Ford F150

B1Toad · Jul 31, 2025

I'm thinking about replacing 2 of my vehicles with an F150. My TDI is a great car for around town and we have also used it on some vacations but due to it's thin seats I get pretty butt sore after a couple hours. My old 7.3 Powerstroke crew cab long bed 4x4 is great on long trips and I can drive it 10 hours with no problems but as a daily driver it is 21 feet long, and in town is hard to park, hard to get around and maneuver, and it's a thief magnet. I love that truck but we're just not using it, it just sits in the garage and maybe gets out 3 or 4 times a year. (For most long trips we now use a motorhome, but still want something for the occasional long hotel/beach trip). I still need a truck now and then to haul and when I work on my rentals.

I'm thinking an F150 SC with a 6.5 foot bed will serve both purposes. Been researching the differences between different years/engines/transmissions. Looks like the 10 speeds didn't get fixed until after August 2022 production, and some of the early 2.7s can have oil pan leaks due to poor design. Going to look at 2 today, a 2023 5.0 10 speed and a 2015 2.7 6 speed. Both low miles at 20,000 for the 2023 and 60,000 on the 2015. Don't need 4x4, and I do want decent payload. The 2023 has almost 2,200 lbs of payload.

I'll be giving up 2 great diesels for a gasser but I think it's time.

I like Tacos too but I wouldn't get much payload and I don't think the highway comfort level would be up to the F150.

I know the F150 is popular around here so any comments welcomed.

Chris · Jul 31, 2025

I own a 2019 F150 3.5 Ecoboost and I absolutely love it.

It's got gobs of power, it's quiet as hell, it rides way better than any pickup truck should, and it's really fast. I tow with it regularly and the 3.5 Ecoboost is a beast when it comes to towing. I have yet to feel like I have anything behind me anytime I tow.

Mine is the 5.5 bed and in hindsight I wish I would have gotten the 6.5 bed, but I got a good deal on it. Being the XLT trim it has all the options I need and nothing extra. I really like the cooled seats which made a huge difference in Arizona.

Mine also has the FX4 package and max tow package (36 gallon tank and better gearing) which I am glad I got.

I have to say that of all the vehicles I've ever owned that I daily drove, this F150 is my favorite. I really, really like it!

I'm shocked at how comfortable it drives.

B1Toad · Jul 31, 2025

Thanks Chris, do you have the 10 speed or the 6 speed?

Chris · Jul 31, 2025

B1Toad said:
Thanks Chris, do you have the 10 speed or the 6 speed?

10-speed

I really love the 10-speed too. I can barely feel it shift and it seems like it's got the right gear for every scenario.

You'll hear good and bad stuff about the 10-speed but I think there are certain years that were affected. That and I change the transmission fluid / filter every 30k miles. Ford says every 150k miles but that's a joke, of course.

I have yet to find a single thing about this truck that I don't like. I can see why the F150 is the number one selling pickup in America.

I haven't driven the 2.7 Ecoboost but the 3.5 is just loaded with power. I absolutely love it! I am confident I could smoke most vehicles on the road fairly easily with the transmission in sport mode.

Rubeyu · Jul 31, 2025

I love my 2020 Raptor. The Fox Live Valve Shocks are incredible both on and off road. 450Hp and if I drive it nice i can still get 17-18 MPG. I can tell you the only downside has been the 10R80 Transmission. I bought the truck new and about 20k miles the trans developed strange shifting habits and after a number of warranty trips and another Warranty Repair at 50,000 miles with the cost of $10K thankfully under warranty it's running fine. If you plan to buy used drive the truck with the Tow/Haul off pay and attention to the shift points between 3rd and 5th Gear if it upshifts or downshifts hard it's likley got a problem. The easy repair is they replace the valve body and reprogram it. The Big repair is the valve body and CDF Drum which is basically most the goodies inside the trans.

B1Toad · Jul 31, 2025

It sure looks good. I like the chrome grill. I'm looking a 2WD and boring white. I wanted the 6.5 foot bed and the shorter cab and they are extremely rare.

