Off-road in a long-wheelbase 2024 Ford F-150 XLT

Ford Australia’s relaunch of the iconic F-150 pick up in this country has come with a few hiccups, with several recalls so far in 2024 including a ‘stop ship and sell’ notice, and alerting owners to stop driving them immediately, interrupting sales and owners’ usage.

Some of the recalls have related directly to the left- to right-hand drive re-engineering that was done locally by Ford’s chosen partner RMA Automotive. The most recent recall was for side indicator lights on LWB F-150s that were not ADR compliant.

Notwithstanding the hiccups, we were keen to get back behind the wheel of the F-Truck following our initial launch drive last year. More specifically we were keen to test its off-road capabilities as there was no off-road component to the initial launch drive.

While the Ford F-150 and its full-size ‘half-ton’ competitors, the Ram 1500 and Silverado 1500, are not great off-road vehicles due to their size and weight, many buyers will still purchase them and modify them to improve that situation, delving into the extensive range of aftermarket equipment available for them.

JUMP AHEAD

• What you get
• Powertrain
• Interior
• Off-road performance
• Practicalities
• Specs

What you get

The SWB F-150 XLT is the lowest priced full-size American pick up offered by the manufacturers in Australia at $106,950 plus ORC.

For this drive we had the slightly more expensive entry level LWB F-150 XLT, which starts at $107,945 plus ORC. Long wheelbase Effies are 304mm longer between the axles and offer a larger cargo bed than their short-wheelbase counterparts.

All F-150s sold by Ford Australia are powered by a 3.5-litre petrol-fuelled twin-turbo V6 engine backed by a 10-speed automatic transmission. There is no V8 or diesel engine offered by Ford AU, nor any hybrid nor EV option… yet!

The local Effies are 4x4 with the XLT making do with a conventional part-time dual-range four-wheel drive system, while the Lariat is equipped with a transfer case that adds a 4x4-auto setting to allow all-wheel drive on sealed and hard-pack road surfaces, just like the system found in the higher specification Ford Ranger models. 

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The added traction of the on-demand/full-time 4x4 on the Lariat model is especially beneficial for anyone towing a heavy trailer, a task many will be calling on their F-150s to do.

Towing is what these full-size American trucks do well and the F-150 will haul up to 4500kg when equipped with a 70mm tow ball or 3500kg on a standard 50mm tow ball. The GCM for the Effie is 7765kg, so even if you were to load the trailer to the maximum rated 4500kg you would still have a usable 700kg+ payload for passengers and cargo. Try doing that in a Ranger or any other midsize 4x4 ute. We didn’t tow anything on this drive but have done previously, and the F-150 made light work of a 3000kg trailer.

All Australian delivered F-150s come equipped with the Tow Pro pack which includes a reinforced chassis, Australian-spec tow bar and a trailer-reversing system that allows the driver to guide the load backwards using a dial on the dash while viewing  the screen for guidance, instead of using the steering wheel.

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Powertrain

The 298kW and 678Nm petrol engine is powerful and smooth delivering heaps of get-up and go when unladen and plenty of grunt for towing and carrying loads.

It’s reasonably frugal as well considering the truck’s 2450kg heft, returning 12.1L/100km over our week of driving with a day off-road.

The 10-speed automatic transmission does its thing without bringing attention to itself. The XLT has a column gearshifter with manual control buttons on the end of the stalk that are less than ideal, but otherwise the setup is well suited to day-to day use as it’s right there next to your hand on the steering wheel. The F-150 Lariat model gets a console mounted T-bar shifter in its more up-spec interior.

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Interior

Speaking of the interior, the XLT misses out on a few features that the Lariat gets as standard, and some of these might be deal-breakers for some buyers. Notably, the 8-inch infotainment screen in the XLT is far less legible and usable than the 12-inch one in the Lariat.

Both models have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto phone mirroring as part of their kit, as well as inbuilt satnav as part of Sync4, but the XLT lacks the 360° camera and wireless phone charger of the top model. Also missing from the XLT is the Lariat’s adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go and lane centering evasive steering assist, speed sign recognition, and front parking sensors.

