Hi folks,

I am a truck virgin and am hoping that perhaps some of the more experienced owners can lend a hand.

The only Ford that I have ever owned was a Pinto, and found that to be an explosive experience. However when realizing that I wanted a truck, I knew it had to be a Ford.

So I started to look at the F150, and with the plethora of options available to me I am starting to feel quite overwhelmed.

My situation is simple really, I am a city boy moving to the country, but will still go to the city Tues-Thur to work. I think the XLT is the right one?

If I ever tow anything I can only imagine it being a small trailer to carry gravel or soil back to my house to do some yard work or possibly an ATV or Snowmobile (country life so why not get the toys).

So my question is sort of two questions.

1) what sort of tow package (if any do I need)
2) Is there a reason for me to need anything other than the 3.7L V6 or should I go to the Ecoboost 3.5L V6? Or would you suggest something different altogether?
3) I’m also guessing that since I will be towing so little and so infrequently, that the rear axel ratio of 3.15 will be just fine?

 

For your towing needs, a basic class 4 hitch should be great. Depending on your location, 4x4 would be great. I would get the ecoboost but the 3.7 should be fine for your needs. XLT is fine. For you, a more basic truck with the v6, either 3.7 or 3.5 should be fine. The basic gear ratios should be fine, but I would try to maximize fuel economy since you will be commuting. A regular cab, short bed XLT with the Ecoboost should be great for you. Have fun with process. You could always buy a used Ecoboost as well

 

Have you also thought about looking into the 5.0. Most xlts I have seen have the 5.0. Not saying that the v6s are bad at all, just also have a look at it too. I would say a single cab or ext cab would work great for you. Big enough to do work but yet still able to manage small city streets. Full mileage would be good with the gear you said or even a 3.55. With being in the country a look into have 4x4 wouldn't hurt either. I have a 2012 lariat 5.0 supercrew with 3.55 gear and i was getting around 18-19 highway mileage before I lifted it and added tires and all my other stuff. You should be able to pull over 21mpg with a single or extended cab 4x4. Best thing to do is get out and drive as many different configurations you can.

 

Ecoboost is not available in Regular Cab Short Bed. I bet you'd find a number of STX's with the 3.7 or 5.0 in Regular Cab. Regular Cab XLT's are pretty rare.

 

RedSmart, "XLT" isn't a different truck from the others, it's just an option level. All the various option levels of truck have the same bones. The amount of money you spend on features and bling-bling is up to you. Go to Ford website and build a truck so you can see all the various options. It is kind of self-explanatory.

The basic tow option will give you the hitch you need to pull a trailer. That's really all you need unless you have a large enough trailer that requires a brake controller. If that is the case then option up your truck with the brake controller.

When it comes to trucks, engines and four-wheel-drive are two huge factors for resale value. Buying the entry level engine (3.7L) and two-wheel-drive is a guaranteed recipe to make your truck worthless when you sell it. Get the V8 or the Ecoboost.

And this brings us to the question, where about are you going to live? Rural living in areas with snow means colder weather than in town, more wind, and snow drifts. You'll be driving 2-lane roads that aren't plowed or are difficult to pass. If snow is in your area, then you need to get serious about 4WD, tires with larger lugs for traction, and being able to go through snow drifts and being self-sufficient if you get stuck. Where I live, 6 inches of snow in town means 3 foot snow drifts on rural roads.

 

Thanks for your input everybody.

Yes 4x4 is something that I will be getting for sure, and likely a 6.5' box. I was thinking early on of getting an 8', but for the few times that I think I would actually need it doesn't make sense.

The truck will be used as my winter vehicle to get me back and forth to the city, and the rest of the seasons will just stay up north for dump runs, and other thing mentioned earlier.

I have a hard time not buying more than what I need, but I promised my wife that I would be good this time around.

I picked the V6 because I figured it would be better on fuel, but some of you are leaning towards the 5.0? Have you just suggested it for pulling power?

The F150 also has the option of the tailgate step, is that something worth getting or does it just say "I'm old and can't bend anymore"?

And if I may ask another question, bench seat or bucket seats?

I use to drive a 66 Chev Bel Air with real bench seating, but was wondering if these are more comfortable now days?

