Ruge's Ford
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Three Ways The F-150 XLT Will Make Your Drive Better Than Ever
September 18 2024 - Lisa Cook

A red 2024 Ford F-150 XLT Heritage Edition towing a boat out of a lake.

The Ford F-150 is one of the most popular full-size, light-duty trucks on the market, which is why we see so many drivers seeking a Ford F-150 for sale in Rhinebeck. It's got awesome towing and payload capabilities, tons of great tech, and a comfortable cabin. If you're considering the various trims, the XLT might catch your eye—and it should.

The F-150 XLT promises great capability and a comfortable ride. There are lots of great features that ensure the F-150 XLT makes good on its promise. It could easily appeal to different drivers, including parents, professionals, and adventurers. Today, however, we're going to focus on the top three features of the F-150 XLT that we think really make the days of working professionals like contractors and builders easier and more enjoyable. Let's take a look!

BlueCruise Hands-Free Driving

If you spend plenty of hours on Route 9 every day, then your commutes could begin to tire you out. Drivers who tackle this highway during rush hour traffic can find it particularly exhausting, because of the constant maneuvers like switching between the gas and brake, and maintaining your lane. That's why we love that the XLT has BlueCruise, Ford's hands-free driving system. This terrific system builds on intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control with stop-and-go and lane centering, as well as speed sign recognition. So, once you set the speed, it's going to automatically adjust your speed while slowing to keep a safe following distance from vehicles in your path. It can come to a complete stop if the vehicle in front of you does so and will accelerate again when it senses the vehicle in front of you has moved ahead. And it's already monitoring lane markers to keep you centered.

So, what does the available BlueCruise add? Well, it's specifically made for freeway driving, and it allows you to remove your hands from the wheel when activated. BlueCruise can accelerate, brake, and steer for you. You can't completely check out, though. A driver-facing camera monitors your eye and head movements, and a driver alert will notify you if you take your eyes off the road. In the meantime, so long as you stay alert and travel on one of the over 130,000 miles of US and North American roads compatible with BlueCruise, the system will take over steering, braking, and accelerating for you.

It can even make hands-free lane changes for you. Simply activate Lane Change Assist, and the system's sensors will scan for a gap in traffic in the lane next to you and make the lane change when it is safe to do so. If you aren't sure when you're in a BlueCruise-compatible zone, do not worry: the system will notify you. A blue light will appear on the digital instrument cluster when you're in a BlueCruise-compatible zone. So, the second you're free to take a load off, you'll know.

A man using BlueCruise while sitting inside a 2024 Ford F-150 XLT.

Pro Trailer Backup Assist and Pro Trailer Hitch Assist

No matter how many years of experience you may have lining a trailer up to your hitch or navigating a truck with a trailer attached, these will always be some of the trickiest maneuvers for a truck driver. So, if your work in Dutchess County requires you to attach a variety of trailers to your truck regularly and maneuver with them in different settings, you'll appreciate Pro Trailer Backup Assist and Hitch Assist.

Pro Trailer Backup Assist is designed to make it easier to move in reverse with a trailer attached to your pickup. You'll use a knob to actually steer the trailer, taking your hands off the steering wheel (the truck will steer itself). The backup camera will also depict the trailer's position on your touchscreen so you can understand the direction in which it's traveling.

Pro Trailer Hitch Assist can completely take over the task of aligning your truck's hitch to a trailer. It uses computer vision and machine learning, along with a rear camera and corner radars, to understand the position of your hitch ball and trailer and take over steering, accelerating, and braking to align the two. The great thing is that your F-150 allows you to create profiles for multiple trailers by adding a few dimensions and details. So, you can indicate which trailer you're working with today when activating Pro Hitch or Pro Trailer Backup Assist. Even if you always have coworkers or friends nearby who are happy to help spot you in these tasks, human error can mean a lot of do-overs. You can find yourself in a driveway or in front of a port, backing up, pulling forward, and trying again on repeat. Get it in one try with Pro Trailer Backup Assist or Hitch Assist.

Pro Power Onboard, 2.4kW

Pro Power Onboard has had drivers buzzing ever since it came out. It turns your F-150 into its own self-contained power generator. Pro Power Onboard is available in a range of power levels, but for the XLT, you'll get the 2.4kW option when you choose the PowerBoost Hybrid V6 engine. And there's a lot that you can do with that 2.4kW of power in your pickup.

Pro Power Onboard 2.4kW can charge your mobile devices, so you'll never miss a call or disconnect on the road. It can also run a mini fridge, allowing you to keep fresh food and drinks on hand for your crew at a job site. It can also power a large TV, so if you want to enjoy a barbecue at the park while keeping an eye on the big game, you can do so. Just connect your laptop to the truck's Wi-Fi hotspot and stream it to the big screen.

It can also power large speakers, letting you bring the party with you wherever you go. So whether you want to have a dance party under the stars or blast tunes to keep your work crew energized, you can. Finally, you can power a coffee pot with this generator. So, you can power the appliance that powers you and your crew.

You never know what sort of power access you'll have (or won't have) when you travel to different job sites. So it's nice knowing that if wall outlets are limited or non-existent at a remote location, you can power the appliances that keep your day moving on your F-150.

A red 2024 Ford F-150 XLT parked off-road and angled left.

Test Drive the 2024 Ford F-150 XLT at Ruge's Ford Today

Now that you've gotten to know the XLT a little better, it's likely easy to see how it can make your work days more productive and even more enjoyable around Rhinebeck. We're proud to carry this beloved pickup from Ford, and we can't wait to show you the features we discussed above in person. You'll love how welcoming our team is and how much they know about each F-150 trim. Maybe the XLT is for you, but if you're curious about one of the other trims, we'd love to show them to you. We will take our time to understand what your day-to-day tasks look like and make tailored recommendations that help you reach your goals.

We've assisted hundreds of Rhinebeck drivers in getting not just a great truck but also a great finance package. Let our finance team create a lease or loan that complements your budget so you can enjoy a terrific truck on a payment plan that fits your lifestyle. We know that once you get to know the F-150, you'll see why it consistently tops sales charts. Our friendly, knowledgeable team is here and ready to get you in the F-150!

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