2001 Ford SuperCrew F150...Continued

The bed extender is a slick improvement to any truck, but especially so on these combo models. The tubular steel bed extender is a curved cage unit that attaches to the sides of the pickup bed. With the tailgate lowered, the unit pivots from its stowed position within the box and locks into place extending the load-floor to seven feet. With the tailgate closed the bed extender flips forward and stows to keep smaller items from sliding around the bed. It can also be removed, allowing unobstructed use of the box.

When properly equipped, towing capability is up to 8,000-pounds trailer weight.

SuperCrew only comes with the two Triton(tm) V-8 engines, but both meet federal Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) standards. Remarkably, it is only available with the proven F-Series 4-speed automatic transmission - how times have changed since the days not long ago when no pickup had automatics!

The Lariat has standard seventeen-inch chromed steel wheels and XLT uses sixteen-inch polished aluminum wheels. Seventeen-inch cast aluminum wheels are optional on the 4x4 XLT.

Ford sold over 800,000 F-Series each of the last two years, and expects well over 100,000 SuperCrew sales next year. They have capacity for double their expectations, and will have no trouble fulfilling a greater demand. While most sales will likely come from present F150 customers, a lot will be conquest buyers from SUVs and other brands. Don't be surprised to see Ford crowing about breaking the magic one million figure if current trends continue.

F-Series has been the best-selling truck for 23 consecutive years, and the best-selling vehicle of any kind, car or truck, for the past 18 years. The new 2001 F-150 SuperCrew models will be built at the Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo, Missouri and will be on sale at Ford Dealerships in February.

Next year the special Harley Davidson co-branded F150 will be built in Kansas City. Don't be surprised if it is a SuperCrew.