B1Toad · Jul 31, 2025

It's going to be really hard for me to give up my 7.3 though. I've kept her mint all these years but I just don't use it anymore, and for hotel style travel it's too much of a theft magnet.

B1Toad · Jul 31, 2025

Rubeyu said:
I love my 2020 Raptor. The Fox Live Valve Shocks are incredible both on and off road. 450Hp and if I drive it nice i can still get 17-18 MPG. I can tell you the only downside has been the 10R80 Transmission. I bought the truck new and about 20k miles the trans developed strange shifting habits and after a number of warranty trips and another Warranty Repair at 50,000 miles with the cost of $10K thankfully under warranty it's running fine. If you plan to buy used drive the truck with the Tow/Haul off pay and attention to the shift points between 3rd and 5th Gear if it upshifts or downshifts hard it's likley got a problem. The easy repair is they replace the valve body and reprogram it. The Big repair is the valve body and CDF Drum which is basically most the goodies inside the trans.

That's why I'm only considering 10R80s built after August 15, 2022. The truck I'm considering has a build date in November of 2022. But I'll take your advice and pay attention to the shifts, I think I'll go drive it again tomorrow although I don't want to show too much love towards it it as we haven't discussed money yet. Todays drive was in normal mode and I didn't notice anything but I wasn't really looking, I did note the 1-3 shift which apparently is normal but bothers some people.

Apparition · Jul 31, 2025

B1Toad said:
That's why I'm only considering 10R80s built after August 15, 2022. The truck I'm considering has a build date in November of 2022. But I'll take your advice and pay attention to the shifts, I think I'll go drive it again tomorrow although I don't want to show too much love towards it it as we haven't discussed money yet. Todays drive was in normal mode and I didn't notice anything but I wasn't really looking, I did note the 1-3 shift which apparently is normal but bothers some people.

View attachment 634050

You can always get extended warranty through Granger for a reasonable price on used vehicles.

Rubeyu · Jul 31, 2025

You might ask for an oil sample for the trans. When they took mine apart the valve body was contaminated with metal that lead them check the drum which was bad. Ford did say that all the new parts were updated versions maybe to make me feel better.

LJBean · Jul 31, 2025

I've got a '21 F150 Powerboost and love it. The ride is awesome and like Chris said, that 3.5 will definitely get out of its own way. The hybrid wasn't really something I was looking for, but it gets around 22-23 mpg no matter what - stop and go city or on the highway.

I also like having the 4x4. Not that it gets a ton of off road time, but I visit a lot of construction sites in all weather conditions, and it definitely helpful on rain slick roads. Oh and when flipping it into sport mode to catch that gap in traffic from a stop sign. I'm really happy with it.

10 sp tranny.

DirtDawg · Jul 31, 2025

I factory ordered this 2014 F150 S-Cab FX4 with 6.5' bedbox (last of steel-bodied, made in Dearborn) as my own version of a "More Practical Raptor", being one of very few equipped with Boss 6.2L (same 411 hp/434 torque). Subsequently scored fresh OEM Raptor catback (which bolts directly) as well as cast aluminum Raptor sideboards (desert racer takeoffs), followed by more sleeper mods. Absolutely no OEM badging indicating what's under the hood. Today, 11 yrs later, only has 22k trouble free miles (never a daily driver). With OEM 3.73 eLocker gearing and OEM-size 32" tires, has quite the punch requiring a light throttle foot on takeoff, yet typically returns high teens or better mpg. Attaching very old pic, however remains in the same pristine condition today. No EcoBoost Coolaid for this old boy - then or now...

gasiorv · Aug 1, 2025

I just want to see a pic of the 7.3 crew cab long bed. That is my dream truck. With big ol cowboy mirrors I hope.

Apparition · Aug 1, 2025

gasiorv said:
I just want to see a pic of the 7.3 crew cab long bed. That is my dream truck. With big ol cowboy mirrors I hope.

