Why am I writing an article on an F-150 Police Responder you can’t buy? Well, it’s good to know how capable they are in case you find yourself in a police chase someday.
If you aren’t the type of person who might end up in a police chase, it is still interesting to know what manufacturers can include but never do on normal civilian vehicles.
F-150 Police Responder Engine and Transmission
The new police truck from Ford is based on the redesigned 2021 F-150. The same 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 can be found under the hood, although, with more power.
The 2021 version of the engine produces 400HP and 500lb-ft and that’s not just for police vehicles.
Ford’s 10-speed auto takes care of shifting, while officers take care of their morning donut – or morning duty, that’s also important.
Ford also included their torque-on-demand transfer case. This allows the driver to use 4WD automatic mode which keeps the truck in 2WD on the pavement but can automatically shift power to the front wheels when more grip is needed.
This system is also available on the Raptor and the more expensive versions of the normal F-150.
F-150 Police Responder Tires
Perhaps one of the biggest upgrades the F-150 Police Responder has is the tires. Ford teamed up with Goodyear to produce the Enforcer Wranglers. These are special versions of the normal wranglers that maximize on-road and off-road grip while also having a higher top speed rating.
Police F-150s can reach a max speed of 120MPH thanks to these new tires. This might not sound like much – but for a pickup truck, it is impressive.
To put it into perspective, a RAM TRX is limited to 118MPH and a normal F150 to 105MPH.
So, there’s no getting away from the police in your RAM TRX – or maybe there is.
Interior of the F-150 Police Responder
A pickup truck can make a great base for a police vehicle. It’s durable and there is plenty of space inside for equipment. They also have great payload and can tow everything police officers need to tow.
Payload numbers for the F-150 patrol vehicle come in at 2030 pounds while towing comes in at 11200 pounds.
On the inside, there is a steel console on which many police accessories can be mounted to. A console delete option is also available, this allows police departments to put their own equipment inside the truck.
Learn More:
Exterior and Suspension
Of course, the exterior of the police responder is distinctive. The color skim, push bar, sirens and lights let you know that this is a patrol vehicle.
The undercarriage is protected with steel skid plates, the suspension is specially tuned, and a rear locker is also available as the truck is based on the FX4 package.
The F-150 Police Responder is Pursuit-Rated
What does pursuit-rated mean? Police departments have to test these vehicles before they purchase them. Testing happens at the Los Angeles Police Department and Michigan State Police. It includes track tests, acceleration, and being able to run over curbs.
All vehicles that pass these tests are considered pursuit-rated and are therefore worthy for the police department to depend on.
Additional Features of the Ford F-150 Patrol Vehicle
Some additional electronics that can only be found on the police version of the F-150 are also available.
These give the driver the choice to disable collision warning and driver assists. This is done to stop the truck from braking by itself in the event of a chase in which the police truck will be inches from the vehicle in front.
I am sure you know that police vehicles are rarely switched off. Ford has thought about that as well and included a button called police engine run mode.
This enables officers to leave the truck running while the ignition is off and the truck locked.
So, Will You Be Able to Outrun the Police?
Well, it depends on your vehicle, and this being an overlanding page I imagine it is a painfully slow 20-year-old truck with the handling abilities of a wheelie bin. So, no you can’t.
But why am I making this conversation? You should never get yourself in a police chase. We all make mistakes though; so, if you do – don’t use an overlanding rig.
What do you think of the new Police Responder F-150?