150 Ford F-2023 Rattler: 4×4 pickup truck with skid plates and locking differential

The Ford F-150 Rattler is equipped with the FX4 package, which includes skid plates to give Ford Tough solid protection for confident off-road driving. An electronic locking rear differential is also offered to improve vehicle traction.

If you've been driving trucks for 30 years or more, or consider yourself similar to those who have, you may not be a fan of gadgets. Trucks are more sophisticated (and comfortable) than ever before, and while I doubt anyone would prefer a hard ride over a soft ride, many could do without active suspension and the like. These are the people Ford had in mind when it designed the new F-150 Rattler.

Pickup truck equipped for off-road

It's a basic XL-based truck that runs no gimmicks but offers upgrades like off-road shock absorbers, dual exhausts, and a locking rear differential. Sure, the diff locks electronically, but that's okay, we're still living in the era of manual locking front hubs. (But how great would that be?) However, it takes the basics of the Ford FX4 package and applies them to a simpler formula.

You get into the F-150 Rattler, of course, and they seem like Toyo. They are wrapped around 18-inch painted aluminum wheels that you don't have to worry about scratching. All this provides better traction when climbing steep rocky slopes, and the Hill Descent Control system makes it easier to descend.

Available for any type of engine that Ford offers for the F-150.

Ford has confirmed that you can get the Rattler with any powertrain offered by the F-150, with the exception of the super-base 6-liter naturally aspirated V3.3. That means Blue Oval will build them with a 6-litre EcoBoost V2.7, an 8-litre V5.0, a 3.5-litre EcoBoost, or even a 3.5-litre PowerBoost Hybrid. Think of it like the Tremor lite, except you can order it with a Coyote engine if you want.

What's inside the F-150 Rattler

If you're hoping for massage chairs, they're not here. You'll only find cloth seats as well as a switch on the pillar. Ford says the Rattler trucks require the XL 101A 4×4 trim package and can be selected with an extended cab or crew cab; all have a 145-inch wheelbase.

Pricing for the 150 Ford F-2023 Rattler has yet to be announced, so watch closer to launch. You can bet that it will be cheaper than the XLT with the FX4 package, but slightly outperforms the regular XL 4x4. The set will be available to order this fall.

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