I lived in Chicago until April 2017. No 4 wheel cage for 5 years. Sold my condo and I was free. The next day I bought a 2017 F150 XL with tow package and more. I had planned on buying a base model as I always do. The 2001 Ram 1500 I showed earlier here, was one. No options, no AC, stick shift, wind up windows. I prefer base cars. Bought my share over the decades.
This time I wanted a Ford pickup. I Dyno tested Ford engines for years as a Tier 1 supplier. I liked the 4.6 best. So F150 it was. Then I studied online, afterward, I went to a dealer that had a good selection of Base XL. Finally, I picked 3, one was a no option base 2016. Two were 2017. I told the salesman to give me his bottom price on the 3. Then we drove all 3. Actually, I made him drive so I could look and listen. As a former mechanic, I can sense a lot from the passenger seat and not worry about traffic. I gave him no clue to what I liked. We went back to his office and made a deal. Pick it up the next day.
I have never bought such a fancy thing! I am still impressed. BTW, I rented cars for 5 years and made a point of driving many different cars. All new, many horrible.
I have no family to carry, so a Regular cab, long bed, 2X4. White and black. I added a Bed Rug and Leer's biggest cap which made it ride better empty. I can also sleep in it and not hit my head. The cap improved mileage. As the cap has lots of windows I can see what's coming from the right side. Leer paint almost matches...
Options.
Tow Package: Brake controller, Trans cooler, Power Tow Mirrors, Class 3 hitch and wiring, Backup helper, Rear camera to line up hitch ball (a big help) HD Front swaybar.
3.73 Electric Locker axle, good when stuck, or drag racing, tall gears are good for towing. I never race.
36-gallon gas tank. I love this.
Payload helper springs, they add to load capacity. I can legally tow 10.5K. The trailer is rated 7K. I aim for a 4K trailer. It's 2K empty.
Radio with Sync 1 which makes my iPhone run on the radio. A cell phone has replaced separate GPS. Ford makes a better radio, Sync 3 but Sync 1 is way good enough for me. Power windows and locks, a stupid OE alarm which I keep turning on by bumping my pocket. First car with an alarm. Bah Humbug. I'm cutting a wire soon.
A Base XL has no carpet. Great, I prefer rubber floor, I wanted vinyl seats but too hard to find. I think the 'fabric' is plastic. It drains dry real quick.
Almost forgot. 2.7L Ecoboost engine on 6-speed auto. As a former engine tester, this engine really impresses me. Almost too much. Easy on the pedal or it goes! Yes, all mechanics say buy the 5.0L. I have always been a gas miser and bought many small engines. Ever seen a base 6 cylinder 3 speed Camero without radio, AC or any option. $3495 in 1975. Fun car. I put a 4 speed and Corvette wheels on it.
Back to the F150 TV. Steel wheels which I prefer. Michelin tires are the best anywhere. Made in USA. Better.
Last is the hitch. The F150 is mostly aluminum and the trailer is all aluminum so I bought a Weigh Safe aluminum height adjustable hitch. It has a built-in hitch weigh scale, so I can set tongue weight at 10 to 15% as I also haul heavy cargo in it.
I tow 15% of the time. 13,000 miles now on the F150. Including towing I got just over 20 MPG since new. Towing drops to 11 to 14 MPG. With the trailer weighing 3K I had to floor it once. It spit black soot and leaped forward at 65 MPH, easily getting out of a lane squeeze.
A F150 is not a F250, it drives and rides like a car. A tall car, yet not as rough as any 3/4 Ton I have driven. Very smooth ride and always fun to drive. I think I matched TV to CV well and still have a vehicle I can use daily. I get up to 25 MPG empty without trailer. That's real darn good. My VW Buses never got over 19 MPG and I had 5 of them. My 1999 Ford Van with 4.6 usually got 16 MPG on the road. In city it was expensive...
I don't buy 4X4 as I never want to get stuck that deep. I can get a 2X4 stuck far into the back of beyond.
Ever try walking out of the Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range?