- The Flying Ham
For the love of trucks!
Why I switched from a Chevy to a Ford.
The Flying Ham would not be possible without our old friend "Trucky." That is the name my two boys gave our 2012 Silverado 1500. However, we have had to say goodbye to our reliable friend that has taken us on adventures that will last us a lifetime. From the Atlantic to the Pacific, and almost everywhere in between we enjoyed every moment we had with Trucky. The strong 5.3 liter V8 was more than capable of towing our Hams anywhere they needed to go. On a few occasions it even brought back treasures, including our 1967 F100 4x4 that will someday join The Flying Ham adventures.
The decision to buy a new truck was tough, and with so many choices now when it comes to power, comfort and reliability it really came down to combining our family and business needs.
My first thought when choosing a truck was, I need all the power I can get for a reasonable price. The big three that I had been researching was Ram 1500, Silverado 1500, and Ford F150. Keep in mind that one of my favorite things to do is research trucks and cars for fun. I am always on the lookout for vehicles which drives my wife/ham partner crazy. I have always owned a sports car since I was 16. My first was a 1989 IROC Camaro, and currently the family sportster is a 1968 Camaro. The V8 in my mind was a must have.
The 2019 Dodge Ram was my first choice coming in at 395 hp and 410 lbs of torque. This was certainly an upgrade from my 2012 Silverado coming in at 315 hp and 335 lbs torque. The price for a Ram is very tempting as well, especially in the used market. I also considered the Silverado and Ford V8 options. After test driving and getting the feel of the Silverado and the Ford V8, I just wasn't that impressed with the response. The feeling I got from the Ford V8 (The Coyote 5.0) was very sluggish, and basically felt like my old Silverado to be perfectly honest, however the throaty sound was unmistakable. The Ford V8 comes in at 395 hp and 400lbs of torque. The 2019 Silverado just doesn't have the power or torque that I was looking for, plus I don't really care for the new body style. The Silverado 5.3 V8 comes in at 355 hp and 383 lbs. of torque. I won't get into payload and all the other specs, but I was impressed with Ford's 10 speed automatic transmission. Especially since towing is what I do.
I was definitely leaning towards the Ram, but heard the rumors of the Ford F150 3.5 liter EcoBoost. Well, I thought I would give it a try, and test drive it just for fun. The 3.5 EcoBoost produces 375hp and 470 lbs torque at 3500 rpm. To be perfectly honest I was blown away, not just at Ford's good looks, but the response that the 3.5 produces. I have never felt such a smooth powerhouse as this. The way it takes you from 0 to 60 is amazing. There is no hesitation as it slides through the gears like grandma buttering toast. The F150 V8 felt like it was coughing through the gears when I would accelerate.
I never would have believed I could go from a Chevrolet to Ford, let alone a V8 to a V6. So here we are, the new addition to The Flying Ham is a 2018 Ford F150 XLT 3.5 EcoBoost. Black of course. I also forgot to mention that the 3.5 EcoBoost can tow up to 13,200 lbs. The towing experience was just like night and day. No hesitation at all, and the ride when towing is just as smooth as if I wasn't towing anything. That being said I usually only tow up to 3,500 pounds. More or less may have a different feel, but for my relatively small weight it was perfect.
The whole truck buying experience has been very positive for us. We had a lot of fun comparing and driving the other vehicles. In the end I am very happy with our choice. Our first adventure with (New Trucky or Trucky 2) begins with the Grand Canyon and down to Sedona. We hope you like the pictures. Follow us and share your experiences as well. I would also like to add that all of the other vehicles listed are great as well, and this is just my opinion based on my experience. Your needs may be different and believe me when I say, I enjoy all the different trucks out there. One of my favorite things to do when my family and I are camping is to walk around and admire everybody's set up. Especially all the different trucks that are being used to bring joy to the lives of all who venture out to explore our great country. So if you are in the market defiantly check out the F150 3.5 EcoBoost.
