Things I do and don't like about my F-150

[RoyJackson]

One thing you may not like about your F-150 is the way the 4WD operates.
Apparently, the front hubs are engaged when ever the engine is turned off. If in 2WD when started, the hubs are disengaged by vacumm. If the vacumm fails, you may not be totally disengaged and that can destroy the hub in short order.
I have a 2006 F-150...lost one hub already and my 4WD failed me my first working day in Vermont. If I have to replace it...this will be the second with 12-14 months.

 

[Reyer Farms]

One thing you may not like about your F-150 is the way the 4WD operates.
Apparently, the front hubs are engaged when ever the engine is turned off. If in 2WD when started, the hubs are disengaged by vacumm. If the vacumm fails, you may not be totally disengaged and that can destroy the hub in short order.
I have a 2006 F-150...lost one hub already and my 4WD failed me my first working day in Vermont. If I have to replace it...this will be the second with 12-14 months.

Did not know that. Wonder why they would have it work like that. I do like our 2011. Thanks for sharing an objective review. Word is big some things are going to be a auto show. Hope it's useful stuff and not just foo-foo garbage.

 

[Diamondpilot]

9 out of 10 times when the 4x4 fails in any brand its from non use. If it fails to engage give the trasfer case a couple of wraps with a dead blow hammer while actuating it. I have fixed a few trucks this way. Both Ford and GM.

Chris

 

[Pete6114]

I traded my 2010 F150 5.4L 4x4 3.55 that gave me a consistent avg. 19.4 mpg, for a 2012 5L 4x4 3.55 that gives me 17.4mpg avg. My driving habit hasn't changed. 5L is nice but had no issue with the 5.4 either.

I been driving ford trucks forever and can say that they are simply to big now. In order to get a upper end version, like from the lariat up, only the Crew cab is available, which i have now with a 6.5 bed. It's over a foot longer then my last f150 supercab. I always liked the super cab and even they are to big. As said above, i too find the bed is just to high. Now that the ranger is gone,i cant even downsize and stay with ford. I'm not sure what I'll end up with on my next purchase. I doubt it'll be another over sized f150. Heck, they don't even give me the grab handle on the driver side A-post anymore to help enter the beast.
As much as I'll hate to do it, but I'll be looking at imports as well. If the big3 don't give me what i want, so be it.

 

[RoyJackson]

9 out of 10 times when the 4x4 fails in any brand its from non use. If it fails to engage give the trasfer case a couple of wraps with a dead blow hammer while actuating it. I have fixed a few trucks this way. Both Ford and GM.

Chris

I'm pretty sure the tranfer case is working...I can hear the hub starting to engage...just not fully engaging.

I do know what you mean by not using the 4WD system...and I am guilty of that (not operating it occasionally). IIRC, Ford does recommend running in 4WD for 15 minutes or so each month.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I'm pretty sure the tranfer case is working...I can hear the hub starting to engage...just not fully engaging.

I do know what you mean by not using the 4WD system...and I am guilty of that (not operating it occasionally). IIRC, Ford does recommend running in 4WD for 15 minutes or so each month.

I use mine each week. I have owned about 15 4x4 vehicles and only had one failure on a S10 Blazer. My father and BIL have had just as many with zero failures. We all use ours all the time but my father is getting guilty of not using it unless I remind him.

Chris

 

[GPintheMitten]

Thanks for the write up. I drive a Jeep Commander right now. They don't make them anymore. I'm not ready to trade but have been curious about the F150 Ecoboost.

 

[jejeosborne]

Radio
I think the radio is really under-par for a truck like this. The sound is not really all that great and the radio does not have the feature that shows the station and song like my old chevy had. It will tell you the station and song on Sirius, but not FM. This is something I really liked as you could see what you were listening too (song title/artist).
It has 4 gauges-fuel, oil pressure, tran temp, and engine temp. No boost gauge, and no bat temp. There is a digital tran temp on the driver display. The man. gauge is re-dundant. I wish that the drivers display (4 inch screen in the middle with fairly HD graphics) would have all the engine parameters available like battery, boost, etc. Also, since the bed is taller, the tailgate is taller and I cannot let the tail-gate down when towing my 16' flat-bed without it hitting square in the middle on my jack. My old truck tailgate would clear this by about 2", and it made it easy to get in/out of the bed. With the Ford if you drop the tail-gate the jack will hit it and you risk denting or scratching it.

I agree with the sound quality of the radio. I installed a subwoofer behind the rear seat which really improves the sound. Might want to check you radio settings. My 2011 and a coworkers 2012 will both show the station, song and artist using FM. Try hitting the text button to cycle through the settings.

The tailgate issue can be bad. I hauled a 4-wheeler in the bed while towing a camper and learned to run the tailgate cable over the latch pin. This holds the tailgate at about a 45 degree angle that worked for me.

As far as the gauges, they make pods for installing them in the vents or you can put them in the coin holder or 12v holes. I have a thread on that.

 

[TheGoose]

We had the same problem with one of our older F-350's with the hubs not engaging/disengaging correctly. After warranty was up we went back to manual hubs. My '04 F350 has manual hubs also, but I am told I can leave them engaged and they will be more like auto. I even think that the hub says "off" and "auto". I always set them manually and then unlock when finished. I normally use 4x4 at least once every month or two because I need it. It comes in real handy when backing up to trailers that are sitting off-road and keeps the ruts down.

I agree that the truck is a little big and unwieldy, especially in parking lots etc. But I wouldn't change it, I like the bed room and the cab room. I would have to take it into a parking garage on a daily basis though.

I may check the radio function again. Thanks for the tip.

 

[aczlan]

I normally use 4x4 at least once every month or two because I need it. It comes in real handy when backing up to trailers that are sitting off-road and keeps the ruts down.

That reminds me of when someone came to buy some hay equipment from us. I wasn't around, just my FIL and everything was wet and SLIGHTLY muddy. While they had 4wd trucks, they didn't use 4wd for some reason and they left 6" deep ruts all over the place.
They came back to get a couple of other things (already paid for) the next week and were annoyed when I refused to let them drive back. I insisted them taking the golf cart down and me pulling the things they bought up to the driveway with the tractor. I have mostly filled the ruts in now, but they aren't welcome back on the property.

Aaron Z