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When it comes to automotive trade shows, it’s about showcasing your newest and best-selling products. It’s not different for TITAN Fuel Tanks. What some companies can do at these shows are bringing in a vehicle or display that uses said parts. Some of these displays may not be that exciting but that is where TITAN was different.
We’ve recently chatted with Mike DeFord, Marketing Manager for TITAN Fuel Tanks, and discussed their project for the 2019 SEMA Show. A 2019 Ford F-150 with the 3.0-Liter Power Stroke powerplant was the truck of choice. Where did this come from, though?
TITAN’s off-road-ready F-150. It uses the rare 3.0-liter Power Stroke diesel V6.
“Our Regional Sales Manager, Albon Smith, has been an avid motorcycle rider since he was a little boy. Over the years, this turned into an obsession and his flavor of this obsession is trail riding. It’s an intense form of dirt bike riding over giant and very technical obstacles with specifically built and prepared bikes,” DeFord said.
“As his obsession became more intense, Albon needed a larger truck than the Ford Ranger that he was using. It had to be a tough truck, something to handle the off-road abuse, as well as the Beta motorcycles that Albon rides. Being a diehard Ford guy, he wanted to move into something bigger. He wanted a truck with more power, more space, and more comfort.”
You never know what scenery you're going to face. You had better have a truck that can get you in and out of there. TITAN's Albon Smith made the move from Ranger to F-150 so he could fit bigger bikes in the back.
As you know, Ford’s newest edition of the F-150 came outfitted with the 3.0-Liter Power Stroke, which means it is certainly bigger than Albon’s current truck. Plus, it definitely has more power. “This couldn’t have come at a better time, as we were releasing our extra-large fuel tanks for these trucks,” DeFord said.
TITAN’s fuel tank (above) holds 48 gallons of fuel. Compare to the 26 gallons of the OEM fuel tank, it’s almost double the fuel capacity.
“We reached out to to our best marketing partners about their interest in being involved with the truck and having it at SEMA in 2019 and everyone quickly rose to the opportunity,” continued Deford. “The goal for the build was to create a truck that could get Albon into the backcountry without any hesitation.”
When you’re wanting something off-road-capable, your first stop is the suspension. TITAN relied on BDS Suspension for the complete suspension package. The kit they used provided more ground clearance, but where it really shines in the rough, nasty terrain. The suspension absorbs every bump the truck faces with the ride quality of a Cadillac. Imagine a silky-smooth ride and still have the capability of climbing over large rocks like Albon’s trail bikes.
No matter what side you could see best, this F-150 had some of the best add-ons the industry had to offer.
With the suspension working as it should, now it was down to choosing a tire that could handle the off-road abuse. For TITAN, the choice was easy. The late Mickey Thompson Baja Claw was the obvious choice as they provide maximum grip and traction which is exactly what they needed. Traction and clearance was covered. All that was left was a breath of fresh air for the 3.o-Liter Power Stroke engine.
Also, who doesn’t want a little more power? A K&N intake system and a Magnaflow exhaust were added to provide a little grunt and a mean, aggressive sound. This truck not only looks amazing; now, it’s performing and sounding great too.
To complete the capabilities of the truck on and off-road, a complete set of R1 brake rotors and pads were added to each corner of the truck. These days, the F-150 easily handles the bikes and all of the gear that Albon needs on a riding trip, while also providing aggressive looks.
Other exterior add-ons include rock sliders and a bed and roof rack. The roof rack holds six G&G Off-Road lights, allowing maximum visibility at night or early morning on the trail. The racks also provide almost unlimited storage space for all of the riding gear, mounting locations for the Powertank air system, and locations to hook the Mac Tie Down straps.
Albon spends a lot of time behind the wheel traveling to riding spots. To make the truck a home away from home, an electric cooler was added, as well as a stereo enhancement from Kicker to kick out Albon’s favorite jams. Multiple Scosche mounts in the truck make it easy to sort through music.
Just like that, Albon has a truck that can safely rip through the trails and haul all of his stuff to the great outdoors. Even if those spots are way out there, this F-150 will go the distance with its extra-large fuel tank from TITAN. If you’re looking for a big tank for your truck, be sure and check out the TITAN Fuel Tanks website here.
What are your thoughts on this F-150 build? Where would you take this truck to test it out? Let us know in the comments below.
