Buying a new truck. Talk me out of buying a F150

Just because Ford says that It can tow more, doesn’t mean crap to me. They fudge their real world mpg numbers, what makes me think why wouldn’t they overexaggerate their tow capacities. I’m sure the tundra could tow just as much. But obviously legally can’t. The tow rating is what Toyota feels is safe for all the components in the drivetrain to handle. So if you take a tundra and tow its max capacity every day for the life of the truck, and do the same with a Ford. Which one do you think will last longer?

 

Well, here’s the deal. You either aren’t old enough, or haven’t owned enough trucks to understand where the F we’re coming from.
How many trucks have you owned and how many hundreds of thousands of miles have you put on them?
Most of us commenting have all gone through damn near every MFG out there (I haven’t personally owned a Titan, but have Nissans and two Titan units on my equipment list at my business).
There’s a reason we all talk very good on the Tundra/Toyota. Every MFG and every model from said MFG has its downfalls everyone should know that.
Me personally - I love that Toyota puts out a full size reliable rig with out all that fancy girl shit. If I want a luxury vehicle, I’ll buy a luxury vehicle (and have). My wife wants a new LR4, she’s not getting one. She’s getting a Seqouia or a 4runner with 3rd row. Most of us Toyota guys grew up through the reliable 80’s and 90’s units (minus 3.slow) that used the trucks as trucks. They were reliable, and used to be affordable. The Tundra, is still very much affordable for a full sized rig. But if your type keeps complaining about multiple gear ratios and fancy ass big screen TV’s in your dash, well my affordable and reliable Tundra just became more expensive and more prone to failure.
I’m in agreeance with pushing Toyota to keep them on their toes when it comes to truck-worthy issues (power, strength, etc).
Just change a license plate light bulb on any of the MFG’s and you’ll realize Toyota doesn’t skimp on MFG - even down to how the license plate bulb holders were engineered.
Go buy an F150 - see you in 5 years lol.

 

That depends on the configuration though, right? To my understanding the ones with the higher towing capacity are harder to come by.

Found this: https://www.tfltruck.com/2017/08/will-ford-f150-2-7l-ecoboost-v6-tow-8000-lbs-ask-tfltruck/

F150
2.7 v6: 7600-8100 lbs
3.5 v6: 10,500-11,700 lbs
5.0 v8: 10,800 lbs

Tundra
4.6: 6800
5.7l v8 CM w/ tow pkg: 10,100 lbs

I haven’t checked for availability on the F150s personally.

I said it in another thread but if you’re worried about towing 10k+ lbs you really need to bump up to 3/4 or 1 ton trucks... I’d even go further than that and say I’d go up if I was planning on pulling more than 8k.

I’ll concede that ford has 10% better towing capacity in their F-150 line, but a lot of good that’ll do while your truck is at the dealer getting diagnosed...

Teasing aside, I’m of the mind: Ford can win at the tech game, the MPG game, and the Towing game (towing and landslide mpg on the same truck? I’m doubtful..) I’ll take Tundras reliability all day!

Towing heavy loads isn’t a big concern for me. I’d eventually like to get a small travel trailer and some toys, but I doubt anything in the 8k lb range.

Better mpg would be a nice to have... but I love the power in the 5.7, and the transmission seems to pair well with it. I wouldn’t give it up for 2-3 extra mpg.

Bells and whistles like remote start (with takeover procedure), push button start, top of the line stereo etc can be added after market and you can get what you really want.

I think most people like the convenence of having it all dealer installed, so Toyota could probably do better in sales if they got that in there with options packages, but I settled on Tundra for primarily the reliability... which comes from having all the bugs in the power train worked out a decade ago lol additionally the seating room is why I was in the 1/2 ton market, with plans to tow and the convenience of having an open bed. The CM has plenty of space for what I need (as any 4 door full sized truck probably would) and the price was reasonable for what it is. Again, reliability and price is what sold me on the tundra, primarily reliability.

