2015 Ford Super Duty F-450

Mark Williams, of Pickuptrucks.com, checks out the 2015 Ford Super Duty F-450.

Low-Pro Harbor WorkMaster On E350 Cutaway Packs It In

Joseph shows off a unit just built at Harbor Truck Bodies. This one is a Low-Pro Harbor WorkMaster on a single rear wheel E350 Cutaway Chassis. The Cutaway chassis has a number of advantages. First, it is lower to the ground because of the way the frame is designed. Second, this one has a very similar wheelbase to that of an 8' pickup truck, and yet this has a 10' body. This means that you can have about the same footprint, but carry much more cargo.


With the Low-Pro body, this allows entrance to almost anywhere that a regular cargo van can go, and yet, again, this has a lot of storage for parts, tools, and other equipment.


See more about the Harbor WorkMaster at http://www.htbi.net.

All-new Ford F-150 takes on Ram and Silverado in an uphill towing battle

Even though the new 2.7L EcoBoost is up against much larger engines from Dodge and Chevy, it rises to the occasion in a grueling uphill competition.

2015 F150 Reveals Two Powertrains

We've been hearing about new all-aluminum 2015 Ford F-150 since the beginning of the year when it was revealed at the 2014 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, but details on the truck's engines have been kept under wraps. Ford is now slowly beginning to peel back the layers of secrecy surrounding two of the F-150's powertrains, releasing some (but not all) specifications for the standard 3.5-liter V-6 engine and the brand-new turbocharged 2.7-liter EcoBoost motor.

The new standard V-6 will provide 283 horsepower and 255 pounds-feet of torque, enabling the base 2015 F-150 to tow 7,600 pounds and carry a payload of 1,910 pounds. This is a best-in-class tow rating for V-6 light-duty pickups, according to Ford. But the more interesting power option comes in the form of the new turbocharged 2.7-liter EcoBoost V-6, which is rated at 325 hp and 375 pounds-feet of torque. It's as powerful as most other truckmakers' midrange V-8 engines and enables an F-150 equipped with the 2.7-liter engine to pull 8,500 pounds and haul a payload of up to 2,250 pounds. The company believes that this is likely to be its volume engine, comprising fully half of its expected engine mix. It makes sense, Ford said, given that 85 percent of F-150 buyers tow less than 8,500 pounds and carry a payload less than 2,000 pounds.

Ford demonstrated the efficacy of the new 2.7-liter motor through a comparison with three competitors: the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado with its midrange 5.3-liter V-8, the 2014 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel with its 3.0-liter turbo-diesel V-6 and the 2015 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 (an unusual choice) featuring a 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine.

The company showed a video at a special news conference at the company's headquarters in Dearborn, Mich., that showed the 2.7-liter-equipped 2015 F-150 out-performing the Ram EcoDiesel up the Davis Dam run in northern Arizona, and besting the Chevy in two out of three runs up the same steep grade while towing a 7,000-pound enclosed trailer. The Toyota was included as a demonstration of what the an engine of comparable displacement can achieve — the 2.7-liter EcoBoost produces 166 more hp and 195 pounds-feet more torque than the big four-cylinder in the Toyota.

Sadly, no fuel economy numbers were made available by Ford; those are likely being reserved for yet another press conference in the near future. Ford did, however, demonstrate something that the public has been asking to see for months — a direct weight comparison between the outgoing truck and the new one. Ford had two F-150 Lariat models on display, one a 2014 crew cab with the 5.0-liter V-8, and the other a comparably equipped 2015 model with the 2.7-liter EcoBoost V-6. Both trucks were rolled onto electric scales, with the 2014 model weighing in at 5,674 pounds, while the new 2015 model totaled just 4,942 pounds, a difference of 732 pounds. Ford spokesman Mike Levine said that even if the 2015 had been equipped with a comparable 5.0-liter V-8, the difference would have been just 25 pounds less.

Stay tuned for more F-150 news and specs (hopefully including some fuel economy ratings) as the year progresses.

To see the video and the press release, click here.

