2/28/15

Ford Transit: A build for nearly any application


Last year, Ford made a big splash in the light-duty van market with its all-new, full-size Ford Transit van, a North American offering that was backed by a $1.1 billion investment and 2,000 new employees at its Kansas City Assembly Plant. While Transit has been the van sales leader in the U.K. for the past 49 years—to date, more than seven million Transits have been sold in 118 markets on six continents since 1965—Transit marked a departure from Ford’s classic E-Series and has ushered in a new era for the industry-leading van manufacturer.

“Transit has been extremely well received, and the sales numbers tell much of that story,” says Yaroslav Hetman, Ford Transit, Transit Connect and E-Series brand manager. “In November 2014, Transit became the leader in the full-size bus and van sales segment. Transit was also the first unibody van to outsell the traditional body-on-frame vans, including E-Series, in the United States with a total of 4,851 sold in November. The trend continued in December 2014, with U.S. Transit sales reaching 10,030 units and contributing heavily to December being the best single month of Ford van sales since June 1999.”


Hetman attributed Transit’s rapid success in the van market to its flexibility, fuel economy and cargo capacity. Comparing that to E-Series, which Transit has replaced, Ford’s latest offering touts up to 75% more cargo volume, 600 lbs. more payload capability and as much as 46% better EPA-estimated fuel economy, when equipped with the 3.5L EcoBoost engine compared to the 6.8L V10 in the E-Series.

Fleet focus

“One of the advantages of Transit is that it can meet the needs of practically any van application—from package delivery to passenger transport,” Hetman explains. “In fact, Transit’s flexibility has allowed it to take on jobs that were unlikely to be previously handled by E-Series vans, like food trucks and general contractor mobile offices on major construction sites.”

In addition to the increased capability and fuel economy, one other factor that sets Transit apart is its range of configurations. Transit offers van, wagon, chassis cab and cutaway body styles, with three roof heights, three wheelbases, three body lengths and three engine choices, totaling 47 configurations available from the factory. If that weren’t enough, nine of Ford’s 12 approved ship-through upfitters have invested in new facilities within 20 miles of the Kansas City Assembly Plant that builds Transit—enabling Ford customers to customize their Transits with vocational upfits and to do so with unprecedented speed.

“When looking at our dealer orders, the most popular configuration so far has been the medium roof, long wheelbase option,” Hetman says. “It provides close to 30% more cargo capacity than the largest E-Series while at the same time still offering up to 46% better EPA-estimated fuel economy, when equipped with the 3.5L EcoBoost engine compared to the 6.8L V10 in the E-Series.”

Total cost of ownership (TCO) is a top focus of fleet managers regardless of fleet size, according to Hetman. Service after the sale is a significant portion of TCO, with every additional minute of downtime costing customers money. This is why Ford has built its Business Preferred Network of 635 dedicated commercial dealers—74% of commercial customers are located within 30 miles of a BPN dealer and more than 54% are within 10 miles of one. Additionally, Hetman explains that Transit can be serviced at any of the more than 3,000 Ford dealers nationwide.

Moving forward

Ford isn’t content with resting on its success last year. “The record-setting sales performance of Transit during its first six months on the market is just the beginning,” Hetman says. “We are committed to maintaining the title of America’s best-selling van manufacturer as we have done for the last 36 years.”



Source: http://www.fleetequipmentmag.com/ford-transit-van-application/



















Yaroslav Hetman, Ford Transit, Transit Connect
and E-Series brand

manager

2/26/15

Receiver Hitch by Spitz Lift





This Spitz Lift truck crane is perfect for tackling those heavy to liftitems when your on the job. Simple to use and extremely effective, start saving your back and time today.


Find out  more at  http://www.spitzlift.com/

2/24/15

All-New Ford F-150 Adds Tough New Snow Plow Prep Option Across All Cab Configurations



  •     The all-new 2015 Ford F-150 is expected to be the only light duty pickup with a manufacturer’s snow plow prep option across all cab configurations*
  •     F-150 owners with snow plow prep option can operate a plow installed via the aftermarket
  •     Maximum light-duty plow weight will be over 450 pounds

Winter warriors will have a tough new tool in their arsenal against Mother Nature with Ford’s new snow plow prep option, available on the all-new 2015 F-150. Ford is expected to be the only manufacturer to offer a light-duty snow plow prep option across all cab configurations – Regular, SuperCab and SuperCrew.*

When snow plow mode is activated via the push of a button, the vehicle temporarily turns off nonessential features to provide dedicated power for the plow.

