If Ford wants to stay in the game.....

[Ford Fx4]

Originally Posted by F350Cowboy

Lets talk facts.

Now the facts as I see them. I would bet that 75-90% of the people that own a 1/2 crew cab short box truck don't even use this vehicle as a "truck". Its their family "car". I see moms driving kids to dance lessons and soccor practice all time.

In fact just the other day I saw a lady in her 60-70's leaving the grocery store drivng a 05 or newer F350 6.0 DRW. So does that make the F-350 not a truck?.....I dont think so....neither does a mom driving a F-150 make it not a truck. Just because you see someone driving a truck not towing or hauling something does not mean that they don't. (she did come out with a lot of grocerys though I guess she needed the 5000 pound payload)

Originally Posted by F350Cowboy

Come on, if you really need a "truck" to haul or tow something, get a 3/4 or 1 ton truck. That is what a 3/4 or 1 ton truck is designed for.

I disagree, So you are saying that the F-150 is not a "truck"? A F-150
Properly optioned can tow up to *11,000 pounds, and over a 2500 pound payload, that is more then enough to call it a "truck".


I have hauled plenty of things with my truck including a bobcat and trailer that came in at a little over 8,200 pounds, truck did great.

Originally Posted by F350Cowboy

putting more then about 500 lbs in the back made the damn thing squat.

On the 04 and up f-150's they got 3in wide leaf springs just like the super duties, granted there are not 6 of them but 4 and with about 750-850 pounds of tongue weight my truck only squats about 2in and it is still back end high.

Originally Posted by F350Cowboy

The fact is, that truck and any other 1/2 ton is not designed for hauling serious loads or pulling heavy trailers and I would bet if you asked the designers and engineers at Ford they would probalby tell you that the truth is, they design the 150s with soft riding suspension, leather seats, and all the bells and wistles because people are using them primarly as a car and not truck.

The facts hun?

You say "the fact is" then say"Ford would probaby tell you that the truth is"

The facts and probaby are two very different things, the only thing I see in F-150 commercials are that they are for towing and hauling.

Also last time I checked you can also get a F350 in a Lariet with leather seats, nav, and all the bells and whistles, this has nothing to do with making it a truck or not, it's called comfort.

I believe that you need to find the facts before you come and start making "bets" and stating "Lets talk facts" and not to mention one fact but only your opinions.

[David85]

I think the problem some people have with the new F150s is that they are basically a 3/4 ton truck. All of the so called "fullsize" trucks are getting bigger, and heavier with more and more capability but where does it end? How much is enough?

Currently the design philosophy seems to be that bigger is better. It has gone to the extent that trucks like the ford ranger are neglected and allowed to fall behind in technology. Do you think its an accident that the ford ranger and the F150s are only a few MPG apart? Think about it.

[fonefiddy]

The "FACT IS" the big three are doing the whole country an injustice by getting into these HP/Mine is bigger, badder than yours war.
They all offer three weight classes of trucks. Making the 1/2 ton trucks into 3/4 tons makes them weigh more, and get worse fuel mileage. Start selling them to 40% of the public, and fuel consumption increases. Driving prices up.

I'll say it again, if Ford put the F150 on a 1500lb diet, and got the fuel mileage up to 25 MPG. Peeps would be lined up around the block, trading in their trucks for a new F150.

If you truly need a truck to tow 8K plus, you should be in a F250 anyways!

I'd almost bet that 90% of F150 owners never even come close to the CGVW.

[mnmwhit]

Yea, BUT.....If Ford made the F-150 to get 25-28 mpg and still made it to tow 10,000lbs......even if the towing fuel mileage wasn't great I would buy it to pull my camper. I only tow the camper in the summer.

[bookem15]

Originally Posted by fonefiddy

The "FACT IS" the big three are doing the whole country an injustice by getting into these HP/Mine is bigger, badder than yours war.
They all offer three weight classes of trucks. Making the 1/2 ton trucks into 3/4 tons makes them weigh more, and get worse fuel mileage. Start selling them to 40% of the public, and fuel consumption increases. Driving prices up.

I'll say it again, if Ford put the F150 on a 1500lb diet, and got the fuel mileage up to 25 MPG. Peeps would be lined up around the block, trading in their trucks for a new F150.

If you truly need a truck to tow 8K plus, you should be in a F250 anyways!

