Spy Photos: Ford F-150 LED Bed

...and of course this could also be a cheapo stick-on from the dollar store. IMHO, LED is too blue-ish and cheap looking, like neons, and the "bulbs" are a green nightmare when they're done.

So let me get the logic of this post right...

A spy photo shows a Ford in testing with led lights in the bed, and we're supposed to draw from this that it's all Ford is doing in their short-run planning for the F-150? Snarky, but hardly informative.

Cool idea. Not something I would want to pay extra for, but as far as adding gadgets to trucks, these are the kind that I don't mind.

This article starts off with the premise that the truck segment is hotly contested, so manufacturers have to regularly refresh designs to keep them competitive. Then it goes on to describe an apparent innovation in the market - LED lights. Really?

I'm sorry, but truck buyers are suckers. They let the manufacturers get off far too easily. I'm sure the big 2 1/2 just love it - it leads to really high profit margins on huge volume sellers, but the buyer surely pays the price. These profit margins are eroding as truck buyers catch on, but they are still behind the game, and have always been behind.

Trucks historically are the last place to see many big advances in automotive engineering. They were the last to get important safety innovations like stability control, traction control, abs, air bags, seat belts, disc brakes, crumple zones/crash engineering, and efficiency innovations like fuel injection, overhead cams, direct injection, etc. These innovations save lives and fuel/money. Trucks are also the last to see luxury items like air conditioning, bucket seats, cruise control, nav units, heated seats, etc.

Meanwhile they cost bucket-loads of cash. The top end trucks easily get up into luxury car territory. But by-golly, they have the latest in running board and bed-liner technology, so at least there's that. They sure look tough, too. That's got to be worth something, and they have enough towing capacity these days to haul the Earth out of orbit. I'm sure there are at least a dozen people out there who find that handy.

Meanwhile Ford, Chevy, and Ram are laughing all the way to the bank. They develop the tech on other platforms, then dribble it into these high volume vehicles couching it as innovation. Hey truck owners, wake up and smell the rest of the automotive world passing you by. We moved into a new century while you were busy hanging up your truck nutz.

Or to paraphrase, "I hate trucks".

The only trucks that make my head turn are the plain-but-proud base models with painted steelies, painted bumpers, base engines and 8' beds. The ones that can actually be used to work. Not the tarted-up show-off trucks used to carry a cell number, a lunchbox and power toys on weekends.

As a teen, I drove such a '78 C10 "Custom Deluxe" Chevy on my grandpa's farm. No tart, just truck.

+1 smilez

@someguyposting

And may I ask have you ever owned a truck? (I would think the answer is No.)

The main reason that trucks have been traditionally the last vehicles to get any upgrades is because many of these trucks are bought for fleets and small\midsize businesses where having to track\buy\store\install parts is a major factor and having to do that process for several generations of trucks gets obscenely expensive.

As for luxury items up until really the mid 90's most trucks were built more for utility than creature comforts after that point in time you start to see the luxury trucks come about with the leather and the sound systems etc...

So to paraphrase "I drive a truck, I work in a truck, I love my truck, and you sir obviously don't know what you are talking about."

So wake up and open your mind to the realities at play here.

Oh, so that's why people buy more trucks than anything else - because they need them for work. Right. Its tough work driving to the office. The ones doing real work in their trucks are in the minority. The rest own them as fashion accessories. That's the reality here.

@someguyposting

People buy trucks for all kinds of reasons yes many of them don't use them as a real work truck but nonetheless when they need a truck they have a truck that will easily do what they need it to do.

Sales are driven by weekend warriors and wannabe truckers But Specs and basic design are driven by Workers and Haulers.

And all: GTI's, EVO's, Porsche's, Lambo's, Mustang GT/Shelby, Camaro's, Z's, M3's, Ferrari's, Corvette's...the list could go on for a while. But all of these are used on track day right?

Everybody that owns a sports car races it legally.

Everybody that has a crossover lives in the snowbelt with 5+ kids.

I'm so tired of the pissers and moaners that complain about everbody elses purchase decisions.

I've got a 4,500k lb camper that I need a solid vehicle to tow it, even if it is only 10 times per year. You know what that means? There is a good portion of the year where it's not towing the camper, but I can't afford to own 1 vehicle for every purpose it's designed for. And before you say, "There are plenty of vehicles that have a 5k tow rating", you need to know about towing to know that that's not enough to safely tow a 4500lb tow-behind in anything above sea level.

As far as the luxury of trucks. WHY NOT? Am I not allowed to have a luxurious interior because I drive a truck? "No, it's a truck. Vinyl and AM/FM only for you!" Has anybody been inside some of the more upscale truck interiors? They rival some pretty expensive vehicles in terms of space, features, comfort and over all luxury feel.

If you only want the basics, good for you, enjoy it. That's your choice. That's all you need.

And by the way, the Viper is just now getting Tracion Control. It is SOOOOOO far behind the times. If you're going to talk about trucks being the last to get stuff, try to talk about stuff in the past 30 years! Your argument makes me so furious with its inaccuracy. So be it. Stick to your guns big fella.

I have to say that, when I'm trying to run rope or bungees through the tie downs in the dead of night, extra lighting in the bed would be appreciated. At the very least it would free up one hand because I wouldn't need a flashlight.

So your example of a modern, relevant sports car is the Viper? That's a joke, right? Your argument doesn't refute my claims, it only expands them to a new class of sucker - Viper buyers. Talk about tough guy wannabes compensating for obvious shortcommings, and getting suckered into buying a dated, over-rated, over-priced fashion accessory in the process. They're even worse than truck buyers.

We're not taling about some fringe player in a niche market here. We're talking about the Ford F150 - the best selling model of the best selling line of vehicles on the planet. Its designers think buyers want the same items some of you state above are proof that it isn't a work truck - LED lights, the man step, seat heaters, Nav units, high tech gadgets the increase cost, decrease durability and increase maintanence costs while not increasing essential work related abilities.

Meanwhile they are selling like mad. Why? Because the posters above are correct - these aren't work trucks. They are over-priced life-style statements purchased by suckers. QED

You know, my wife once told me to write out your rant when someone is being ignorant with illogical arguments, or they respond taking one thing and stretch what you've said to support their argument, then delete it instead of sending it. It will get your frustrations out. They won't get it anyway.

You need to get off your soapbox and talk to your congressman to get these vehicles off the road.
It's the only way.

Amen brother. I'm glad you recognize the problem. It's the first step in the healing process.

The defense rests.

In the SE region, most of the trucks I see are F-150 Lariat's, Silverado LTZ's and Tundra Limited's. Loaded up with leather, paint and chrome. About 75% of them either have lettering or the magnetic signs on them advertising the owner's Construction, Electrical, Engineering or Plumbing company. There's no law that says a commercial truck cannot have heated seats or navigation! The big margins the manufacturers make on trucks and SUV's are what enable them to build ZR-1 Corvette's and Shelby Mustang's at reasonably affordable price points.