Motion Potion: You’ve come a long way, baby
A lot of miles have been put on F-150s since Ford’s first factory-assembled pickup sold for $281 in 1925. Equipped with a 2.9-liter four-cylinder that produced 20 horsepower and a top speed of 45 mph with a 10-gallon tank, the carburetor could be modified to run on ethanol, a fueling option for the do-it-yourself farmer. And Ford is still building their trucks with heavy-duty foremost in mind. Indeed, this F-150 maxes out the power and backbone to get the work done with best-in-class towing capacity of 10,500 pounds, and a maximum payload capacity of 3,050 pounds. The Triton V-8 engine touts three valves per cylinder and variable cam timing that provides increased power combined with a quieter ride while delivering 300 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 365 pound-feet of torque at 3,750 rpm.
Steppin’ up is easy for everyone with the F-150’s running boards and four separate doors—no waiting for the backseat passengers to crawl up, in and over. Whether it’s towing a trailer, hauling a load of mulch or taking the crew camping, this 4x4 gives a firm, secure and safe ride, even if it is a bit thirsty.
And best of all, safety’s a no-brainer. Not only does the sheer size of this ride’s frame make you feel safer, the F-150 comes in high in safety tests too. Indeed, it’s the only pickup in its class to earn a 5-star rating from the national highway Traffic Safety Administration for driver and right-front-passenger frontal crash rating.
The Enviro-meter: Less is more
The King Ranch makes it easy. Easy to run ethanol, that is. The Ford F-150’s V-8 FFV engine automatically adjusts for the correct fuel delivery ratio. And that means lower greenhouse gas emissions plus smog-forming emissions too. E85 actually helps to improve vehicle performance with its higher octane rating (compared to gasoline), and also provides higher horsepower and torque.
According to fueleconomy.gov, the conventional 4WD Ford F-150’s petroleum oil consumption is about 24.5 barrels of crude annually—compared to 8.0 barrels operating on E85. Driving an average of 15,000 miles per year, greenhouse gas emissions for the flex-fuel tally up to 11.1 tons/year, where the regular F-150 will spew out 13.1 tons/year.When it’s all said & done: Henry would be proud
The Ford F-150 King Ranch is more than just a truck—it’s a hard-workin’, haulin’ luxury-mobile. Whether you’ve got heavy business, serious cattle round-ups or just need to pick up the kids, their friends and several bicycles—and like to do it in ultimate comfort—this truck’s for you. Heck, it seems like this set of wheels is outfitted with all the creature comforts in Ford’s book, including the best one in our book: dual fuel-ability. No matter where your work takes you, you’ll have fuel to power this big guy. And that’s an ability that can wean any ranch hand off imported oil. E85-capable or not, we were disappointed at how fast this big guy sucked down the fuel. We really liked this truck a lot, but would like it even more if Ford addressed some technology to extend the fuel mileage—add some cylinder deactivation to stretch the hungry appetite of that big V-8. That, paired with some eye-catching flex-fuel badging is really all that’s missing on this truck, and would help to make the most of this King’s flex-fuel status.
Pros:
- Flex-fuel-ability
- Super power and towing capability
- Luxurious comfort for all travelers
Cons:
- Fuel thirsty
- A tad pricey
- Big—you’ll need to look for the large parking spaces
Check out what’s involved in maintaining a flex-fuel vehicle and keeping it running its best.
Who Should Buy the Ford F-150 King Ranch: Someone who’s after heavy hauling and towing capability combined with lots of comfort.
Who Should Not Buy the Ford F-150 King Ranch: Someone on a limited budget who’s after a simpler “just want to haul my stuff” truck.
Ford F-150 trucks are built in Norfolk, Va., Kansas City, Mo., and Dearborn, Mi.
Details and Specs:
Technical Features:
5.4-liter fuel injection ethanol flex-fuel engine, 4-speed automatic transmission, 3.73 ratio limited slip axle
Safety Features: 4-wheel disc brakes w/ABS, driver and front passenger air bags, keyless entry kepad
Interior Features: Navigation Radio with Audiophile (6-CD package), King Ranch package: floor mats, running boards heated side mirrors, leather captain’s chairs
Exterior Features: 7200 lb. GVWR package, trailer tow package, P275/55R20 OWL all-terrain tires, 20” aluminum wheels
Page One: Initial Impressions, Insider's View and Fuel-abilityPhotos from the F-150 King Ranch test drive and review