OT: new Ford F150 with all aluminum body panels

[malbecman]

Fortune Mag recently had a great article that touched on many of the aspects raised in this thread....weight savings, their plans to train repair shops, durability, etc. The main point is that this is a BIG gamble for Ford and they have been doing their homework...keep in mind the F series alone, if sold thru a separate company, would be in the top 100 of the Fortune 500 biggest companies.

http://fortune.com/2014/07/24/f-150-fords-epic-gamble/

[pbarry]

Originally Posted by soulspinner

Want the new Colorado with the small diesel.....

Right? Me too, until I priced it out on the Chevy website. It's even more than the Ram 1500 diesel w/4x4. The math doesn't work if you compare to a Tacoma 4x4, (with the 2.7 gasser), with diesel mpg fuel savings factored into the overall cost for the Dodge and Chevy.

OTOH, if you are towing, diesel of any flavor is the obvious choice.

[Ralph]

This thread got started a long time ago. Ford announced a new 2.7 Eco Boost small engine, but didn't say how many cyclinders at that time. Since I knew Toyota had a 2.7 4 cyclinder, I assumed Ford would do same with turbo.

I assumed wrong. The new small 2.7 turbo is a V6. With TQ about equal to a 5.0 V8. At a much lower RPM than the V8. Driving feel and over all fuel economy should be similar to a small diesel. However....with lower maintenance cost and engine cost of a gas engine. The small 3.0 diesel in the Ram 1500 adds a lot of initial cost.

[paredown]

Originally Posted by pbarry

The many Tacoma buyers who are into their 200-300k miles...

Tacos have succumbed to bloat though--my 2003 Tundra (Toyo's 'full size' that was actually a stretched Taco) is about the size of the current generation Taco--while the new Tundra is frickin' huge, since they are competing with the big boys in the full-sized market.

While I appreciate the argument that some people need full size and big motors, the escalation in size, appointments and prices in full-sized trucks in the last decade has been nothing short of astonishing--no reasonable person can convince me that it is not a gigantic, testosterone -fueled pissing contest.

[ntb1001]

Originally Posted by oldguy00

Does anyone here use a F150 (Supercrew) or other pickup truck as a family travel vehicle?
And what about bikes? i know you can setup a fork mount type rack in the back, but what if you prefer to keep everything sealed from weather, do you just buy one of the flat tops to fit over the back, and lay the bikes down?

I'm in Atlantic Canada, so of course the next decision would be 4x2 or 4x4.....

I do...I have a 2010 F150 FX4.
I don't need a truck for business....just makes life easier with 4 kids and sports.
Hockey bags are big...and one kid is a goalie which is even worse.
As far as cycling. .the truck us great for going to races, I have a fork mount Thule in the bed and I have an expansion bar at the other end that I strap the rear wheels to. The only thing is that it's all open...but bikes get wet when you ride them, so what's the difference?
I am interested in the aluminum truck coming out because the gas is the only regret of owning a big truck.

[Mr. Squirrel]

pick up trucks make me dance in the road like a rolling nut. nuk nuk nuk!

mr. squirrel

[goonster]

Originally Posted by pbarry

Right? Me too, until I priced it out on the Chevy website.

How did you do this? I cannot find a Colorado configurator on the Chevy website, only preproduction info . . .

[pbarry]

It's been a month or two---I did the "build your own" thing on the Ram website and it came in about $34k with the diesel engine, single cab, 4x4, and the lowest trim package with diesel available.

For the Chevy, you are correct, I misspoke: Scant info available on the website. I poured over advance press, and found a pre-review that suggested around $35k for a Colorado crew cab, 4x4, and diesel. If the mpg is in the low to mid 30's, I'd consider it, but the base Tacoma is still hard to beat imo.

[oldguy00]

So, what are folks thoughts on the v6 ecoboost in the 2014's?
I test drove one, very smooth, but I am reading a lot of negative reviews about them. No better mileage, shuddering and loss of power, much higher revs in cold weather, etc. Thinking that if I get an FX4, may go with the V8...

[commonguy001]

Originally Posted by oldguy00

So, what are folks thoughts on the v6 ecoboost in the 2014's?
I test drove one, very smooth, but I am reading a lot of negative reviews about them. No better mileage, shuddering and loss of power, much higher revs in cold weather, etc. Thinking that if I get an FX4, may go with the V8...

I've had the EccoB 3.5 for two years in my 2012 F150 and 25k miles later have had no issues.
MPG is not horrible by full size truck standards. Just got back from a 2900 mile trip and averaged 19 mpg (running 75-80 mph most of the way) which isn't earth shattering but I don't think I would have gotten that with the V8. MPG does drop a little when it's super cold out but what car doesn't loose MPG when it's 20 below. I've made trips to Superior in Dec and Jan and averaged 20 mpg. It doesn't rev any higher that I've noticed and I'm in MN where winters have been lasting a LONG time.

