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Gray Ford F-150 pickup parked under shade trees on a dirt clearing, Farmington MO

Ford F-150 vs. Ram 1500: Which Half Ton Fits Your Week in Southeast Missouri?

Compare  |  Farmington, MO Half ton trucks do every job around here. They pull the boat to Wappapello in July, haul feed in January and carry the kids to practice in between. Two of them come up in nearly every truck conversation we have. Walk the lot at Sam Scism Ford on a Saturday and you'll hear it. Somebody's dad drove a Ford, somebody's brother swears by his Ram, and the truck they're shopping has to be good at a little bit of everything. The Ford F-150 and the Ram 1500 are both strong answers. They split on a few things that matter around Farmington: the engines on the order sheet for 2026, how much help you get hooking up a trailer, how each one rides on a washboard county road, and what the bed and cab do for a family. This guide sticks to those differences. For the full spec sheet, our Ford F-150 comparison page lines the trucks up side by side. Quick answer: The Ford F-150 gives you four mainstream engines, including a PowerBoost full hybrid, a towing rating of up to 13,500 pounds when properly equipped, and work tools like Pro Trailer Hitch Assist and Pro Power Onboard. The Ram 1500 brings back the 5.7L HEMI V8 for 2026 and rides on coil springs, so it suits drivers who run empty most of the week and want a softer ride. Ford F-150 max tow Up to 13,500 lb, 3.5L EcoBoost, properly equipped Ram 1500 for 2026 5.7L HEMI V8 with eTorque returns, 395 hp Rear suspension Ford: leaf springs; Ram: coil springs In this post Engine choices for 2026 Towing and hitching Ride on back roads Family and daily use Warranty and service Which one fits you How Do the 2026 Ford F-150 and Ram 1500 Engines Compare? The 2026 Ford F-150 gives you four mainstream engines. The 2.7L EcoBoost V6 makes 325 horsepower and 400 lb-ft. The 3.5L EcoBoost V6 is rated at up to 400 horsepower and 500 lb-ft, and it's the one to pick for the heaviest towing. The 5.0L V8 makes 400 horsepower and 410 lb-ft for folks who want a V8 under the hood. Then there's the 3.5L PowerBoost full hybrid, rated at up to 430 horsepower. That hybrid is easier to get this year. Ford added it to the STX for 2026, so you no longer have to step up to an XLT or higher to put one in the driveway. If you idle at job sites or run a lot of stop and go miles through Park Hills and Desloge, it's worth a test drive. The 2026 Ram 1500 made its own headline. Ram brought back the 5.7L HEMI V8 with its eTorque mild hybrid system, rated at 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft. It's offered across most of the lineup, from Tradesman and Express up through Limited and Longhorn, though not on Tungsten or RHO. Ram also keeps the 3.6L Pentastar V6 on mainstream trims and its 3.0L Hurricane twin turbo inline six, rated at 420 horsepower, or 540 in high output form. Both trucks will do the daily work. The F-150 gives you more ways to build it, including the hybrid. The Ram makes sense if a V8 rumble and a big inline six are what you're after. Which Truck Makes Towing Easier, the Ford F-150 or the Ram 1500? Tow ratings swing a lot with cab, bed, axle and engine. The Ford F-150 is rated at up to 13,500 pounds with the 3.5L EcoBoost when properly equipped, and payload reaches 2,440 pounds on the right build. Compare the exact trucks you're looking at, not brochure maximums, because the window sticker number is the one that counts. Where the F-150 pulls ahead is the stuff that makes towing easier when you're alone with the trailer: Pro Trailer Hitch Assist: available on XLT and up, it steers, accelerates and brakes to line the hitch ball up with a conventional trailer while you hold a button. Pro Power Onboard: comes with the PowerBoost hybrid at 2.0 kW, with a 7.2 kW version available, so you can run tools, a camper or lights off the truck. BlueCruise: available hands free highway driving on select trims for long stretches of divided highway. The Ram 1500 handles a trailer well too, with an 8 speed automatic and available air suspension that levels the truck under a load. Pick whichever matches the trailer you own. A bass boat and a utility trailer don't ask the same thing of a truck as a 30 foot camper. Farmington driver tip Take the test drive with your own trailer if you can. Backing a boat down the ramp at Lake Wappapello or a stock trailer into a tight barn lot tells you more