So... I got my new 'company truck' about two weeks ago.

2019 Ford F250... gas engine, 6 speed trans, 2wd, 8ft bed. it's got the slightly extended cab with 'suicide doors' and 'jump seat' in back.  The following are my observations so far:

Like the 2016 I had... it tends to hesitate and drop a cylinder at idle.  the '16 did this often 'till I started hearing ignition noise on my HAM radio, after goin' round the world with the dealership's service center (three trips), they finally followed my instructions and figured out that it had one ignition coil going bad... replaced it, and it was much better... 'till another one started going bad a month or three later.  Apparently, the coils fail often?  Well, this one's doing it already... 1100miles...

It's fairly quick... although I can't compare it apples-to-apples with the '16, as this has the so-called 'mil-spec aluminum' body, and Ford felt it necessary to elevate the sides of the bed another 1.1" taller than the '16, so now my fiberglass service body insert no longer sits on the floor... it's hanging in air, with all it's weight resting on those aluminum sides.  Now, the fiberglass body manufacturer has figured this out, and has been manufacturing retrofit 'kits' to make them useable on the '17 and newer aluminum bodies (along with forcing the body rearward about an inch and  a half to clear this big combination high-mount stoplight, bed light, backup light, camera housing on the top of the cab.  When the service body shifts around, it hits the light on the cab, and crushes the cab (did I mention that it's mil-spec aluminum?) as it's crushing the sides (again, mil-spec aluminum) of the bed.  SO... to prevent my truck from getting damaged (like the other three in the fleet that were changed-out before mine), I've got NO tools in my truck, so it weighs several thousand pounds less than the '16 I turned in.

I have driven the truck a bit, and fuel economy seems about the same as the '16, or just a tad less... mebbie 10mpg, instead of the '16's 12mpg.

The seating is okay.  Head rest is designed to prop my head forward, which puts lots of strain on my neck (I've had C5/6 fused), so in order to absolve the pain, I've had to remove and reverse the headrest.  Not optimal, but better than no headrest at all.

The '16 's so-called 'center console' was worthless.  The '19 's is slightly better, but still pretty useless... since it's intended to be a middle seat, there's enough storage for a pair of light gloves, and two shallow cupholders.  To it's merit, FORD appears to have made it much easier to unbolt and discard this middle seat, which is what I'll do... and install the center console that I made for the '16.  I did so for that one, because since the middle seat doesn't move, it places either the seat back (up) or console (down) about 2" above, and forward of where my elbow needs to be to drive comfortably.

The rear doors on this model year actually swing out full, then back... double-jointed hinge... good idea in some ways, bad in others.  Nice is that I can access the back seat area easier.  Bad, though, because with driver's door open, and rear door open, if the wind blows front door shut, then back door, the back door slams into the front door's outside, leaving a long crease in the (mil spec aluminum) bodywork.  Fortunately, I observed this on the others in the fleet before falling to that mistake on mine.

The rear seat for this cab is a little bit more useful than the '16... and if I were actually using it as a 'family' vehicle, I would use it for my kids... mebbie six years ago.  My kids are teenagers now, so they won't fit in it anyway.  Fortunately, the seat bottom flips up, but unfortunately, this doesn't make the back seat space any more useful, just easier to vacuum up the carpet (which I've replaced with Weathertec floor mats).  I'll do same thing as I did with the '16... unbolt the bottoms, unbolt the center seatbelt, remove the seat back, and discard it all, and put a rack on the floor for boots and tools shelf for my luggage and computer bag, of some type of shelves all the way up the back, and a garment pole to hang my extra round of arctic gear (coat, coveralls, etc) so I can warm and dry a second round while I'm out working in cold rain/snow/ice.

SYNC-3 Entertainment center...  It's a big LCD screen with icons and menus to control all sorts of stuff... backup camera (which doesn't exist, as the tailgate had to be removed for the service body)... and all the sound-system stuff.  Some people really like 'em... I don't...  the menu-driven touch-screen is a distracting accident-waiting-to-happen... every time something happens, that screen lights up the inside of the cab on a dark night, blinding me.  Fortunately, Ford had their SYNC programmers make a setting that turns DISPLAY OFF, after you've swiped the screen to left, selected DISPLAY SETTINGS, then DISPLAY OFF... of course,  when you shut the ignition off, it looses that setting, and reverts to full-blast-bright at night.  Oh, and when you shift to reverse, the screen lights up bright blue, and says CAMERA UNAVAILABLE, which you have to select OK to in order to clear... (but the big bright blue screen stays on for about 20 seconds after that anyway).  I've thrown a blanket over it, because I'm particularly unappreciative of being blinded while driving.

