What's The Best Hitch For My F-150?

Electric vehicles are the wave of the future, and many consumers are finding ways to include the new technology in their lives in many different ways. Partial electrification sales, in the form of hybrids and plug-in hybrids, are surging at an amazing rate.  More and more people are finding the combination of both gasoline and electric power to be a win-win.  That said, the hybrid take on America’s best-selling vehicle – full-size pickup trucks – remains relatively low.  However, recent changes to the F-150 hybrid may bring about a welcome change. Green Car Reports reviews the updated F-150 Hybrid, and Benna Ford tells you what they found. Smoothing  Things Out With a name like Green Car Reports, you expect them to be pretty favorable to a hybrid pickup truck, but they actually had a few issues with the F-150 Hybrid when it first launched in 2021. As it does now, the 2021 model featured a 3.5-liter turbocharged V6 combined with a 35-kW (47-hp) electric motor located between the engine and 10-speed transmission. Power is plentiful, with total system power of 430 horsepower and 570 lb-ft of torque. While the electric motor did a fine job of filling in on acceleration while the turbocharger spooled up, the transition between motor and engine on the 2021-2023 models could cause a shuddering in the drivetrain, particularly between the 1-2 and 2-3 gear changes. New powertrain software smoothed out the roughness for the 2024 model year. It also simplified the system by eliminating a second starter integrated into the accessory belt drive. Green Car Reports found the fix to be effective, with barely noticeable motor-to-engine transitions. More Power, Better Efficiency Most everything else remains the same. The fact that the hybrid system was paired to the 3.5-liter rather than 2.7-liter engine tells you Ford was less interested in achieving the lowest viable fuel economy and more interested in providing more power without a fuel mileage penalty. On that, they succeeded.  With standard 4x4, the F-150 hybrid has an EPA city/highway rating of 22 / 24, beating the 2.7-liter powered 4x4 truck significantly over its 18 city rating and slightly over its 23 highway rating even as it delivers 105 more horsepower and 170 more lb-ft of torque. The 5.0-liter V8, which still doesn’t match the hybrid’s power figures, is rated at 16 in the city and 24 on the highway in 4x4 form. Green Car Reports found that when loaded with four adults and their fishing gear, the truck achieved its EPA-estimated figure, or precisely 24.4 mpg throughout 686 miles of primarily highway driving when keeping it at 65 mpg. At 70 mph, the figure dropped to 20.4 mpg, so speed matters. Helpful Tech Outside the drivetrain, they praised the 12.0-inch touchscreen interface, which they described as “one of the best.” They specifically called out its ability to split screen and show two separate apps even when using the wireless Apple CarPlay. In addition, the hybrid’s 1.5-kWh lithium-ion battery, which powered the available 7.2 kW external power system, proved useful in powering devices at their fishing location. Hybrids are improving the performance and efficiency of all vehicle categories now, and those advantages apply just as well to the Ford F-150. Visit Benna Ford and check out how the Ford F-150 can add power and efficiency to your daily life.

