bkm
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I would like to explain my experience in ordering a 2021 F-150 Lariat. I apologize for the length but I think this “good news” story is worth sharing. The F150Gen14 forum has been extremely helpful in understanding the Special Order process.
On March 31, 2021, I placed an order, with my local dealer, for a 2021 F-150 Lariat 501A (145” SuperCrew 4x4, 5.0L with Co-Pilot Assist 2.0, 360° Camera, Built-in Nav, Chrome Pkg, Pwr Trailer Mirrors, Pwr Tailgate and Fold-flat, lockable storage.
I waited about two weeks before contacting my dealer for an update. I asked whether they had an order number and VIN? The sales manager sent me an email showing the order number and VIN as well as a projected build week of May 17th.
I began the process of checking the “F-150 Tracker” multiple times a day and nothing seemed to happen through the rest of April and into May. On May 12th. the Tracker status changed from “In order processing” to “In production” and showed an estimated end date of May 30th. I took this as positive news but tried to not get too excited because other members on the forum found that posted dates could be very tentative. I printed the window sticker which showed a blend date of May 17th. About this time, the web site that claims to be an “authority” on news about our favorite truck manufacturer began guaranteeing that the Dearborn Truck Plant was going into shut down for the weeks of the 17th and 24th. I tried not to get too disappointed because no one else was reporting these shut downs.
On Monday morning of the 17th, I noticed that the F-150 Tracker populated the production date with May 17th. I thought this was positive and refreshed the tracker every hour for the rest of the day. Monday evening the Tracker showed that the truck was completed.
On Tuesday the 18th I noticed that the F-150 Tracker showed that my truck was “In transit”. I assumed that this meant that it had left the factory and was heading to the yard where they build the loads for the car haulers. Everything seemed to be falling into place. I checked the Palsapp Tracker and it showed a freight invoice number for my truck.
On Wednesday morning the 19th I got up early to head into town to get groceries, About 7:30 AM, while getting ready to leave, the tracker reported that my truck has been delivered. I was still under the impression that it was heading for the marshalling yard. When I finished shopping, I thought that I would drive by my local Ford dealer before heading home. As I drove down the street, I could see a car hauler parked in their lot. My curiosity was piqued. When I pulled into the lot, I realized that the driver was just tying down a load of used vehicles before hitting the road again. I looked to my left and there was a brand new kodiak brown Lariat with chrome package and tow mirrors. I parked and walked over to check the VIN on the window sticker... It was my truck!
From a Monday morning “blend date”, my truck was built by Monday evening and shipped on Tuesday. It made the 350 mile trip north on I-75 and was unloaded before the dealership opened for business on Wednesday morning.
After taking a few pictures, I called the sales manager from my old truck parked in front of their showroom (We are still under a Covid lock down and the dealership is open by appointment only.) I said that I really liked my new truck so far. He said they haven't even had a chance to go out and verify which vehicles were in the shipment. I assured him that the VIN on the window sticker of the Lariat was mine. I also told him that I had been tracking its progress at the factory and received a message this morning telling me my truck was delivered. I went into the dealership later in the day to sign some papers and they said that they could have it prepped for Thursday the 20th but I said that I needed a day to empty my 2016 XLT trade-in. We agreed to make the switch on Friday morning.
So the moral of this story is, despite all of the bad news about parts shortages and plant shut downs, sometimes “all of the stars align” and a new F-150 arrives nearly two weeks early. I am a happy camper!
I want to send a special thank you to the awesome employees at the Dearborn Truck Plant as well as 427CobraJet & all of the other forum members who keep us informed from the time that we “sign on the dotted line” to when we are “handed the keys to our new Ford.”
Here's a photo of my 1949 Ford 8N tractor, that still earns its keep plowing snow and doing yard work, with its new sibling, my 2021 F-150 Lariat. FUN FACT... They were both built by the awesome Ford employees in Dearborn, Michigan.
On March 31, 2021, I placed an order, with my local dealer, for a 2021 F-150 Lariat 501A (145” SuperCrew 4x4, 5.0L with Co-Pilot Assist 2.0, 360° Camera, Built-in Nav, Chrome Pkg, Pwr Trailer Mirrors, Pwr Tailgate and Fold-flat, lockable storage.
I waited about two weeks before contacting my dealer for an update. I asked whether they had an order number and VIN? The sales manager sent me an email showing the order number and VIN as well as a projected build week of May 17th.
I began the process of checking the “F-150 Tracker” multiple times a day and nothing seemed to happen through the rest of April and into May. On May 12th. the Tracker status changed from “In order processing” to “In production” and showed an estimated end date of May 30th. I took this as positive news but tried to not get too excited because other members on the forum found that posted dates could be very tentative. I printed the window sticker which showed a blend date of May 17th. About this time, the web site that claims to be an “authority” on news about our favorite truck manufacturer began guaranteeing that the Dearborn Truck Plant was going into shut down for the weeks of the 17th and 24th. I tried not to get too disappointed because no one else was reporting these shut downs.
On Monday morning of the 17th, I noticed that the F-150 Tracker populated the production date with May 17th. I thought this was positive and refreshed the tracker every hour for the rest of the day. Monday evening the Tracker showed that the truck was completed.
On Tuesday the 18th I noticed that the F-150 Tracker showed that my truck was “In transit”. I assumed that this meant that it had left the factory and was heading to the yard where they build the loads for the car haulers. Everything seemed to be falling into place. I checked the Palsapp Tracker and it showed a freight invoice number for my truck.
On Wednesday morning the 19th I got up early to head into town to get groceries, About 7:30 AM, while getting ready to leave, the tracker reported that my truck has been delivered. I was still under the impression that it was heading for the marshalling yard. When I finished shopping, I thought that I would drive by my local Ford dealer before heading home. As I drove down the street, I could see a car hauler parked in their lot. My curiosity was piqued. When I pulled into the lot, I realized that the driver was just tying down a load of used vehicles before hitting the road again. I looked to my left and there was a brand new kodiak brown Lariat with chrome package and tow mirrors. I parked and walked over to check the VIN on the window sticker... It was my truck!
From a Monday morning “blend date”, my truck was built by Monday evening and shipped on Tuesday. It made the 350 mile trip north on I-75 and was unloaded before the dealership opened for business on Wednesday morning.
After taking a few pictures, I called the sales manager from my old truck parked in front of their showroom (We are still under a Covid lock down and the dealership is open by appointment only.) I said that I really liked my new truck so far. He said they haven't even had a chance to go out and verify which vehicles were in the shipment. I assured him that the VIN on the window sticker of the Lariat was mine. I also told him that I had been tracking its progress at the factory and received a message this morning telling me my truck was delivered. I went into the dealership later in the day to sign some papers and they said that they could have it prepped for Thursday the 20th but I said that I needed a day to empty my 2016 XLT trade-in. We agreed to make the switch on Friday morning.
So the moral of this story is, despite all of the bad news about parts shortages and plant shut downs, sometimes “all of the stars align” and a new F-150 arrives nearly two weeks early. I am a happy camper!
I want to send a special thank you to the awesome employees at the Dearborn Truck Plant as well as 427CobraJet & all of the other forum members who keep us informed from the time that we “sign on the dotted line” to when we are “handed the keys to our new Ford.”
Here's a photo of my 1949 Ford 8N tractor, that still earns its keep plowing snow and doing yard work, with its new sibling, my 2021 F-150 Lariat. FUN FACT... They were both built by the awesome Ford employees in Dearborn, Michigan.
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