Along with a screen that constantly blinds you and demands your attention, Ford has added a myriad of other 'safety features', like 'blind spot warning'... a pair of motion sensors located in the tail lights, and when there's something along side you, it flashes a bright yellow light in the corresponding mirror.  Of course, the mirrors on the truck are big and bountiful, so if it weren't for a yellow light blinding your periphery, you'd clearly SEE that there was something there.  These are great mirrors... they don't leave blind spots, so the 'blind spot warning' feature is pointless, if not counter-productive.  I used a dab of black touch-up paint to cover the blinding yellow lights, which subdued them substantially.

On the subject of 'blind spots'...  the worst blind spots anymore, are the A and B-pillars... being equipped with a half-dozen air-bags has made these areas big and fat, right in the middle of sight-lines.  Easy to lose a motorcyclist, bicyclist, pedestrian... just because they're behind a big air-bag pocket.  High body sides don't help, either... my '82 F100 had tiny square mirrors, but didn't have such a propensity to lose traffic right in front of me... a true case where safety equipment does just the opposite.

The tops of the mirrors are capped with chrome.  Yeah, the 'stylists' decided they liked it... but stylists must be morons-  the tops of the mirrors cause substantial glare, not only during daytime, but hideous at night... even the truck's own headlights shine off the mirror-tops' 'chrome'.  It took me about 45 minutes to mask off the area, and paint it down with flat black.

Dashboard has little bits of chrome trim inside each vent.  Unclipping the vent from the dashboard allows removing the chrome trim... straight to trashcan... much better now.  The centers of the vents have chrome accents, which got black permanent marker sublimation.

Everything... every control, every knob, even the USB ports down on the lower dash, are all illuminated by blue LEDs, and NONE of them dim with the dash dimming.  Black magic marker blacked them out.

As for the big display and the dash... next step will be to either disconnect the backlight (basically disable the SYNC-3 screen semi-permanently), or cut covers to totally seal them off.  The main dashboard is gonna get a cover... the tachometer, the 'status display' in the middle of the dash, all the lights at the bottom (especially the stupid green light that indicates headlights on)... all punishingly bright, so I'll make a cover that leaves only the numbered edge of the speedometer, and the temp/pressure/volt gauges and the odometer visible.  i don't need the rest.

Back up assist... the so-called 'smart trailer'... all junk IMO.  The 'stability control' has been downright dangerous (it applies brakes when it 'thinks' you're losing control'... causing the truck to do things you don't want it to do).  If I could permanently shut that crap off, I would.

As the '16 did, I'm constantly having people 'punish' me... flash brights on at last moment, because the headlamps's low-beam pattern are poorly patterned high from factory.  Can't effectively lower them enough to make 'em any better, and flashing people back with my brights doesn't change their attitude.  On the '16, i cranked the lamps down so low that I was perpetually overdriving my sight distance... and I was still getting 'flashed'.

Aside from all these things, it seems comfortable so far. This one has heated seats and mirrors... the latter is great... the former, probably won't get used much...

Better than the '16, is that the rear half-door's windows actually roll down.  I prefer to have a little fresh air flow in while driving, cracking open the passenger front and driver rear makes that happen without 'rumbling' the interior at highway speeds.

Ride isn't bad, but again, I don't have any tools in back yet.  Unfortunately, engineers felt it necessary to raise the bed sides 1.1", and clearly they've increased suspension height another 2" from our '16's, so my tool shelves are now too high to reach without a stepladder.

Ground clearance on both the '16 and the 19 is challenged by stuff hanging down kinda low in the middle.  I don't drive it off pavement much, but with the '16 I did have snow and ice building up on low-hanging chassis stuff, and being 2wd, these things are helpless in snow and ice... even with traction control and electric locking differentials, they're fair-weather-only.