I'd almost bet that 90% of F150 owners never even come close to the CGVW.

Well said!! I agree 110%

[irishammer]

I agree to an extent....the people that buy a new vehicle every few years are typically the ones that want the latest and greatest, ie. most HP, quickest etc. etc. Since they are spending more money than those of us that can't afford to buy that often who would you listen to when designing a new truck? If Ford doesn't give them the "specs" they want(necessary or otherwise) they will buy from someone else....It is all about market share like it or not. Just my .02

[excaliber551]

Better yet, Why don't they let them build a gas engine that gets over 30 MPG? Screw the diesel. I'd rather has a gasser that gets 30 MPG.

[David85]

Originally Posted by excaliber551

Better yet, Why don't they let them build a gas engine that gets over 30 MPG? Screw the diesel. I'd rather has a gasser that gets 30 MPG.

Gassers are by nature less efficient than diesels so it is going to be harder to get that result without significant compromises. But with the EPA hunting down diesels in every reach of their jurisdiction, there isn't much advantage that diesels still have anyway.

[BURNSTOUGHFORD]

the only way you will ever see 25/30 mpg out of a pickup is with hybrid asist.... just aint going to happen....

I think everyone who really has a problem with 18mpg out of a fully loaded 4wd pickup needs to buy a little hybrid car...

with a good gas millage truck your going to end up loosing your ability to tow by putting in taller gears for the better millage.

trucks are meant for towing and hauling, and for the people that choose to use them for everything else thats fine, i do, but stop complaining about the millage,

the reason for the hp war is because thats whats selling, and thats what the big three need to do right now, build to what a majority of the people want to buy.... which is obviously hp in the pickups...

just my opinion

[David85]

Some food for thought............

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/findacar.htm This is the MPG for the 1992 ford F150 (19 MPG highway revised to 17).



http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/findacar.htm This is the MPG for the 1986 ford F150 (25 MPG highway revised to 23)












Why is the older truck more efficient than the 1992? and why is it that even after revisions to the MPG testing standards that a 1986 ford F150 can get 23MPG in CARBURETOR fueled engine?

[BURNSTOUGHFORD]

well mpg is based on weight and gearing mostly, and when coupled with a smaller dispacement engine you can achieve higher milage.

[19FORD93]

With gas prices going the way they are, i find it hard to believe that the majority of people want to see high horsepower numbers. I think everyone would much rather have a truck that has enough power to get the job done and not drain your bank account.

[excaliber551]

Originally Posted by BURNSTOUGHFORD

I think everyone who really has a problem with 18mpg out of a fully loaded 4wd pickup needs to buy a little hybrid car...


just my opinion

The problem is no trucks average 18MPG. Some don't even get that on the freeway.

Now if it could average 18MPG that would be totally different.

[BURNSTOUGHFORD]

so buy the 4.6l f-150 then and order 3:08 gears in it?

it depends on what you mean by get the job done, some guys need 3:73 and extra power for the interstate... ford makes trucks with higher gears and smaller engines...

[YoGeorge]

Originally Posted by fonefiddy

The "FACT IS" the big three are doing the whole country an injustice by getting into these HP/Mine is bigger, badder than yours war.
They all offer three weight classes of trucks. Making the 1/2 ton trucks into 3/4 tons makes them weigh more, and get worse fuel mileage. Start selling them to 40% of the public, and fuel consumption increases. Driving prices up.

I'll say it again, if Ford put the F150 on a 1500lb diet, and got the fuel mileage up to 25 MPG. Peeps would be lined up around the block, trading in their trucks for a new F150.

If you truly need a truck to tow 8K plus, you should be in a F250 anyways!

I'd almost bet that 90% of F150 owners never even come close to the CGVW.

...which was originally a "midsize" pickup with a 2.5 liter four cylinder engine or a 3.9 liter V6....and I actually liked that truck. Now it's a Durango-based V8 gas hog that is slightly smaller than a Dodge Ram. Not sure how the current Rangers compare to the original Dakota, but they may be close.

Give me rubber mats, a low bed height, and a decent compromise size, and I'd be more likely to buy a pickup.

Even the 1980 F150 was a "downsize" from the prior 1973-79 versions, a bit narrower and more aero, don't remember if it was really lighter, but they were actually trying to get better gas mileage in those days.

George