The full sized mid-size, my 2014 F150 "Fiddy"

Grassland

Well-known member
**Current mods/gear:
LEER basic topper with budget roof rack.
RCI full skid package in aluminum (front, trans, transfer case, fuel tank)
Billy 5100s front and rear.
New 4 leaf spring pack
Yukon Duragrip LSD in the rear
BFG KO2S in 34x10.5R17
Single swing case.
SCT X4 with a canned tune

Possible future mods
Fix leaking rear main seal
New passenger side speaker harness
Ported Intake manifolds
Custom tune

Removed mods
Decked Drawers
3" lift blocks

Depending where you are in North America, "mid-size" trucks such as Tacoma, Colorado etc have very steep price tags, and don't get the large breaks off MSRP that many volume selling full size trucks do. As well, the payload is often lower, going along with the smaller volume these trucks have. 2019 ZR2 Colorado gas V6 is over 50k MSRP locally, and Tacoma TRD Pro is 45K MSRP locally, as a point of reference.

Sometimes good value can be had in a lighter duty full size truck, particularly the 2015+ aluminium F150s that are significantly lighter than the 09-14 models. I look at these as trucks you would treat with the mid size mentality, and use in the same roles, with the same performance limits. They just happen to be larger trucks.

With this in mind, I chose to keep my 2014 F150 SCAB 4x4 3.7 V6 and think of it as a larger mid-size truck. (This was the first truck I purchased for my business, which I took out of service after 4 years)

I picked this truck up July of 2014 for $31988 or something just shy of 32k. MSRP was $40400. For fleet purposes i had to get an Add a leaf installed after less than 2 years. I also went to 235/80R17 Load E tires for work. The Topper and drawers were added for work as well, so when it was time to swap this truck out for something more capable in fleet duty, the truck was halfway to an overland vehicle already, and most importantly, paid off. I also added the full aluminium RCI skid package to my truck "to protect from jobsite debris" before the truck was pulled from service, and the stock shocks were bagged, so switched them to bilstiens across the board.

Once it was in for personal use, I swapped to 34x10.5R17 KO2 tires, and reprogrammed the truck with an SCT X4 tuner. Compensating for the larger tires, and putting the 91 performance tune on to fix the horrible factory shifting and throttle lag.

One picture is in work duty with 235/80R17, the other is with the larger tires
 

Attachments

  • 17620312_10158924525865497_3321535265825621321_o.jpg
    17620312_10158924525865497_3321535265825621321_o.jpg
    162 KB · Views: 493
  • Rake.jpg
    Rake.jpg
    720.9 KB · Views: 500
Last edited:

Grassland

Well-known member
Anyone who works out of a truck for a living as a tradesperson finds out in short order how useless half ton trucks are. I was routinely over payload and GVWR on this truck, which was one of the reasons I went to a T250 medium roof van. And frankly I should have paid a touch more to get a T350.

Like midsize trucks, light and even typical half tons run out of payload pretty damn fast. This truck has a factory rating of 1500# payload.

My biggest regret with this truck is not having the factory tow package. Until recently, this hasn't mattered, as I live in the prairies, and there are no hills to be found.
(Have since added OEM tranny cooler) However, we just got back from a trip to BC, and on two occasions the trans gauge crept towards the red zone. Getting just to the yellow line as I reached the top of a mountain, where I pulled over to cool off.
Considering the 1000# in the truck, the 2500# crappy pop up camper we were pulling, and the 3" taller than stock tires while on factory gears, i have few complaints with the performance here. Semi trucks were doing 60 KPH up the one climb, and I managed 90 KPH, noting the trans temp climbing after the halfway point, so I didn't want to push harder.
(This was East of Salmo on highway 3 East in BC. Crowsnest pass highway or something I think it was called, if anyone in the area knows the elevation change of that hill, that would be great to know)

The next vehicle will most certainly have the factory tow package with transmission cooler.

**I think select shift and the ability to lock out gears would make a huge difference, my truck not having this ability**
 
Last edited:

Grassland

Well-known member
Besides this trip to BC, which is a beautiful province, my favorite outing with this truck was our last winter camp out.
The truck could use a locker, and judging by the axle wrap it has now, once a locker is in place, it would need traction bars. The 3" rear blocks were probably a bad idea, but they were put in when the truck was in service, and all the weight had the back end maybe 1" higher than the front, especially with the work trailer hooked up.
 

