Ford aluminum truck beds are strong how?

[Fordman1981]

For regular towing, I would agree. For a couple planned tows per year, well maintained and inspected equipment, nice weather, good roads, I'm tickled to see the abilities increased to the levels the new F150 has pushed into. As stated above, brakes get better all the time and I don't think with my driving style I'll have an issue stopping if my trailer brakes fail. If others in this world are equally careful in their considerations, I don't see Fords killing anyone by their increased payload and towing numbers. I personally wouldn't want to tow with any truck at it's absolute max rating, let alone on any regular basis. I prefer a safety margin as well, but beyond that any truck at it's absolute max is an absolute DOG in my mountains. In my mountains when towing, you generally need to drive like you're planning to lose your brakes anyway. Too many up, downs, and curves you can't see around to accumulate much speed. Not that you can't go plenty fast, just to do so is foolish, more so with a load. MY PERSONAL max loads are well within the specs enough that I can even afford the weight of a heavier duty trailer than is actually is needed for my personal max loads. I figure a heavier trailer with heavier/better brakes, springs, and frame, is safer than one loaded at or near capacity.

You sound like a responsible driver. Sadly though there are many that are not and those are the ones I worry about that will load the F150 to max or more and drive irresponsibly. I'm not saying the F150 can't pull it's rated weight I just think in general it would be better for it to be rated at 10k and have the capability to tow 12 if that makes sense.

 

[Sysop]

You sound like a responsible driver. Sadly though there are many that are not and those are the ones I worry about that will load the F150 to max or more and drive irresponsibly. I'm not saying the F150 can't pull it's rated weight I just think in general it would be better for it to be rated at 10k and have the capability to tow 12 if that makes sense.

I get the idea, but I don't think it's Ford or the F150 that needs mentioned. Those owners own ALL trucks and cars of EVERY make and model. Subscribe to the "pictures of towing and hauling" thread to see what I mean.

The fact Ford re-engineered the entire structure, and when you read and study on the engineering principals put into effect on the new F150, it's honestly easy to think that the ratings were either bloated on the previous models or conservative on the new one. The lower center of gravity alone makes for a much more stable load carrying platform.

 

[dragoneggs]

And we we discussing what....? Oh yeah aluminum truck beds.

 

[Fordman1981]

And we we discussing what....? Oh yeah aluminum truck beds.

Which is related to the payload and tow rating of the truck right?

 

[Sysop]

And we we discussing what....? Oh yeah aluminum truck beds.

Which is related to the payload and tow rating of the truck right?

And also affected the center of gravity.

 

[ultrarunner]

I thought the 1/2 ton Ford pickup ended with the F100 series?

 

[Fordman1981]

I thought the 1/2 ton Ford pickup ended with the F100 series?

I was actually telling the wife the other day I'd like to look for a classic F100 3 on the tree to putt around in. I always enjoyed driving a column shift. I have the F350 with a 4 speed floor shift but it has a 12' dump bed. Not the best vehicle to jump in to make a quick drive to town. But I need another vehicle like I need another hole in the head

 

[ultrarunner]

We had a 1968 F100 with V8 and column shift...

It was ok and a good truck... but I really hated driving it on the San Francisco Hills!

The next truck was a 1970 C10 Chevrolet with a 350 V8 and auto... nothing more... no power brakes or steering... it would spin the rear wheels from stomping on the gas... it was not much of a truck because the of the coil rear springs... no load capacity at all.

Next was a 73 C10 with 350 V8, leaf springs, pwr steering, brakes and A/C... thought I had gone to heaven...

All were dead reliable... no issues there.

 

[Fordman1981]

We had a 1968 F100 with V8 and column shift... It was ok and a good truck... but I really hated driving it on the San Francisco Hills! The next truck was a 1970 C10 Chevrolet with a 350 V8 and auto... nothing more... no power brakes or steering... it would spin the rear wheels from stomping on the gas... it was not much of a truck because the of the coil rear springs... no load capacity at all. Next was a 73 C10 with 350 V8, leaf springs, pwr steering, brakes and A/C... thought I had gone to heaven... All were dead reliable... no issues there.

Yeah I've had a 65/66/67/69/75 F100s the 65 was the last. I had it mostly restored when my fiancée now wife wanted a mustang so I sold the 65 and purchased the Mach 1. I spent two years restoring it and used it to drive away at the end of our wedding.

 

[Bird]

Can I assume everyone knows why Ford went from F100 to F150? And of course the other manufacturers did the same. When unleaded gas and catalytic converters were required by law, they first only applied to vehicles rated below a certain gross weight and now I don't remember exactly what that weight was. So the manufacturers started making "heavy half" ton pickups with a gross rating high enough to not require a catalytic converter.