Ford has been pumping out trucks for about 60 years now and they aren’t slowing down. You know those letters that accompany the name of the vehicle. They tell you a lot about what’s inside and under the hood.The base F-150 has the trim designation XL. This is also known as the work truck. You can add options to it, if you custom order one, but it comes standard with a 248-horse power, 4.6-liter 2v V-8 engine, four-speed automatic transmission. Black bumpers, mirrors, and door handles. Hose-out rubber floor mats and 17-inch steel or alloy wheels.The affordable sporty F-150 is called the STX it comes standard with a 248-horse power, 4.6-liter 2v V-8 engine, four-speed automatic transmission.
Ford’s most popular (best selling) F-150 is the XLT which has more options standard like: 248-horse, 4.6-liter 2v V-8 engine with a four-speed automatic transmission. Chrome grille, bumpers. FX4 is also called the Euro truck trim and it comes standard with: a 310-horse power, 5.4-liter 3v V-8 engine and a six-speed automatic. Body color bumpers, door handles, and on the mirrors. Inside you get a black interior, with optional light gray seats, full-length center stack and center console with carbon-fiber look trim and silver gauges. The truck is complete with 17-inch wheels for off-roaders; 18s and 20s available.
Here come the serious option-having trim packages!
The Lariat trim refers to entry level luxury, you can add more luxury as you go, but standard with this trim package is a 310-horse power, 5.4-liter 3v V-8 engine with a six-speed automatic. Outside it has two-tone paint with Pueblo gold lower, a chrome grille with mesh instead of bars, body-color “skull caps” on mirrors with available car cover. Inside there’s wood trim on the center stack, console, and doors to complete the luxury feel.The King Ranch trim package on the Ford F-150 means luxury, Texas style. With this trim package you get standard a 310-horse power, 5.4-liter 3v V-8 engine with a six-speed auto. Essentially, it’s a Lariat with King Ranch leather on the seats, console and steering wheel, different wood trim and pale carpets. To complete the luxurious ranch feel are 18- or 20-inch alloys with premium paint trim.It doesn’t matter what you need a truck for, or if you need one at all. The Ford F-series family of trucks has you covered. For most people’s general needs the F-150 easily handles the daily demands of their lifestyle.
By: Dawn Hatchard
Now you know what the trim letters/name mean. This can be powerful information when you’re looking to buy a new or used Ford F-150 or trade in your current truck. The trim level has a significant impact on the value of the truck.Texans are known for their love of trucks. Tyler Texas is no different.
The 2010 Ford F-150 Is On Top In The Truck Market In The US
Ford’s F-150 is one of the best selling and most popular trucks in the United States. This large truck may be tough on the outside but it offers lots of technological advanced gadgets and deluxe amenities on the inside. The feature that stands out the most about the F-150 is its extraordinary capacity to tow heavy objects. This big truck has an intimidating and distinct look on the road and would benefit anyone who needs a powerful auto for commercial purposes, does a lot of towing, enjoys off-road driving or simply likes to drive a big truck. The frame of the vehicle is one of the strongest in its class The F-150 is available in nine trim levels so there is plenty of room to customize the truck of your dreams.You get to select from three engines for the 2010 F-150. There are two eight cylinder 4.6 Ltr engines and a 5.4 Ltr V8 with 310 HP. The ride quality is pretty smooth and solid and steering has been improved. The thing that is most remarkable about this vehicle is its capacity for towing, which is maxed out at 11,300 pounds. Ford’s truck is excellent at towing trailers and offers Trailer Sway Control. One of the practical features this truck offers is the tailgate step which allows individuals to easily step inside the bed.
The interior was engineered for comfort and safety; the seats are comfortable and the rear sets offer plenty of leg room. The interior offers lots of technological advances and it’s very quiet in the cabin even when driving at high speeds. Ford’s Sync system is compatible with Bluetooth devices and lets you direct the audio system your voice. An available navigation system is in place which provides real time traffic updates, weather information and can even direct you with directions to the nearest gas station with the cheapest prices. The stereo system is a 10 speaker Sony that with a whopping 700 watts of bass pumping sound. The seats are offer great back support and there are wood trim accents on the dashboard for an almost luxurious look. There is the optional Work Solutions package available which offers access to the internet and Microsoft Office programs through the LCD screen, extremely handy for those who will be utilizing the truck for commercial purposes.