The option package requires the truck be equipped with a 5.0-liter V8 engine and four-wheel drive, and is available across XL, XLT and Lariat trim levels.

“The new 2015 F-150 is the toughest F-150 ever, and by using more high-strength steel in its frame and advanced materials in the body, we’ve made the new truck up to 700 pounds lighter,” said Eric Peterson, Ford F-150 marketing manager. “This leads to more capability and better handling, which is exactly what you’d want for plowing. Adding a snow plow prep kit to our lineup helps ensure our customers have even more tools at their disposal to get the job done.”

Upon taking delivery of a new F-150 with the snow plow prep option, owners will need to take their truck to a Ford Qualified Vehicle Modifier to purchase and install the plow hardware. The maximum light-duty plow weight will be over 450 pounds.

Pricing for the snow plow prep option, excluding the plow, will be announced later this year. The all-new 2015 F-150 will arrive in dealerships at the end of 2014.

* When properly equipped. Class is Full-Size Pickups under 8,500 lbs. GVWR.

2/22/15

The Real Cost of Repairing an Aluminum Ford F-150 | Consumer Reports





Consumer Reports finds that the price to fix the aluminum body of thenew pickup is similar to what it costs to repair the steel-bodiedversion. The important thing to remember is to take it to a shop
certified by Ford in aluminum repair.

2/20/15

Service Department - Northside Ford Truck Sales, Inc.


Why come to our dealership for service?
  •     We have genuine expertise when it comes to your vehicle, which means your service or maintenance will be performed promptly, and done right
  •     We have Genuine Ford and Motorcraft Parts made specifically for your vehicle
  •     Our technicians are factory trained specialists on Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles
  •     We offer competitive prices on everything your vehicle needs
 Northside Ford Truck Sales, Inc.
6221 N E Columbia Blvd., Portland, OR 97218
Phone : (503) 282-7777
Hours Of Operation :
7.00 AM - 12.00 PM ( Monday - Friday )

Hours Of Operation :
8.00 AM - 4.00 PM ( Saturday - Saturday )

Maps and Directions  

2/18/15

Bedslide Products Advantages


BEDSLIDE uses only the highest quality components to manufacture a sliding tray that brings all your cargo right to you. Whether it’s your truck, van, SUV, utility box or trailer, the BEDSLIDE rolls out your gear and equipment safely and securely. The BEDSLIDE is about making your life easier. It’s not just a truck bed accessory to make your truck look better. It’s a truck bed accessory to make your truck WORK better.





DESIGN


Every BEDSLIDE is designed to function with the user in mind. The handle is  ergonomically designed to safely function keeping your hands and fingers away from the dangerous pinch points. Decking: No cheap grade rubber mat here....we use the tough BEDSLIDE-signature TPO deck service for best durability. EXCLUSIVE only to BEDSLIDE, the first truly composite and weather-PROOF decking material to the MAX and HD models.


QUALITY


The fully-engineered BEDSLIDE has been cycle tested to over twice our warranty and 4 times our weight claims by, SGS, an international and independent third party testing facility in New Jersey. Our steel hard linkage latching mechanism is the toughest you'll find. We've removed inexpensive roller bearings from all load-bearing points and have invested in KR40 CAM FOLLOWERS (rated at over 2 tons dynamic capacity EACH) on EVERY BEDSLIDE. (this is not a typo) ALL BEDSLIDES go through a rigorous 5-stage wash and powder-coating finishing providing the highest grade and longest-term protection against the elements.


BACKED UP BY A 5 YEAR WARRANTY




GUARANTEE


We build BEDSLIDE/Takit products to work as hard as you do. To make sure they’re doing just that, we offer a comprehensive 5-YEAR warranty on ALL BEDSLIDE products to help you sleep at night. Top to bottom, nuts to bolts.  If you find something wrong with it, contact us and we’ll arrange for the best resolution to your issue. Usually it’s an easy, quick and painless fix. If it’s something that requires a repair or exchange, we will be happy to walk you through the best solution. It’s that easy. Seriously, we live for customer service. Just follow the steps listed below and we will determine the best course of action to make your BEDSLIDE right.


