TRUCKS

1997-2004 Ford F-150: A Truck That’s 50% Cab and 50% Bed

With changing consumer demands, there has been a lot of hype regarding the evolution of Ford’s truck family. Over the past two decades, the truck bed on F-150s seems to have become more and more useless with time. In fact, the box of a standard 2023 Ford F-150 truck is 50 percent smaller than the truck bed of a 1961 Ford F-150. Today, we’ll examine the tenth generation, which was 50 percent cab and 50 percent bed.

The Ford F-150 has gone from practicality to comfort

The Ford F-150 has been one of the best-selling cars in the United States for more than four decades. However, while across the United States, there is no denying that the F-150 has evolved significantly since the 1960s.

Fourth-generation F-150 trucks, manufactured from 1961 to 1979, feature a 36% cab to 74% bed ratio. Every generation since then has consistently featured a larger cabin and smaller bed. From 1980 to 1997, F-150s were built with a 40% cabin and 60% bed. In 1997, the tenth generation F-150s were introduced, featuring a 50% cab to 50% bed ratio. This ratio lasted until 2004, when Ford introduced the family-friendly F-150s that featured a 60% cab to 40% bed ratio. The latest version of the F-150 started rolling off production lines in 2015, and it boasts a massive 63% cabin to 37% bed ratio.

So what caused this shift from practicality to comfort in the Ford F-150? Well, it comes down to the nature of the business. In the 1960s, the community had more blue collar workers who needed their trucks to complete their daily work. Even as society’s needs and demands change, consumers still want trucks. However, consumers now want pickup trucks to be used more for aesthetic than practical purposes. As reported by Axios, 87% of F-150 owners say they use their truck to shop and run errands, compared to just 7% of those who say they regularly use their truck to tow.

The tenth generation Ford F-150 offered a cabin with a 50% reduction and a 50% split bed.

1997 Ford F-150 Print Ad | Ford Motor Company

While the F-Series is in its 14th generation, the 10th generation Ford F-150 models that feature a 50% to 50% separate cab-to-bed ratio are still in high circulation as a used truck. The tenth generation F-Series offered four trim levels: XL, XLT, STX, and Lariat.

According to Facebook, the 10th generation F-Series was really the first modern generation in the F-Series lineup. She brought in elegant features and soft shapes. It was also the first generation in the F-150 lineup to blur the lines between trucks and SUVs.

What does the tenth-generation Ford F-150 offer as a truck?

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It has a lot to offer in terms of truck capabilities. Of course, there are many pros and cons associated with buying a used F-150 from the 10th Generation lineup.

In general, the tenth generation F-150 models are built for performance. Although it was Ford’s first step toward more practical comfort, it still maintained the truck’s capabilities at a ratio of 50% bed to 50% cab. Most F-150s built between 1997 and 2004 feature powerful engines, excellent towing capacity, and easy on-road handling. Plus, they do a good job off-road, too.

However, when it comes to the flaws of the 10th generation F-Series, these trucks leave a lot to be desired for their interior, especially when stacked against the newer F-Series generations that offer more comfort with the larger cabin. However, if you’re looking for performance, you won’t be disappointed with the tenth generation Ford F-150.

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