Earnhardt Ford- 2020 Ford F-150

2020 Ford F-150

The 2020 Ford F-150 is a leader in ways that will surprise you. There are aspects to this truck that are hard to find anywhere else.  Ford trucks have led the automotive world in a number of ways throughout their history.  In just the last five years, however, there have been some enormous leaps that keep making the F-150 a standout.  

Ford surprised the world with its aluminum body construction, showing what engineers and the right materials could do. This helped reduce unnecessary weight and began the trend that would lead to the 2021 Hybrid and the 2022 Electric Ford trucks.   It also challenged the automotive world when it began spreading its remarkable 10-speed automatic transmission throughout the F-150 lineup and beyond.  Then it rocked the world again with exclusive technologies that make towing easier and safer.

If you check out the 2021 Ford F-150 Supercrew cab, you’ll find that it has 43.6 inches of legroom on the back row.  This cab is offered with the 5.5-foot bed and the 6.5-foot bed. To choose the 8-foot box, you’ll want to choose the regular or SuperCab configuration.

Is the F-150 the flagship model of Ford?

As a national best-seller that tops the charts every year, there is no doubt that the F-150 is the flagship model of the Ford fleet.  The Ford F-150 Raptor rules as the most powerful F-150 on the list, but every single one has best-in-class features and/or capabilities.  

Then there’s the Ford F-150 hybrid, introduced as a 2021 Ford F-150 Supercrew Cab model.  This fuel-saving hybrid can tow 11,000, 12,400 or 12,700 pounds depending on the axle and model size.   That’s close to the 13,000-pound limit for the 5-liter V8. The 3.5-liter Ecoboost V6 can tow up to 14,000 pounds with the right axle and body size.

Even with all of the competition within its own lineup, the all new Ford F-150 Lightning is the most amazing of all.  The Lightning arrives as Ford’s all-electric truck.  It is only right that the best-selling truck brand would produce the first mainstream electric pickup. Critics have been applauding the Lightning not only for its skill and its groundbreaking electric powertrain, but for its role in the marketplace as the most affordable electric pickup. All of this affordability is before you add the federal tax credit, which drops the price even more.

Are Ford F-150s Reliable Trucks?

Reliability is one big reason that Ford F-150s stay at the top of the sales charts. It’s also a major reason that used Ford trucks are in high demand.  The 2020 Ford F-150 is a case in point.  When it was studied by Consumer Reports, the journalists there gave it a 4.5 out of 5 for reliability.  In JD Power studies, it earned a reliability rating of 84 on a scale of 100.  

Almost regardless of the year, generation or engine choice, these trucks are running 20,000 miles when properly maintained.  Certainly there are exceptions, but with proper care, Ford trucks can work very hard and still have a long road life.  

Starting with the 2015 models, the F-150’s unique aluminum build has made the body more durable, too. It is almost impervious to rust because its steel components are on the inside.  Likewise, the high-strength aluminum is resistant to dents.  These vehicles are considered easier to maintain because they are so mainstream, and their replacement parts are, therefore, plentiful. 

Another reason for reliability is good safety ratings. The advanced traction controls work to keep the truck out of trouble. Next, it is the fact that Ford trucks can handle most terrains due to high ground clearance. When you add to that terrain management, the truck becomes even more durable. Experience has shown that gasoline engines are almost as durable as diesel engines.  Furthermore, the Ecoboost turbos demonstrate efficiency of effort, saving gasoline with fewer problems than many traditional engines.  

How Long Do Most Ford Pickup Trucks Last?

Ford trucks have been put through such grueling testing that it is no surprise that they can last for 200,000 miles given the proper maintenance.  Part of building these Ford Tough is to put them through their paces.  Engineers challenge these pickups in testing facilities and real conditions throughout the world.  These tests aren’t just performed on the off-roaders, such as the 2020 Ford F-150 Raptor, but on all body types of F-150s and their various engines.

 In deserts, Ford trucks are challenged by dust and sand while also needing to deliver passenger comfort and air conditioning.  They are challenged by below-freezing temperatures as low as minus 29 degrees Celsius. This includes testing how different features function when utilized in those conditions or in hot and cold chambers in testing facilities.  The engineers want to see how the quality of each component stands up to these exacting conditions.

To test durability, the brand tests a truck’s viability by running it through a Total Durability Cycle. In this testing, they keep the truck running through grueling test after grueling test until they have replicated what it’s like to drive this truck hard for 10 years and about 150 miles in just a few weeks.  

Yet another test, which sounds like it was inspired by Phoenix summers, is the sun-load environmental chamber which subjects the vehicle to relentless sunlight.  Another chamber simulates driving over very bumpy roads by using a  hydraulic platform.  The tests put 150,000 miles or so on the vehicle in 72 hours and subject the vehicle to extremes of cold and heat.