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'We're going to electrify the F-Series,' Ford exec says

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Re: 'We're going to electrify the F-Series,' Ford exec says

#161

Post by awful »

mikekchar wrote: post #106
StillBored wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I started driving a truck 15 years ago after a number of sports cars/sedans/etc. I will never go back. Its not insane when you consider any number of factors, starting with the fact that Americans are BIG. As a large person myself (although not overweight), I'm here to tell you that what a 120 pound 5'6" person finds comfortable frequently is painful for me. Second, I spend upwards of 2+ hours a day sitting my my car…

Interestingly (perhaps?) we got a Leaf a few months ago and the biggest thing that surprised me is that it is massive inside. I guess because the battery is stored under the floor. Although I have relatively short arms for someone my height (5' 10"), I still think it's instructive to say that when I'm sitting in the passenger seat, I can't touch the dash without leaning forward. And, again, I have slightly shorter le…

Tesla same; drove one a few weeks ago, had 6 adults in it, and room for more I think. More than enough room.

Re: 'We're going to electrify the F-Series,' Ford exec says

#162

Post by jessaustin »

sandworm101 wrote: post #155
H1Supreme wrote: post #144

Hopefully they make a version that isn't absolutely gigantic. I've wanted a basic, no-frills 4x4 pickup truck with a 6 foot bed for years now. Problem is, they're all gigantic. And, they all have back seats! Ford released a new Ranger, which is nearly large as everything else out there. In the late 80's / early 90's there were all types of small trucks on the road (including the ranger). Now, there's zero options in…

Because the pickup isn't a work vehicle. It is a statement, a bit of fashion. That's where the market is. People want to look like they need a pickup. In reality, they would be better served by a minivan. They are why every truck has back seats. A more honest answer is probably to get the smallish SUV and buy a trailer. An 8'x4' metal trailer, with full wheels, will let you haul the wood/stuff those few times a year…

Good grief the bed heights are ridiculous now. Forget about reaching over the side and grabbing something without having to climb in: and I'm 6' tall! I've mastered this maneuver where I jump up and land with my stomach over the edge of the bed. It's uncomfortable but I can actually reach something. My father is three inches taller than I am, but it was still something of a revelation for him a couple of weeks ago when he realized what I was doing. Now he's doing it too.

It didn't used to be like this, before every pickup had to be 4WD with tall suspensions to handle towing heavy trailers. I'd like to buy an old truck just so I can actually reach my tools. Instead I'm thinking of getting one of those dinky Ford Transit Connects, because it will keep everything dry as well as accessible.

Re: 'We're going to electrify the F-Series,' Ford exec says

#163

Post by graycat »

slededit wrote: post #115
graycat wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I like light trucks because they are for people who plow snow, carry bricks, lumber, cinder blocks, lawn mowing equipment, hogs, chickens, bails of hay, etc. in all weather over all roads and even no roads. E.g., there is good ground clearance for charging through snow, over rough ground, jumping curbs, etc. The suspensions are stiff, rugged, and long lasting, can take bad bumps and keep going with no damage. The lig…

I’m guessing your not happy with Ford and GM’s all new aluminum beds then?

Aluminum is good for resisting corrosion, but it is usually less rugged than steel. For a truck bed there are really tough plastic liners. Can also get a Lear or some such cover for the bed.

For a steel bed, get something to protect against corrosion, and for an aluminum bed get something to protect the aluminum if it is too soft.

Re: 'We're going to electrify the F-Series,' Ford exec says

#165

Post by ratling »

abrowne wrote: post #3

They're going to make all-electric (and hybrid) options. What the headline first made me think was that the whole lineup would be all (=only) electric.

Yeah I thought the same. Would be nice, they'd get massive toque monsters and non-truck people would have to deal with less idiots 'rolling coal.'

Re: 'We're going to electrify the F-Series,' Ford exec says

#166

Post by closeparen »

jdhn wrote: post #7

I honestly think that this will help make electric vehicles more mainstream. People here in the US love their F-150's, and if Ford could make die hard truck fans switch from a V8 to a TTV6, then they're the ones that can convince the same fans consider buying a hybrid or electric F-150.

Light and reliable electric trucks + solar seem to have a decent shot at some kind of cultural resonance. 21st century rugged individualism.

