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Identifying the First-Gen Ford Mustang2024 Ford F-150: Ultimate Work Truck
Why is the updated 2024 Ford F-150 the ultimate work truck? There are FAR too many reasons to list here, so read on to find out!
2024 F-150 Ultimate Work Truck
With over 40 years of sales dominance and 14 generations of innovation behind it, the 2024 Ford F-150 is just the latest in a long line of impressive half-ton Blue Oval pickup trucks. It’s also received a comprehensive overhaul this year, which we detail here, just three years since the 14th generation arrived. Highlights include more hybrid production, a new tailgate, and better technology. All of which point to the F-150 leading the running for the title “Ultimate Work Truck” as we’ll dive into below.
Hybrid Power
Given the high take rate of hybrid F-150s, or PowerBoost in Ford-speak, the Blue Oval is increasing production of these variants versus the 2023 F-150. That’s good news for those in need of a work truck as the hybridized powertrain leads the segment in fuel economy with 25 mpg combined, better than both the Tundra and Ram 1500 hybrids.
Stretching a gallon of gas is nice, but so are the output figures for these models, which lead the F-150 lineup (Raptors excluded) with 430 hp and 570 lb-ft of torque. Of course, the F-150 still offers a host of engine options including a traditional 5.0L V8 and a standard Eco-Boost V6. And for those looking to skip the pump entirely Ford offers the fully-electric Lightning model.
Made For Hauling
What’s better than huge power figures in a work truck? How about the best payload and trailering capacity? The 2024 Ford F-150 can handle up to 2,455 pounds of payload and can tow up to 13,500 pounds when properly equipped. A Chevy Silverado comes close with a 13,300-pound towing capacity, but when it comes to hauling a trailer and gear for work with a half-ton pickup, nothing beats the latest F-150.
Hauling Tech
To make hauling less stressful, Ford fits the latest F-150 with slick systems like onboard scales and smart hitch. Just like it sounds, the onboard scales measure how much weight is sitting in the cargo bed in real time. Those figures can be seen on the cabin touchscreen or via an LED visual display within the taillamps.
Smart hitch comes into play once the bed is loaded and you have the trailer hooked up. It measures tongue weight and can warn you of an unevenly distributed load, all of which help reduce the possibility of trailer sway while on the road. This is handy for someone towing their trailer on the weekend, but even more so for someone going to and from a work site with a load that can be dramatically different from one day to the next.
Hooking Up That Trailer
Not only can the 2024 Ford F-150 haul a lot of weight and help you measure that weight, it can almost hook up to a trailer on its own. Pro Trailer Hitch Assist uses the backup camera and corner radars to align the hitch with the trailer coupler while managing speed, steering, and braking all at the same time. All you have to do is physically connect the two.
Once hooked up, Pro Trailer Backup Assist lets the driver back up using a dash-mounted knob to help avoid getting crossed up with the steering wheel. Both of these systems, which are standard on XLT models and above, help alleviate the stress of navigating with a trailer on the job site.
Tailgating Madness
An all-new feature on the 2024 Ford F-150 is the Pro Access Tailgate, which is standard on King Ranch and Platinum models. Like the multi-functional tailgates offered by Chevy and Ram, Ford’s design turns the traditional tailgate into a regular Swiss Army knife. The F-150 already offered a tailgate with an integrated step and work surface, but the latest version has a wider step and a swing-gate feature.
Split into 20/60/20 sections, the Pro Access Tailgate center section is hinged on the right so that it can open like a regular door. This means no more leaning over the open tailgate to grab gear. It opens to 37° for when you have a trailer hooked up, 70° for easier access, and 100° at its widest, which bests the Ram’s similar barn door setup by 12 degrees.
Exportable Power
The fact that none of the other half-ton pickup truck makers have yet to offer something like Ford’s Pro Power Onboard generator is mystifying as it easily makes the F-150 a better work truck than the competition. This inverter with household-style outlets in the cargo bed is available on gas-powered F-150s with 2.0 kW of power for basic tailgating.
But the PowerBoost Hybrid models come standard with a 2.4 kW system that can power hammer drills, jigsaws, and the like for over 80 hours on a full tank of gas. Opt for the 7.2 kW setup and you can run serious equipment like welders and air compressors to make working on a remote job site easier than ever.
The Tremor
Speaking of remote job sites, has Ford got a 2024 F-150 for you. In Tremor form, the F-150 has a higher ground clearance of 9.4 inches, 33-inch all-terrain tires, skids plates, off-road-tuned shocks, Hill Descent Control, Trail Turn Assist, and upgraded front hub knuckles and upper control arms.
It’s for the worker who goes truly off the beaten path for work without the huge price tag of an F-150 Raptor. Tremors are also ready to be fitted with an available 12,000-pound WARN front winch for when the going gets seriously tough. It’s just one of many Ford dealer accessories that can be fitted to the F-150.
Hands-Free Stress-Free
What’s better than wrapping up a hard day of work? Letting your truck drive you home. With Blue Cruise, the 2024 Ford F-150 can do just that. Lariat trims and above come with a 90-day trial to this hands-free technology that has been updated to version 1.2 for the 2024 F-150. This latest version brings new capabilities like Lane Change Assist, which can execute lane changes for you when the turn signal is activated, and In-Lane Repositioning.
Cabin Tech
A big technology update for the 2024 Ford F-150 comes in the form of a lineup-standard 12-inch digital gauge cluster and 12-inch infotainment touchscreen. The touchscreen is nice, but the gauge cluster is more important from a work perspective as it can display all manner of useful information – like connected navigation prompts – just below the driver’s line of vision.
For even less distraction while behind the wheel, the latest F-150 can be fitted with a head-up display for the first time. And all models come with a 5G-LTE modem that up to 10 devices can connect to, ensuring the workflow keeps moving even when you’re not in an office.
Cabin Comfort
All of this is wonderful, but at the end of the day, an ultimate work truck needs to provide comfort to be worth considering and, on that front, the 2024 Ford F-150 delivers. From a convenience perspective, the shifter can fold out of the way and the center console can be converted into a large flat workspace – or a table for eating lunch.
And for comfort, the new F-150 offers everything from heated and ventilated front seats to a heated steering wheel and even massaging seatbacks on Platinum grade. Add in the Max Recline front seats which lay back nearly 180° and a midday power nap never sounded so good.