Attachments

  • 52008370_10161900894525497_4915333467450900480_o.jpg
    52008370_10161900894525497_4915333467450900480_o.jpg
    479.5 KB · Views: 208
  • 52513940_10161900895585497_6549063461194694656_o.jpg
    52513940_10161900895585497_6549063461194694656_o.jpg
    280.9 KB · Views: 218
  • 52548516_10161900895015497_3785969433260851200_n.jpg
    52548516_10161900895015497_3785969433260851200_n.jpg
    112.5 KB · Views: 205

phsycle

Adventurer
I like those old 3.7’s. How many miles?

Looks like a great set up. It’ll get you to a lot of places.
 

bas157

Member
Grassland, there is a Max Payload option for the new F150 that can get total payload up over 3,000. I've been looking online at local dealers and it does not seem to be an option that is on very many (none I found so far) trucks in the area. Not sure if it is just heavier rear springs or what all is done to get the payload up. I was trying to find one with max tow and max payload options, didn't find any.
 

Grassland

Well-known member
Grassland, there is a Max Payload option for the new F150 that can get total payload up over 3,000. I've been looking online at local dealers and it does not seem to be an option that is on very many (none I found so far) trucks in the area. Not sure if it is just heavier rear springs or what all is done to get the payload up. I was trying to find one with max tow and max payload options, didn't find any.

Indeed there is a max payload and max tow package. However to achieve these figures you need to select particulardrivetrain/length/powertrain/configuration packages.
Off the top of my head, max payload would be a 5.0 with 3.73 rear end, regular cab Long box, but I don't remember exactly. You can look up specs on Ford's website to see the configurations and rated capacities, and yeah, odds are you won't find one on a lot.

But I recall specifying a 5.0 F150 4x4 with tow package and mirrors, LT tires etc when looking at a new fleet truck, and for 5k more I could have got a gas F250 that exceeded all of the F150 capacities except fuel economy.
 

Grassland

Well-known member
I like those old 3.7’s. How many miles?

Looks like a great set up. It’ll get you to a lot of places.

I like the engine. I bought a 2018 Ford Transit with the same 3.7, it just had less jam in this platform.

Only 98XXX km on this guy. Cab corners will have to be replaced before engine gives me trouble. If the 3.7 was in the new aluminium trucks I'd have swapped already. I'm considering the 3.3 which is a derivative of the 3.7.
 

bas157

Member
2019 Payload specs. It includes a 150 lb driver and any options will decrease capacity, probably for an XL with no options
 

Attachments

  • 2019f150payload.jpg
    2019f150payload.jpg
    66.2 KB · Views: 157

D45

Explorer
I have had a 2400-2600 pound pallet of landscaping pavers in my truck

It did squat, but nothing severe or unsafe

The max payload and max tow are nice options
 

Grassland

Well-known member
Decked Drawers review.

So, i purchased this drawer system for the Fiddy when it was in work duty. They were in use for about 2-2.5 years in that capacity, and afterwards just for personal use, mostly camping.

Durability: 6/10
Ill try to get pictures later of the damage they have taken over these few years. Most of it I think has to do with how the plastic performs in extreme cold (-33C). In particular, the drawer fronts and the latching/reinforcing lattice. Its a lot less money than a shelving kit for a cargo van, and it only weighs about #250, so I'm not terribly upset at how fragile they seem to be. At the same time, I was hoping they would hold up better. Especially for resale purposes. Perhaps the newer versions are better, as Decked have been upgrading the product. The top has held up well. The drawers themselves haven't deformed much, and the glides/slides are doing just fine. It also has remained secure to the truck bed.

