We already counted down a few of the items that might be tougher than the trucks that are famously "built Ford tough", but we recently discovered a few more.
1. The Apocalypse
We shouldn’t really be surprised here, but, no, your Ford Truck will not withstand the end of all days. Assuming massive nuclear fallout plays a role in our demise, the only things that will have survived will be the cockroaches and Hostess’ own Twinkies. Hmm, maybe that last one is an urban legend, but I believe in the indestructibility of the preservative laden tasty snack. However, all else will fall to the wayside as humanity and all of its creation is obliterated. Better enjoy that Raptor while you still can!
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2. The Tow Truck
Tougher is debatable, but it’s hard to deny that just about any vehicle is going to lose to a tow truck. If you’re not there to defend the truck, it’s pretty much game over once they’ve got you hooked up. Double damage points if the driver is lazy and hooks your truck up wrong, as that’s all it takes to flat spot a tire, damage the suspension, or if things get really ugly: a transmission. Ouch. For the sake of your truck, please stay far away from the red curbs and do not incite the ire of a bored tow truck driver.
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3. A Sledehammer
Well, that’s oddly specific, isn’t it? When news came about that Ford would be using aluminum for the body of the new F-150, people were skeptical. Trucks are supposed to be tough and made of steel. The use of aluminum in automobiles is costly, and people don’t trust the durability of it when it comes to a vehicle designed to work and play hard. The fine folks at Edmunds bought a 2015 F-150 for their series of comprehensive tests and among those tests was an aluminum torture test using, you guessed it, a big ol’ sledgehammer. It was painful to watch and according to the repair bills, painful to pay for. The details of what they did (including video) and how much it cost are here.
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4. An Even Bigger Ford Truck
Not entirely a surprise to devoted Ford truck owners, but the only thing on the road that will beat an F-150 is probably the F-250 to F-650. Take your pick from the lineup, but as badass, as your truck is, these things are even badder. For street driving, a diesel F-250 would make an excellent tow rig. If you want the oddball/exotic choice, a V10-powered F-350 was available for many years. The newest F-450 diesel is knocking at the 4-digit torque figure door, rolling off the factory assembly line with 925 lb./ft of the stuff. By our math, that’s enough torque to slow the rotation of the Earth. Finally, if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em: Make friends with the local big truck crowd with an F-550 and get in their good graces. No more tickets or impound fees for you.
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6. Rust
As Neal Young famously sang, rust never sleeps, and eventually, it will take a neglected Ford truck and reduce it to iron oxide dust. Chances are the flathead motor in this one (if it is still there) would run just fine though, with some new plug and fresh gas. How will the new aluminum F-series fare against the elements? Only time will tell, but at least aluminum doesn't rust.
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For help keeping your truck in great shape, check out the how to section of Ford-Trucks.com