 

. >>>>>>>>
If you order a F150 for towing, be sure to add the towing package. I believe the standard limit is 5000 lbs. Also, I’d order the trailer controller. There is a F150 thread on some 18 models that they did not include wiring for installing your own. Oh, heavy load tires are an option also. If you want the trailer backup assist, that is a higher trailer option. Some options are not available on lower grade trucks, so it pushes the price up. The towing packages mean you have to order the 3.5 l or 5.0 l V8. I personally would go with the V8.

For what I wanted in a Truck, the Tundra was perfect and lower cost. If I was towing heavy loads, I’d be thinking F350... but I like to have control when going down the mountain sides. My $0.02.

 

Gotta love how they tout high pulling numbers but the "standard" packages are way lower. That's probably on par for the industry though.

When looking at trucks I was trying to compare apples to apples.. hard to do given the options available on the different truck lines, but I tried to get close. Reviews that I saw would compare the 2.7 v6 F150 to the 4.6 Tundra on MPG... but then they'd compare the 5.0 F150 to the 5.7L for towing.. Whatever the plushest vehicle for each line on ride comfort / Tech features... All of these in the same article. Then they rate the "truck" (really the entire truck line - best options for each for the given category). I'm looking to buy one truck to do what I need it to do... I'm not buying one for a daily driver and another to haul stuff. Seems like the point may be to compare the models geared for MPG, then compare the ones for towing - but as a consumer I dont see a ton of value in that, I'm looking for an all truck to fit my needs and get an all around picture before I test drive. I'm not really looking for the truck line with the widest array of options.
I like to know what i'm looking for before I step on the lot. I assume I'm going to be dealing with a snake oil salesman and would prefer to be an informed customer... I also like to get my list of potential trucks narrowed down to just a few so I can spend less time at the dealership. Who doesnt have better things to do than test drive trucks for 3 days? lol

Back on the MPG point - Ford touts 22MPG highway for their 3.5 v6 and 5.0 v8 but "Car and Driver" tests show 19mpg for both... a whopping 2mpg better than tundra's 17mpg EPA Estimate & C&D verified. (article here) My guess is that's due to the 10 speed transmission ford put in, but I've read reviews that say the shifting isn't all that smooth and it often feels like it's hunting for gears.

Control when going down mountain sides!? sounds like you're just not a fan of fun
As I indicated in my post, I'm inclined to agree - go to a bigger truck if you're looking for more than 8k towing capacity. 10% more towing capacity that the best-for-towing F150 offers at 10k lbs isn't really THAT big of a deal IMO. Neither is the 2 MPG, especially given the price difference I saw between the two trucks. Factor in reliability and its a no brainier IMO

 

Very very well said.

it comes down to dependability, or the perception of it, that draws us to toyota. I'm not telling the OP to buy the F150 (i dont think anyone in this thread has said so), but having an awareness of the market gives one a true appreciation of how far behind the tundra has fallen. All of us are here because we didnt buy the hype, so we bought our tundra. Today, it is a more difficult choice than it was just 2 or 3 years ago. the gap keeps getting wider.

 

I try to keep a balanced view. Making fun of other truck's owners is fun, but it's all in jest. We each value different things, that's why there's so many damned options! lol

That said, I dont think the gap is all that wide. The technology gap for sure is (bells and whistles like push button start, infotainment, etc - I'm no mechanic, but it doesnt seem like there's a huge gap in powertrain performance - differences for sure, but not like one truck line is way ahead of any other), but overall I think it's a difficult decision because they are so close on all the other points (if you look at actual performance over hyped up ratings... 22MPG... yeah.. maybe with your foot light as a feather on the accelerator.... going down hill.... with a tail wind... haha)

I think if the other manufactures' products were well ahead of the Tundra it would be an easy decision - buy a different truck. Brand loyalty aside (I dont really have any - but I really enjoy my Tundra) Tundra's offering is still competitive in many aspects IMO (obviously, because I bought one last year haha).