Function: 6/10
I'm on the fence on their usefulness, as it seems as if every time I want to put something in them, the item ends up not fitting, or fits poorly resulting in a waste of space. Sometimes they are super handy, keeping things clean and out of the way. The full width on top prevents things from falling into inaccessible voids for the most part. Other times I am cursing the space the drawers take up, and the height increase they make. Lifting a #55 cooler up and onto the drawers on a lifted truck when you are 5'7" gets old really quick somewhere like Banff National park where all food needs to be kept inside a hard walled vehicle.
4 Maxtrax pads fit in a drawer, with room for a collapsible shovel on top. They also take a Viair 400P. Lots of things can be arranged to fit in the drawers loose, but it doesn't work well for duffel bags or backpacks etc. So while it can be useful for camping right near the truck, its not the best for going on backpacking trips, as the packs have to sit on top of the drawers. Depending what your plan is for the drawers, it might work out stellar for you.

Value: 7/10
Up her in Canada, you get hosed for pretty well everything. The US price at the time was $1100, which I feel is fair. You could build something out of lumber that wouldn't look as slick, but would probably work almost as well for a lot less, but then it would likely weigh more. If you are busy/lazy/without carpentry skills its a good idea. Other drawers systems I looked at did not have the top payload that the Decked does, and involved drilling into the truck bed.

Right now the left drawer hold 4 maxtrax pads, shovel, breaker bar, small basic tool set, recovery kit (2 recovery straps, 2 shackles, gloves and a hitch) The right drawer holds a small sleeping bag, 3/8 foam bedroll mat, camping chair, tarp, heavy duty rain poncho, camp cot, and Viar 400P compressor.
For daily use, I could drop a lot of these things. And Id honestly like to have the maxtrax somewhere else. I have only used them for snow so far, but don't want to drag mud and sand into the drawers.


I don't think I would get them right away if I get another F150 SCAB. In the mindset of going lighter, I would probably try a pair of swing out truck boxes first. Like in the third image. I haven't found empty weight for them, but assume I could shave 200 lbs off compared to the Decked Drawers.





52051033_10161900895830497_3734052182119415808_o.jpg16716123_10158721665950497_6931193553640845535_o.jpgF13BAD91-E8D9-418B-B735-545891AF78C2.jpg
 

mekcanix

Camper
I have one of those swing outs mounted to my truck with my tool rolls in them and booster cables. I really think they are great, but a little pricey up here in Canada. Fortunately buddy won this one at a social and its built for a Titan so he gave it to me still in the box :)
 

Grassland

Well-known member
Got a free weekend to go chicken hunting. Got to take the fiddy out and "rough it" in our groups surveyor tent.
And by rough it I mean: central heating, beds that aren't the ground, single malt whiskey, and lots of snacks.

Looks like the files are too large to load. Will add the pics later.
 
D

Deleted member 9101

Guest
Grassland, there is a Max Payload option for the new F150 that can get total payload up over 3,000. I've been looking online at local dealers and it does not seem to be an option that is on very many (none I found so far) trucks in the area. Not sure if it is just heavier rear springs or what all is done to get the payload up. I was trying to find one with max tow and max payload options, didn't find any.

Max payload = 5.0
Max tow = 3.5
Max tow + max payload = 3.5

All three get the 9.75" rear end.

The max payload comes with a thicker frame and the max payload + max tow comes with an even thicker frame. Both get heavy duty springs.

The three packages are not available on a super crew with the 5.5 bed.

* there is a payload package available with the 2.7, but it is the same price as buying a 3.5 and getting the same rating.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

ZMagic97

Explorer
Those swing out boxes in the bed are pretty awesome. Great use of that space which usually is a void. I had some benches that went over the wheel wells in my old Silverado that also had storage there. It was a ilfe saver.
 

Grassland

Well-known member
Some pictures of the surveyor tent we (mostly my friend Darren) picked up over a year ago. It came with poles, and we got it for $600. So although it is larger than we were looking at, couldnt say no to that price. We had six people in it this past weekend.
 

Attachments

  • thumbnail_IMG_20191019_092049.jpg
    thumbnail_IMG_20191019_092049.jpg
    262.4 KB · Views: 118
  • thumbnail_IMG_20191019_100507.jpg
    thumbnail_IMG_20191019_100507.jpg
    236.8 KB · Views: 120
  • thumbnail_IMG_20191019_100416.jpg
    thumbnail_IMG_20191019_100416.jpg
    258.2 KB · Views: 116

Forum statistics

Threads
185,534
Messages
2,875,617
Members
224,922
Latest member
Randy Towles
Top