Ford F-150 review for Colorado buyers

The F-150 for Colorado buyers

Picking an engine for Colorado

Most F-150s you'll see in Colorado have one of four engines: the 2.7L EcoBoost, the 3.5L EcoBoost, the 5.0L V8 or, from 2021 on, the 3.5L PowerBoost hybrid. The two EcoBoosts and the PowerBoost are twin-turbo V6s. The 5.0L is naturally aspirated.

That split matters at altitude. Turbo maker Garrett cites a rule of thumb of about 3 percent power loss per 1,000 feet for a naturally aspirated engine and explains that a turbo can make up much of that. A 5.0L V8 is a well-liked, simple engine, but at 10,000 feet on Loveland or Monarch it is giving up more of its rated power than a turbo V6. We haven't measured this ourselves; it's the published physics.

If you tow heavy, the 3.5L EcoBoost is the one Ford rates highest, at up to 13,500 pounds on a 2024 SuperCrew 6.5-foot 4x4 configured for it. The 2.7L is the efficient choice if your trailer is light. If you're not sure which suits your use, tell us about your trailer through our vehicle finder and we'll narrow it down.

PowerBoost: the hybrid that doubles as a generator

The PowerBoost pairs the 3.5L twin-turbo V6 with an electric motor and a 1.5-kWh battery, for a rated 430 hp and 570 lb-ft through the 2024 model year. The EPA rates a 2024 PowerBoost 4x4 at 23 mpg combined, versus 19 mpg for a 3.5L EcoBoost 4x4.

The feature Colorado buyers ask about most is Pro Power Onboard. Hybrid trucks come standard with a 2.4 kW system, and a 7.2 kW system is available; gas trucks can have a 2.0 kW system. For dispersed camping, a hunting camp or a job site, running tools or a camp kitchen off the truck is useful. Confirm which version a used truck has, because the outlets and output differ.

The trade-off is towing and payload. Ford rated the 2024 PowerBoost at up to 11,200 pounds and 1,755 pounds of payload. That still handles most travel trailers, but if your trailer is near the top of the range, the 3.5L EcoBoost leaves more margin.

Towing a camper over the passes

Ford's maximum ratings come from one specific build. A 2024 F-150 can carry up to 2,455 pounds of payload only in a particular configuration, and a loaded crew-cab Lariat with a sunroof and big wheels will be far lower. Tongue weight counts against payload, and so do your passengers, dog and firewood.

Before you buy, read the payload figure on the driver's door-jamb sticker, confirm the tow package and axle ratio, and compare that against your trailer's loaded weight, not its dry weight. Our guide to towing a camper in the mountains walks through the math and what long grades like I-70 west of Denver do to brakes and transmissions.

One recall matters specifically to towers. Ford recalled 2021-2023 F-150s with the Trailer Tow Max Duty package because a rear axle hub bolt could fatigue and break, which NHTSA said could cause a roll-away in park without the parking brake or a loss of drive power. Run the VIN and confirm the repair.

Snow, 4x4 and I-70

A two-wheel-drive F-150 with an empty bed is a handful on snow, so most Colorado buyers want 4x4. Some trims, such as the Lariat, come with a two-speed automatic 4WD system, which suits a commute that runs from dry Denver pavement to a snowy Floyd Hill.

CDOT's Traction Law applies on I-70 between Morrison and Dotsero from September 1 through May 31, and it centers on tires with at least 3/16-inch tread and the proper rating, or chains. Budget for good tires on any used truck. Our Colorado winter buying guide has a checklist.

If you want serious trail ability, the Tremor adds an electronic-locking rear axle, and the Raptor is a dedicated off-road truck. Both give up fuel economy: the EPA rates the 2024 Tremor at 17 to 18 mpg combined and the Raptor at 16.

Used F-150 checks specific to this truck

On 2015-2017 trucks with the six-speed automatic, check recall 26S28. Ford recalled about 1.39 million trucks because signal loss between the transmission range sensor and the powertrain control module could cause a sudden downshift to second gear and a brief rear-wheel lockup. The fix is a PCM update, plus a lead-frame replacement on trucks that showed certain trouble codes.

Since 2015 the F-150 body has been aluminum, which is light but can be costly to repair after Colorado hail. Look down the roof, hood and bed rails in good light. Our article on hail damage and used cars covers what repaired panels look like.

There are so many F-150 configurations that the right truck is often hiding in someone else's inventory. If you know what you want, our specific vehicle request lets us search for it, and if you're trading in your current truck, start with our sell page.