Regarding shuddering - that's transmission related and has to do with it locking up in higher gears at very low RPM. I've felt it every once in a while but it's not an every day or even every month occurrence in my case. It wouldn't be a deciding factor for me on what engine to get.

I've never had the loss in power where the turbo pops the safety valve and just stops working. I have a feeling that this mainly happens when people have modded their trucks or added "performance" chips which bump the boost. I bought mine without any plans on messing with it and it's been virtually flawless. 5k of my miles were towing a 3800 pound camper and while you knew it was there it wasn't a deciding factor in how I drove it as it just didn't matter that much. Now with a 6500 pound camper I notice it more but it's still not horrible by any means and I've never had the turbo pop.

I saw you'd asked about carrying bikes and I use a Saris Traps Track board in the bed of the truck under the ARE fiberglass cap (not the flat cap but a normal topper cap). Using a fork mount and wheel mount for each bike I can easily fit two on one traps track and they're secure and out of the weather. Works really well, I'd buy the same set up again.

oh and go 4x4! I've driven mine up some pretty crazy snowy and icy rutted two track and with everything locked out and in low it just motored up, just as well as the Land Cruiser I sold when I got this.

[11.4]

Originally Posted by Mr. Squirrel

pick up trucks make me dance in the road like a rolling nut. nuk nuk nuk!

mr. squirrel

Most informative post so far!

Confession time. I drive an F350 crew cab long bed 4x4 diesel. I get 24 mpg on the highway and the standard Ford chip is sufficiently kinky that it rewards me with 2 mpg extra for towing a 8500 lb racing sailboat. It's an adult truck. A manly truck. The truck alone is the perfect cure for erectile dysfunction. It's the definition of priapism. I can park your Mini Cooper in the bed. I can park on top of your Mini Cooper and not scratch your roof (and I am not lifted). The only things this truck misses are M134 miniguns on each side of the hood and rear fender flaps with chrome Victoria Pendleton silhouettes.

For bike races I can rack a dozen bikes in the bed with BikeTote racks, or carry almost two dozen wheels and a couple photographers and officials as a follow vehicle at a race. In town I simply roll a road and a track bike into the back seat area with the seats flipped up -- it's wide enough and deep enough to fit both bikes plus a wheeled duffle with my track stuff. And that's inside the cab. When I'm dodging puddles and bouncing over Dobbs dots, where I really need the 4x4, it's a godsend. With a Linex coating in the bed plus an ultra deep ultra wide Protech toolbox in the rear, I have about 500 lbs to start with in the rear and it handles really nicely, thank you. Aluminum panels when I add two hundred pounds of bed coating back onto the truck? No thank you. Are you guys racing on aluminum bikes any more? Get real. Steel is real.

I do actually tow heavy loads with it and carry equipment in the box and in the back seat area (with the supplemental load floor installed) that take it right up to the rated limit on the vehicle, and beyond. I also work SAR and was able to get in and out of the 530 mudslide at Oso when even the 4x4 guys couldn't.

I'd recommend 4x4. It has a slight penalty on mileage and service cost but when it comes to sale, everyone seems to want it. I'd recommend the long bed, even with a crew cab; if you need a pickup you should need all the length that God gave you (I'm talking about the box, Mr. Squirrel). Modern trucks turn really well and once you learn to use them, and get the little ultrasound backup detectors (and even better, a rear view camera), you can slide into a parking space with 6 inches to spare. It's a skill. The diesel is great, and even essential for what I do. In Oregon where you have to let the clown at the station pump your gas, I always have to get out and double check anyway because the clowns have been known to pump gasoline into a diesel tank. Same worry even if I were to loan the truck (which I would never do -- it's my manhood and it doesn't part from me any more than my ... well, you know ... does). Get your truck with a block heater and roof lights -- trust me, that's how you attract the girls.

And, by the way, I'm moving to Texas.

[oldguy00]

Originally Posted by commonguy001

I've had the EccoB 3.5 for two years in my 2012 F150 and 25k miles later have had no issues......

Thanks for the info, I really appreciate it. That said, as nice as the engine felt on the test drive, when I see threads like the following one, on a very active F150 forum, with 300+ pages of replies to the one thread, it gives me serious concerns about the engine. My luck, I'd get a bad one....

http://www.f150forum.com/f38/2011-55...8636/index301/

[Ralph]

You could have most of those same problems on any V8 engine truck. Electronics, ECU, sensors, 4WD lock up and out, etc. BTW....That was a 2011 truck....one made a good while ago. And you don't know it's history...if it was modified, etc. Enthusiasts on a truck forum tend to like to turn the boost up. Aftermarket tuning, etc.