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/ford-f150.86354/post-1772324

jeepguy03 · Aug 1, 2025

Chris said:
10-speed

I really love the 10-speed too. I can barely feel it shift and it seems like it's got the right gear for every scenario.

You'll hear good and bad stuff about the 10-speed but I think there are certain years that were affected. That and I change the transmission fluid / filter every 30k miles. Ford says every 150k miles but that's a joke, of course.

I have yet to find a single thing about this truck that I don't like. I can see why the F150 is the number one selling pickup in America.

I haven't driven the 2.7 Ecoboost but the 3.5 is just loaded with power. I absolutely love it! I am confident I could smoke most vehicles on the road fairly easily with the transmission in sport mode.

Maintenance is key with these things. Don't listen to the manufacturer with modern vehicles. Transmission fluid every 30-40k miles, and synthetic engine oil every 5k especially on direct injection turbo charged engines.

B1Toad · Aug 1, 2025

Starting to get discouraged. I found some great trucks and drove them around and parked them and came to the realization that the F150 is "not" downsizing for me, it's the same width as my Superduty and only a couple feet shorter, and a better turning radius, but it just doesn't make a good daily driver for me. I'd just be trading one big truck for another and the one I have now is perfectly fine.

So I have to ask myself, do I "really" need a full size truck at this point in my life? I've always had one but my needs have diminished greatly. I likely won't ever need to camp in one again since we have the motor home now, and I'm retired except for some rental maintenance that I could do with a small truck, plus I have a small trailer.

Since the main goal is daily driver and highway comfort I'm going to look at a Ranger which is quite a bit smaller than the F150. If I fit OK in one then I'll need to start the engine/transmission research on those next.

Being tall and long torsoed finding a comfortable vehicle has always been a challenge and the side curtain airbags don't help.

bbaldwin237 · Aug 1, 2025

I have a 2023 3.5 10 speed for work and it's been a great truck. Terrible mileage while towing, but plenty of power. A friend had a 2.7 around that 2015 range that blew up as round 100k miles. I can't speak to anything other than that, just seems like a lot to ask of a small displacement motor. But I'm also a V8 guy myself.

cliffish · Aug 1, 2025

jeepguy03 said:
Maintenance is key with these things. Don't listen to the manufacturer with modern vehicles. Transmission fluid every 30-40k miles, and synthetic engine oil every 5k especially on direct injection turbo charged engines.

100% correct.

suicideking · Aug 1, 2025

I had a 2018 F150 STX with the 2.7 for a few years. No complaints, but only had it for 3+ years or so. Traded it because my wife wanted a 2019 Expedition with the 3.5 in 2021.

Wife's Expedition needed cam phasers at about 55K. Luckily it was still under warranty. Then once the warranty expired, it needed a new trans. Talked with service since it has known issues, and should be a recall. They covered 60% of the cost. So the new trans ended up being $4500 out of pocket.

The 3.5 and 2.7 have nice power. Though cam phasers are expensive if out of warranty. So might consider the V8, seems like it would be less of a maintenance issue, but less power. Replaced a 2011 F150 V8 with the 2.7. 2.7 had more power.

Apparition · Aug 1, 2025

B1Toad said:
Starting to get discouraged. I found some great trucks and drove them around and parked them and came to the realization that the F150 is "not" downsizing for me, it's the same width as my Superduty and only a couple feet shorter, and a better turning radius, but it just doesn't make a good daily driver for me. I'd just be trading one big truck for another and the one I have now is perfectly fine.

So I have to ask myself, do I "really" need a full size truck at this point in my life? I've always had one but my needs have diminished greatly. I likely won't ever need to camp in one again since we have the motor home now, and I'm retired except for some rental maintenance that I could do with a small truck, plus I have a small trailer.

Since the main goal is daily driver and highway comfort I'm going to look at a Ranger which is quite a bit smaller than the F150. If I fit OK in one then I'll need to start the engine/transmission research on those next.

Being tall and long torsoed finding a comfortable vehicle has always been a challenge and the side curtain airbags don't help.

That is a good point, the F-series all use the same cab.

Ranger Raptor would be fun.

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