Fleet XL w/o bed pics and question

[07XLT]

My local dealer had this fleet XL without a bed on site and I took a closer look at it. What is this module on top of the gas tank?
Also a pic of the wiring for the tow package as well.
The spare rim looks pretty nice!

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[FULLSCALE]

That looks like the fuel vapor canister.

 

[07XLT]

That would certainly make sense! thanks

 

[HenryMac]

(2) questions come to mind for me.

1) Why does Ford mount the spare tire so you can't check the air pressure from under the truck, and,
2) Why is the spare an aluminum wheel and not a steel wheel?

 

[RedlandRanger]

(2) questions come to mind for me.

1) Why does Ford mount the spare tire so you can't check the air pressure from under the truck, and,
2) Why is the spare an aluminum wheel and not a steel wheel?

I can't answer #1, but for #2, it seems as if it is a mixture of aluminum and steel wheel spares. Not sure if there is a pattern to it or not. I have a Lariat and have a steel wheel spare.

 

[P. A. Schilke]

(2) questions come to mind for me.

1) Why does Ford mount the spare tire so you can't check the air pressure from under the truck, and,
2) Why is the spare an aluminum wheel and not a steel wheel?

Hi Henry,

!. Someone pointed out in another thread that the way the spare is mounted provides more ground clearance...Not sure about this though

2. The only reason I can think of for the aluminum spare is to keep certain vehicles in a lower emission Inertia weight class as the Aluminum wheel is more costly.

best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

 

[HenryMac]

I can't answer #1, but for #2, it seems as if it is a mixture of aluminum and steel wheel spares. Not sure if there is a pattern to it or not. I have a Lariat and have a steel wheel spare.

I have an XL, my spare has a steel rim. The OP's photo is also an XL fleet truck, but that's aluminum. Maybe it's whatever they happen to have laying around

Hi Henry,

!. Someone pointed out in another thread that the way the spare is mounted provides more ground clearance...Not sure about this though

2. The only reason I can think of for the aluminum spare is to keep certain vehicles in a lower emission Inertia weight class as the Aluminum wheel is more costly.

best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

"A lower emission inertia weight class" what does the spare tire have to do with that?

I could see a case being made for the (4) wheels on the vehicle, but the spare? A stock XL has steel wheels, not aluminum.

 

[Johnpenn]

Hi Henry,

!. Someone pointed out in another thread that the way the spare is mounted provides more ground clearance...Not sure about this though

2. The only reason I can think of for the aluminum spare is to keep certain vehicles in a lower emission Inertia weight class as the Aluminum wheel is more costly.

best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

It certainly protects the valve stem but I think the tire ground clearance is the same either way. Everything is still higher than the bottom of the trailer hitch receiver. I guess Ford might consider the stem to be the most vulnerable part to random road debris.

My Lariat has a 17" steel wheel for the spare even though the other 4 are 18" aluminum. At least they're all about the same tire outside diameter.

 

[P. A. Schilke]

I have an XL, my spare has a steel rim. The OP's photo is also an XL fleet truck, but that's aluminum. Maybe it's whatever they happen to have laying around


"A lower emission inertia weight class" what does the spare tire have to do with that?

Re emissions...ITWC has great impact on emission and fuel economy. Suggest you read up on the Federal Test Procedure.

best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

 

[Floyd]

Turns out that my STX has an Aluminum 16" spare with 17" wheels on the ground.
As for access to the valve stem...
It might be a good thing to exercise the spare mechanism and maybe lube it when you check the air pressure, anyway.
You would sure think that at least the XL would have a matching cheap steel wheel with a matching tire so it could be rotated to the ground. It would sure be a plus for fleet applications.

 

[HenryMac]

Re emissions...ITWC has great impact on emission and fuel economy. Suggest you read up on the Federal Test Procedure.

best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

Ok, I'll play along. What is ITWC?

But we're getting off track here. And I'd still like to know what you think an aluminum spare tire has to do with emissions?

Again, we're not talking about the tires and wheels on the 4 corners of the vehicle... we are talking about a non-matching spare tire on a base level XL pickup with steel wheels.

 

[Ranger Danger]

I have an XL, my spare has a steel rim. The OP's photo is also an XL fleet truck, but that's aluminum. Maybe it's whatever they happen to have laying around


"A lower emission inertia weight class" what does the spare tire have to do with that?

I could see a case being made for the (4) wheels on the vehicle, but the spare? A stock XL has steel wheels, not aluminum.

I want to give you a chance here first, yet keep

It certainly protects the valve stem but I think the tire ground clearance is the same either way. Everything is still higher than the bottom of the trailer hitch receiver. I guess Ford might consider the stem to be the most vulnerable part to random road debris.

My Lariat has a 17" steel wheel for the spare even though the other 4 are 18" aluminum. At least they're all about the same tire outside diameter.

My Ranger Lariat has a 255/70R16 tire spare and its aluminum (verified with a magnet). Stock tires are 265/60R 18’s

 

[Rod f.]

here's my thoughts;
- aluminum wheel because they were out of steel ones.
- spare mounted upside down to limit amount of the exposed steel cable to the elements/better ground clearance with that bracket up and out of the way

 

[P. A. Schilke]

Ok, I'll play along. What is ITWC?

But we're getting off track here. And I'd still like to know what you think an aluminum spare tire has to do with emissions?

Again, we're not talking about the tires and wheels on the 4 corners of the vehicle... we are talking about a non-matching spare tire on a base level XL pickup with steel wheels.

As I said, Familiarize yourself with the Emission Test Proceedure. ITWC is Inertia Test Weight Category. It is a dyno setting for a vehicle undergoing Emission testing. The higher the setting based on Vehicle Weight...impacts category for which emission testing performance is conducted as the vehicle has to "work" harder. From where did you get your engineering degree?

best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

 

[HenryMac]

As I said, Familiarize yourself with the Emission Test Proceedure. ITWC is Inertia Test Weight Category. It is a dyno setting for a vehicle undergoing Emission testing. The higher the setting based on Vehicle Weight...impacts category for which emission testing performance is conducted as the vehicle has to "work" harder. From where did you get your engineering degree?

best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

I made a living as a Mechanical Engineer designing ASME Pressure Vessels, mostly for the rendering industry.... no emissions testing required.

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