The Car Connection wanted to look at the changes Ford made to the 2024 F-150 and chose to do it through two of its more interesting models: the Tremor and the hybrid model. Benna Ford gives you the highlights of what they found. General changes for the 2024 F-150 model line are not drastic but significant enough to noticeably improve your ownership experience. It starts with a new Pro Access tailgate design with a side-swinging door. The door covers about the middle third of the tailgate and swings for an opening on the driver’s side. The Pro Access tailgate is a practical addition. It not only allows you to access your load without reaching over a closed gate or across an open one but also lets you access the bed while towing. The mid-door hinges are designed to hold open at 100, 70, or 37 degrees, with the smaller number set specifically for towing, ensuring it holds open without encountering any part of the trailer tongue. The tailgate drops down either manually or by power as it did before, maintaining its user-friendly nature. A grab handle in the bed replaces the former retractable handle, and a retractable step plus a wider center bumper step helps you climb into the bed. The Car Connection summarizes these changes this way: “It’s a cleaner, more functional design that makes getting things in and out a lot easier.” The other exterior change is a revised grille and headlight combo that wraps around the corners for a less brick-like front-end appearance. Now available is a front modular bumper that enables the attachment of accessories such as an LED light bar, an available factory-installed 12,000-pound winch, or other accessories. All 2024 F-150s are equipped with a standard 12.0-inch touchscreen in the cabin and an identical-sized digital gauge cluster outside. All but the hybrid model now get a 36-gallon fuel tank and a standard Class IV hitch. The Tremor is the off-road-focused F-150 that is just one step on the reasonable side of the gonzo Raptor, and The Car Connection found that if you didn’t buy your truck just to beat the heck out of it and aim for high jump records, the Tremor might be the most well-rounded choice in the lineup. The ground clearance increases by 1.6 inches over a standard F150 to 9.8 inches, and the rolling stock is 33-inch General Grabber A/TX tires wrapping black 18-inch wheels. The 4x4 system includes a locking rear differential and Hill Descent control. It also comes with Trail Turn assist, which locks the inside rear wheel to enable tighter turns, to “ essentially shrink the wheelbase,” as the site describes it. It will get you anywhere on the farm or construction site, even after a rain, and can tow up to 13,000 pounds compared to 8,300 for the Raptor. While it has an inch-wider track than a standard F-150, it is still a half-foot narrower than the Raptor, giving you a little more room in the parking spot or garage. It also costs $14,180 less. The Car Connection describes its off-road capability like this: “I tested the new model on a switchbacking access road up and down a mountain, deep in off-the-grid territory, ascending over rocky ruts and descending into terrain too tough for Subarus or soft-roaders. It impressed me enough to recommend it as the F-150 to buy. “ The F-150 Hybrid remains one of only two full-size hybrid pickup trucks on the market. All Hybrid models are 4x4 now and start with the XLT trim level. The powertrain remains unchanged: a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 combined with a 35-kW motor fed by a 1.5-kWh battery pack, with 430 total system horsepower running through the model line’s standard 10-speed automatic transmission for heading out to all four wheels. The most significant mechanical news is that the belt-integrated starter has been eliminated in favor of simply starting the vehicle from a 12-volt battery and a conventional flywheel-mounted starter. It seems like a simple thing, but Ford says the change involved 300 software enhancements to make the change. The Car Connection made a note of this change: “(the previous model) could feel uncertain in low gears, as if the system didn’t know when to use the engine, motor, or dual power at once. Now, on roads leading to the highway, it felt quieter, calmer, and overall less noticeable, which is what I want out of any hybrid powertrain.” The strength of the fuel mileage is manifest in city driving, with a figure of 22, while all other F-150s range across the teens, from 19 for the 2.7-liter 2WD to just 10 for the V8 Raptor. The hybrid highway mileage is 24 for a combined 23 figures. The Car Connection found all of the 2024 changes to be quite welcome and summed up their experience this way: “Add up all of these small changes, and it’s easy to see how the Ford F-150 continues to lead the pickup truck segment in America.” If you are considering a new full-size pickup truck, shopping for the F-150 has always been a must, and now it is even more so. We invite you to do just that at Benna Ford in Superior, Wisconsin.

When Ford releases an all-new or updated version of the F-150, you can bet it will have some of the best features that could be put in a vehicle. The introduction of the 2024 F-150 is no different, as Ford has added some things that buyers will definitely want on their next truck. Styling Upgrades Updated grilles and headlights make the 2024 F-150 look fresh and stylish while still being purposeful and rugged. There are also new wheel designs to help differentiate between the different trim levels and the 2023 F-150. BlueCruise Update Ford BlueCruise gets a meaningful update to help keep the advanced driver-assistance technology at the top of its game. With the latest 1.3 update, Ford says it is 3-5 times better at driving without a drop. A drop is when the system turns off for whatever reason, frequently due to a bend in the road that the cameras and vehicle cannot handle without driver involvement. Pro Access Tailgate In the truck world, there is a need to constantly evolve and adapt to the needs of truck buyers and companies that use the F-150 as the workhorse of their daily duties. With Pro Access Tailgate, you get a barn door within the tailgate of the F-150. This allows owners to have a 37-inch door that lets you quickly access things in the bed. It has hard stops at 37, 70, and 100 degrees, plus an optional step under the bumper to aid you if you need to get into the bed. This is especially helpful if you have certain types of trailers attached. The door release is also electronic, so it will not be able to be opened if you have the tailgate down. Engine Choices The updated 2024 Ford F-150 features a total of 6 different engines. The base truck now gets the EcoBoost 2.7-liter V6, making 325 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. Optional engines include the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 with 400 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque, the 3.5-liter Hybrid PowerBoost with 430 horsepower and 570 lb-ft of torque, the old school 5.0-liter V8 putting out 400 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque. The Raptor gets a 430 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque EcoBoost 3.5-liter V6, and the Raptor R has a 5.2-liter Supercharged V8 outputting 700 horsepower and 640 lb-ft of torque. Trim Levels For 2024, the trim levels for the F-150 are XL, STX, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum, and Tremor. Pro Power Onboard Depending on the engine and trim level you choose, buyers can also select Power Pro Onboard, which puts electrical outlets in the bed of the truck for various purposes, such as tailgating, running tools, powering a job site, or even helping to power things in your home during major power outages. Available on gas engine models is a 2.0kW power option. Hybrid PowerBoost trucks have a standard 2.4kW with an optional 7.2kW. Ford says the 7.2kW Pro Power can supply enough power to a framing crew, mobile metal, and welding shop, or a dirt bike shop for 32 straight hours. At Benna Ford, we offer our customers some of the best prices and services. With more than 100 new and used vehicles to choose from, our outstanding sales team and finance department will work hard to make sure you drive away happy. And our fantastic service department will take care of your new-to-you vehicle as if it were their own.