• Call us toll free at 888-807-0099 or email csr@bedslide.com.  Be sure to have your serial number, receipt of purchase, place and date of purchase handy when you call. Before you call check out our FAQ page, the answer might be found that easy. Don't forget to register your BEDSLIDE.


LIMITATIONS


We know the BEDSLIDE is a piece of equipment that might get a little abused every once in a while. We build them tough enough to do that. Even as tough as the BEDSLIDE is, there are a few things this warranty just cannot cover: misuse, exceeding the respective weight capacity rating, corrosion, alterations that modify the BEDSLIDE design and function, improper installation, damage due to accidents, and / or lack of care and maintenance. Other than that, if you are the original owner, we’ve got you covered.


Find out more at: http://www.bedslide.com/


2/16/15

Ford EcoBoost Challenge Returns in March for 17-City Test-Drive Tour; Participants Eligible to Win All-New Ford Edge

  •      Ford EcoBoost® Challenge gives consumers across America a fun and free weekend opportunity to test drive the hottest and most innovative Ford products and features
  •     For 2015, EcoBoost Challenge expands to 17 cities, and provides participants a chance to win an EcoBoost-powered 2015 Ford Edge

  •     EcoBoost Challenge features the most highly anticipated Ford models, including all-new 2015 F-150 and Mustang; consumers can register at ecoboostdrive.com
Ford Motor Company is once again giving fans and potential customers in 17 cities across America a chance to get behind the wheel of its latest products, with its third EcoBoost® Challenge consumer drive tour launching next month.


EcoBoost Challenge expands to 17 cities in 2015, and will provide five unique drive experiences in Ford products. In a new incentive this year, participants will have an opportunity to win an EcoBoost-powered 2015 Ford Edge, and can earn additional entries in the sweepstakes by bringing guests with them to the event.


Kicking off March 7 at Miami’s Sun Life Stadium, EcoBoost Challenge gets consumers behind the wheel of some of Ford’s most popular vehicles, including back-to-back drives with competitor vehicles. More than 28,000 people took part in last year’s EcoBoost Challenge.


“With EcoBoost engines now available across 100 percent of our U.S. light-duty lineup, the EcoBoost Challenge lets consumers experience this innovative technology that helps Ford deliver better fuel economy with a more engaging driving experience than the competition,” said Michele Bartlett, Ford group marketing manager for large cars and SUVs. “Not only is the EcoBoost Challenge a lot of fun, but getting people in the driver’s seat is the best way for them to experience the craftsmanship, innovation and performance of the Ford lineup.”


2015 EcoBoost Challenge participants will have a chance to drive some of Ford’s most anticipated new models, including the all-new 2015 Ford Mustang and all-new 2015 Ford F-150 – the toughest, smartest, most capable F-150 ever. Also on hand will be the all-new 2015 Ford Edge, new 2015 Expedition, plus Escape, Fusion Hybrid and Transit Connect Wagon.


With its new 2.7-liter EcoBoost engine with standard Auto Start-Stop, the 2015 Ford F-150 resets the bar in light-duty pickup truck performance, capability and efficiency, with class-leading EPA-estimated ratings for gasoline-powered full-size pickups. The 2015 Ford Mustang features an all-new available 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine, and the 2015 Ford Edge comes standard with a twin-scroll 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder or an available 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6.


At this year’s event, EcoBoost Challenge participants can take part in the ST Reaction Time Challenge, testing their reflexes in both Fiesta ST and Focus ST, and driving the all-new 2015 F-150 and Edge against the competition. A dedicated course for the all-new 2015 Mustang EcoBoost will highlight the model’s elevated performance and handling. A Street Drive will highlight Ford’s innovative park assist technologies, and hybrid fans will have an opportunity to put the Fusion Hybrid through its paces.


As an added bonus, the 2015 EcoBoost tour also includes a “ShiftPhobia” boot camp giving consumers a hands-on clinic on the basics of driving a manual – complete with on-course driving instruction from a professional driver.


