<![CDATA[Jalopnik: ford f-150 truck]]> http://tags.jalopnik.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/jalopnik.com.png <![CDATA[Jalopnik: ford f-150 truck]]> http://jalopnik.com/tag/fordf150truck http://jalopnik.com/tag/fordf150truck <![CDATA[2009 F-150 Already Showing Up In Showrooms, Marketing Launch Moved Up]]> Ford has apparently seen stocks of existing F-150 trucks depleted more quickly than expected, leading the Dearborn automaker to move up the marketing launch of its critical 2009 Ford F-150 by a month to November — after moving it back by two months from October to December. Confusing? Yeah, but considering the roller-coaster ride the economy and fuel prices have taken over the past three months, it's no surprise that Ford marketing mavens are throwing darts at the calendar. If you're a truck customer looking for a deal on the outgoing F-150, now's probably the time to act. If Ford is confident enough in declining inventory to start shipping the new model, deals on the '08 are probably as good as they're going to get.

[Edmunds Inside Line]

]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5059934&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[2009 Ford F-150 Gets Top Tow Rating Of 11,300 Pounds]]> Ford has announced that the redesigned 2009 F-150 pickup will have best-in-class towing capacity of 11,300 pounds, up 300 pounds from the 2008 model, according to PickupTrucks.com. The weight rating is 500 pounds greater than that found on its nearest competitor, the Toyota Tundra, and marks an important competitive edge in the rapidly shrinking half-ton pickup market. Though Ford doesn't specify the configuration that will be rated for 11,300 pounds, expect it to be a 5.4-liter 2WD equipped with any optional towing packages. So, what changed?

Ford claims to have re-engineered the number three crossmember, allowing it to provide more torsional and lateral rigidity, providing the extra strength needed for the increased rating. And we're not surprised Ford is crowing about it: With the importance of contractor and work-truck sales in the face of a diminishing consumer pickup market, capability is again going to be the deciding factor in a lot of truck purchases. [PickupTrucks.com]

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