Re: 'We're going to electrify the F-Series,' Ford exec says

#167

Post by greglindahl »

benmorris wrote: post #143

Even a plugin electric hybrid would be a big in my opinion (30-60 mile range). We have owned a Volt now for over a year and it has been great. Since owning it we average 75 mpg. My wife can nearly drive to work and back on all electric. I have an F-150, a ~50 mile range hybrid would cover nearly all of my driving.

Plugin hybrids make great sense, but they don't sell well: https://insideevs.com/monthly-plug-in-sales-scorecard/

Re: 'We're going to electrify the F-Series,' Ford exec says

#168

Post by graycat »

bryanlarsen wrote: post #150
graycat wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I like light trucks because they are for people who plow snow, carry bricks, lumber, cinder blocks, lawn mowing equipment, hogs, chickens, bails of hay, etc. in all weather over all roads and even no roads. E.g., there is good ground clearance for charging through snow, over rough ground, jumping curbs, etc. The suspensions are stiff, rugged, and long lasting, can take bad bumps and keep going with no damage. The lig…

Sounds good. Where can I get one? Even the new Ford Ranger is a massive truck, not one I would consider light, and the half tons are even worse. The truck beds are so high I have trouble reaching inside and I'm over six feet tall. And sure, the base cost of a F150 is theoretically under $30k, but good luck finding one of those on the lot, the real starting cost appears to be about $50k and chock full of those luxury…

Yes the Ford 150 and the Chevy 1500 or some such are called light trucks because there are also much heavier trucks, big Diesel engines, maybe dual wheels on the back, able to tow a small yacht, etc.

Typically can get a list of the possible options and dealer's price for each, develop a list of just what want with the dealer's cost, and then take an afternoon and do a search for a dealer who will give you the best price. Start with offers a bit below dealer's cost, try all the dealers, increase by maybe $100 and iterate. Or, maybe a little faster, try a binary search.

Then pay them a small amount and have them place the order, wait about six weeks, and then get what you wanted. I did just this for the last four new cars I bought -- worked fine.

Of those four, I got two muscle cars, a high performance luxury car, and an SUV. The SUV is my favorite. NO MORE luxury cars. Next time, a light truck.

Re: 'We're going to electrify the F-Series,' Ford exec says

#169

Post by jessaustin »

darkpuma wrote: post #121
Scoundreller wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Trailers should lend themselves well to the sharing economy, no? Minimal maintenance, largely stored sitting idle, no cleaning required. You don't even need to unethically deem your workers as contractors.

Trailers are a huge pain in the ass, have you ever backed up with one? I've done my fair share of trailer towing and given the choice between a trailer and a pickup, I chose the pickup every time. Trailers have a capacity advantage though. Sometimes the shit you're moving simply won't fit in a large pickup truck. In those cases though, having a truck with sufficient power to tow that trailer is still handy...

This is an advantage of driving tractors as a child. Backing up a trailer is second nature for me. I can back around corners, between obstacles, whatever needs to be done, often without taking a hitch. One time I was driving a U-haul pulling a car on a dolly, so there wasn't one but two pivot points. I stupidly pulled into a gas station that didn't have a way to pull through, but I was still able to back out of it rather than suffering the ignominy of unloading the car. My grandfather scoffed when he heard about it; apparently county fairs used to have contests in backing up "four-wheeled wagons" which had similar configurations.

The only thing you need is practice. The next time you use a trailer, take it to a big WalMart parking lot during a slow time and play around with it a little bit. You'll get a feel for where the "fulcrum" is, and start using your mirrors to steer. This isn't an impossible task. All the semi truck drivers you see on the road have to get really good at this in order to pass their CDL, and lots of them never backed up a trailer before they took the course.

Re: 'We're going to electrify the F-Series,' Ford exec says

#170

Post by tyingq »

ratling wrote: post #165
abrowne wrote: post #3

They're going to make all-electric (and hybrid) options. What the headline first made me think was that the whole lineup would be all (=only) electric.

Yeah I thought the same. Would be nice, they'd get massive toque monsters and non-truck people would have to deal with less idiots 'rolling coal.'

Maybe they can roll ozone?
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