than any spec sheet, and Pro Trailer Hitch Assist earns its keep on a cold morning when nobody's around to guide you back. Which Rides Better on Gravel and County Roads? This is where the two trucks are built differently. The Ram 1500 uses a five link coil spring rear suspension, and empty, on a rough stretch of county road off MO 32, a coil spring truck usually feels softer. An available air suspension can level it when the bed is loaded. The Ford F-150 sticks with leaf springs out back. Empty, it rides firmer than the Ram. Put a load of fencing supplies in the bed or a trailer on the hitch and it settles in, which is why so many people who work their trucks every day still prefer leaf springs. Ask yourself how many days a week the bed is loaded. If it's most of them, the F-150's setup is built for that life. If the truck mostly carries you and a lunch box up US 67, the Ram's ride is a fair point in its favor. Shop Ford F-150 Inventory See Side by Side Specs Which Works Better as a Family Truck? Both crew cabs carry four adults in comfort, so the deciding things are smaller. On the Ford F-150, the available Pro Access Tailgate swings open like a door, which puts the bed within easier reach when you're grabbing groceries or a car seat bag. You also get the hybrid option and BlueCruise for long highway runs to see family. The Ram 1500 counters with the available RamBox storage built into the bed sides and a big available touchscreen inside. Its quieter, softer ride when empty is a real plus for a truck that spends weekdays as the family car. The window sticker number is the one that counts. How Do Warranty and Local Service Compare? Ram made a big move on coverage. It extended its 10 year or 100,000 mile powertrain limited warranty to all 2026 Ram pickups, including the 1500. Fleet buyers don't qualify and it doesn't transfer to a second owner. Ford's factory powertrain coverage on the F-150 is 5 years or 60,000 miles. Buying your truck here changes that picture. Every new Ford sold at Sam Scism Ford comes with Warranty Forever at no charge. It covers listed engine, transmission and drive axle parts for as long as you own the truck, regardless of miles, with no deductible, as long as you follow the customary maintenance in the agreement and keep records. It's a dealer plan, not a factory warranty, so ask us how it applies to you. Service stays close to home. Ford trained technicians work on F-150s every day at 5019 Flat River Road, and you can book through the Ford app or by calling 573-430-1693. If the truck works for a business, our commercial team can set up upfits and fleet ordering. So Which Half Ton Truck Fits Your Life? Think about the trailer you pull, how often the bed is full, and who rides along on the weekend. Fits you if Ford F-150 You tow often and want up to 13,500 pounds of rating on the right build You hitch up alone and want Pro Trailer Hitch Assist You'd use the PowerBoost hybrid or Pro Power Onboard for tools or camping The bed is loaded most days and you want leaf springs under it Fits you if Ram 1500 You drive empty most of the week and want a softer coil spring ride You've waited for the 5.7L HEMI V8 to come back You like the RamBox bed storage idea A long factory powertrain warranty on a retail purchase matters most Drive both if you're torn. Then come drive the Ford F-150 the way you'd really use it, trailer and all. Warranty Forever Every new Ford F-150 sold at Sam Scism Ford includes Warranty Forever at no charge. Listed engine, transmission and drive axle parts are covered for as long as you own the truck, regardless of miles, with no deductible. Keep up with the customary maintenance and records. See the dealer for details. How it works Engines and Power Is the HEMI V8 back in the Ram 1500 for 2026? + Ram returned the 5.7L HEMI V8 with eTorque for the 2026 Ram 1500, rated at 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft. It's offered on most trims but not Tungsten or RHO. Does the Ford F-150 still offer a V8? + The 2026 Ford F-150 offers a 5.0L V8 rated at 400 horsepower and 410 lb-ft, alongside two EcoBoost V6 engines and the PowerBoost hybrid. Which Ford F-150 trims offer the PowerBoost hybrid? + For 2026, Ford made the hybrid available on the STX as well as XLT, Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum. Our sales team can show you which hybrid trucks are in stock. Towing and Hauling How much can a Ford F-150 tow? + A properly equipped 2026 F-150 with the 3.5L EcoBoost is rated