I'm hoping to make my deal by the end of the month, so I will be doing some test drives, but I thought I would ask the non paid pros questions first.

Thanks again for your help, I appreciate your time.

 

Seating is personal choice. Sit in a few different trucks and see what you like. It's just that simple.

Normally I like the center fold down seat that doubles up as an arm rest, but I didn't like it in the new F150. The storage compartment was tiny because a lot of space is taken up by seat belt retractor. The cup holder is right where my arm should be. And the height isn't level with the door arm rest. I like an open floor all the way across and didn't want the full center console (or pay the price for it) so I ordered my truck with the half-console. Arm rest are same height left and right, cup holders in good position, big storage bin, and I still have an open floor.

I have the tailgate step because newer trucks have such tall bed height. And the plastic ribs on the tailgate liner hurt my knees. If you plan to haul a lot of dirt, bark, rock in the bed then you might not get the tailgate step. The bar does not fit flush to the tailgate (it's raised) so a shovel will catch it and eventually ruin it. Debris will gather inside the pocket too. I haul material so rarely that I'm willing to find work-arounds at the time (large sheet of cardboard, heavy tarp, etc...)

 

The ecoboost and the 5.0 pull loads well. Ecoboost is rated to tow more but I think the 5.0 will get better mileage while towing. I pulled a car hauler with a 98 mustang on a 250 mile trip soon after I got my truck and averaged a little over 16mpg. That was on flat highway in 100 degree texas heat.

The tailgate step is great. I actually wished I had it and I'm only 26. Makes it so much easier to get in and out of the truck bed. My dads 09 platinum had it and his f350 has it now. It's a really nice feature.

Bench or bucket seats, both are comfy. I have captains chairs with full center console and my brother has the 40/20/40 split with fold up center console on his xlt. Mine is leather, his are cloth. Both are soft and nice for long rides but I prefer my chairs.

 

So complicated..... I always associate the XLT trim as having tilt, power windows and locks. Guess that's way old fashioned now. I don't even think you can get an F150 with crank windows anymore. When my 90 was made you only had 3 trim levels. Now there's like 8. Glad you guys know what you're talking about

 

I get the idea you don't care about power or speed, but most truck owners do and that's where resale value comes in to play. The 3.7L will get you down the road fine but in general, whether it's a truck or SUV, small engines in large vehicles end up working so hard that it doesn't get any better mileage than the bigger engine. You might as well enjoy the extra power of the V8 or Ecoboost, and better resale value. The only reason the Ecoboost gets away with being small is because of turbocharging.

 

I'll throw this out for some thought.

The base engine in a 4x4 XLT is the 5.0L. Now one must decide if chrome is important. If not, an STX truck equipped like an XLT with the 3.7L is perfect for part time light duty use.

The 3.7L is a beast for sure and has had probably the least number of documented issues and delivers the highest MPG's even while running a 3.73 axle set.

The ecoboost and 6.2L engines are overkill. The 5.0L would be the next best optional engine here.

The OP sounds like a reasonable person who only wants what he needs. Ford and the rest of the auto industry has groomed us to buy a vehicle with future resale in mind. While that's not necessarily bad, we don't all need Platinum or King Ranch trucks.

Follow your heart and get what you need.

 

don't underestimate country life.

when we moved out here 8 years ago, i had a ford escort and a 95' t-bird. she had her cavalier and the Super Duty for pulling the horse trailer.

now we have 3 pickups, one SUV and a AWD Subaru, 4 trailers, a boat, camper, three dogs and fifteen horses. as you said, if one lives in the country, you might as well have the toys.

all of that to say ... don't limit yourself too much on a truck. the 3.7 is the little engine that could, for sure, but depending on what you end up doing later on, it might be at it's limits. A 4x4 Scab w/3.7 has a tow rating of about 5600lbs. which is plenty, but it is only two big round bales sitting on a car trailer .. and you're maxed out on the truck before you're maxed out on the trailer ... which means more trips.... or a smaller boat or camper ...

a 4x4 w/5.0 & 3.55 gears will have a tow rating of about 7700lbs and still get you about 18mpg or better on the highway. the 3.7 does a little better on fuel (some have reported 23 with a regular cab short-box) but there is a trade off to be made.

but, you really can't go wrong either way, to be honest.

just some thoughts from a fellow country-guy.