Introduction

From a working tool to a weekend toy, a luxurious family hauler or a hairy hot rod, the F-150 can be almost any truck you can imagine. Like most full-size pickups, it comes in a myriad of bed lengths, two different body styles, and now three distinct cab configurations. This means the overall length and wheelbase can vary tremendously, the latter from 120 inches to 157.4.

Walkaround

The F-150 is a stylish truck, one that pays more serious attention to aerodynamics than either the Dodge or GM pickups. It is rounder, friendlier and looks more like a car than the Dodge, Chevy, or GMC. That may be part of the reason it outsells all other pickup trucks by a considerable margin. The current Chevrolet and GMC trucks are still pretty new (they were redesigned for the 1999 model year), but their conservative styling doesn't look as modern as the Ford's. The Dodge Ram has been redesigned for 2002, but retains a retro look that won't appeal to everyone (at least not as intensely as it appeals to its die-hard fans). The F-150's aerodynamic hood falls away very rapidly from the base of the windshield, so it's easier to see what's immediately in front of the truck; that's handy for maneuvering off road, for parking, and when navigating in tight city traffic. Like the Ram, however, its fenders seem to fill small rural roads. In tight quarters, this feels like a big truck. The 2002 Ford Harley-Davidson F-150 SuperCrew incorporates styling cues of the past with an innovative flair. The front end of the vehicle features a new upper chrome billet grille, clear-lens headlamps and clear-lens parking lamps embossed with the Harley-Davidson Bar & Shield. For 2002, a distinct rivet design surrounds the center of the 20x9-inch five-spoke chromed cast-aluminum wheels, complementing the center caps that display the Harley-Davidson Bar & Shield. Flame pin striping and chrome accessories complement the overall package. As in the past, the Ford Harley-Davidson F-150 SuperCrew is lowered one inch. It features a specially tuned exhaust system with a dual inlet/dual outlet muffler, ending in chrome 3 1/2-inch "slash cut" exhaust tips.

Interior Features

The F-150 takes its interior design cues from the company's successful passenger cars, such as the Ford Taurus and Lincoln Continental. The designers adapted these cues to the pickup's larger cab. The curves, surfaces, textures, instrumentation and graphics inside the F-150 are more adventurous, more modern, and in some ways better executed than the GM and Dodge, big and bold but not outsized for a big vehicle. The mid-range F-150 XLT has dual air bags with a passenger-side deactivation switch. It comes with a back panel cover and rear storage tray, dual map lights, map pockets, an upper vinyl applique, courtesy lamps, color-keyed carpeting and headliner, complete instrumentation including a tachometer, an auxiliary 12-volt power point, power windows and locks, an electronic AM/FM stereo CD/cassette system with four speakers, cloth split bench seats with recliners, armrests, and manual lumbar support on the driver's side, speed control, tilt steering wheel, remote keyless entry, and speed-dependent interval windshield wipers. Compared to full-sized cars, pickup trucks come with ample amounts of head, leg, hip and shoulder room. They offer a lot of interior space for the money. Even the F-150 XLT regular cab, which does not have a rear seat or extra doors, offers plenty of room for the driver and passenger to stretch out. The XLT's cloth seats recline, and a lumbar support on the driver's side provides even more driving comfort. All Ford pickups share another trait: a relatively high ride height, even on 2x4 models. That can be a blessing when you're trying to see out over the traffic ahead, but it's a curse when trying to load equipment into the bed; nor does it help when trying to go around corners. Still, bed heights on the two-wheel-drive models are three inches lower than on four-wheel-drive trucks (32 inches vs. 35 inches on the SuperCrew, for example), a huge difference when loading heavy items. The Lariat SuperCrew features handsome leather seating surfaces, front and rear. Getting into and out of the rear seats was easy. The rear seats are comfortable and offer good legroom, allowing passengers to slide their feet under the front seats. Adults should be able to ride back there for longer trips. It's also a nice place to change into and out of driver's suits when we go racing. SuperCrew's rear seats fold down (and are split 60/40), offering a nearly flat luggage space. It's a great place to put cargo or big dogs. I like putting all my equipment back there when I go fly fishing. Small storage compartments behind the front seats add utility. All in all, the SuperCrew offers lots of utility and is a great choice for people who don't seldom need a full-size pickup bed.