By combining advanced engine technologies such as turbocharging, direct injection and variable valve timing, Ford EcoBoost engines can help customers conserve fuel without sacrificing power. In North America, EcoBoost sales make Ford the leader in turbocharged direct-injected gasoline engines in high-volume passenger vehicles such as Fusion, F-150, Edge and Escape. For 2015, 100 percent of Ford’s U.S. light-duty vehicle lineup is available with an EcoBoost engine.


2015 EcoBoost Challenge events will take place on Saturdays in March, April, May and June in the 17 cities listed below. Each venue will feature four closed-course setups, plus the street-based park assist route, including an ST Reaction Time Challenge layout, a dedicated Mustang EcoBoost course, “ShiftPhobia” manual transmission driving instruction, and an EcoBoost Challenge Drive allowing participants to drive Ford products against the competition.


Participants must register. Pre-registration is live now at ecoboostdrive.com. Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Events are open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in most markets. Locations and dates are:


    Miami: Sun Life Stadium, March 7

    Los Angeles: Santa Anita Park, March 14

    Dallas: AT&T Stadium, March 21

    Washington, D.C.: FedEx Field, March 28

    Houston: NRG Park, April 18

    Louisville, Kentucky: Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium, April 25

    Phoenix: WestWorld, May 2

    Concord, North Carolina: Charlotte Motor Speedway, May 2

    Seattle: Emerald Downs, May 9

    Chicago: Arlington Park, May 9

    Cincinnati: Forest Fair Village Mall, May 30

    Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh International Race Complex, May 30

    Orlando, Florida: Orange County Convention Center, June 6

    Philadelphia: Wells Fargo Center, June 6

    San Francisco: Oakland Alameda Coliseum, June 13

    Rochester, New York: Monroe Community College, June 13

    Minneapolis: Mall of America, June 20


2/14/15

2011 Ford F550 XL



Stock No:    C2926
Our Price:    $43,000
Special Price:    $36,000
Mileage:    46,821
Engine:    V10
Fuel:    Gasoline
Transmission:    Automatic
Drivetrain:    RWD
Exterior Color:    White
Body Style:    4 Door

There isn't a cleaner 2011 Ford F-550SD than this all-around-performance champ. This very practical F-550SD can haul all your stuff in comfort and safety and still have room to spare. New Car Test Drive called it ... the largest mass-market pickup truck you can get offered in the widest array of configurations and most of the highest ratings that pickup truck bragging wars often revert to. It is more than capable of handling all reasonable recreational or commercial needs and a honest thoughtful appraisal of your needs will give you the best value... This big truck is nicely equipped with features such as 12 Foot Flat Bed 19500# GVWR Package 4 Wheel Anti Lock Brakes 4.88 Limited Slip Rear Axle 6.8L V10 SMPI SOHC 30V Air Conditioning AM FM CD Player Automatic Chassis Driver/Passenger Air Bags F-550 SuperDuty XLT DRW Front Tow Hooks Hydraulic Liftgate Interval Wipers Molded Cab Steps Oxford White Payload Plus Package Power Doord Locks Power Heated Signal Mirrors Power Steering Power Windows Rear Privacy Glass Remote Keyless Entry Roof Clearance Lights Speed Control Tilt Steering Wheel and Upfitter Switches. We will never be undersold!

Autocheck
Watch a video about this 2011 Ford F550 XL

    Dual Rear Wheels
    Anti-Lock Brakes
    Bucket Seats
    Cruise Control
    Power Locks
    Power Windows
    AM/FM/CD
    Tachometer
    Side Impact Airbags
    Power Mirrors
    Pass Depowered Air
    Traction Control
    Vinyl Flooring

    Foldaway Mirrors
    4 Wheel Disc Brakes
    Air Conditioning
    Cloth Seats
    Power Brakes
    Power Steering
    Tilt Steering
    Remote Keyless Entry
    Dual Air Bags
    Tow Package
    Outside Temp Gauge
    Electric Trailer Brake
    Heated Mirrors

Subject to Rrior Sale/
Call Northside Ford Truck Sales at:
800-757-4535.


2/12/15

Ford F-150, Focus Electric Named Greenest Vehicles by American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy


•F-150 with 2.7L EcoBoost named greenest standard pickup

•Focus Electric named one of 12 greenest vehicles overall


The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) named the F-150 and Focus Electric among the most environmentally-friendly vehicles for consumers in 2015. The F-150 with 2.7L EcoBoost was named the greenest standard pickup, and the Focus Electric was named as one of the 12 overall greenest vehicles on the market.