Images from manufacturer


by Mark Williams, .www.pickuptrucks.com/

Low-Pro Harbor WorkMaster On E350 Cutaway Packs It In

Joseph shows off a unit just built at Harbor Truck Bodies. This one is a Low-Pro Harbor WorkMaster on a single rear wheel E350 Cutaway Chassis. The Cutaway chassis has a number of advantages. First, it is lower to the ground because of the way the frame is designed. Second, this one has a very similar wheelbase to that of an 8' pickup truck, and yet this has a 10' body. This means that you can have about the same footprint, but carry much more cargo.


With the Low-Pro body, this allows entrance to almost anywhere that a regular cargo van can go, and yet, again, this has a lot of storage for parts, tools, and other equipment.


See more about the Harbor WorkMaster at http://www.htbi.net.

12' Harbor Contractor Body On Ford F450 Tour

Here's a tour of a new 12' Harbor Contractor Body mounted on a new Ford F450 chassis. The Contractor Body is a very popular body for all the reasons explained in the video and more. See more about Northside Ford Trucks at http://www.northsidetrucks.com

Capability and Style: 2015 Ford Expedition Ready for the Open Road with EcoBoost Engine, Advanced Technology

•     2015 Ford Expedition is the most powerful, fuel-efficient Expedition ever, with a 3.5-liter EcoBoost® V6 engine and SelectShift® six-speed transmission under the hood
•     Advanced technology in new Expedition includes standard electric power-assisted steering, SYNC® with available MyFord Touch®, available Blind Spot Information System® with cross-traffic alert, and continuously controlled damping to give drivers control of ride performance
•     Already a leader in cargo space and towing capability, new Expedition is now more luxurious, with new Platinum model added for 2015

The new 2015 Ford Expedition is a full-size utility vehicle for consumers who want capability, class-leading maximum cargo space in the extended-length version and the latest advanced technologies.

The 2015 Expedition goes on sale later this year with a refreshed new look, a 3.5-liter EcoBoost® V6 engine that also powers the industry-leading Ford F-150, and a quieter cabin with more technology than previous-generation vehicles. It will be the latest Ford nameplate to offer a high-end Platinum series.

“Customers still have a need for a traditional full-size utility vehicle and the new 2015 Expedition delivers what those customers are looking for,” said Keith Wilson, Expedition marketing manager. “These are Ford’s more affluent customers who won’t compromise – they want space, performance, comfort and capability all in one impressive package.”

Expedition, which debuted in 1996, is Ford’s largest utility vehicle, with seating for eight. The standard 2015 Expedition, one of two versions available, has three rows of seats and up to 108.3 cubic feet of cargo space. It sits on a 119-inch wheelbase, making it a little more than 6 inches longer than Ford Explorer. A longer-wheelbase version – 131 inches – has three rows of seats and best-in-class maximum cargo space of 130.8 cubic feet.
2015 Ford Expedition

Expedition will continue to feature an independent rear suspension to deliver a more confident ride and great handling characteristics. The suspension also allows a more convenient fold-flat third-row bench seat and low load-floor height.

The new Expedition features the latest technologies, including available SYNC® with MyFord Touch®, passive entry with push-button start and Blind Spot Information System® with cross-traffic alert. The new 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine, using direct injection and twin turbochargers, provides more power, efficiency and performance than the 5.4-liter V8 in the current model. In response to customer demand, Ford will introduce a top-of-the-line Platinum series Expedition with unique, refined interior appointments.

“Ford is building on a successful tradition of Expedition capability and quality with significant improvements in design, performance, efficiency and technology to bring customers a full-size utility they want to get into when hitting the open road,” said Wilson.

Improved on the road
The 2015 Expedition was engineered to be a technologically advanced utility that is easy to drive and offers refinement for all types of drivers.

“The EcoBoost engine will bring increased torque and horsepower that will excite our customers,” said David Cantrell, Ford assistant chief program engineer for Expedition. “Thanks to improved efficiencies and an independent rear suspension, the 2015 Expedition is not only more fun to drive, it’s also easier to own.”