A large variety of safety mechanisms have been included by Ford Motor Company. It includes an Anti Lock Brake System, a system with air bags, seat belts with pretensioners, electronic stability control and Ford’s Mykey system, which lets parents control factors such as the speed and volume of the stereo while their teenagers are driving. The vehicle has been engineered with a strong high strength steel cage which has been installed which absorbs energy during impact. The F-150 earned an impressive 5 star rating from the NHTSA in crash tests.Regardless whether you’ll be using this vehicle for work related or personal reasons, the F-150 offers a great value and brings a lot to the table including excellent towing capability, advanced technological gadgets, and even a work space for those who require it. The base model starts at around $21k and varies depending on the trim and options selected. This would be a great choice for an individual who does a lot of towing, requires a super strong and tough truck, or simply enjoys driving a big and powerful truck.
Ford F-150 SuperCab Tow Test
We tested the all-new 2009 Ford F-150 pickup equipped with a three-valve 5.4L V-8 and six-speed auto transmission in Trailer Boats’ March 2009 issue (“Power Packed”), and it was impressive. We found it to offer abundant power, outstanding drivability and firmly planted handling.Months later, however, we got to thinking that it might be interesting to see what this truck could do if it was packing one of the two available smaller 4.6L V-8 engines under its hood. To take the question a step farther, we went “old school” and had one delivered with the two-valve 4.6. Would it perform up to our expectations? Would it burn significantly less fuel? We had a lot of questions. Here’s what we discovered.
MUCH OF THE SAME
For all intents and purposes, you get the same truck when you order it with one of the smaller V-8 engines.AdvanceTrac with RSC (Roll Stability Control) systems are integrated into the four-channel, four-wheel ABS brakes to help keep the vehicle under control in skid or body roll scenarios.All 2009 F-150s also come with the new Trailer Sway Control system, which is especially sensitive to yaw-type motions in the truck’s chassis, and can signal sway-dampening measures to the engine and brake system to help bring trailer sway under control.
The interior is the same basic design, although the 4×2 STX SuperCab model was far less dressed up than the 5.4-equipped SuperCrew we had before. And certainly the rear seat passengers in the SuperCab will be less comfortable than those who ride in the SuperCrew’s second row of seats.All of the controls, dials and switches are easy to reach and manipulate. In general, visibility around the truck from the driver’s seat is good, although the large headrests on the front seats block the driver’s over-the-left-shoulder view through the driver-side rear passenger door window on the SuperCab model.
SOME DIFFERENCES
As far as capability goes, the 4.6-powered F-150 doesn’t give up too much compared to the 5.4 when it comes to payload and GVWR. With the 4.6, the payload drops only 150 pounds to 1580, and the GVWR goes down just 300 pounds to 6700. Let’s look at this with some perspective, however. How many of you actually tow a trailer boat that weighs 10,000 pounds? Not that many it seems. In fact, our reader survey shows that about 75 percent of Trailer Boats readers tow less than 7000 pounds, and around 55 percent tow less than 5000 pounds.
That means the 4.6-powered F-150 we tested is capable of towing the boats owned by more than half of the readers of Trailer Boats.With the 4.6, you don’t get Ford’s new high-tech six-speed transmission. Quite frankly, it worked perfectly fine, with crisp, clean shifts and no noticeable gear hunting.You don’t get the higher price, either. The 5.4-equipped F-150 4×4 SuperCrew we tested had a base MSRP of $37,990 and a price as tested of $46,495 (loaded to the gills with extras). The 4.6-equipped and modestly optioned 4×2 SuperCab carried a price as tested of $30,990. Its base MSRP was $26,495. Take the difference and stick it in the bank.
BOTTOM LINE
The numbers tell much of the story. The boats towed during our testing of the two trucks were within 700 pounds of each other. In both towing and non-towing situations, the two-valve 4.6 showed moderate fuel savings in comparison to the 5.4.On flat highway stretches and city driving with the boat in tow, the 4.6 never broke a sweat. It pulled the load from a standing stop with relative ease, and cruised the highway with very little pedal pressure. Only when we hit the hills did the truck begin to show its Achilles’ heel.
On mild uphill grades, we shifted down into third gear (turned OD off) and had no trouble. But when the climb got steeper, the transmission had to be dropped down into second gear, and we made the top of the 6 percent Cajon Grade at a 50 mph pace with the engine revving at about 3500 rpm.Overall, the Ford we tested with the 4.6 is a solid performer capable of towing the 5250-pound boat. It has its shortcomings when compared to the 5.4, but this test confirmed what we had already theorized – the 2009 Ford F-150 4×2 powered by the two-valve 4.6L V-8 is a good option to consider when looking for a new tow vehicle. It can handle the trailer boats that most of you have parked in your driveways.