Ford’s F150 MidBox Is A Smart Idea
Jason Lancaster | Jun 02, 2008 | Comments 7
Pickup trucks have a lot of cargo space, but that space isn
Filed Under: Toyota Tundra Reviews and Comparisons
Jason Lancaster | Jun 02, 2008 | Comments 7
Pickup trucks have a lot of cargo space, but that space isn
Filed Under: Toyota Tundra Reviews and Comparisons
Comments (7)
Other truck makers haven’t matched the Ridgeline’s in-bed trunk because the Ridgeline is the only pickup currently sold with an independent rear suspension. Deleting the live axle is the only way to gain the space necessary to do so. Not because Honda is a, “minor player.”
RamBox will be a much more popular option for storage than MidBox. And it has twice the cubic volume of the Ridgeline trunk. Toyota would do well to follow the Chrysler example.
JoJo – First of all, Honda is definitely a minor player. They sell about 50k new Ridgeline “trucks” a year – substantially less than Toyota, GM, Dodge, or Ford. As I’m sure you know, the independent rear in the Ridgeline is a mixed blessing. Ride is definitely better, but tow rating and hauling are MUCH lower. Besides, the Ridgeline doesn’t really compete with a true half-ton so there’s no need to match Honda. However, you are correct to say that the live axle prevents Toyota (and others) from adding the feature. Your point about Chrysler’s RamBox is well taken. It’s also an excellent feature.
Jason- Sure, honda doesn’t sell that many trucks (yeah, thats right, trucks, the ridgline), but that’s because no one will give it a chance because they don’t think it’s a truck. I personally think this option is stupid and the Ridgelines in-bed-trunk and dodges ram boxes are much betters options. Also, you can’t compare the Ridgeline to a full sized pick-up as far as brute force and power. Honda wasn’t looking to compete to the F-150 or Tundra. It’s a mid sized TRUCK, not full size. Again, it’s as much of a truck as the Tacoma, Sport track, colorado, frontier, etc. Why wouldn’t it be?
Steve – I appreciate your die-hard enthusiasm for the Ridgeline, but when they stop making them in 2012, what truck will you look at buying?
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As for the mid-box, you have to understand a lot of trucks are re-fitted with a utility body that has drawers and cabinets just like this. By mounting it between the cab and the bed, you don’t sacrifice bed capacity like an after-market utility body, and the cost is better too. Remember, there’s more to the truck world than personal, light-duty use. Ford does a booming fleet truck business, and contractors often buy trucks without a bed (just a cab and chassis), then drop $1000’s on a utility body.
Maybe I’m missing something. It’s basically the same thing as a utility box right? It’s just a bed extention. I don’t know what I’ll get for a truck after 2012. I’ll just have to pay $4000 more for a large truck just for the back seat. Sad isn’t it?
Steve – It’s a little more than a toolbox. Those drawers and cabinets go the full width of the truck, and they allow you to install dividers, etc. Unlike a toolbox, you don’t have to stack and un-stack drawers to get at the stuff in the bottom. Trust me when I say a lot of utility body companies don’t like the fact Ford is doing this because it’s cutting into their business.
If it takes up the whole width of the body, then it’s just like adding some extra bed length and making it a tool box with some drawers.