09 + Ford F-150

[buck12]

I think the only thing that some off road packages come with that bears any usefullness is a skid plate. The shocks are a joke. The decals on the sides of the bed are a weak attempt at impressing others of the impressionable ilk.

I'm not macho. I only off road my truck around my construction sites (which can be muddy & loaded with ruts), through snow & ice or occasionally pulling other stuck vehicles off my jobsites, which my truck does fairly well. Although it has about a 12" lower stance than Ford, the GM brand rewards me with a lower truck height at the end of the day when I'm tired to step in/out of and get tools & materials on/off of.

The 09 F150 "off road package" includes the locking rear differential. I agree the shocks aren't much of an improvement.

 

[BlackRaptor]

Rear locker is nice my current truck has that.

Well I drove one over the weekened and was very impressed. The back seat was HUGE. ford did a good job there. Going to chew on the idea this week than think about talking to the bank. It's a big leap for me going to a Ford I've owned nothing but GMC's for the past 11 years. If I wanted a Diesel I would stick to GM I loved my Duramax i had. and than just put 4-6 inches of lift into it. but because I drive 2 miles to work I would wreck a diesel and in the half tons I think the F-150 least from the test drive is an over all better truck. That and the new body style is dang sharp.

Thanks for all the great info guys. I'll let you know if I get one and snap some pictures.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I think you will be very happy with a F-150. The locker is great being the electric type that you have control over instead of the clunky G80 mechanical locker puts in that kicks in and out on its own below 25 mph. I have a Nissan Titan with a electric locker and I now know why Ford, Toyota, and Nissan chose them over the G80 type I had in my Dmax, much smoother and controllable.

Chris

 

[Volfandt]

For reasons known only to Ford and speculated on by many, Ford scrapped the 4.4 V8 diesel option that was scheduled for a 2010 release in the F150. It was going to produce nearly 515 ftlbs of torque @ alittle over 330 horses.... It was going to be a Ford made, not an Avistar made engine, which may have contributed to some legal ramifications. Shame......

My 98 F150 Off Road is still going strong. It's only a 3 door w/the non-PI 4.6 Titan but I've hauled the bed full to the brim w/ all kinds of materials, including peagravel, top soil, mulch, building materials etc., and towed over 4k easily. Not bad for a 1/2 ton.
I've only needed the 4wd on occasion but when it was needed, it was NEEDED and it is great to have in reserve. It's pulled a few tractors stuck up to the axels in mud out too.

It was made in a now closed assembly plant in Norfolk VA and based on this truck's performance, those folks knew how to build a 1/2 ton truck...... Yet another shame...

I'd definitely buy another Ford truck.....

 

[turbo36]

One of the things I don't like about the new Fords is how high the side of the bed is. I feel like a little kid standing next to them. We have one at where I work, its 2 wheel drive, and I can hardly reach into the bed standing beside it and i'm 6 feet tall. The 4 wheel drives are worse. I think they just make the beds a little deeper.

I have a 2007 Super Crew and love it, I have a folding tonneau cover on most of the time so I appreciate the extra height of the box wall. I drove the 2009 and thought the ride and handling were even better then my truck, I especially liked the new 6-speed tranny.

 

[davo727]

I like the F250 and F350s and think they are pretty stout but based on things I have seen and also heard from a lot of people that the F150s fold up like an accordian in a wreck and dont hold up in a crash as well as a gm or dodge 1/2 ton.

 

[Hematite]

I like the F250 and F350s and think they are pretty stout but based on things I have seen and also heard from a lot of people that the F150s fold up like an accordian in a wreck and dont hold up in a crash as well as a gm or dodge 1/2 ton.

...and yet, amazingly, the F150 is rated 5 stars by NHTSA and has the strongest frame in its class?????

 

[nmu98]

I like the F250 and F350s and think they are pretty stout but based on things I have seen and also heard from a lot of people that the F150s fold up like an accordian in a wreck and dont hold up in a crash as well as a gm or dodge 1/2 ton.

That seems to me like a bonus. The truck takes the hit and hopefully leave me alive, or hurt less. I would not want to rebuild a truck after it was in a major crash anyway...

...and yet, amazingly, the F150 is rated 5 stars by NHTSA and has the strongest frame in its class?????

You can still have a very strong frame and have it designed to take the brunt of a crash to save the passengers.

 

[robertm]

The 09 F150 "off road package" includes the locking rear differential. I agree the shocks aren't much of an improvement.

Unless it has been changed for 2010, there is no Off Road Package available on the New F-150. The FX4 Trim Level (not option package as it used to be in 2008 and earlier) is the only level to offer the skid plates according to the order guide. The same thing with the XL6 3.73 E-locking differential... it's only available with the FX4 - and it's standard with the FX4 and not available on anby other trim level truck.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I like the F250 and F350s and think they are pretty stout but based on things I have seen and also heard from a lot of people that the F150s fold up like an accordian in a wreck and dont hold up in a crash as well as a gm or dodge 1/2 ton.

How can that be? It rated the highest in crash test. I think all the trucks do a pretty good job in a crash. All sit on a full frame but the Ford and Nissian sit on a fully box frame. Not sure about the Toyota and current Dodge but the GM is not.

Chris