It's nicely quiet in the cab- they did a good job suppressing the noise... aside from all the constant bleeps and dings from safety features demanding attention, it's an otherwise comfortable machine.

I hope that some day, the programmers learn wisdom and restraint, and make it so that all the 'convenience' and 'safety' features can be set to a permanent DO NOT DISTURB.

I'm disappointed by the aluminum body... it has no place on a serious truck doing what we do.  On a car-body, maybie (I had an aluminum AUDI, and many aluminum bicycles and motorcycles), but not on a pickup truck.

So all that being said... would I buy one?  No.  There's a few things I like, but I certainly wouldn't own one... not at any price.

Gee Dave , maybe you should tell us what you really think of the new Ferd ! I'm going to copy/send your review to my brother. He gets test vehicles all theh time to, well, test then write up about them. The only aluminum vehicles I'd like to have are 1) Austin Healy 2) land rover.

I'd like to see how Ford expects to get the dings and dents outta of a year's worth of REAL driving a pickup !

Helped neighbour pull engine/tranny from an 08 yesterday. Took us just under 4 hrs,helps having A-C florklift to remove cab.inner fender unit.Sold it to guy with 600,000+KM on his.

ALL of the 'electronics' is a nighmarish joke.$$$ to replace when it goes wrong, and it will. And what's with the stupid doors? My 97 has ONE big door , regular cab. New ones have a maller front door AND a skinny back door for a regular cab. Idiots at Ford again...There is ZERO benefit to the 2 door setup AND there's a LOT of extra parts and

weight to deal with.

Got the official sticker shock last fall. About 50,000 Canucks to replace my reg cab/short box, XLT, small V8, trailer hitch. Nothing else....50 K $ !!!  Brother brought over a test PU the other day...nice but almost 100,000  PLUS taxes (13%)....

I must be getting old but guy next door's welding in patch panels on my box this week, going to keep my 97 until I die.

Jay

 Hey Dave Kamp,,it's good to hear from youse,,as it has been a while,,,I know you is always so dang busy,,,,,

 I really enjoyed your unabashed and painfully honest opinion of your new trk. Great observations, but then again since you spend so much time in it and on the road,,you have to make it fit you. I could almost hear your teeth gnashing while you compliment the intracacies of what makes them engineers and designers minds operate,,,,,,,, 

  Your analysis has made me reconsider my unfounded wish to purchase a new (newer) trk,,,so I NOW feel better with just keeping my old and trusty 2000 Ford F150,,,,HMMmm,,,don't know bout the even older 1998 Nissan trk I just picked up,,,,descisions,,decisions,,,,,

 I'm thinkin the Nissan is gonna be chit outa luck as the Ford gets better MPG ,,,,!!!

Thanks for your comments on the new Ford. Pictures would be good too. There is a Forum FTE Ford Truck Enthusistis that would have folks that could relate. But most of those folks are not using the truck like you are. You setting it up as a plain Jane git it done work truck not a luxuary mega sizes fitfh wheel puller.

Appreciate your comments: And as the owner of a 2015 F-250 I can understand your issues. I see some of the same things on mine. I chose to buy a good used truck with a steel cab and bed, mainly due to the cost of new and see in what the aluminum designs shake out like. 

I don't use mine as a work truck like you. So some of the creature comforts are nice. I like the full four doors. ( I didn't realize Ford was still making the small back door versions?) 

Regards,

 Chris

Still a Ford guy here. 

(BTW ever notice off in the distance, coming at you is a truck with one light working? 90% of the time it will be a GM product! When are they going to figure something as simple as lighting? ..... Just saying:))

Regards,

 Chris

That glaring illumination of the dash gauges surprised me.  In my 2012 F250 they can be dimmed down.

You seem to get ll the bad coils.  My 2012 has been running without a flaw since new.

I don't know.

Would I buy another one - yes.  Just saying.

Don't tell him but the last thing I bought for me is a Ford. Buts its old, 89.

Just wait for the ones that will not let you drive it. Your just a passenger of the computer gods.

Sounds like a couple 2 x 4's under the work box might solve you problem there.

We consider Ford to be road dumpsters, full of trash!

The display should let you connect your phone to the truck.  Makes using it a lot safer.  Did you go thru the setup menu and look for a display brightness setting?

