I just decided to pull the trigger on a F150 after looking at several options. Drove a F250 w/7.3, it just seemed like massive overkill for the handful of times I would need it. I've driven modern F150's and they are just so unbelievable nice, quite (as others have pointed out) and reasonably fun to drive.....it's a truck but that 3.5 is really surprising.
I ended up with a 21' F150 XLT, 3.5EB, 3.73's w/locker, 36 gal tank, HDPP (so Crew and 6.5 bed), 360 cameras, vinyl floors, 2kw 'generator' so fairly simple build with a bit of the modern tech. Hoping for payload in the 2300-2400 range.
I opted to not get the FX4 since it's the same price regardless of if you have HDPP, which already comes with rear locker, so what the point? I think the only thing I'm missing out on are the offroad modes. I plan to throw on a minor lift and some 33-34's, figured the $1k FX4 package was better spent on that.
It's awfully strange though, with the HDPP you cannot add two options I really wanted, the package with heated seats (doh!) and color match bumpers. I honestly would have just liked an XL with the black bumpers and trim but you can't get some of the cool tech. I'll see what it takes when I get mine to add a XL front fascia and bumper to get ride of the chrome.
I would have been totally fine with a 2.7 but it does limit some options that I couldn't live without....the 2.7 PP would be a sweet rig.
*Edit - something else to add, based on the reviews of other HDPP trucks, most guys are in the 2300-2500 payload range, the F250 I drove was 2900, so really not THAT far off. Now I know the duty cycle is different between them, but for occasional heavy loads, the HDPP is surprisingly capable relative to its big brother.