The XLT gets cloth seats and a standard but acceptable audio system while the Lariat gets acres of leather and a kick-arse B&O sound system with active noise cancelling and synthetised engine sound, the latter providing the V6 with a V8-like bellow under load.

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The big cabin provides plenty of room for passengers, especially across the back seat that will comfortably accommodate three adults.

As someone who drives a lot of Ford Ranger and Everest models, I certainly appreciated the extra space in the F-150’s driver’s compartment.

Safety kit includes AEB, pre-collision assist, ABS, ETC, six airbags, ESC, BLIS with cross-traffic alert and trailer tow coverage, rear-view camera and parking sensors, lane-keeping aid and driver alert system.

The XLT comes with halogen headlights that are adequate but can’t hold a candle  (pardon the pun) to the LED lights that the Lariat is equipped with.

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Off-road performance

We said from the outset that these trucks are not great in off-road conditions, but we still wanted to test its capabilities for ourselves, so we pointed the F-150 at some familiar dirt tracks and steep climbs.

While the XLT misses out on the Auto 4x4 setting of the Lariat, it is easy enough to switch between 2WD and 4x4 high range while on the move once you’ve left the sealed roads. Straight away this reduces the wheelspin and axle tramp from the rear end, making the vehicle far more balanced on loose surfaces. The 6.2m length of the LWB Effie makes it a challenge to manoeuvre in tight spaces and it requires more multi-point turns than you’d be used to in smaller utes.

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The LWB model also rides 14mm lower than the SWB model, meaning that not only is ground clearance affected but also the approach, departure and breakover angles, the latter more so because of the greater distance between the front and rear axles.

This means the sidesteps and undercarriage are particularly vulnerable to scrapes and damage, so you need to be extra careful in eneven terrain. A set of side rails in lieu of the factory sidesteps would be a great start to your off-road modifications.

The view over the big bonnet (or hood if we’re talkin’ trucks) can be challenging when negotiating and cresting hills and humps. This is where the Lariat’s 360° camera comes in handy, but you have to plan ahead for yourself in the XLT.

Steep climbs pose no problem for the F-150’s powertrain, however the traction control system feels and sounds like it’s a few generations old and as such it can be a bit slow to react and limit wheelspin.

There’s a standard differential lock fitted in the rear axle which helps, while a front locker is available from the usual aftermarket suppliers.

If you are planning to do a bit off-road driving in your F-Truck you will want to become good mates with your off-road store and start talking about suspension and tyre upgrades. The standard suspension does what it’s meant to do and dynamically it is surprisingly good, but increased ground clearance will be high on your agenda prior to any off-road adventures.

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Practicalities

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With acres of interior space, a huge cargo tray and massive towing potential, the F-150 is a practical truck for anyone wanting to travel the country… and who doesn’t have to negotiate supermarket carparks.

Where it falls short, as do most of these 1500 trucks, is in its payload and GVM. Put the maximum trailer on the back with around 400kg on the tow ball and you’ll already be eating into most of the available 794kg payload. This is where your new best mate at the off-road accessories shop comes in with upgraded suspension giving a GVM increase, in addition to extra ground clearance. He or she will also have a catalogue full of other useful accessories that they will be only too happy to sell you for your truck.

While 20-inch wheels might be large on smaller utes they are standard fare on these US trucks, and there are plenty of off-road tyre options to suit them.

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The cargo tray is massive and includes tie-down points and a 12-volt power outlet in the Lariat grade, but not offered in the XLT.

The clever step that slides out of the tailgate is standard fare in both models, however, and you’ll be surprised at how easy it makes accessing the tray.

Want more functionality from your F-truck? Several service-body manufacturers are now offering configurable rear storage/accommodation options for these trucks, transforming them into formidable full-size touring vehicles.

Like everything these days, the options for building your perfect F-150 are only limited by your budget and your imagination.

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Specs

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