Two Great 2009 Trucks

If you're into hauling horse trailers and can consider buying a new tow vehicle while prices are still low, here's some great information on two comparable new trucks.

Are you considering investing in a new tow vehicle to carry you to your trail adventures in safety, comfort, and style? Check out the 2009 Ford F150 King Ranch Edition and the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie. Below, you’ll find benefits of each, broken out by curb appeal, money-savers, and towing extras.

2009 Ford F150 King Ranch Edition
“This is the most significant tow vehicle in the half-ton class. Ford is leading the pack.”


Curb Appeal

  • Gorgeous brown paint
  • Full-grain leather seats
  • Bold chrome grill
  • 6-speed automatic transmission
  • Money-Savers
  • 8% better mpg than the 2008 F150
  • 2 mpg improvement in fuel economy overall
  • Excellent price point for what you get
  • Towing Extras
  • All V8 Powertrain line-up ½-ton class at almost ¾-ton capacity, 11,300 pounds
  • Same trailer capacity for all three cab configurations, so it’s easy to match to your trailer
  • Electronic stability control
  • Integrated trailer brake controller
  • Automatic trailer sway control
  • Engine torque converter extended lockup
  • Increased lateral stiffness of the frame
  • 8,200 pound GVWR
  • 3,030 pound payload
  • Big towing mirrors

2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie
“If you have a Ram 1500 now, you’ll notice the improvements to the ’09 Ram. If you drive the other brands, this Dodge will impress you.”


Curb Appeal

  • Added storage room
  • Optional heated steering wheel
  • Ventilated front seats
  • Seat heaters in both rows
  • Automatic headlights
  • Automatic up and down on all front windows
  • Moon roof
  • Triple seal doors for quieter ride
  • 5-speed automatic transmission (with the Hemi only) Built in the USA
  • Money-Savers
  • Up to 20 mpg on the highway
  • Optional axle ratios are 3.21 for fuel economy
  • Excellent price point for what you get
  • Towing Extras
  • Rear coil suspension
  • Electronic stability control
  • Backup camera
  • Bigger anti-sway bars that are hollow tubes on both front and back
  • ERS for forced grade shifting
  • Drive train improvements
  • Automatic-engaging 4 x 4

Kent Sundling (a.k.a Mr. Truck;www.mrtruck.com) is a well-known automotive journalist, reviewing trucks, trailers, and accessories for magazines and websites. He travels the country test-driving new trucks, towing trailers, and reviewing horse-trailer factories. His trail mount is a 12-year-old Paint Horse named Tonto.

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