It's a whole lot more involved than a couple 2x4's.   The guys that got the first batch of new fleet actually put plywood spacers under the floor once they realized it was unsupported (broke the floors in the basically new inserts!).  After they got 'em in place, they clamped 'em down with the original clamps, which tore the tops of the bed rails off.  The aluminum bed is NOT capable of being clamped to with ANYTHING.  There's no 'pockets' in them anymore either.  There's special tie-down points inside the bed, and that's the ONLY place you can tie anything to.

Our caps require a complete steel chassis to be assembled on the floor of the bed, then the factory tie-down points unbolted, with new 'special' tie down fixtures installed in place, then remove the original clamp-arms from the service body insert, special new arms installed, that reach DOWN and hook onto the tie-downs.  Only after this is all done (the kit is $634, + shipping from Canada) is the insert considered 'safely installed'.  The first half of our fleet all have damaged beds... they start to distort the moment you tighten the original clamps.  once you reinstall tools, they wrinkle, and when you step on the brakes, the insert rocks forward, pulling apart welds in the aluminum, peeling up the edges of the bed, and the top of the insert kisses the light on the top rear of the cab, crushing the cab in.  When you accellerate, the body slips rearward.

In 2012, we were driving F450 dualliies with the (last... for us) diesels.  Rolled-up cost to keep those engines on the road forced us to go to V10 gas, which we had NO reliability issues with ever.  I don't know if we ever had ignition coil issues with the V10's, but my last 450 was a 2013, turned in in 2015.... if it was stumbling, I didn't recognize it... it burned oil on every startup, but was RF quiet 'till the day I turned it in for the '16 F250.

Yes, I like my 'work trucks' to be tough and simple. Creature comforts are nice to a certain point, but I ALWAYS place function over form.  Chrome belongs inside cylinder bores, where it can make hard-working surfaces last forever, not on places where it's only purpose is to inflate ego and glare eyes day and night.

Last SYNC system I connected my phone to... was my F450.  I did it the day before I left on assignment to central Washington in a snowstorm.  I wasn't halfway to Des Moines when I hit a bump, and all four windows of the truck rolled down.  I rolled them up, only to have 'em roll down again.  By the time I got to Omaha, there was 7" of snow on the passenger seat, and more on the floor.    I pulled into a truck-wash bay, opened all the doors, raked out all the snow, and pulled the fuse on the power windows.  Took me a few days to figure out what was happening, turns out that the programmer-nannies had incorporated some feature of 'collison detection' that would roll the windows down in an accident, and my phone's integrated accellerometer function was responding to bumps in the road.  I removed my bluetooth link, and never had that problem again, and henceforth, will NEVER connect my cellphone to a FORD again.  I have a nice Motorola bluetooth speaker clipped to the visor, only gets used for speakerphone.

The problem I see here, is that they've forgotten that this is a TRUCK.  It's not a luxury sedan, not a back-street poser, it's not a movie theatre or rolling entertainment venue... it's a machine that I use to convey me and my field equipment to do a job... it's a self-propelled toolbox, and it's a heated, rain-tight space that when I'm in sub-freezing or cold rain, I can jump in, change into dry clothes, warm up, and get back to a hotel to rest after a 16-hour stint slaving in an extremely uncomfortable jobsite.

I have absolutely no concern for what stylists put on paper- style to me, is appearing at a jobsite, being faced with an impossible situation, under unthinkable weather and circumstances, and walking into a hellstorm of problems, walking out later, with everything done, and looking like it was all okay from the git-go.  I come from a time and place where we know what's behind us, and how far away it is, before, and during a back-up.  I know how cameras work, and there's NO reason to trust them, or an ultrasonic rangefinder in the bumper- that's technology that leads to dependance correspondant to a lack of responsibility to trust without verify.

I did not grow up in a household with a nanny... and neither did my kids.  I don't need one now... if I felt I needed driving assistance with all these 'features', I would just take my wife along. 

SteveM C/IL wrote: Yeah,for all that high tech crap,just because you can don't mean you should. Trucking Co started buy roll over control on tankers.Has a pendulem that senses force in any direction and applies brakes.Driver says try getting up speed on the on ramp to safely merge with traffic....NOT HAPPENING!!!! SAFETY! SAFETY SAFETY!!!! EFM!

