F150

[Synchro909]

I heard on the news a couple of days ago that Ford is going to reintroduce the F150 into the Australian market but only after we design all of what's needed to convert it to RHD. The first round of F150s were terrible vehicles with all sorts of problems. They were after all, imported from a foreign country so we had no control over their quality. I certainly hope these second generation F150s are better than the first. It will be interesting to see how they rate on the safety ratings. When Ford closed down here in 2016, the Falcon, designed and built here had a safety rating of 5 stars along with Mercedes, Volvo, BMW etc. They were replaced with the Mustang which was given a rating of 2 stars and a towing capacity of zero - not even a bicycle rack on the back - too flimsy.
I find it strange that Ford Detroit banned Ford Australia from producing a LHD vehicle and now, we are being sent LHD vehicles for us to convert.
I assume Ford's market research tells them that the F150 will be successful here but I'm not so sure such a monster will sell enough. They will be expensive.
Time will tell.

[updraught]

Good for those that want to tow something large. Most vehicles here don't have the GVM, GCM and axle loads to tow anything substantial. The police are in the process of cracking down on it.

I'd have to knock down half the house to park it, and parking in a built up area would be a nightmare due to small parking spaces. So that leaves only country areas. Then 4wd tracks are too narrow for it. You would need to proceed with a bulldozer first. When trees fall on tracks, national parks only cut out a section to allow a medium size vehicle through. Nobody is quite sure why.

[panhead_pete]

Not sure what this has to do with Model A's but anything with a wider wheel base than Landcrruiser will fail.

[ronn]

well here in the US we now have the Maverick- a mini ford truck.

If you buy it with the larger engine for an additional 1500. you can pull 4000 IBS- which would work for me.

dumped my f150 in October when I saw what was happening with gas.
the retail for the truck is around 22500. and it sits on the escape platform.
if gas prices stay up- I can see the f150 trucks going by the wayside. Full sized trucks just arent efficient.

[LeonardS]

Trucks might be going away in New Jersey, but they won’t be going away in rural states. They are needed for hauling, towing, etc. We have more F150, F250, F350, 1500, 2500HD and 3500HD’s than cars in our state.

[AYooperA]

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Live in a rural area where large pickups are commonplace. It is somewhat a regional thing as well as what suits your towing and hauling needs. 2 lane roads, long winters, impaired drivers, heavy trucks I will stick with these as long as possible.

[Steve_Mack_CT]

Love my 2019, Supercab allows the Great Dane her own area which is a big plus!

[jack backer]

For the price of a new “bro-dozer” or “mall x 4” I could buy 3 or 4 model a’s, or 2 model A’s and a real pickup in nice shape from the late 60’s to early 70’s..I never realized how inadequate American goods are next to stuff from oz..

[dave in australia]

The F-150 will be competing in the same market as Ram and Chev Silverado, both of which are currently sold in Australia in RHD. They're good for towing a house, but for towing an open trailer with an A on top, the current dual cab 4WD's in Australia have more than enough GVM and GCM as well as torque/power to cope.

[ronn]

Well I agree full size pickups are the best, but if gas stays at 6-8. bucks a gallon, we'll see how long those big trucks will be around......

[LeonardS]

Originally Posted by ronn

Well I agree full size pickups are the best, but if gas stays at 6-8. bucks a gallon, we'll see how long those big trucks will be around......

The farmers here are used to putting 300-500 gallons of fuel in every tractor or combine every day they use them. Putting 35 gallons in a pickup is not going to stop them from buying one. There are always plenty of people with plenty of money to buy things. If big trucks aren’t around, then I guess every trailer, camper and boat manufacturer will have to go out of business also.

[ronn]

well Leonard,

as you know, the number of farmers in America is growing by the day......

[LeonardS]

Originally Posted by ronn

well Leonard,

as you know, the number of farmers in America is growing by the day......

The number of farmers isn’t growing, but the acres per farm certainly are. Most farmers here have 10,000-50,000 acres…….and they don’t care if pickups are $80,000 and diesel is $6.00, they have to get the work done to feed YOU!

[ronn]

my only point Leonard, is that farmers are a dying breed, as most of us here on the Barn.

dont take me to seriously.....

[LeonardS]

Originally Posted by ronn

my only point Leonard, is that farmers are a dying breed, as most of us here on the Barn.

dont take me to seriously.....

Have a great weekend!

[woofa.express]

Pickup Trucks which are otherwise called Utilities or Utes.

I live in a farming area where every farmer owns a ute. Most are fitted with a tray as compared to a tub. They have either a steel or wooden deck. I am not a farmer but have a ute fitted with a wooden deck so as my dog does not suffer burned feet in the summer and so items on the back don’t slide around as much. Most farmer’s utes are a little grubby, many have body dents or damage.
During holidays we get many urbane visitors to our little town. You can tell who is urbane and who is not. Urbane folk dress quite differently. Mostly always clean and wearing synthetic clothing. Many wear tee shirts with advertising written on the front or back or both sides. Mostly they have squeaky clean motor vehicles. I say mostly because some find a wet road to mess up their motorcars (and in doing so leave us with a road that needs grading before it is useful again). They are saying to their urbane mates “I’ve been to my country property” which is located in their imagination or otherwise say I’ve been out bush. It’s all bullshit of course. Country folk wish they would stay home.
Now there are those with big utes. The Ford F150 and even considerably bigger. They are always spotlessly clean. The owners don’t throw stuff in the back (always fitted with a tub as compared to a tray). They place it in carefully so as not to put a scratch on the paint work. So why do they own these hideous things. It is because they think they are important. It’s their ego. They think the bigger the ute, the bigger the status.
They also think it is important that they be seen in town but they are a nuisance there. They obstruct the view of drivers who are unfortunate to be parked next to them and attempting to reverse out of a park.
Now country folk such as farmers or drovers can attract attention as well. Status is to carry a dog on the back. Must be a working dog, preferably a Blue Healer, or two or more even better. Everyone loves useful dogs.

The picture is of a 1, a blue dog on the back of a ute, 2 more blue dogs, 3, whilst kangaroos don’t attract a great deal of attention with country folk, one riding in the back of a ute certainly would. And 4, the hideous (size) ute, 5, a ute with a normal Roo Bar and 6, a hideous Bull Bar is really only (again) to attract attention.
I guess my opinion will cause some rebuke with readers. Too bad.
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[mercman from oz]

Some late model F Series Ford Pick-ups seen locally. Need deep pockets to own one of these babies in Australia. They cost way over One Hundred Thousand Dollars.

[ronn]

if Im not mistaken, the pay scale in Australia is about 20% higher then the US?

Just trying to figure apples to apples

[jack backer]

Bro Dozers..spend 98% of the time doing what you can do in a Kia..

[ronn]

speaking of rice burners.......