[XutvJet]

Back in October I bought a 2011 Cayman 6MT that I thought would be my occasional driver and "fun" car. Turns out I absolutely love the damn thing and drive it almost exclusively while my 2016 M235 6MT sits with a sad panda face. I used to think the M235 was an exceptional sports coupe, but the Cayman has wrecked it for me. I'm wavering on selling the M235 to my son and getting a new single cab, short bed F150 XLT 2wd with the 5.0 and 10 speed auto. I've always wanted a full-size single cab V8 truck and the F150 fits the bill nicely. With the 5.0, 10 speed (it ain't no ZF 8 speed though) and light chassis (for a truck), they can boogey. In stock form, they're in the deep into 13s on pump gas which would be fine for me and there are plenty of mods to make it much quicker if I wanted. Given that these a super rare trucks, I'd have to order it and it looks like it would come in around $44K (LOL truck prices).

I've watch a ton YT videos and have done my own research, but does anyone have any experience with the later gen 5.0s and/or the 10 speed auto? I'm curious if there are any red flags as I'm not finding any other than most Ford dealers suck and Ford reliability is mid pack at best.

[c1pher]

I really like my 7.3L (Godzilla) F250 Lariat Tremor. It also has a ten speed auto. The transmission can seem a little clunky at times if you do something it’s not expecting. Fits the bill for moving or carrying stuff that I don't want to or cant carry in my other cars. Tremor comes with 4.30 gears which really helps make it feel peppy. After my experience with diesel motors, I'd much rather have a simpler NA motor in a work truck that can take a beating and last a while. I think you might have a similarly positive experience with the 5.0.

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by c1pher

7.3L (Godzilla) F250 Lariat Tremor.

This is the most American thing i have ever read. Brilliant.

[c1pher]

I thought I owned real trucks in the past until I got this:

[dreamingat30fps]

I had a 2014 V8 F150 Platinum. Honestly no idea what transmission was in it. First truck I had ever owned. Bought it strictly to tow a travel trailer I was going to purchase. LOVED it! It had a great ride (waaaay better than my F350) lots of luxury features like AC seats, massage, giant sunroof etc. I never had any issues during my ownership and we drove it all across the country.

We then got a bigger travel trailer 32' and towed that bitch from FL to Maine and back with the F150. Up through the mountains of northern GA it did struggle a bit and it got a bit white knuckle when it got windy and what not with that giant trailer, but it did it. After that decided to switch it out for an F350 before going on a 5 month trip through the rockies. No issues so far with my 2017 F350 either... close to 70k miles on it now I think. This one is a monster though, 6.7 diesel, long bed, doesn't give a shit if the trailer is back there or not. When it's not towing though ride is not nearly as nice as the F150 and just overall doesn't compare to the F150. The F350 is a truck, the F150 is a luxury SUV that can do a lot of truck stuff IMO. I would totally get another F150 if I had a smaller trailer.

[Donatello.]

I'm just over here trying to convince my FIL to sell me his 2004 F150 5.4L because I want a truck & no need to spend new $ lol

[c1pher]

Originally Posted by dreamingat30fps

I had a 2014 V8 F150 Platinum. Honestly no idea what transmission was in it. First truck I had ever owned. Bought it strictly to tow a travel trailer I was going to purchase. LOVED it! It had a great ride (waaaay better than my F350) lots of luxury features like AC seats, massage, giant sunroof etc. I never had any issues during my ownership and we drove it all across the country.

We then got a bigger travel trailer 32' and towed that bitch from FL to Maine and back with the F150. Up through the mountains of northern GA it did struggle a bit and it got a bit white knuckle when it got windy and what not with that giant trailer, but it did it. After that decided to switch it out for an F350 before going on a 5 month trip through the rockies. No issues so far with my 2017 F350 either... close to 70k miles on it now I think. This one is a monster though, 6.7 diesel, long bed, doesn't give a shit if the trailer is back there or not. When it's not towing though ride is not nearly as nice as the F150 and just overall doesn't compare to the F150. The F350 is a truck, the F150 is a luxury SUV that can do a lot of truck stuff IMO. I would totally get another F150 if I had a smaller trailer.

We tow all kinds of stuff and the truck acts like nothing’s there. We’ve been back and forth through Appalachia without any worry.

I have the Lariat trim so it also has some nice modern features like heated and ventilated seats, LED lights, auto high beams etc. But then it has old school stuff like key in ignition and gear selector on the steering column. Kind of weird but I love it.

[MassWholeBimmer]

Had a 2013 F150 4x4 Scab with 5.0 L and 6 speed. Not sure if it's the same gen as new 5.0 L, but put over 100K on the vehicle and it never went in the shop once (well, it did to fix the rear window that I through a log thru). Got about 19ish mpg from what I remember

Current 2019 F150 is a 4x4 Screw with 3.5 L eco boost with the 10 speed tranny. Some occasional over reving in the lower gears, but nothing I ever worried about. Have 50K on it now and never was in the shop for repairs. Getting about 21 Mpg average.