These are one of the most dangerous gadgets ever concieved.  The pendulum does NOT accurately represent what's happening to a liquid load, and when a liquid load is 'strolling around' inside the tanker, arbitrarily applying the brakes will more often than not, exacerbate the situation.  I've seen a tanker, totally stopped in traffic, roll over as a result of the load being in complex oscillation.

The absolutely best processor of dynamic stability, is the highly-complex, but incredibly adaptable analog computing engine betwixt the ears of an experienced driver... not only can that brain compensate for current conditions, it can look down the road, look at the sky, listen to the road reports on CB, weather and traffic on AM radio, and plan well ahead... MILES ahead.  A computer in a vehicle will NEVER be able to do that.

 

YES!

Yes, I probably seem really grumpy about my assessments.

To their merit, it drives nice, it's quiet, and handles well, EXCEPT for the stability/traction control that randomly likes to take away all my control of the vehicle.

Short point, is that I'm a practical guy, and the truck is not a status symbol for me... matter of fact, NONE of my vehicles are... they're tools... machines with an intended purpose.  Anything that detracts from that function, makes it a lesser tool.  As a result, I'll put down a lesser tool, for a more effective tool.   Doesn't matter if it's a hammer, a wrench, a chainsaw, a guitar, a computer, or a truck.  Tool first and foremost... everything else is a distraction. 

My apologies if it seems harsh... but if I designed a truck, and was going to advertise it as being 'super duty'... or 'tough'... it wouldn't have carpet on the floors.  Good, comfortable seats yes...  brutal tough seats with good lumbar and thoracic support, plenty of room to turn my head to head-check my aft quarters on lane changes, and when backing.  covers would be really tough material, worthy of sustainting a screwdriver in back pocket.  Fenders and doors should take rocks and dirt, bumps and abrasion without serious concern.  Operation should be simple, obvious, and not distracting from the primary purpose:  Move down the road, through all conditions, with the driver always in full control.  Start reliably on coldest days, not overheat on hottest days.

Oh... and not have an oil filter that hangs down low enough to get knocked off when straddling a spinning chunk of shredded truck tire.  Did I mention that the oil filter hangs dangerously exposed?  Yep.  Brand new truck, on side of the road, smoking of acrid oil... stranded by a common piece of road debris.  A guy in a Honda Accord went over it... it bounced around under the car, with no effect... same piece whacked one of our 250's, and put it on the side of the road for three hours.

I thought this thread kinda interesting and after going thru it again, came up with an after thought.

What model it it?  It seems to sure have a lot of bells and whistles fur a work truck.

my F250 is old (2012) and I ordered it like I wanted it.  2wd, XLT, with about 1 grand of add ons like 4.30 diffy, bed liner, side moldings, and up fitter switches.  This thing has no flat screen.  Knobs for temp control, etc.  At the time as I recall if you just wanted a work truck,you could get the same chassis without a lot of the chrome, no carpets and I don't know what else was plane Jane.  Think it was an XL model?

So next time I am by the place I bought mine to get free pop corn, I am gonna pick up an F 250 brochure and have a gander to see if just plain ole work trucks are available.

I am not too sure Ford is getting a fare shake here and maybe a lot of chiming in. 

And I am ging to get my ft fanny on the ground and see where the oil filter is. 

I really like the fact that I can reach over the sides of my 91 and 96 F-150 4x4 trucks and touch the bottom of the bed. Yeah, they think they look tough rolling those hi boys up next to my low riding half tons. But I sure like getting in the cab without external step ladders or fold out running boards. Thanks for the reviews. Now I don't feel so bad when I gotta install those new ball joints on my 91.

And I can't remember when the last truck payment was.

That was a point I haven't brought up, because it wasn't a 'consumer-side' issue, but in dealing with our 6.0 HPOP failures (specifically after explaining my week-and-a-half being stranded in Clovis, New Mexico when my 6.0 had only 8,000mi on the clock), I was advised by a dealer's mechanic that what you mentioned, is a very large reason why we'd found that dealerships weren't particularly inclined to expeditious response to our stranded trucks.  The dealer that our fleet is acquired through is substantially more responsive, but it's because our fleet of 8 service trucks is only a tiny fraction of the business we bring them (over cars, light trucks, and SUVs).