 

You talk about a gap, but I still don't see one in most aspects even though the Tundra is mechanically the same as 10 years ago. I personally know TRD Off Road vs. XLT FX4 to compare, so maybe it is different at the higher end trims. MPG is a wash in real world, the 3.5 works ok if your not throttle happy, get into the turbo though and watch the fuel get sucked back very similar to the 5.7, 5.0 actually gets better fuel mileage for those who like to use the revs (not to mention the 1000x better sound than the 3.5). Power is a wash, just have to get the right settings - in the Tundra it's a little more time consuming to turn off the TC compared to the F150 sport mode selection. Transmission is a wash, I personally like 8 speeds for big displacement engines, 10 just feels weird with the rpm's bouncing a lot. I still prefer steel panels except for easily replaced pieces (doors, hood, tailgate) and the roof. The quarter panels being aluminum just lead to small dings becoming tears, one can be easily fixed or left alone and the other requires replacement most times. And for the interior - IMO it is so far in the Tundra's favor that it wipes out any perceived lead the F150 had. The seats are so much better in the Tundra, driving position much more comfortable, HVAC controls are much easier to use in the tundra with it all being knobs that don't require a glance to get the change right. The head unit I can call a wash, I prefer the Tundra but it's not lopsided like the rest of the interior. And don't get me started on how cramped the F150 is, it's like driving a car I have no room to lean my legs without hitting either the console or the 6 inch wide interior door panel. The more time I spent inside an F150 XLT the happier I became with buying a Tundra, and that's before any shop time the F150 required.

Maybe these observations don't transfer over to higher trim F150's, but at the mid-level trims there isn't a gap other than 1500 lbs of rated towing capacity and 700 lbs rated payload - notice I put rated on there, the Tundra handles carrying weight (~1200 lbs payload) better in my experience, and that's without adding the TRD Rear Sway Bar.

 

I wasn't in that market (60k+ on a truck), but looking at the reviews, it seems like that's where Tundra suffers the most when they are rating the trucks: Tundra's highest trim lines vs Fords highest trim lines. Tundra's just arent as technologically advanced - as we are all well aware. Mid level Tundra package (SR5ish) seems to me to be like buying reliable 90's technology (power windows/locks, remote locks, maybe power seat for the driver). Not sure if it's the same with Ford, though I think they had options to add additional things like push button start and the keyless entry where you just push a button on the door handle with your key in proximity (whatever that's called).

Strange that you found F150's to be less comfortable as the Tundra, it seems most reviewers prefer the F150. But again, these are probably highest trim lines. Either way, It's not like you're sitting on an unbalanced wooden stool, so I cant imagine the differences are that night and day. Cockpit orientation I'm sure is highly subjective - just like the argument over which truck has a better look (or which color.. though I hear white is faster LOL). as far as cockpit layout goes - again, I think it's highly subjective. Spend a little while in a F150 and you'll get used to the controls and be able to know what your setting is at a glance, and how to quickly change the setting to improve your current comfort.

 

ALUMINUM

 

That's a feature!! The whole side of the car comes opens so you can easily get out in the event of an accident

 

It’s actually a feature to help keep you alive. Sort of like an ejection seat. You were better off getting out of that thing before it crumbled into a smashed beer can.

 

If you have read the 150+ posts you will see the common thread. I own a Tacoma, so Toyota was first on the list. I checked out the Ford and was leaning them, but wanted to give Toyota a look. I saw how Ford had bells and whistles along with the #1 truck 40 plus years. When I went to Tundra a V8 that was reliable and scalable was attractive .the resale value was great. The doodads and gadgets are great, but the resale and reliability was huge for me. At the same time (a year ago) my coworker was looking at a truck too. He went with the F150 ecotech. After the gadgets wore off he said he wished he went Tundra. All that said, I love that I can modify my truck and make it look how I want OEM and not be stuck with the guy next nextdoors version. If you want a cool truck for 6 months get the Ford. If you want a great truck for 10 years+ truck go Tundra.

