If We Won the Lottery, here’s the Ford Truck We’d Buy…

Big Truck Capabilities

In addition to having far more torque than the Ranger (and likely the Bronco), the new F-150 with the Power Stroke engine is able to haul over 2,000 pounds in the bed or tow more than 11,000 pounds. We don’t have towing numbers for the Ranger or Bronco, but we can be sure that they will both tow far less than the half-ton truck while likely hauling less as well.

In addition to being able to haul and tow more weight, the F-150 Power Stroke comes with bigger bed options, so the bigger truck offers more cargo space than the smaller truck or the SUV.

Anyone who does much work with their Ford truck, whether it is towing or hauling, will get more functionality out of the F-150 than the other two, so for truck owners who spend lots of time working with their machines – the size and capabilities of the Power Stroke half-ton make a big difference.

Interior Space

The 2018 Ford F-150 with the Power Stroke diesel, the 2019 Ranger and the 2020 Bronco are all two-row vehicles. Of course, the Bronco has enclosed cargo space out back while the Ranger and F-150 both have open beds, but when it comes to interior space – the big truck leads the way once again.

F-150 Seats

The Ranger will likely be far tighter in the back seats than the larger F-150 SuperCrew while front seating space could be comparable, so the simple fact that the half-ton truck offers the bigger cab makes the difference for me.

2018 Ranger Back Seat

The Bronco could rival the F-150 in overall passenger space, but I loading dirty cargo into the back of the Bronco creates a cleaning headache, but we can easily hose out the bed of a truck.

Premium Amenities

While the 2019 Ranger and the 2020 Bronco are guaranteed to come in premium trim with all of the high-end gadgets that you would expect from the Motor Company, there is no vehicle in the Ford brand lineup that is nicer inside than the loaded F-150. Over the past few years, the company has put a tremendous amount of effort into developing new, luxury-level packages and the result is an interior layout that can rival the best from Europe.

2018 F-150 Diesel Interior

From the plush leather seats with heated and cooled surfaces to the latest infotainment package to a premium sound system, the F-150 is likely to offer more luxury than anything in the Ranger or Bronco lineup. If you have a million dollars to spend on a new vehicle, you definitely want the most premium interior features, especially when that loaded cabin can be paired with the powerful-and-efficient Power Stroke diesel engine.

At the end of the day, the 2018 Ford F-150 with the Power Stroke will do more than the upcoming Ranger or Bronco while being more expensive, but when money is no object, there is no question that we would pick a loaded, Power Stroke-equipped half-ton truck from the short list of the three upcoming Ford trucks.

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Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

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