10 Things Every New Ford Truck Owner Should Do IMMEDIATELY!
As soon as you get your new Ford truck, do these 10 things to get the most out of your new (or new-to-you) ride and keep it happy for many years to come.
Welcome to the Ford Family!
Woo hoo! You just got yourself your first new Ford truck. (Or new-to-you Ford truck.) Congratulations! Pretty soon, you'll be hearing from friends and relatives you never knew you had, asking if they can borrow it. That’s OK, it's all part of the new truck experience.
What else should be part of the experience is getting to know your truck a bit better. There are some things that you are going to want to do right away in order to keep your truck looking and performing its best for years to come.
We think that joining the Ford Truck Enthusiasts forum is one of the first things you should do, but since you are reading this, you already know that. But beyond that, what else should a brand-new Ford truck owner do? Well, here's a helpful guide of 10 things every new Ford truck owner should do...
1. Confirm Actual Towing Capacity
You've been seeing all the Ford commercials and see that Ford trucks can tow up to 40,000 pounds. And while that is true, you gotta read the fine print, which will say “when properly equipped.” Not every truck can tow 40,000 pounds. In fact, most cannot. Before you make a mistake, you need to know exactly what your truck can tow. For new trucks, Ford made this super easy for you.
Just visit this site: https://www.ford.com/support/towing-calculator
Enter your VIN, and you'll get all sorts of helpful information. You will get the maximum payload rating for your truck, the GVWR, and GCWR. You will also get the maximum tongue load and maximum trailer rating for conventional, gooseneck, and 5th wheel towing.
2. Change the Oil Early
Your owner’s manual might tell you the first oil change is due in one year or 10,000 miles. But if you talk to engine builders and mechanics, they tend to recommend much earlier -- in the first 500 to 1,000 miles -- to help flush out microscopic metal shavings, debris, and casting sand produced by the engine as it breaks in. Don’t be afraid to get that first oil change done sooner rather than later.
You wanna know the truth behind Ford truck owners who drive for hundreds of thousands of flawless miles? They all go overboard on maintenance, especially when it comes to oil changes.
3. Read the Manual and Learn Drive Modes/Tow Settings
If you don’t know what RTFM means, look it up. New Ford trucks are complicated. Besides just learning how to use the infotainment system, you are going to want to know how and when to use the various drive modes and tow settings. Get to know your truck. It might take a little while, but it will be worth it so you get the most out of your new toy.
4. Protect the Bed
You bought a pickup truck, so we'll assume you plan to use the truck bed frequently. If that is the case, then it is a good idea to get a drop-in or a spray-in liner done as soon as possible if your truck doesn’t already have one. Maybe some dents and scratches won’t bother you, but they might bother the next person. When it comes time to eventually sell your truck, you'll get more offers for a truck that has a well-protected bed.
5. Protect the Paint
This may have seemed absurd back in the day, but installing paint protection film (PPF) on your new truck isn’t a bad idea. More and more trucks are used as daily drivers and even luxury vehicles, so people want to protect them. It makes sense since new trucks are so expensive. One of the best ways to do that is to have PPF installed as soon as you get your new truck. Get it installed even before you bring it home, if possible. Keep that factory paint looking its best for as long as possible with PPF.
6. Understand Regeneration (Diesel Owners)
If you got yourself a new diesel Super Duty, you should be excited. They are great trucks. But if you never heard of regen, you might want to educate yourself. In simple terms, your diesel engine has a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF), which captures microscopic particles and keeps the air we breathe clean. But the DPF eventually gets full and needs to be cleaned or regenerated. Regen can be done passively as you drive, but the process works like this: The exhaust system temperature gets to a certain level and cleans the filter by oxidizing the soot. But with frequent short trips, your truck may not have the chance to do this. Once the filter is full, you'll get a message that you are not operating your vehicle in a manner to allow effective regeneration. In this case, you must drive your truck for about 20 minutes at highway speeds to complete regen.
7. Check for Delivery Issues
Trust no one. You got a brand new truck (or bought one from an "honest" used dealer or Facebook Marketplace seller, and it should be perfect. Or at least as described. But mistakes happen. (And disclosures can be omitted.) Check the tire pressures, fluid levels, lug nut torque, and so on. You want to make sure that everything is set properly on your new truck.
8. Download Ford App
Download the latest Ford app on your phone. You'll gain access to additional features such as remote start, lock, and unlock. You can keep track of your fuel level, tire pressures, and more. It will also use GPS to show you exactly where your truck is parked. This is all at no charge, so you may as well take advantage of it.
9. Learn the 4WD System
If you bought a truck with a 4WD system, you should become familiar with how it works before you use it. The truck may be very capable, but if the driver doesn’t know what they are doing, then the truck is not going to be able to perform at its best. Or, worse, you could damage a variety of components if you use the wrong mode in the wrong conditions. Learn about 4WD high and low, locking diffs, traction control, and so on.
10. Research Upgrades
Some folks get a brand-new truck, and they can’t wait to dive in and start modifying it. If that's what you want to do, then more power to you. We'd just suggest you do some research first. Are all the parts compatible? Do you know how to install them (or who will install them)? Are you ready to let go of at least some portion of your warranty if you push the truck past its intended engineering?
Modifying your truck can be a lot of fun. Just don’t rush into anything and make regrettable and expensive mistakes.
Images: Ford