I think yall are on the right track with the basic utilitarian concept. A light duty full size pickup low to the ground 6' box good old fashoned efi pushrod 300 or 4b cummins (if only dodge didnt hold the contract with cummins) or more practicaly the little v6 diesel they are talking about puting in the 2010 f150. 6 speed manual being an option cloth seats vinal floor. Basicly a truck with the same work capacity as the ranger in a full size pickup. I owned one ranger recently and sold it a week later because I decided I didnt want to own a pickup that I could reach over and roll down the passenger window without leaning over. That experiance tainted my views on the compact pickup. So something with that kind of effecincy without dealing with the midget cab would be great.

 

Definitely a 4BT Cummins tuned for 150-160 HP/300-320 ft.lbs. Also a small bore/long stroke inline six gas engine in the same power range. Oh, and how about an engine compartment with enough room that if you need to change the engine you DON'T HAVE TO PULL OFF THE DAMN CAB!! Of course, you might never need to pull an engine with either of those two engines listed above. How about a good solid manual 5 or 6 speed and a bulletproof and reliable 4 speed automatic? Maybe a solid front axle with manual hubs on 4x4 models? 15 inch wheels with load range C tires, LT235-75-R15 for 2wd and 31x10.5-R15 for 4x4s. Plenty of capacity for a half ton without the expense of load range D or E tires that have more capacity than the truck. Oh, and no option for heated seats, dual zone climate control, leather, DVD players, etc. Keep it utilitarian, baby! Offer some factory installed work options too. Dodge had a good idea with it's "cabinet truck" bed that looks like a regular pickup bed. Ford should steal that idea for all it's trucks, not just the F-100. How about an optional bed mounted lifting crane? Or an option for factory applied spray on bedliners? Build it so Consumer Reports only likes it's utility and durability, Motor Trend hates it, and 4 Wheel and Off road loves it, and it will be a success.

 

doesnt ford own the rights to cummins.....i believe they do

 

What ford are you referring to?... I hope no the 97-03, because that rumor is complete bull****. It comes out easily, with out a single issue. (I know personally ) If your not referring to this case then im sorry, but i dont know what you are talking about.

 

I am referring to the current generation of F-150s (the ones with snap off spark plugs). I have a 2002 F-150 in my shop that needed some engine work and although it wasn't as easy as my 1996 F-150, it wasn't too hard to do (needed to pull the cylinder heads due to sticky valve guides). The 97-03 trucks are OK. My only beef with them is that they replaced my beloved 1996 and earlier boxy F-150s.

 

Cummins supplies engines to GM and ford for medium and heavy GVW applications, so I can't see why it would be a problem. Dodge currently has a contract with Cummins for engines in their trucks, but I can't see any reason why Cummins couldn't provide engines to Ford for pickups, unless the Dodge/Cummins contract specifically forbids it.

 

Ooh! Ooh! I know what else I want! Vent Windows!

 

I know what I would like to see!
73-79 Styling!

 

Some one gave me a 2002 F250 5.4 "work" truck, normally maintained in a very dusty environment, 122,000 miles and all it need was plugs! Costing me $0.20 a mile over here on the West Coast of Island. Good Engine. Yeah? The plugs came out easily, if I could reach 'em.

 

hmmm inline six needs to come back, go to something closer to the late 70s styling. 302 and 351 windsor engines available as well. with todays technology it cant be that hard to get decent mpgs out of those engines.

 

Agreed!
73-79 Styling all the way!

 

Im with this guy, with lockers, like a jeep rubicon.

 

a cummins would be great in a ford

 

Much agreed.

 

I respectfully disagree. Went windows are just an easy way to break into a vehicle...