to be doing serious towing, you need a heavier truck!
I see these guys all over the place, towing construction equipment with their 1/2 tons. Thinking they have the bull by the ba!!'s. UNTILL they need to stop, or manuver very quickly. Then they've got dirty shorts, or worse, are riding in a ambulance.

Is downright dangerous to them, and every other person on the road.

With the new anti-yaw technology and integrated brake controller... that has changed. It'll likely handle it just fine -- better than a 10 year old F250 would.