at up to 13,500 pounds. Ratings vary by cab, bed, axle and engine, so check the specific truck. What is Pro Trailer Hitch Assist? + It's an available F-150 feature on XLT and higher trims that steers, accelerates and brakes the truck to line up the hitch ball with a conventional trailer while you hold a button. Can a Ford F-150 power tools or a campsite? + Pro Power Onboard comes with the PowerBoost hybrid, and a 7.2 kW version is available for bigger loads like saws, compressors or a camper. Ride and Comfort Why does the Ram 1500 ride softer when empty? + Ram uses a five link coil spring rear suspension, which tends to absorb bumps better without a load than the leaf springs on the F-150. Is a leaf spring truck better for hauling? + Plenty of owners who load their trucks daily prefer leaf springs for heavy, repeated loads. A coil or air setup can carry weight too, so the choice comes down to how you use the truck. Does the Ford F-150 offer hands free driving? + BlueCruise hands free highway driving is available on select F-150 trims for use on qualified divided highways. A subscription applies after any included period. Warranty and Service Does Ram offer a longer powertrain warranty than Ford? + Ram's 10 year or 100,000 mile powertrain limited warranty covers 2026 pickups for non fleet buyers and doesn't transfer. Sam Scism Ford adds Warranty Forever powertrain coverage on every new Ford it sells. Is Warranty Forever a factory warranty? + It's a dealer plan from Sam Scism Ford, separate from Ford's factory coverage. It applies as long as you own the vehicle and follow the maintenance schedule in the agreement. Where can I get my Ford F-150 serviced near Farmington? + Our service center at 5019 Flat River Road is open 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM weekdays, closed noon to 1:00 PM. Book through the Ford app or call 573-430-1693. Buying and Trading Where can I compare F-150 and Ram 1500 specs side by side? + Our Ford F-150 comparison page lines up the F-150 against the Ram 1500, Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Toyota Tundra. Can I trade in a Ram toward a Ford F-150? + We appraise trucks of any make or condition, including ones with a loan balance. Start online for an offer and finish the appraisal at the store. Can I order an F-150 built the way I want? + A factory order lets you pick the cab, bed, engine and packages. Ford doesn't charge extra for ordering, and lead times vary. Plan the payment Explore financing for your next Ford F-150. Finance Center Trade in your truck Get an offer on your current truck, any make. Value Your Trade

Gray Ford F-150 Platinum parked at a farm as a man walks toward a red tractor, F-150 trims in Farmington MO

2025 Ford F-150 Trim Guide for Southeast Missouri Work and Family

Ford F-150 Nine versions of one truck can make a showroom visit feel like a quiz. We'll sort the 2025 Ford F-150 lineup by the work you do and the kind of miles you put on around Southeast Missouri. Walk the F-150 row on our lot and the trucks start to blur together. Same shape, same badge, but the window stickers tell very different stories. We'll have a hay hauler from Fredericktown, a contractor working job sites in Festus and a Farmington family with three kids in travel ball all come in asking for an F-150. They almost never leave in the same one. The 2025 Ford F-150 is the newest one on the lot this winter, and Ford builds a share of them at its Kansas City Assembly Plant on the other side of the state. Ford calls 2025 a carryover year with no major changes. So it really comes down to four choices: trim, engine, cab and bed. Quick answer: The 2025 Ford F-150 runs from the XL work truck through the STX, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum, with the Tremor, Raptor and Raptor R for off road use. Farm and job site buyers usually end up in an XL, STX or XLT, and families tend to go XLT or Lariat. If you want a generator built into the truck, look at the PowerBoost hybrid with Pro Power Onboard. Trims XL through Platinum, plus Tremor, Raptor and Raptor R Engines 2.7L and 3.5L EcoBoost, 5.0L V8, 3.5L PowerBoost Max towing Up to 13,500 lb when properly equipped In this post The 2025 lineup Choosing an engine Trims for farm and job site Trims for family and commuting Tremor and Raptor Pro Power Onboard Which Trims Make Up the 2025 Ford F-150 Lineup? There are six main trims and three off road versions. Roughly from basic to loaded: XL: the work truck, built to be used