I think it's sad that dealership/franchisees are treated with this sort of poor business from a major manufacturer, but I've seen other absurd policies from the likes of MerCruiser, STIHL, SCHWINN... the latter, flushed their legacy down the toilet with that kind of business attitude, and it's a total shame to see the result of a longstanding marque, but they made the bed they now sleep in.

One would think that leadership would look at their own emblem, and see that the emblem on their building is seen by so few, but that same emblem is seen by the world... their desired customer base... intensely, and daily... at their local dealership level, and that as such, they would realize that the solidarity of their relationship with their end customer DEMANDS that their representatives... the DEALERSHIPS... were supported ABOVE AND BEYOND their needs in ALL facets.

Alas, a little bit of stupid, goes a long, long way.

Since they have enough folks willing to pay for a new pickup, basically what you could buy a house for not so many years ago, they will continue to add stuff to the package that they can force on folks.

Have read twice now that Ferd plans on only having one car within 5-7 years (Mustang), all else will fall under SUV type "crossover" or "truck".

Gone are the days when they listened to the customer, now just push whatever they can off the same line and as long as folks keep buying it, they'll keep adding junk to them because "we build what the folks buy".

Grew up Ford, won't even consider one anymore . . . .

yeah, take the belt off ( to smack the unruly kids in the back....) and the dang screen goes FULL WHITE, yammering about 'you're not wearing your seatbelt'... scare the bejeebers outta you and  land in a ditch....

 i really,really hate computerz.....

 

ask a power plant operator why they are in business and he will say TO MAKE POWER... the CEO will say NO... TO MAKE MONEY !!

 

ask Wal Mart worker why they are in business and he will say TO HELP PEOPLE... the CEO will say, NO... TO MAKE MONEY !!..

 

EVERY COMPANY in the world is in business to MAKE MONEY... PERIOD... You produce what people will buy.. Not everyone will like every product, but the WINNERS in the game are building WHAT PEOPLE WANT.

darrel in ND wrote: I just don't get the big ole computer screens in these new vehicles. We preach and preach about distracted driving, then put a touch screen monitor in for people to play with and try to figure out while driving down the road. Nothing distracting about that, I guess. Darrel

And this is the strongest of fundamental points.

I put this truck in reverse, at night, and that big screen goes full blast blue, lights up the whole cab, and blinds me.  Doesn't matter what I do, the only solution to make it so that I can see is to throw a coat over the whole fking dash.

After about twenty seconds of that crap, it puts up a message that STAYS... until I acknowledge it... "CAMERA NOT AVAILABLE".

No S#i7 Sherlock-  the TAILGATE isn't available EITHER...

The answer is "Oh, connect the CAMERA DELETE connector to solve that".

Really?  You mean the one that's plugged into it now?

These screens are incredibly dangerous.

Oh... put the heater in RECIRCULATE, to get the cab warmed up on a cold, dry night.  After about four minutes, it drops out of recirculate mode.  WHY?

Dealership says that's how it's supposed to work, and it cannot be changed.... "Just push the button again"

No, I'll NEVER, EVER buy one of these. 

Ford Canada sales for 2018( to end of 3rd qtr) are

Total cars sold  26,662

Total trucks sold 212,669

of those trucks, 115,788 are F series

if I can figure how to pervert teh eXcel sheet into text ,I'll post the whole sheet. it makes for interesting reading !

It seems 4 door, 4WD pickups with 5' boxes are the new station wagon or mini vans....

Jay

Worked with a guy several years ago that had to move on to a Toyota Dealership because they offered better insurance. His wife had cancer and the cost for her treatments were more than he could manage plus he had 4 little kids. He didn't necessarily make anymore money but the benefits in his eyes were better plus training etc.

I talked to him a few months later and he wasn't all that happy. Apparently since he was the new guy he got all the warranty work. He was paid flag time so he wasn't making jack.

One in particular was a problem with the Yaris evaporators leaking. Regular book time was something like 6-7 hours and he was getting 2. That kinda chit can give a tech a serious attitude. Granted you do a couple and you may get close to 2, do those all day and you still not making anything.