PS. Love that 3.5L ecoboost.

[dreamingat30fps]

Originally Posted by c1pher

We tow all kinds of stuff and the truck acts like nothing’s there. We’ve been back and forth through Appalachia without any worry.

I have the Lariat trim so it also has some nice modern features like heated and ventilated seats, LED lights, auto high beams etc. But then it has old school stuff like key in ignition and gear selector on the steering column. Kind of weird but I love it.

We had no issues with our first RV which was just under 30'. However when we went to the 32' everything changed. I figured how much difference can 2' make... well a lot apparently. The new one was also heavier, probably different weight distribution, who knows. Lots of people online tow it with the F150 and say they have no issues. I could have probably kept messing around with different hitches and what not, but ultimately decided to just go with the F350. We were actually thinking of getting a 5th wheel which was another reason to go bigger, ended up not getting a 5th wheel though. Don't need any special hitches or anything, plus the 8' bed is great to fit lumber and not have it stick out and be able to close the cover.

Parking on the other hand... not so great.

[c1pher]

Originally Posted by dreamingat30fps

We had no issues with our first RV which was just under 30'. However when we went to the 32' everything changed. I figured how much difference can 2' make... well a lot apparently. The new one was also heavier, probably different weight distribution, who knows. Lots of people online tow it with the F150 and say they have no issues. I could have probably kept messing around with different hitches and what not, but ultimately decided to just go with the F350. We were actually thinking of getting a 5th wheel which was another reason to go bigger, ended up not getting a 5th wheel though. Don't need any special hitches or anything, plus the 8' bed is great to fit lumber and not have it stick out and be able to close the cover.

Parking on the other hand... not so great.

So true on parking. It is a big vehicle. I can’t imagine driving around with the extended bed and super crew cab.

[P1]

If I'm buying a truck, it'll be 3/4 ton or better.

[dreamingat30fps]

Originally Posted by XutvJet

Back in October I bought a 2011 Cayman 6MT that I thought would be my occasional driver and "fun" car. Turns out I absolutely love the damn thing and drive it almost exclusively while my 2016 M235 6MT sits with a sad panda face. I used to think the M235 was an exceptional sports coupe, but the Cayman has wrecked it for me. I'm wavering on selling the M235 to my son and getting a new single cab, short bed F150 XLT 2wd with the 5.0 and 10 speed auto. I've always wanted a full-size single cab V8 truck and the F150 fits the bill nicely. With the 5.0, 10 speed (it ain't no ZF 8 speed though) and light chassis (for a truck), they can boogey. In stock form, they're in the deep into 13s on pump gas which would be fine for me and there are plenty of mods to make it much quicker if I wanted. Given that these a super rare trucks, I'd have to order it and it looks like it would come in around $44K (LOL truck prices).

I've watch a ton YT videos and have done my own research, but does anyone have any experience with the later gen 5.0s and/or the 10 speed auto? I'm curious if there are any red flags as I'm not finding any other than most Ford dealers suck and Ford reliability is mid pack at best.

I’ll add I’ve had no issues with Ford dealers. I have been to ford dealers all around the country when we traveled with the RV and I can’t remember a bad experience. Sure you don’t get a loaner for basic stuff, but I have always managed to get in quickly and basic warranty/recall stuff or maintenance stuff is always done quickly. Honestly better experience than the local BMW dealer I use to go to. Better than Porsche which takes weeks to get an appointment then they keep it for a week and do nothing.

[XutvJet]

Thank you everyone for your posts. I rented a number of super crew cab 2011-2012 F150 5.0 6ATs 4x4s for work and really liked them. Very comfy, quiet, and good power. I found them a bit ponderous and flexy on the rear axle over broken pavement but I think that was largely the longer frame, steel body, and weight. The aluminum body single cab 2wds I'm looking at are a whopping 1500lbs lighter, 40 more hp, and much shorter.

[c1pher]

Originally Posted by XutvJet

Thank you everyone for your posts. I rented a number of super crew cab 2011-2012 F150 5.0 6ATs 4x4s for work and really liked them. Very comfy, quiet, and good power. I found them a bit ponderous and flexy on the rear axle over broken pavement but I think that was largely the longer frame, steel body, and weight. The aluminum body single cab 2wds I'm looking at are a whopping 1500lbs lighter, 40 more hp, and much shorter.

That reduced weight also translates to higher payload. A lot of people focus on how much they can tow, but a fully loaded Limited probably only has a payload of 11-1200lbs. Once you subtract the weight of the occupants, there’s not much else you can put in the bed or cab except a couple pieces of lumber lol.