hard and cleaned out with a hose. STX: XL basics with a sportier look and 20 inch wheels. XLT: the trim most people picture, with more comfort and tech. Lariat: leather, heated and ventilated front seats, and a step up in finish. King Ranch: Western styled two tone design with massaging front seats. Platinum: the dressiest F-150 in the main lineup. Tremor, Raptor and Raptor R: the off road builds, from trail ready to desert runner. Every 2025 F-150 has a 10 speed automatic, with rear wheel drive or four wheel drive depending on trim. You can get a Regular Cab, SuperCab or SuperCrew with a 5.5, 6.5 or 8 foot bed. Not every cab comes with every bed or every trim, though. Which 2025 Ford F-150 Engine Fits How You Drive? The engine matters as much as the trim, and what you can get depends on trim and cab. The main 2025 options: 2.7L EcoBoost V6: 325 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. Plenty for commuting and light to moderate towing. 5.0L V8: 400 horsepower and 410 lb-ft. If you want a V8 that feels and sounds like one, it's still here. 3.5L EcoBoost V6: 400 horsepower and 500 lb-ft. This is the one for regular heavy towing. It's part of the setup Ford uses to hit its 13,500 pound maximum when properly equipped. 3.5L PowerBoost full hybrid: 430 horsepower and 570 lb-ft combined, offered on the XLT, Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum. Towing numbers swing a lot with cab, bed, axle ratio and packages. Go by the sticker on the exact truck, not the headline maximum. Our sales team can pull the rating for any F-150 we've got. Pick the engine for the heaviest thing you tow every month, not the heaviest thing you might tow someday. Which Ford F-150 Trims Fit Farm and Job Site Work? Ford F-150 XL This is your feed store and job site truck. A Class IV hitch, LED headlights, a 12 inch touchscreen and a set of driver assist features all come standard. Regular Cab with the 8 foot bed is the classic farm setup. If you're buying for a fleet, our commercial team handles upfits. Ford F-150 STX The STX keeps the XL's working gear and adds 20 inch wheels and a sharper look. It's for someone who works it all week and still wants it looking good in the church parking lot on Sunday. Ford F-150 XLT XLT is where the F-150 gets comfortable for long days. You get dual zone automatic climate control, and you can add the 360 degree camera and Pro Trailer Backup Assist. It's also the most affordable way into the PowerBoost hybrid. A farmer who puts highway miles on too will find an XLT SuperCrew covers a lot of ground. Pick the engine for the heaviest thing you tow every month, not the heaviest thing you might tow someday. Fredericktown driver tip If most of your miles are gravel county roads with a livestock or equipment trailer behind you, put the money into four wheel drive and the 3.5L EcoBoost or 5.0L V8 before a dressier trim. Comfort can come after, if there's room in the budget. Shop Ford F-150 Inventory Custom Order a Ford F-150 Which Ford F-150 Trims Fit Family and Commuting? A SuperCrew's back seat has room for car seats and growing teenagers, and plenty of families around Park Hills and Desloge use one as the main vehicle. How comfortable it gets is up to the trim. Ford F-150 Lariat Lariat adds leather, heated and ventilated power front seats, power folding mirrors and a Bang and Olufsen sound system. For a daily commute up US 67 to a St. Louis area job, this is usually where the truck stops feeling like work equipment. Ford F-150 King Ranch and Platinum King Ranch leans Western, with two tone paint and trim, a twin panel moonroof and massaging front seats. Platinum is dressier, with its own interior and exterior trim and heated rear seats. Either one is for the buyer who wants a full size truck that rides and feels like a luxury SUV. On a family truck, take a hard look at the PowerBoost hybrid. It pulls strong, the electric assist helps in stop and go traffic, and the onboard generator turns the bed into a power source for camping or a long outage. Where Do the Ford F-150 Tremor and Raptor Fit? The Ford F-150 Tremor is a four wheel drive SuperCrew with a 5.5 foot bed, 33 inch all terrain tires, an off road tuned suspension and a locking rear differential. It's the practical pick for a hunter who has to get back into rough ground in Mark Twain National Forest and still tow a trailer home. The Ford F-150 Raptor is a different animal. Its high output 3.5L EcoBoost makes 450 horsepower, and it runs Fox adaptive