Ford patent utility particulars intelligent F-150 6×6 bolt-on conversion package

At the moment’s full-size pickup vans have much more energy and functionality than most individuals will ever use, however four-wheel drive and a five-figure tow score fall in need of satisfying for some homeowners. That’s the place corporations like Hennessey Efficiency are available in, providing thousand-horsepower upgrades and 6×6 conversions for common fashions. A current report from CarBuzz means that Ford is trying to get in on the improve motion, because the publication discovered a patent utility outlining a bolt-on third axle conversion for the top-selling F-150.

Whereas Hennessey’s wild creations give attention to the “take a look at me” and devoted off-road crowds, Ford’s intention with its 6×6 conversion is to supply higher payload capacities for individuals who use their vans for work. The patent utility additionally states that the package might embrace a fifth-wheel coupling with a subframe extension, which might give the F-150 near-heavy-duty ranges of functionality.

The package would permit homeowners to improve their truck’s capacities with out stepping as much as a heavy-duty mannequin and will assist Ford seize extra earnings with out altering its manufacturing strains. Sleeved extension elements give the truck the size it wants to accommodate an additional axle, and Ford’s design drawings present a setup that might accommodate a load-leveling system.

Ford outlined alternate propulsion for the system that might embrace an electrical motor to energy the third axle. It is not clear what kind of battery pack that might entail. As CarBuzz identified, that might give homeowners with the bottom powertrain the power to equip the package and add an additional pair of rear drive wheels to spice up efficiency, although, for 2024, Ford’s taking away the bottom V6 in favor of turbocharged engines that provide stronger output.

Whereas patent functions are sometimes considerably obscure and by no means see the sunshine of day, that is one which we hope makes it out of the conceptual stage. It’s simple to poke enjoyable at an enormous six-wheel truck with a household home-sized price ticket, however this package would (in concept) solely be utilized by individuals doing work. In fact, a 6×6 F-150 would make nice YouTube content material, so it’d possible solely be a matter of time earlier than the loopy movies seem.

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