Why limited to 100 mph?
 

I understand and am OK with the F-150 EB being electronically limited to 100 mph. But, beyond the safety aspects, WHY has Ford done this? There must be other reasons as this truck with other engines is not limited. I've never had a vehicle with a speed limiter and I'm dying to know why. 100 mph is plenty fast but I want the REAL reasons. Heat buildup? What? What!?

1. Tire rating (even if the tire is rated to 120 mph, the tire companies all state this is not for sustained operation)

so the cops can catch you :) I'm kidding, the above post sounds quite reasonable.

Safety is reason enough.

Duh--- 85E150???
 

Since I asked the question and referred to the safety aspect, safety is obviously not reason enough for me. If you don't have an answer why post?

Usually the rating is due to tires and/or drivetrain vibration.

They don't typically leave much of a margin for error either, as an increase in speed creates an exponential increase in drivetrain stress. It's easily possible to see catastrophic failure at only 15% above the rated speed limit.


If you want to go fast I would stick to something other than a 3+ ton truck with a high center of gravity, a large frontal area, and a leaf sprung solid rear axle. It's great for towing loads, but terrible for high speed driving.

If anything, even 100mph is likely too much, as braking distances and the ability to perform emergency maneuvers is severely diminished.

The tire can and will fail depending on road conditions, duration and temps............

Beats me why I try to reinforce the safety aspect to someone who does not understand it.

I'm saying this with my moderators hat off for a few minutes..............

IQ= Ice cube +2

Some people fail to understand that even if they do something (such as drive 100mph+ on an abandon road) and they kill only themselves......someone has to "Clean up their mess"...and we all pay for that....for the public safety organizations to "mitigate" their mess!

To put it another way, safety is the first question. If the answer is to limit speed to 100, or 98 or 65, then the other questions don't get an answer, as there is no point. I'm sure these engines will run along all day over 100 mph, and that other than the tires, the other hardware is up to the task. But it's not safe to do so, so a "reasonable compromise" limit is programmed in. Our company bought several Econolines and one of the lines on the window sticker was the optional "65 MPH max speed" item.

I wouldn't be surprised if it was legal issue that forced Ford to limit the vehicle to 100mph. You may not like that answer, but it is a factor. If you want a race truck, take all the pretty stuff off, lower it, and rebuilt it with racing parts, then show it to us here as we would love to see it.

They have used limiters clear back in the 90s on the F150s. A friend of mine bought a new 95 F150 & 90 MPH was it. As for my 95 F150 I have never found a need to find out where mine quits.
Maybe there is no reason. If you ask why to everything you don't know you'll be asking why alot.

I don't know why either. I'm surprised that it is that high.
What's next? Will the speed will be limited to 65 mph when a trailer is connected and detected by the computer?

As mentioned before tires are one reason. The other reason is the drive shafts are the next weakest link. On most F series trucks they are rated to 98 mph. And that is what the truck is limited to. Until this thread I have only known the lighting and the Harley trucks to be excluded from such a low speed limiter. And if I recall correctly those trucks are limited to 110 or 115. But I may be wrong it may be higher than that. And that is because those trucks have a different unique to those model trucks.

Tires are the primary reason, but as hinted by others -
any number of drive train components could let go at speed ...

I sold my last motorcycle when the thoughts of "Did I properly adjust the spokes?" started worrying me :)

IIRC the Bugatti veyron's tires will last about 2500 miles and cost upwards of $30k to replace - then if you talk @ top speed - they may last 100 miles :)