I would like to see the F150 redesigned with some of the Raptor styling.

Someone mentioned the grab handle for the driver side. I just traded in my 02 F150 FX4 for a 11 F150 FX4 and really miss the handle.

 

I wouldn't necessarily say quite that small but similar in nature.

WOW! I was really expecting to get hammered for my post! C'mon guys, keep this great thread rolling with more awesome ideas.

 

A small unibody truck is certainly an interesting idea. I can't help but thinking that the industry is going that direction. It seems like every truck has to have comfortable seating for the whole family, and all the SUVs are going unibody. With all the CUVs coming out, I don't think it's a unibody truck is impossible, or even a bad idea.

...As long as it stays R/A/4WD.

 

I am one of the purist I am afraid. I really don't like the idea of a watered down Unibody Front wheeler F-150. Hopefully IMO it will never come to that. After I get my 2011 FX4 I'll hang on to that for 15 or 20 years before I'll be in the market for a new truck again. If at that time, that is what the F-150 has become, I'll most likely start looking into the Base Model Superduty lineup.

But alas...The only one's who know what the future holds for the F-150 are those who are designing them now.

However to be all honest I don't know how well a true Unibody Front Wheel Drive F-150 would fly with the Ford Truck Community. For example, I came across this thread on another site a few months ago. Someone on it suggjested that the F-150 should go Unibody like the Honda Ridgeline and the memebers of that site crucified him.

(Here's the thread)
Should the F-150 go unibody? - F150online Forums

 

The unibody discussion is an interesting one that can be argued for years. Literally. There are some good unibody construction vehicles out there i.e. XJ and ZJ Jeeps have been unibody for years. They're still pretty good off the pavement, even in stock setup. IIRC isn't the HUMVEE (original Hummer, military spec) unibody too? Sure there are plenty of unibody designs that are horrible, but simply because something is unibody does not automatically rule it incapable.
So it's definitely possible to make a strong unibody chassis, but is it worth it to Ford? Time will tell. Ford ultimately has to play its cards in favor of the masses, and not the 1%ers (like many of us here). The SD trucks are there for a reason, and if you need big hauling capacity, you'll ultimately end up there without even thinking half-ton. BUT for the 90% of the half-ton market that spend most of the week commuting in their trucks, grabbing a load of mulch and some household items on the weekends, and needs something with some size that can haul the family and gear, then yes I think a lighter, slightly slimmer, more efficient unibody truck is a good idea.

I for one would love to see the trucks go on a diet, but I understand why they are heavier. I'll gladly sacrifice a little efficiency if my occupant's safety is at its highest.

 

Next Generation F-150. What would I like to see?, my new 2011 F150 Lariat 6.2L be delivered some time next week as they are telling me....for crying out loud, THE WAITING IS KILLING ME!!!!

uhmmm, sorry about that, I'm just a little excited as you could see. Thanks for understanding.


I do wish FoMoCo would try to cater to their customers a little more and offer any engine options, packages, etc across all the lines so that everyone could benefit regardless of budget and build their own custom dream. The F150 has been the best selling vehicle for how long now? Ford really should give a little back now for the loyalty the customers have shown over time and offer better choices for everyone.

 

I didn't mean to steer us top far of course but a front drive F-150 isn't too far beyond the realm of possibility.

I also like Dodge's bed compartments, likewise Nissan did a nice lower storage on the Titan.

I think an optional onboard air compressor would be cool too.

 

I hope that Ford doesn't go that far off in left field Tim. The front wheel drive, that is.

I think they risk alienating a lot of truck customers if they make a unibody truck with front wheel drive and hang an F-150 badge on it. Now coming out with a Ranger replacement like that wouldn't be as bad.

Truck buyers are fiercely loyal and dropping a bomb like that on loyal Ford customers could potentially drive away more sales than it ever gains them.

 

Oh yeah, I mean I actually took an old Jeep Comanche Pickup up threw some mountains in New Mexico last July and it was very capable offroad despite being a unibody design. And beleive me, the whole point of the trip was for offroad recreation so I was looking for the hardest possible route to take. Keep in mind the particular rig I took was slightly modified with a lift and larger tires. But other than that it was all stock. It went threw every mud hole, riverbed and hillside (Except for one) without much complaint.

I think I would feel more comfortable with a Unibody setup if it was done in this manner and not like a (Ridgeline). If they kept the F-150 a RWD/4WD setup with a very Jeep like Unibody setup it may not be such a hard thing to swallow, but if it were done the wrong way, ''And in my book the right way and the wrong way are on a very fine line'' then I would be looking at a baseline Superduty instead.

But as you already stated. Only time will tell what changes will actually be made and what is just speculation.

 

Ah I remember now... A dead pedal would be great! Find a way to make it work with the parking brake.

 

the only real thing that bothers me with unibodys is how much less damage it takes to total one out compared to a body on frame car/truck. also when they are repaired they dont allways come out so great.

i just like my separate frame and body.

 

This is kinda how I see it to. A few years ago I got into an accident (I was with a friend in her car which happened to be a Unibody design) We crashed into an old buick who cut ran a red light. Needless to say the driver of the buick was able to remove his fender and drive the car home. My friends car however was so contorted that it couldn't even move under its own power. Even after her car was repaird it still never was quite right. It always had tracking issues after that and countless squeaks and rattles arose that never went away.

 

IMO Ford will never go to a Unibody F150.

The 150 does need a serious diet though. The main problem is that the market has steered them from a work vehicle, to a people hauler.

 

UNIBODY. WOW I guess you'd better get use to keeping your windows down when you haul something. Can remember when ford did that back in the 60's. what a disaster. You would put a load in the bed and then you couldn't open the doors. Whats next, coil springs on the rear like FIAT oops, I mean Dodge

 

I'm no real fan of a unibody truck either but the argument that it won't hold up in a collision is just wrong. How many decades have we had unibody cars on the road?

And then to compare modern unibodies with those from the 60's would suggest that we haven't evolved as car builders.

You guys mark my words. Honda kicked that door wide open with the Ridgeline.