Bob's 2014 F-150 report.

[Smartstream]

Hey Bob if you think that new Ford will make it up here to God's country, I can weigh whatever you want and it won't cost you a dime.

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Originally Posted by Smartstream

Hey Bob if you think that new Ford will make it up here to God's country, I can weigh whatever you want and it won't cost you a dime.

Hi, Thank You Dan, I just might do that. My Lincoln has another towing job; My trailer is leaking so it will be towed to George Sutton RV for repairs in a few days. Lee doesn't want me on top of the trailer, I can't fix leaks while it's raining, it's not going to stop raining, it's cold enough for snow, but we probably won't get any. And right now a trip to Vinnie's is too far away. We had a really strong rain storm while in California and another strong one in Arizona and everything was fine. After we got home, my trailer decided to start leaking even though the rain here is light compared to California/Arizona rain.

Anyway, when I get caught up on everything and enough miles on my F-150, we shall be back on the road again.


Side note: We have three Christmas decorations this year.

[slowmover]

Originally Posted by ROBERTSUNRUS

Hi, I consider the shipping weight, or actual weight of this truck to be GVWR = 7650 minus the payload = 1745 to be 5,905 lbs.

I don't load my tow vehicle to the max and I don't load my trailer to the max either. I adjust my spring bars by wheel well height. My set-up has never seen a scale. And I'm OK with that.

Real numbers make a report that can be used for comparisons. Rather the point of the thing for other owners of the same truck or trailer or both. How the hitch is set is not the point though you could make it such. Same for tire pressure on the truck as a percentage of load.

The "I think this or that" has a focus when discussions can point to a concrete example. As a service to others. Too many posts on this brand of truck where a reader can instead be pointed to one thread for the real thing.

I have meant my suggestions for your thread to be only that.

from the AIRphone

[m.hony]

Originally Posted by ROBERTSUNRUS

Hi, In the old days all fenders were lined with plastic liners; Now Ford has decided that rear fender liners are optional so they don't come with the vehicle. This cost me about $120.00 and about an hour to install them. Early in January I have an appointment for my Line-X spray-in bed liner. Soon after that I will install my Reatrax Pro bed cover.


(1.) Without fender liner.

(2.) With fender liner.

I still don't get it. I've had trucks without them and it never occurred to me to install them. I have sprayed the inner fenders with that black bumpy stuff out of an aerosol can- I can't think of the name of that stuff- is it "undercoating"?
Seems like it would keep it looking cleaner under there. I have had several white work vans and I struggled to keep the area inside the wheel wells clean/white. I figured if it came white I wanted it to stay white.
My truck has them. I thought it was a brand thing. I thought some trucks just had them and others did not.
I guess I learn something new every day.

[slowmover]

I've installed them on the last two trucks. Much easier to keep the rest of the underside clean for inspections. As trucks sit high it also cleans up the appearance.


from the AIRphone

[xrvr]

I bet fender liners cut down on noise drumming up into the cab. Have to check into them for my 06 Dodge. Thanks for the info. Really interesting thread. Peace, jim

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, unlike cars and vans, the inside of the fenders on a pick-up bed [without liners] are open all the way from the front to the tail lights in back. With the fender liners it will keep the dirt, rocks, water, snow, and mud out of there. And the flinging rocks will only hit the plastic fender liner instead of bouncing off of the sheet metal.

In the old days at the dealership, we used to spray black undercoating on cars and trucks to help prevent rust, which wasn't a problem in California, and to cut down on noise. Newer cars have massive exhaust systems, heat shields, mid-ship plastic gas tanks, and plastic shields leaving virtually nothing left for spraying so we stopped undercoating new cars.

[rodsterinfl]

Congratulations Bob. Nice truck. Enjoy it! Do you know where your trailer is leaking?

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Originally Posted by rodsterinfl

Congratulations Bob. Nice truck. Enjoy it! Do you know where your trailer is leaking?

Hi, Thank You. I believe that my front Fantastic Vent is leaking again. Also there is a fin on the roof between my air conditioner and refrigerator vent that seems to be loose and was never secured very well from the factory. I believe it only has about four rivets holding it on. On our last trip we hit high winds for several days and I'm surprised that things weren't blown completely off of my trailer.

[Drathaar]

Originally Posted by KJRitchie

<stuff clipped>

Oregon state government doesn't think their citizens can pump gas safely?

