I think the tilt wheel on the new f150 (also on 02 and up explorer
and 03 and up expedition and thier L-M cousins) is useless. I like
to drive with the wheel all the way down, which means I need to
tilt it up to get out, but the new design is awkward and has no
spring to tilt it up. It was originally to be a tilt/telescope type on the explorer, but that never came out(delayed availabilty in 02 and not out yet).

 

It Sucks!

It wouldn't be 1/2 bad if it were spring loaded as you suggested.
Even when it is tilted up, I don't think it gets out of the way enough.

Too much effort required to tilt it up.

 

I'm 6'5" and I don't have a problem getting in or out. I just leave it up since I like it that way anyways.

 

I'm 5'6" (almost) and I have to step up on the Running Board to get in. At this point I have to lean down to sit down (can you envision that???) and that's when the wheel is in the way of my right leg.

BigJim, I assume you can "slide" in from standing on the ground due to your height (God Bless Ya!)

 

HAHA. Actually that IS what I do. I never thought about that.

 

As has been stated..... it sucks. This is one Eurobox feature should have not made its way into the Ford product line - IMO.

Screwdriver

 

I like it. It's easy to get to. Takes 1/2 a second to drop or lower it.

 

Im with Fatboy0103.

"Quote" it sucks.
But im stuck with it.I will have to make do.

Mike

 

So if I understand the problem is it's not sprung?
Hmm I didn't notice during a test drive. I would find it awkward to drive with the wheel between my legs, so I guess this won't be problem for me. I got the power pedals option because that way I can have the seat exactly where I want relative to the wheel, and still reach the pedals at 5'8".

 

This new design feels like the last rental car I drove...

Quote from my previous post below:

4. Who made this idiotic change? Having driven Fords for years, this will take a lot of getting used to. I really hate this new style. I often use the steering wheel (instead of the grab handles) for support getting in and out. It used to be a simple two step process. Step one, get in vehicle, pull lever, pull wheel down, let go. Voila it locked in place. Step two, pull lever, let wheel go up, voila it locked in place. Now you have to unlock lever, pull wheel to desired position, relock lever, then unlock lever to raise the wheel. If you fail to relock it, it will come crashing down should you grab it getting in or out. Yes this design allows for infinite positions, but come on, realistically one of the four positions offered by the previous design worked for fine.

 

To me , the concept behind this design is good , as you have multiple places to position the wheel , but the process to use it is too time consuming and cumbersom. For myself, the upper limit is too low, and the lower way lower than I can see anyone using. This feature of my new truck is one I don't mention to anyone asking about the truck!

 

IMO, the tilt is excellent. I'm new to Ford, so I can't say that I ever got used to it any other way. I can say that I had 7 Volkswagens prior to buying my '04 F-150, and all of them had the same type of maunual (non-spring loaded) tilt. Like anything I think you just have to get used to it for a while.

 

55Ford, I agree that the upper limit is too low, but I'd like it to go
even lower(bottom of wheel almost touching my knees like those
old 70's T-Birds, Marks, & Corvette's used to do). I also don't think that Ford needs to copy VW's and other foreign designs for the all new F150. While I like the power tilt/telescope wheels on the new TB, LS, and other foreign vehicles, none of them have sufficient travel top or bottom.