shocks on standard 35 inch tires. The Raptor R gets a supercharged 5.2L V8 rated at 720 horsepower and 37 inch tires. Both are built for high speed off road driving more than daily towing. Around here, most folks who want off road ability without giving up towing go with the Tremor. The Raptor's for someone who wants the most capable F-150 off pavement and plans to use it that way. What Is Ford F-150 Pro Power Onboard and Who Needs It? Pro Power Onboard puts outlets in the bed so the truck works as a generator. Gas engines get a 2.0 kW system. With the PowerBoost hybrid, 2.4 kW is standard and 7.2 kW is available, and that's enough to run serious tools or keep the essentials going at home when a storm knocks the power out. It'll run saws on a De Soto job site or a welder at the far end of a farm, and it's handy at a state park campsite too. It varies by trim and engine, so check the window sticker on the truck you're looking at. If the exact mix of trim, engine and Pro Power output you want isn't on the lot, you can custom order it. Ford doesn't charge extra for ordering, and our team can track the truck once a VIN is assigned. For a side by side look at the F-150 against the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Ram 1500 and Toyota Tundra, see our Ford F-150 comparison page. Warranty Forever Your new Ford F-150 from Sam Scism Ford includes Warranty Forever at no charge. Listed engine, transmission and drive axle parts stay covered for as long as you own the truck, regardless of miles, with no deductible. Keep up the customary maintenance and records. See us for the details. How it works Trims and Lineup How many trims does the 2025 Ford F-150 have? + Six main trims (XL, STX, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum) plus the off road Tremor, Raptor and Raptor R. What is the difference between the Ford F-150 XL and STX? + The STX keeps the XL's working basics and adds 20 inch wheels and a sportier appearance. Did the Ford F-150 change much for 2025? + Ford treated 2025 as a carryover year without major changes, so the lineup closely matches the 2024 truck. Engines and Towing How much can a 2025 Ford F-150 tow? + Up to 13,500 pounds when properly equipped. The rating for any given truck depends on engine, cab, bed, axle ratio and packages. Which Ford F-150 engine is good for regular towing? + The 3.5L EcoBoost V6, with 500 lb-ft of torque, is the usual choice for frequent heavy towing. The 5.0L V8 suits buyers who prefer a traditional V8. Is the Ford F-150 still offered with a V8? + The 5.0L V8 remains available for 2025 on several trims, rated at 400 horsepower. PowerBoost and Pro Power Onboard Which Ford F-150 trims offer PowerBoost? + For 2025 the PowerBoost full hybrid is offered on the XLT, Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum. How much power can Pro Power Onboard supply? + Gas engines offer a 2.0 kW system. With PowerBoost, 2.4 kW is standard and 7.2 kW is available. Can a Ford F-150 power my house in an outage? + Pro Power Onboard can run tools, appliances and extension cords from the truck's outlets. Ask our team what the setup on a specific truck can handle. Work and Family Fit Which Ford F-150 is good for farm work? + The XL and XLT with four wheel drive, the right bed and a towing focused engine fit most farm use. Regular Cab with the 8 foot bed is a common choice for hauling. Is the Ford F-150 SuperCrew big enough for a family? + There's room back there for car seats and adults, and lots of families around here use one as their main vehicle. Should I get the Ford F-150 Tremor or Raptor? + The Tremor balances off road hardware with everyday towing, while the Raptor is built for high speed off road driving. Buying in Farmington Can I custom order a 2025 Ford F-150? + You can start an order online and our team submits it to Ford. Lead times vary, and Ford does not charge extra for ordering. Does Sam Scism Ford sell work truck upfits? + Our commercial team handles F-150 and Super Duty upfits such as utility bodies, ladder racks and liftgates for fleets and trades across Southeast Missouri. Where can I compare the Ford F-150 with other trucks? + Our F-150 comparison page lines it up against the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Ram 1500 and Toyota Tundra. Trade in your truck Get an offer on your current truck, any make. Value Your Trade Plan the payment Explore financing for your next Ford F-150. Finance Center

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