Can the best get better? It's certainly hard to argue with success, and for the last quarter century, Ford's big F-Series pickups have dominated the U.S. sales charts, despite a growing onslaught of domestic and import competition.
For 2009, Ford is making some major changes to the full-size truck, and while it isn't quite a ground-up redesign, the update is significant enough to keep the competition worried.
Among the most significant updates, an improved box frame means a 10 percent increase in torsional rigidity, and that translates into both a more stable ride and increased towing and hauling capabilities. Standard Roll Stability Control minimizes rollover risks, while the new Trailer Sway Control reduces the risk of accidents while towing. An updated, foldaway bed extender makes it easier carry oversized loads. And Ford adds several additional versions of the F-Series for 2009, moving further away from the old one-size-fits-all approach to pickups.
Pickup buyers want a package that doesn't compromise their needs. These days, that means a variety of cabin and bed configurations. No other automaker offers quite as many options as Ford, the 2009 F-Series available with three different cab styles, four box options and, now, seven unique trim levels,