The Ford C-Max Hybrid was named a “Greener Choice” for 2015 as well.

To learn more, please visit Greenercars.org.


About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Michigan, manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 189,000 employees and 65 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit corporate.ford.com.

2/10/15

2017 Ford F-150 Raptor: First Look



Ford pulled the wraps off one of the worst-kept secrets at the 2015 North American International Auto Show in Detroit with the reintroduction of the all-new 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor (no more SVT in the name). The Raptor will be available in fall 2016 and will have quite a few significant modifications.

The look of the gen-two Raptor echoes the original, with 6-inch-wider front and rear wide-mouth fender flares to house the 35-inch BFG All-Terrain tires. The front grille has been reshaped with new materials and gives the Ford nameplate more prominence.



The biggest news is under the hood, where a significantly improved 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 will produce more power than ever before. All Ford would tell us is that it will be more than 411 horsepower and 434 pounds-feet of torque, which is the rating for the Raptor's previously available 6.2-liter V-8 engine option. We've also been told that equivalent Raptors (2014 versus 2017) will have a weight difference of approximately 500 pounds due in large part to the new F-150 Raptor exterior (body panels, cab and bed) being made out of aluminum.

Mated to this new motor will be an all-new 10-speed transmission, which will be the first application of the unit; it will likely spread to other F-150 models throughout the lineup.

Another first for the Raptor, and likely for the entire F-150 lineup, will be the use of a smarter, more sophisticated terrain management system that will allow the driver to make off-road performance changes to the truck via a terrain control center. The new system will allow the driver to select between six modes to give the vehicle the best chance to conquer any challenges that may come on extreme rock trails, high-speed desert courses, at the track or in slushy snow. The modes are Normal, Street, Weather (for rain, snow and ice), Mud-Sand, Baja and Rock.

Thankfully, Ford has upgraded the Fox shock package to give the Raptor even more heat-dissipation strength and capability. Of course, the full length of the F-150's frame has been redesigned for added strength and durability.

The Raptor took a hiatus for the 2015 and 2016 model years to give the Dearborn Truck Plant in Michigan time to get settled. The new Raptors will only be made in Dearborn, as before, and it will be a long time before we hear anything about price.

To read the full press release, click here.

Manufacturer images

Source: http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2015/01/2017-ford-f150-raptor-first-look.html

2/08/15

Snow Plow Tripping: A Comparison of the BOSS XT vs DXT



Let’s face it snow plows are bound to encounter obstacles.  Those obstacles could include manhole covers, curbs, frozen snow banks and everything in between.  If you have been snowplowing for any period of time, you could probably add a few other items to that list.  Obstructions and obstacles are one of the unavoidable dangers of snowplowing.


As such, snow plow manufacturers design and build snow plows with trip protection technology to help protect the plow and truck from damage.  The tripping mechanism works in tandem with the snow plow’s pressure relief valves that are also designed to reduce the impact caused by obstructions.  BOSS Snowplows, including the BOSS XT & DXT, are specifically designed with one of three types of tripping systems:


    Trip-Edge Snow Plow:  Plows designed with a trip-edge will help reduce the impact on your plow should you hit an obstacle smaller than 6 inches high, these are commonly man-hole covers or large cracks in the pavement. When the trip-edge base angle hits these hidden obstructions, the base angle/edge of the plow trips backwards to “give way” to the object. This takes some of the force off of the entire plow, which means less impact to the plow itself, the front of your truck, and to you, the operator.  An example of a trip-edge snow plow is the BOSS Trip-Edge Super-Duty straight blade.


    Full-Moldboard Trip Snow Plow:  With a full-moldboard trip snowplow, should you hit an object taller than 6 inches, the entire moldboard trips forward to cushion the impact. This greatly reduces the force on the plow and truck and helps keep you and your equipment safe.  An example of a full-moldboard trip snow plow is the BOSS XT v-plow or the BOSS Super-Duty straight blade.


    Dual-Trip Snow Plow:  A plow with dual-trip protection has just what the name implies – two tripping systems.  In the case of a BOSS DXT snowplow, the plow is designed with both the trip-edge as well as the full-moldboard trip creating dual-trip protection.





