'09 F150 ground clearance

[jtnc]

Can anyone explain the ground clearance numbers in the '09 F150 sales book? About all I can guess is that the low point on the truck is generally something on the body/frame rather than the differentials. For example, let's look at the following configs (all 5.4l, 4x4): Super cab, 4x4, 5.5ft bed: clearance: 9.8" GVWR: 6950 payload: 1480 Super cab, 4x4, 6.5ft bed: clearance: 8.7" GVWR: 7200 payload: 1680 Crew cab, 4x4, 5.5ft bed: clearance: 9.0" GVWR: 7200 payload: 1560 Crew cab, 4x4, 6.5ft bed: clearance: 9.9" GVWR: 7200 payload: 1500 Naively I would have expected the Supercab+6.5ft bed and the Crewcab+5.5ft bed to have the same clearance since they are on what I assume is the same frame (same overall length). Also note that I have no clue what configs these are other than Ford quotes 4x4 for these rather than 4x2. I would assume you'd keep wheels, and options the same across the entire table but then again I'm not in marketing... So to determine vehicle weight (unloaded - which is what I'm assuming the clearance #s are measured at), I take GVWR-payload. So... SuperCab 5.5ft: 5470 SuperCab 6.5ft: 5520 SuperCrew 5.5f: 5640 SuperCrew 6.5f: 5700 So if we look at SuperCab 5.5 vs 6.5ft beds, that's a ~50lb difference, yet a 1.1" difference in clearance. Yet the Crew Cab 5.5 vs 6.5ft is a 60lb difference with a 9" difference in clearance. Yet the SuperCab 6.5 vs Crew Cab 5.5, which are the same length and have a 120lb difference, has a 0.3" difference.... Seems very odd. No one I've talked with at Ford dealerships have had a clue. I'm thinking that the table data is not comparing apples to apples on configs. Any thoughts? This has been one of my annoyances with Ford (I know, stupid on my part). I'm debating on the 5.5 or 6.5' super cab FX4. The 5.5 is nice for the garage and probably easier offroading, but the 6.5ft bed is nicer for carying bikes & kayaks. Thoughts? Thanks john

[Ryan50hrl]

Well i think you hit it on the head... a 5.5 is nicer looking and better off road...but a 6.5 is more useable.....

If ground clearance is really important to you, you could get a leveling kit which would give you about 2 inches of lift in the front, increasing your ground clearance...

[jjf100]

Coming from someone who has a 5.5ft bed... Get the 6.5ft!! Almost every time I try to haul anything it is always just big enough that I have to leave the tailgate down, or try to figure out a way to twist things like a puzzle. Many times I have wished I had that extra 1'.

[Ryan50hrl]

I on the other hand say buy the 5.5 bed...it looks way better (in my opinion) .....although my parents still hate me for telling them the 5.5 foot bed would be big enough on theirs....now they're gunna buy a new one.....

[jtnc]

Ground clearance wise I waffle on. I don't do a lot of
hard core 4x4, but do some. 95% of the time, the ground
clearance of any of them is fine, but that occasional time
I worry about with having such a long wheelbase/vehicle
length and going off road. Most of my 4wheeling has been
in a 95 Bronco (on it's last legs at 282K miles). While I've had
longer vehicles than the Bronco (Avalanche and currently
Ram2500) I haven't done much 4x4 with them.

I haven't actually seen a 5.5ft supercab next to a 6.5ft
supercab. I'd been hoping to see one to see how they
look. At this point it's mainly been visualizing it in my
head.

And yeah, I've had 2 friends say if I plan on hauling with
regularity go for the 6.5ft bed.... I'd settle for a 6' bed and
have the truck shorter by 9".. Or heck get rid of some of that
spare space in front of the radiator and reduce the overall
length.

Current feeling is the 5.5ft bed, but may change that tomorrow.

Did either of you know what the low point is on these trucks?
The diffs or a crossmember on the frame?

John

[tseekins]

Your true ground clearance is limited by your axles. My '88 has never been lifted but I run 31 x 10.50 tires on it and have never high centered or otherwise been stuck in a rut. Drive smart and you'll be fine or buy a Superduty.

Tim

[Ryan50hrl]

They're both going to be very close, more than likely your worst point will be high centering on the frame.....thats the only way i've ever been stuck.....

[jtnc]

Originally Posted by tseekins

Your true ground clearance is limited by your axles. My '88 has never been lifted but I run 31 x 10.50 tires on it and have never high centered or otherwise been stuck in a rut. Drive smart and you'll be fine or buy a Superduty.

Tim

That had been my experience in the past, and was why
I was rather confused with Ford's chart for ground clearance.
Prior to the '09 the SD was the only option I could fit in. I lean
towards the F150 for what I assume is better MPG since I'll
never tow anything.

John