#Ford #F150 #Overlanding

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Overlanding. It’s probably the most overused and abused phrase in 2020

It means different things to different people, but what it essentially boils down to is self-sufficient travel to remote destinations

Then speaking of overused, here with me i have the best selling truck in the world.

Last year in 2020 ford sold 787,422 F series trucks

Bu today I have the new hybrid one with the papa bear 7.2 KW pro power on board and i think it’s the most slept on overland rig out there

It’s easy to think of the high powered Raptor as the Ford overlander of choice, or even the incoming tremor package for the F150

However, I want to make a case for the hybrid.

1 - rugged and durable: still body on frame. Still 4x4 still locking diff.

2 - technology advances: 360 cameras are fantastic, drive modes lack only baja, pitch and roll meter

3 - recovery: pretty much the same as anything else. Hooks in the front and back and easy enough to install a winch

4 - electric power: torque is a friend of any offroader and with the electric motors you have peak torque at 0 RPM for crawling

5 - mileage and range: here’s where it starts to get good. This is the hybrid so it gets 24 mpg no matter where or how you drive it. Full ev mode* what this results in is greater range - easily tops 500 miles on a tank. Go further.

6 - all out power and performance: people like the raptor cuz it’s got big power, looks cool, and is super durable. The hybrid is .1 seconds slower to 60 and .1 seconds faster in a quarter mile to the raptor so with some dampers and tires and a lift you got a nice little prerunner here

7 - space: this isn’t specific to the hybrid, but the f150 is super spacious in the cabin, front seats fold down if you wanted to sleep there, rear seats fold up if you wanted to sleep there, dynamic weight rating is able to hold any RTT you can find

8 - muscle: this could be your overlander, your daily, and your work truck with over 2000 lbs of payload and over 12,000 lbs towing

9 - juice: this is what you’ve all been waiting for and the reason this hybrid makes so much sense. This has the upgraded 7.2 Kw pro power system which doubles as a generator and at max output delivers 7200 watts. Perspective - most commercial RVs top out between 3000 and 4000 watts so this is almost double. You could run your camp site, your friends campsite, the shole state’s campsite.

No need for a double battery set up, no need to rewire, no need for a jackery or solar panels adding weight. When the 1.5KwH battery gets low the truck cranks the motor and recharges the battery.

At max output of 7200 watts and a full tank of fuel this will run for 32 hours….

So ultimately, with a mild lift, Fox bypass dampers and a set of BFG K02s, this is basically the intellectual’s raptor and the ultimate overland rig

However, let’s talk downsides.

1 - reliability: These aren’t going to be as bulletproof as your Tundra or 4runner since there’s so much more tech. And it’ll be harder to work on yourself with all the electronics. The good news is Ford sells a crap load of these and parts are manufactured domestically so repairs and maintenance shouldnt be too expensive

2 - cost: As tested this truck runs you 65k which is up into raptor territory . Now these press cars and trucks usually come as kitted out as you can make them. Especially if you’re going to swap suspension and tires i think you could shave off 5-7 grand if you really wanted to.

3 - looks: I think the truck looks cool, but it doesnt have the imposing stance of a raptor or the specialness of a TRD

So final thoughts: the f150 hybrid with the pro power is a truck that’s comfortable and efficient enough to drive every day. It’s strong enough to take on some pretty aggressive trails with some minor mods, and it has more features than your jeep or toyota

So what do you think? Would you have this over a raptor? What about over a tundra?