2004 Ford F-150 FX4

A Hardy Pickup is always a welcome addition to our long-term test fleet. Not only does it offer capability that other vehicles don't but, unlike the barebones utilitarian trucks of the past, a modern pickup is a nice place to spend long hours. The F-150's interior epitomizes that philosophy: Materials are eye pleasing and high quality, leather is soft to the touch, and noise dramatically reduced for the 2004 model. Our FX4 long-termer, which joined the fleet in honor of the F-150's win as 2004 Truck of the Year, came with an Audiophile sound system with six-disc changer and captain's chairs.

Stepping up into the SuperCrew brought positive first impressions that this modern, chiseled interior has advanced the design of all half- and three-quarter-ton interiors. In other words: Its cabin layout wowed those who climbed aboard.

The seats may be compliant and the climate control responsive (even in scorching desert heat), but the true test was how this short-bed half-ton performed on the job. Stints to and from the office revealed one side of this truck: The three-valve 5.4-liter V-8 didn't feel like it had enough juice at freeway speeds and lacked gusto when passing on a two-lane road; the transmission didn't make the best use of the engine's power; and driving the F-150 unloaded, with the recommended 40 psi in each tire, made for a gut-jiggling experience on all but the most forgiving Southern California highways. It has to be presumed the recommended pressure was based on a fully loaded bed. Once seven psi of air was taken out of the tires, the ride became much nicer. The new exterior design brought a taller bed with increased cargo volume, and with it more difficulty seeing behind the truck. Happy to say, our long-termer came with the optional reverse-sensing system, which several editors felt should be standard equipment.

The other side of the F-150's personality, though, quickly became clear: It's built to work, and its ride noticeably improves when it's hauling. Truck Trend editor Mark Williams observed that adding 1000 pounds of payload to the bed helped settle the rear end and greatly improve handling. In addition, the half-ton impressed with its outstanding chassis and frame. The F-Series proved tight and quiet, and nary a shudder was felt. Solid build, highly capable shift-on-the-fly four-wheel-drive system, skidplates, and durable frame and suspension equipped the truck for workaday activity. Ford included essentials that made lugging cargo easier, including several tie-down hooks in the cargo area and a standard tailgate-assist feature. Close this tailgate with one hand and no struggle, and you'll never want to go back to the old way.