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Cutting 700 Pounds from the 2015 Ford F150 Won't Reduce Capabilities

Since the 2015 Ford F150 was introduced at the 2014 North American Auto Show in Detroit, the news that the next generation half ton Ford pickup would weigh 700 pounds less has some F Series fans concerned that the upcoming trucks won’t be able to work as hard as the current models – but I am here to assure you that there will not be any reduction in capabilities due to weight reduction.

The world of social media affords me the luxury of speaking regularly with car guys all over the country and since it was introduced last month, the 2015 Ford F150 has been a hot topic. Unlike some automotive writers who happen to have gotten a job in the automotive world after graduating with a degree in journalism, I was a car guy long before I ever wrote an article so even when I am not working – most of my daily discussions with friends online and in person pertain to the auto industry. People who are into cars know what I do for a living and they aren’t shy to talk cars…and I’m not shy to partake in those discussions as it never gets old to me. Several of the people with whom I’ve spoken over the past month have voiced a concern about the extensive weight reduction efforts and the ensuing low curb weight causing a decline in towing and/or hauling capacity.

Ford Motor Company hasn’t announced any specifications yet for the 2015 F150 but I can absolutely assure you that the towing and hauling capabilities of the next generation half ton truck will not go down at all. We can expect that the 2.7L EcoBoost will likely offer far less working capability than the other 2015 F150 engine options in an effort to be insanely efficient but across the other engines – I would also guarantee that the 2015 F150 will be able to do more than the 2014 F150…even if only by a small margin. In fact, I would expect some of that weight reduction to be added into the towing and hauling capabilities as 700 pounds less truck countered by 700 pounds more working weight puts a very similar load on both the drivetrain and the chassis.

There was a point in time where a truck that weighed less could handle less towing weight safely, but the 2015 Ford F150 will be fitted with all sorts of technology that will allow the next generation F150 to handle a serious amount of trailer weight. An integrated trailer brake control system helps to make sure that the lighter F150 will be able to stop with a heavy load hooked up while gadgets like Trailer Sway Control will prevent a heavy load from pulling the truck around in rough conditions. Back in the day, it seemed unwise to tow a 10,000lb trailer with a 5,500lb half duty pickup but those are long gone thanks to advancements in chassis design, drivetrain components and electronic aides. These advancements and gadgets work to allow the new Ford F250 and F350 Super Duty to safely tow almost 25,000 pounds while weighing less than a third of that so we can expect those same features to allow the 2015 Ford F150 to tow more than the comparable 2014 F150. The fact that the 2015 F150 will be the first half ton Ford truck to come with a factory snow plow package is a sign that the next generation will be an even harder worker.

The lightweight body will allow the 2015 Ford F150 to offer better performance and yield better fuel economy figures while also being able to do just as much (if not more) work than the 2014 F150.

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