As noted and reviewed above, BOSS manufactures two models of v-plows, the XT & the DXT each featuring a different trip design.  The XT v-blade is designed with a full-moldboard trip and the DXT v-blade with dual-trip protection.   One of the other main differences of these two blades is the cutting edge/base angle that is installed on new blades.  BOSS XT blades come installed with a high performance formed cutting edge while the DXT blade comes installed with a high performance trip-edge base angle that serves as the plows cutting edge until a certain wear point.  Once the trip-edge base angle on the DXT is worn down to the recommended wear point, a replacement cutting edge is bolted on and used as the wear edge.


In summary, the tripping mechanism and the wear edge are the main differences between the XT & DXT.  For a complete comparison you can view the product specification sheets:  XT | DXT.  In addition, the following video and infographic visually represents the differences between the two snowplows.






by Jodie Gilroy - Boss Snowplows


Source:  http://info.bossplow.com/blog/snow-plow-tripping-a-comparison-of-the-boss-xt-vs-dxt


2/06/15

Ford Adds 1,550 Jobs to Support Demand for All-New F-150; Hundreds of Entry-Level Workers to Attain 'New Traditional' Status

  •     Ford is adding 1,550 new jobs to its Kansas City Assembly, Dearborn Stamping, Dearborn Diversified and Sterling Axle facilities to meet growing demand for the all-new 2015 F-150 – the toughest, smartest, most capable F-150 ever
  •     As part of Ford’s commitment in the 2011 UAW-Ford collective bargaining agreement, approximately 300 to 500 workers – the first group of “new traditional” employees – will transition in the first quarter, based on attrition and growth, to $28.50 an hour
  •     The entry-level agreement has enabled Ford to invest more than $6.2 billion in its U.S. plants and hire more than 15,000 hourly UAW members – up from the 12,000 jobs that were promised by 2015 in the contract agreement
  •     In January, Ford F-Series had its strongest sales month since 2004; F-150 sits just 12 days on dealer lots – turning faster than any other Ford vehicle
As Ford ramps up production of the all-new F-150, the company today announced it will add 1,550 new jobs across its Kansas City Assembly, Dearborn Stamping, Dearborn Diversified and Sterling Axle facilities in the first quarter of 2015. The new jobs will support production and growing customer demand for the recently launched 2015 Ford F-150.


With these new jobs, Ford has reached its entry-level allowance outlined in the 2011 UAW-Ford collective bargaining agreement. As a result, approximately 300 to 500 workers – the first group of “new traditional” employees – will transition, based on attrition and growth, from their entry-level wage of $19.28 an hour to their new wage of $28.50 an hour. The majority of these employees work at Kansas City, Chicago and Louisville assembly facilities.


“Thanks to stronger than expected customer demand, we’re adding 1,550 new workers to support additional F-150 production,” said Joe Hinrichs, Ford president, The Americas. “These jobs are further proof that customers recognize the all-new F-150 as the toughest, smartest, most capable F-150 ever. We sell every truck we can build, and we plan to build more.”


Of the 1,550 new jobs, 900 are allocated for Kansas City Assembly and 500 will be added between Dearborn Stamping and Dearborn Diversified, with the remaining 150 jobs going to Sterling Axle. These jobs are in addition to the more than 5,000 hourly jobs Ford added across its U.S. manufacturing facilities in 2014.


“This is very exciting news and these additional jobs will have an impact in communities all across our nation,” said Jimmy Settles, UAW vice president and director, National Ford Department. “This also represents a major milestone for employees hired under the entry level agreement, as many will now begin to convert to ‘new traditional’ wage status, as negotiated in the 2011 collective bargaining agreement.”


The entry-level agreement negotiated as part of UAW-Ford collective bargaining has helped improve Ford’s competitiveness and enabled the company to invest more than $6.2 billion in its U.S. manufacturing facilities. Ford has hired more than 15,000 hourly UAW members – exceeding its goal of creating 12,000 hourly jobs in the United States by 2015.


Toughest, smartest, most capable F-150 ever

The all-new F-150 is the toughest, smartest and most capable F-150 ever – boasting a military-grade, aluminum-alloy body and high-strength steel frame, and shedding up to 700 pounds for a lighter, more efficient truck than any previous F-150.