I have a good friend with a 2014 Lariat F150 2WD with new 5.0 engine, not sure of the axle ratio, and a friend with a 2013 3.5 Ecoboost. Neither report any problems at all. The EcoBoost 3.5 is stronger pulling, accelerates faster, and with careful driving, gets better fuel economy than the 5.0. though maybe not enough better to offset the extra cost over the 5.0. If working both hard, they get similar mileage. My friend reports to get the better economy of the 3.5 Ecoboost, you have to drive it with a careful foot. But it can get better fuel economy.

For light duty use, as you know, the new F150 with the new alloy Alcoa body panels, a 2.7 V6 Eco Boost is being offered, I believe one notch above base 3.5 non turbo. I imagine it will offer similar Tq numbers to a small V8, and have the capability of getting better fuel economy, but I bet same deal applies,....only if you know how to drive for better economy.

If I were getting a 3rd vehicle for around our home use, just light duty stuff, light towing, hauling bicycles, going to Home Depot, etc, I think I would be satisfied with the 3.5 non turbo V6. But I would be getting a plainer lighter model....Xl, XLT, etc, 2WD, maybe Extended cab, so a somewhat lighter truck especially with the new aluminum panels. For all of you who think the aluminum panels of this truck are like anything currently used in Jags and Audi's..... it's not. Much tougher.

I have driven the current model F150 in a plain version with the 3.7 V6 (non turbo 305 HP and I believe 280 ft lbs tq....not offered in 2015), and it's more than adequate for my use. My only concern with the EcoBoost engines, after observing them in Focus, Fusions, Escapes, Edge's. Explorers, SHO Taurus, Flex, Lincolns, F150's etc.....is I'm not sure they save enough fuel in F150 to warrant their extra expense. Otherwise they are tough engines.

[wallymann]

Originally Posted by oldguy00

Hadn't thought about that, tha lack of weight in the back. I've made due the past winter with a 2wd Honda CRV, and just assumed a 2wd F150 would be much better.

2WD CRV drives the front wheels where the weight is.

2WD F150 drives the rear wheels where the weight is *not*.

[gasman]

Originally Posted by thirdgenbird

When audi and jaguar first started making full aluminum chassis it was an issue, but its time it became more mainstream. Ford has also been using some alloy panels for a while. My 2005 f150 had an aluminum hood.

Originally Posted by 11.4

Most informative post so far!

Confession time. I drive an F350 crew cab long bed 4x4 diesel. I get 24 mpg on the highway and the standard Ford chip is sufficiently kinky that it rewards me with 2 mpg extra for towing a 8500 lb racing sailboat. It's an adult truck. A manly truck. The truck alone is the perfect cure for erectile dysfunction. It's the definition of priapism. I can park your Mini Cooper in the bed. I can park on top of your Mini Cooper and not scratch your roof (and I am not lifted). The only things this truck misses are M134 miniguns on each side of the hood and rear fender flaps with chrome Victoria Pendleton silhouettes.

For bike races I can rack a dozen bikes in the bed with BikeTote racks, or carry almost two dozen wheels and a couple photographers and officials as a follow vehicle at a race. In town I simply roll a road and a track bike into the back seat area with the seats flipped up -- it's wide enough and deep enough to fit both bikes plus a wheeled duffle with my track stuff. And that's inside the cab. When I'm dodging puddles and bouncing over Dobbs dots, where I really need the 4x4, it's a godsend. With a Linex coating in the bed plus an ultra deep ultra wide Protech toolbox in the rear, I have about 500 lbs to start with in the rear and it handles really nicely, thank you. Aluminum panels when I add two hundred pounds of bed coating back onto the truck? No thank you. Are you guys racing on aluminum bikes any more? Get real. Steel is real.

I do actually tow heavy loads with it and carry equipment in the box and in the back seat area (with the supplemental load floor installed) that take it right up to the rated limit on the vehicle, and beyond. I also work SAR and was able to get in and out of the 530 mudslide at Oso when even the 4x4 guys couldn't.

I'd recommend 4x4. It has a slight penalty on mileage and service cost but when it comes to sale, everyone seems to want it. I'd recommend the long bed, even with a crew cab; if you need a pickup you should need all the length that God gave you (I'm talking about the box, Mr. Squirrel). Modern trucks turn really well and once you learn to use them, and get the little ultrasound backup detectors (and even better, a rear view camera), you can slide into a parking space with 6 inches to spare. It's a skill. The diesel is great, and even essential for what I do. In Oregon where you have to let the clown at the station pump your gas, I always have to get out and double check anyway because the clowns have been known to pump gasoline into a diesel tank. Same worry even if I were to loan the truck (which I would never do -- it's my manhood and it doesn't part from me any more than my ... well, you know ... does). Get your truck with a block heater and roof lights -- trust me, that's how you attract the girls.

And, by the way, I'm moving to Texas.

Good info and you will fit right in with that truck in Texas.