 

I fixed that for you

They are the #1 SELLING truck because people MUST upgrade every 6 months? LOL

Oh yeah.. and fleet sales..

 

Well I was just at the dealership for my 30k maintenance and spoke with my salesperson, and this guy was trading this in, he supposedly said to many issues..lol

 

Coworker just bought one. He wanted a Tundra, wife howled for a Ford. They got a 2018 F150 platinum. Seat coolers failed in the first two weeks of ownership. Over a month to fix “due to fire at factory” and now the 10sp trans rolling out of gear issue.
He hates the auto off feature at stop lights and complains about gas mileage.
He did buy the 100k warranty though. Guess he better buy a good book to read while it sits in the shop lmao.

 

IMHO, with the Ford and so many options for rear axles, as a parts guy, it drives me crazy. Trying to look for aftermarket parts for all the different configurations for rear rotors and pads is enough for me to say nevermind. Maybe the got smart on the late models, but the stuff from the mid-90's to a few years ago, it was so labor intensive that we would give up and call Ford. Then their guys would even ask what was on the truck. Made it a nightmare.

 

I dont think it's any better... you've got 3 engine models that I'm aware of in the current F150 lineup - seems like all hooked up to the 10 speed transmission (same transmission??) - I imagine there's different rear differentials... plus 4x4 configurations for each... not sure if that's better or worse than when you were going through it.

 

@HecticEnergy You are correct, selling. I was in a very important meeting typing my message. Trying to save a life here on the boards.

 

@Tierhog That engine shutoff at stoplights drives my coworker crazy. He gave up pressing the override button.

 

You guys think that's bad for options? I saw this video posted here (I think here) a while back:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVr9V72xurA

Check out at 9:43 - Chevy is going to have 6 different engine/transmission combos for the Silverado. I think this is going to backfire on them.

 

I can tell you this, I work in the Auto industry in Detroit at the OEM level. One of my friends lives a block from one of the Raptors lead engineers. He had a new Raptor at my friends place and I had my Tundra there. My friend had him take me for a ride. It was ok, he got on it a few times. When we got back to the house I asked if he wanted a ride in my Tundra. He jumped at the chance. I nailed the throttle a few times for him. His response was "This is the truck the Raptor should have been". There is nothing like a 550hp SCED Tundra.

 

My 3.4 SC 4runner takes my 5.7 Tundra up to about 75mph. There's been multiple full-sized V8's that have given me the WTF look LOL.
I can't even imagine how amazing the 5.7 does SC'd. My Tundra is paid off and ready for mods thankfully, and the 4runner is going up for sale soon.
The 4runner sale funds most likely will go towards the Magnuson SC for the Tundra. The smile it puts on your face every time you drop the skinny pedal is soooo worth the $$ I think

 

You will love the SC. It is quite the kick in the pants. The truck boggles most peoples minds as you pull away from a stop light. I like to play out on Woodward with mine. I will shift in to 4wd hi and accelerate from a stop light and people finally catch back up at the next light and look over like WTF? It just makes me smile.

 

I was getting some hail dings checked out at Service King last week. I read the labor rate sign. It said body work $52/hour, aluminum $100/hour. Bet the insurance companies love the Beer Can trucks.

 

You guys pretty much covered everything but I figured I would add this in. The 3.5L Eco boost exhaust sounds like they tried to make it sound like a V8. That is the equivalent of taking a voice changer and going up to a random sheep to make it sound like a bear. I decided not to buy the sheep.

 

How much was the 100k mile warranty, at least 20-30k, cause they know they gonna be fixing that sumbitch a whole lot.

 

I can only imagine!!!

 

Like a fart-pipe on the little Civics and such.....