Kelvin

When it's raining cats and dogs, one soon becomes thankful that it's someone else out in the elements.

[Peanut]

Hi Bob. I bought a similar truck a couple weeks ago and have started to pick out accessories. So far I have a bed mat, mud flaps, and tow mirrors. I still need to get the wheel well liners and a bed cover. I am wonder what made you decide to go with the Retrax Pro bed cover?

[mefly2]

Originally Posted by ROBERTSUNRUS

Hi, In the old days all fenders were lined with plastic liners; Now Ford has decided that rear fender liners are optional so they don't come with the vehicle. This cost me about $120.00 and about an hour to install them. Early in January I have an appointment for my Line-X spray-in bed liner. Soon after that I will install my Reatrax Pro bed cover.


(1.) Without fender liner.

(2.) With fender liner.

Very nice truck!
Apparently, GM - or at least Chev- has decided to do the same; our new Chev doesn't have rear wheel liners either ...

[Road Ruler]

Looks good in white Bob.

Question..... how is the build quality? I know in general pick ups have been getting better but how much better?

A few years ago a buddy leased a brand new F150. We were checking it out and he got in the cab and closed the door. There was more rattles in that door than I could count.

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Originally Posted by Drathaar

When it's raining cats and dogs, one soon becomes thankful that it's someone else out in the elements.

Hi, I still get out of my car/truck when buying gas, but getting wet or soaked while pumping gas isn't fun.

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Originally Posted by Peanut

Hi Bob. I bought a similar truck a couple weeks ago and have started to pick out accessories. So far I have a bed mat, mud flaps, and tow mirrors. I still need to get the wheel well liners and a bed cover. I am wonder what made you decide to go with the Retrax Pro bed cover?

Hi, I picked the Retrax Pro for a few reasons and a low price wasn't one of them. I plan to mount my generator in the bed just inside of the tailgate. I also want to run my generator at times while towing. So I need a cover that can be locked in several positions for this purpose. I like the way they work and how well they are built. I will know more later when I get it installed and actually use it.

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Originally Posted by mefly2

Very nice truck!
Apparently, GM - or at least Chev- has decided to do the same; our new Chev doesn't have rear wheel liners either ...

Hi, Thank You; I was wondering if Ford was alone on this, but I guess not.

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Originally Posted by Road Ruler

Looks good in white Bob.

Question..... how is the build quality? I know in general pick ups have been getting better but how much better?

A few years ago a buddy leased a brand new F150. We were checking it out and he got in the cab and closed the door. There was more rattles in that door than I could count.

Hi, Thank You; My Lincoln is white, my wife's BMW is white and my previously owned Explorer was white. We were going to change that trend and buy a new F-150 in Blue Jeans or Ingot Silver, but my dealer found what options we wanted in white, so here we are.



Most of my career was working at Ford dealers as a new car get ready [PDI] mechanic, a quick service mechanic, and a shop foreman. I have lots of experience with looking over new vehicles and virtually nothing gets past me. So far, I haven't seen anything loose, ill fitting, missing, damaged, or heard any abnormal noises.

[KJRitchie]

I test drove a 2014 F150 Supercab 4x4, 157"wb and it seemed tight, quiet and no rattles. I'm waiting to see more 2015's on the lot and maybe this time next year, who knows.

I looked up the history of the laws in New Jersey and Oregon about pumping gas and the laws go back to the 50's.

Kelvin

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, I found these specs on line so hopefully they are correct; I was asked by a friend, "Are the brakes bigger on the new F-150 compared to my Lincoln?" Well I wasn't sure at the time, but the Navigator was basically built on a F-150 chassis. So we are sort of comparing an F-150 to an F-150. My Lincoln has 17" wheels and my F-150 has 18" wheels. The rotors on my F-150 look a lot larger.

So here is what I came up with:

2000 Lincoln front rotors 12.13" diameter.

2014 F-150 front rotors 13.78" diameter. = 1.65" larger.

2000 Lincoln rear rotors 13.15" diameter.

2014 F-150 rear rotors 13.70" diameter. = 0.55" larger.

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, had to make another appointment for the spray on bed liner; They said their machine broke. So today I put my Retrax Pro together. I have in in the storage mode. Didn't know there was one. Remove from truck, stand on end, and leave it the garage. I have a feeling that I won't be doing this. Time will tell.