These weight savings lead to customer benefits regardless of model configuration or engine choice. The innovative new truck can tow up to 1,100 more pounds and haul up to 530 more pounds than the 2014 model, and has the highest EPA-estimated fuel economy ratings of any full-size gasoline pickup on the market. When equipped with an available 2.7-liter EcoBoost® engine, the new F-150 4x2 has EPA-estimated fuel economy ratings of 19 mpg city, 26 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined. Actual mileage may vary.


Numerous groundbreaking features debuted in the all-new F-150, including these class-exclusives:

  •     360-degree camera view uses exterior cameras to create a bird’s-eye view of the truck to help drivers park, maneuver in tight spots, and navigate narrow roads and trails
  •     Integrated loading ramps enable easy loading of ATVs, motorcycles and mowers
  •     BoxLink™ cargo management system combines metal brackets and custom cleats to secure a variety of accessories in the cargo box – from ramps to storage bins to bed dividers
  •     Trailer hitch assist adds a new rearview camera feature that incorporates a dynamic line based on steering wheel angle in the display to help customers line up their truck and trailer with no spotter or need to exit the vehicle
  •     Remote tailgate allows for tailgate to be locked, unlocked and released with the key fob
To manufacture the all-new Ford F-150, the truck team designed an innovative process that includes the latest in advanced materials and in forming and joining technologies. 


The new manufacturing process called for the overhaul of both Dearborn Truck and Kansas City Assembly facilities. Dearborn Truck saw its largest manufacturing transformation in decades wherein legacy manufacturing equipment was replaced with the latest in production technology. Changeover at the facility was completed last fall. Kansas City Assembly is currently undergoing a similar renovation that is scheduled to be complete in early 2015.


Combined, the two plants will have capacity to produce more than 700,000 trucks per year for availability in 90 markets globally.


F-150 is part of Ford F-Series, celebrating its 38th straight year as America’s best-selling truck and 33rd straight year as America’s best-selling vehicle. Ford sold 753,851 trucks in 2014.


The all-new F-150 is off to a tremendous start. In January, Ford F-Series had its strongest sales month since 2004, which was the company’s best sales year for the F-150 ever. In the first month of 2015, F-150 sat just 12 days on dealer lots – turning faster than any other Ford vehicle. In addition, more than 1 million people have built and priced F-150 configurations on Ford’s website.

2/05/15

Why Barrick Gold Corp. Has Ordered 35 All-New Ford F-150s After Secretly Testing F-150 Aluminum Cargo Boxes


  •  Barrick Gold USA, one of three Ford customers chosen to blindly test two prototype F-150 pickups with experimental aluminum-alloy cargo boxes, has placed an initial order for 35 all-new 2015 F-150 trucks
  •     Barrick testing helped improve the all-new, high-strength, military-grade, aluminum-alloy-bodied F-150 – the toughest, smartest, most capable F-150 ever
  •     Barrick accumulated more than 100,000 miles on its two F-150 test vehicles, putting the trucks through the harshest challenges daily; workers would literally throw heavy pieces of equipment into the cargo bed, including large pumps, motors and specialty tools
After helping Ford torture test prototypes of aluminum pickup truck boxes, Barrick Gold USA is placing an initial order for 35 all-new F-150s – the toughest, smartest, most capable F-150 yet.

From 2013 to 2014, Barrick’s mining survey team drove two prototype F-150s with experimental aluminum-alloy cargo boxes through severe terrain at the company’s Bald Mountain and Cortez mines in Nevada. Now, Barrick is ready to replace its entire fleet of hundreds of 2012 F-150s – many of which have more than 100,000 miles on them.

“We are proud Barrick is purchasing all-new F-150s after testing early prototypes in some of the harshest conditions,” said Fritz Ahadi, Ford Commercial and Government Fleet Sales general manager. “This is terrific proof that even our toughest, most demanding customers recognize the benefits of high-strength, military-grade, aluminum alloy to help them get the job done.”

F-150s are used in all of Barrick’s U.S. gold mining operations – from initial exploration and mine support functions to land reclamation. Typical equipment the trucks haul includes compressors, pintle hitches – a special hitch used for heavy towing – and a variety of heavy-duty tools. Barrick is the world’s largest gold producer and operates six mines in the western United States.

