Possible Unibody F-150 for 2014?
#46
11-17-2010 | 06:22 PM
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From: Port Saint Lucie FL
Yeah, you shaved all the chrome off that uni-body. Sweet!!! Seriously, folks, the pickups in Australia are genuine unibody vehicles. They are called Utes and car based. Ford and Holden both manufacture them down under. I am not sure what they are offered for larger capacity trucks, though. Maybe some else can chime in on that.
#48
11-19-2010 | 12:49 AM
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If you tow an 8000 lb trailer 50% of the time, you *should* probably have an SD. If you tow an 8000 lb trailer once or twice a year, buy something that uses less fuel and rent a truck once a year. One other factor here is the assumption that the SD line will remain exactly as is and that developing the SD for greater fuel mileage is not a goal. There is a very real possibility that the lighter level SD's will end up exactly where the current F150 is, perhaps even a little leaner and more "truck like". If the EcoBoost pans out, it may end up in the SD. Likewise the new 5.0. Ford used to sell a MILLION F150's per year and they are still going to kill the Ranger. It seems like there is a BIG market for half a million trucks per year that are used primarily as light duty carry vehicles, commuters, and only occasionally are subjected to really hard use. What % of those million F150's ever pulled an 8000 lb trailer, or spent 80% of their lives near max payload? I have encountered people on these boards who have never put anything in their pickup bed to keep it from getting scratched or something. They could get by with a lighter truck, and if gas shoots up to $5 or $6 per gallon, it sure seems like a good strategy for Ford to develop a product that is viable for non-commercial use so their sales don't completely tank and bring Ford down. George
I won't blame Ford for trying to meet clients needs while meeting the BS gov't mandates. Thats not my issue in this thread. My issue is the guys telling me what I should get or should do. I spend the $$$, I pick. Don't tell me to get a SD.
I too think a 8/10th sized F100 (call it whatever) would be ok, if it had a true 80% of the interior space. Thats where the sport trac sucked. Did you sit in that back seat? A honda fit is just as comfortable.
8/10th size, 3.7L V6. keep the weight down. Tow limit 5,000lbs. Payload 1,200. All good. But it better get 20% better mpg than the F150, and cost 20% less too.
#49
11-19-2010 | 07:25 AM
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From: Maine, Virginia
I won't blame Ford for trying to meet clients needs while meeting the BS gov't mandates. Thats not my issue in this thread. My issue is the guys telling me what I should get or should do. I spend the $$$, I pick. Don't tell me to get a SD.
I too think a 8/10th sized F100 (call it whatever) would be ok, if it had a true 80% of the interior space. Thats where the sport trac sucked. Did you sit in that back seat? A honda fit is just as comfortable.
8/10th size, 3.7L V6. keep the weight down. Tow limit 5,000lbs. Payload 1,200. All good. But it better get 20% better mpg than the F150, and cost 20% less too.
I too think a 8/10th sized F100 (call it whatever) would be ok, if it had a true 80% of the interior space. Thats where the sport trac sucked. Did you sit in that back seat? A honda fit is just as comfortable.
8/10th size, 3.7L V6. keep the weight down. Tow limit 5,000lbs. Payload 1,200. All good. But it better get 20% better mpg than the F150, and cost 20% less too.
It's my opinion that this is all speculation anyway. I'm sure that the next gen F-150 is being designed as we speak. Looking at the blah performance of the Ridgeline, I'd lay my money down saying that we don;t have a lot to worry about.
#50
11-19-2010 | 07:38 PM
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#52
11-21-2010 | 05:17 AM
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However in the article it states that Ford is considering (Meaning this is no more than speculation at this point) using lightweight magnesium the next gen F-150, and utilizing (Uni-body like components while still keeping the bed and cab separate). So to me that sounds like it wont really be a uni-body at all.
#53
11-21-2010 | 05:25 AM
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I seriously doubt that, More than anything I have ever doubted about a truck before.
For one reason the current Engine's offered in the F-150 are far to strong for a factory front wheel drive trans axle. This is the main reason the Taures SHO Ecoboost engine (Same that's in the F-150) make's less power and alot less torque. Simply because it could not handle that much torque threw its front wheel drive trans axle.
And secondly, A front wheel drive truck that hauls maybe 3,000K pounds in the bed would lose alot of traction, As the when the weight goes down the front end goes up. And suddenly the Front tires don't have as much grip as the rears. Imagine if you were out on dirt or loose gravel road with that much weight in the back and a 2WD/FrontWD truck. You may not be able to pull the grade simply because there is so much weight in the back. Now 4WD would cure this issue, however Ford knows that not everyone wants or can afford the extra $3,500 for a 4WD set-up. And for those people, Rear wheel drive will just make their life alot easier.
For one reason the current Engine's offered in the F-150 are far to strong for a factory front wheel drive trans axle. This is the main reason the Taures SHO Ecoboost engine (Same that's in the F-150) make's less power and alot less torque. Simply because it could not handle that much torque threw its front wheel drive trans axle.
And secondly, A front wheel drive truck that hauls maybe 3,000K pounds in the bed would lose alot of traction, As the when the weight goes down the front end goes up. And suddenly the Front tires don't have as much grip as the rears. Imagine if you were out on dirt or loose gravel road with that much weight in the back and a 2WD/FrontWD truck. You may not be able to pull the grade simply because there is so much weight in the back. Now 4WD would cure this issue, however Ford knows that not everyone wants or can afford the extra $3,500 for a 4WD set-up. And for those people, Rear wheel drive will just make their life alot easier.
#54
08-20-2012 | 06:57 PM
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I could just see a new 2014 F-150 trying to pull a 12,000 trailer from a stand still on an incline.
Have you ever seen sheet metal flex, twist, stretch, distort and tear? I have. Not a pretty sight!
No matter how you manipulate sheet metal in complex geometric shapes like corrugation, boxing, diamonds, triangles....it still does not have anything near the rugged strength of box steel in resistance to torsion, stress, compression and deflection. And let's not forget about steel's ability to endure years of rust and still remain strong. Sheet metal fears rust more than anything else.
Sheet metal body parts will migrate to aluminum for weight savings. Engines will all be aluminum. Suspension parts will be made with aluminum and magnesium. Unless some futuristic sheet metal technology from an alien ship is released, truck frames will remain steel as trucks must be brawny and rugged.
I cannot see Ford, the 'built tough' company, resorting to using tissue paper to build trucks. Chevy and Dodge would have a field day decimating the F150's reputation at Ford's expense.
Have you ever seen sheet metal flex, twist, stretch, distort and tear? I have. Not a pretty sight!
No matter how you manipulate sheet metal in complex geometric shapes like corrugation, boxing, diamonds, triangles....it still does not have anything near the rugged strength of box steel in resistance to torsion, stress, compression and deflection. And let's not forget about steel's ability to endure years of rust and still remain strong. Sheet metal fears rust more than anything else.
Sheet metal body parts will migrate to aluminum for weight savings. Engines will all be aluminum. Suspension parts will be made with aluminum and magnesium. Unless some futuristic sheet metal technology from an alien ship is released, truck frames will remain steel as trucks must be brawny and rugged.
I cannot see Ford, the 'built tough' company, resorting to using tissue paper to build trucks. Chevy and Dodge would have a field day decimating the F150's reputation at Ford's expense.
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150, 2001, 2014, artist, demographics, drawing, expedition, f150, f250, ford, king, ranch, renderings, trucks, unibody