The 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 will be the only engine offered in Expedition in North America. To maximize performance and control, the vehicle will be equipped with a six-speed SelectShift® automatic transmission featuring a manual mode that allows the driver to use a shift-mounted rocker switch to select the desired gear.
2015 Ford Expedition

With the new powerplant, Expedition will be among the full-size SUV leaders for capability, generating 365 horsepower and 420 lb.-ft. of torque. Add best-in-class maximum cargo space for the extended-length version and available best-in-class towing of up to 9,200 pounds when properly equipped, and customers will find a truly useful utility vehicle.

With the launch of the 2015 model, Expedition also becomes the first Ford nameplate to offer a continuously controlled damping suspension that allows drivers to select from three drive modes – comfort, normal and sport.

A suite of sensors detects 46 unique body, steering and braking inputs. By monitoring Expedition body motion, the system can automatically adjust damping in milliseconds. Continuously controlled damping technology analyzes the weight of the vehicle, steering feedback and road undulations and reacts accordingly to help control wheel and body motions so passengers experience an orderly, comfortable ride. A vehicle with poor damping feels as if it’s bouncing on the suspension springs.

The new Expedition also features Ford’s innovative electric power-assisted steering, which gives drivers improved maneuverability at low speeds and better feel at high speeds, and helps save fuel by operating more efficiently than traditional pump-driven systems. The technology, which has been tuned specifically for the new model, reduces steering effort and makes Expedition more engaging to drive.

Quiet driving experience
With the vehicle’s capability and cargo space comes a cabin customers will find to be even quieter than the current Expedition. A host of changes helps minimize noise. These include improved seals on the body that reduce air leaks by 20 percent.

New sound dampening material in the cabin pillars improves quietness. The material is also packed into the center console to further reduce unwanted road and engine noise.
2015 Ford Expedition

More sound deadening material has been added to the headliner and door trim panels, while the cabin features new carpeting that is able to better absorb sounds. New sound insulation used in the wheel wells also helps create a quieter experience.

Finally, acoustic glass – which debuted on Expedition in 2007 – is used for the windshield across all trim levels to reduce undesirable interior noise. Limited, King Ranch and Platinum trim levels include acoustic glass for driver and passenger side windows.

More technology customers want
The new Expedition debuts with popular technology upgrades consumers are now demanding, including available SYNC with MyFord Touch and driver-assist features such as radar-based Blind Spot Information System with cross-traffic alert.

The updated interior of Expedition incorporates a fresh center stack to accommodate new technologies, including an available 8-inch touch screen for SYNC with MyFord Touch that features driver information in the gauge cluster shown on two full-color 4.2-inch screens.

Other available new technologies on the 2015 Expedition include a Sony® Audio System; passive entry with push-button start; rear view camera; front and rear parking sensors; seven-color, ambient interior LED lighting; and Ford truck apps to help make trailer towing and off-road driving easier.

Fresh style and design
The new Expedition takes full-size utility vehicle design to a higher level with a diverse lineup of vehicles, each featuring a distinct look and feel to give customers more choices. A Platinum trim series popular with F-Series truck buyers will be available on Expedition for the first time.                                                                   

With tailored, lush leather that’s soft and smooth to the touch, the Platinum series offers customers a choice: Brunello leather-appointed seats in a new red wine color with tuxedo-stripe accents and French-seamed stitching, or Ebony leather-appointed seats with Agate Gray accents.
2015 Ford Expedition

The 2015 Expedition lineup also includes XLT, Limited and King Ranch series. The design team incorporated specific themes to define the look for each series and reflect a different consumer lifestyle.

This thoughtful planning means customers can select from the sporty XLT; the confident, elegant Limited; the sophisticated, urban Platinum; or the rural, rugged King Ranch. Each series has unique finishes specially selected to reflect the lifestyle and desires of the customer. For example, Expedition Limited features refined yet traditional finishes, while Platinum colors and material finishes are fresh and sophisticated.

The Expedition exterior has been updated for 2015 with a front end design that features available halogen projector headlamps and LED fog lamps for a fresh, aggressive look.

Other exterior changes include an all-new wheel lineup topped by optional, factory-installed 22-inch polished aluminum wheels for Limited, King Ranch and Platinum; a revised rear hatch; and subtle, chrome-tipped exhaust.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 183,000 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 www.corporate.ford.com.

© 2014 The Ford Motor Company