“The F-150s see tough duty from operations supervisors, exploration field technicians, project managers, maintenance technicians and closure personnel,” said Rebecca Caudill, Barrick Gold USA fleet manager. “Many of the trucks go into extremely rugged conditions during the planning and mapping out of new projects, core drilling and daily mining operations. Our trucks will see 30,000 to 35,000 miles per year, accumulating well over 100,000 miles in the 40-to-45-month lease rotation.”

Barrick has ordered all-new F-150 SuperCab 4x4 models with the 3.5-liter V6 and 5.0-liter V8.

Barrick has been using F-150s and a variety of other Ford models for more than two decades, and plans to purchase additional trucks, totaling in the hundreds, in the future.

Watch this video illustrating how Barrick Gold uses its F-150s in its mining operations.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Michigan, manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 189,000 employees and 65 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit corporate.ford.com.

About Barrick Gold

Barrick is the world’s leading gold producer, with mines and advanced exploration and development projects on five continents. The company holds large land positions on some of the most prolific and prospective mineral trends. Our vision is to be the world’s best gold mining company by operating in a safe, profitable and responsible manner.

2/03/15

Smaller EcoBoost Packs a Punch Few V8's Can Match



After spending a lot of time with almost a dozen light-duty pickup trucks between our 2015 Light-Duty V-8 Challenge and 2015 Annual Physical during December 2014, we found there are a few things that deserve more attention.

It's worth calling out how impressive Ford's all-new 2.7-liter V-6 EcoBoost engine performed against full-size V-8 engines (although each of the V-8 crew-cab 4x4s that were in our V-8 Challenge were at least 500 pounds to 1,100 pounds heavier than the pickups in the Annual Physical). In full-out drag racing with empty beds, the little EcoBoost performed very close to the V-8s in both zero-to-60-mph and quarter-mile times. However, the benefits of the twin-turbos were really seen when it was running at wide-open throttle with a full payload of 1,240 pounds — it handily beat the Ram, Ford and Toyota V-8s.


It's also interesting to see how the Annual Physical's Ford Platinum F-150 with the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 and upgraded six-speed transmission compared with the V-8s in the Light-Duty Challenge, especially the dominant Chevrolet Silverado 1500 6.2-liter V-8 and GMC Sierra 1500 6.2-liter V-8, both of which had the all-new eight-speed transmission.

We are presenting the basic data here in separate charts, each comparing powertrains and weights. We've got a few more tests planned for both Ford's big and small EcoBoost engines as well as the all-new naturally aspirated base V-6.

Cars.com images by Evan Sears



Source: http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2015/01/smaller-ecoboost-packs-a-punch-few-v-8s-can-match.html

2/01/15

2017 F-150 Raptor’s EcoBoost V-6 to Make 450 hp, Says Ford’s Raj Nair



There’s a lot to be excited about with the all-new 2017 Ford Raptor: The weight-saving aluminum body. The crazy-cool combo 4WD/AWD drivetrain. And the EcoBoost twin-turbo V-6, which, Ford’s head of global product development, Raj Nair, says will kick out a walloping 450 horsepower.

The number-drop came during a Fox Sports TV interview at the 24 Hours of Daytona, and it confirms what Ford promised at the Raptor’s Detroit auto show debut—that the 3.5-liter V-6 in the new truck will crank out more power than the 6.2-liter V-8 in the current model. Asked to comment, a Ford spokesman would neither confirm nor deny Nair’s figure but pointed out that much calibration remains to be done before the truck’s showroom debut in 18 months.

Today’s Raptor makes a respectable 411 horses and 434 lb-ft of naturally aspirated torque. But the all-new EcoBoost V-6 that will appear under the 2017 model’s hood uses some serious tricks, including a complex anti-lag system and a combined port- and direct-injection setup, to crank out major power. That engine, which you can read all about here, will also go on to power the supercar 
Ford GT, meaning 450 horses is likely just the beginning.

So don’t sweat, pal. The V-8 may soon disappear from the Raptor, but it won’t be taking any performance with it when it goes. Ford’s insane muscle-truck will be just as bonkers as ever.


A version of this story originally appeared on roadandtrack.com.