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Ford F-750 Tonka Truck


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Gotta admit, that is one eye-catching set up....and that is the intent of the display....great job Ford.

 

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TT- agree it is eye catching. My point (and I think 7m3's as well??) is anyone who is a fleet guy with any seniority in the business will view this as less than a positive statement as to just what this truck is.

 

A positive statement? Again from the "Old days" which fleet guys will remember......"It's part of the language...Built like a Mack"

 

I guess those who support this marketing tool will say....."yes, Tonka built solid sand box toys". And guess what, I know from my grandson's collections, the Tonka of Mound Minnesota is long gone.

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I view this as a marketing tool, sort of a "hey, look at me - I am still here" statement. Hopefully it will at least get Ford's target audience for the F650/750 to take notice. Now, for this to be really effective Tonka should be adding a toy version of this to their lineup.

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Anyone who views this as "less than positive" is an idiot.

You have a way with words my friend. And how many trucks have you bought in your lifetime? Are you active in trucking or have contacts in the industry that you interact with on a regular basis?

 

I doubt it very much.

 

I view this as a marketing tool, sort of a "hey, look at me - I am still here" statement. Hopefully it will at least get Ford's target audience for the F650/750 to take notice. Now, for this to be really effective Tonka should be adding a toy version of this to their lineup.

 

 

Ifeg- Appreciate your view -you might be right. My fear? If I'm a Hino, F'liner, International or Paccar marketing guy I'm pleased that Ford has chosen to align its marketing campaign with a Tonka toy..........My comment to my customer when he says he is shopping me against an F-750?...You mean you are comparing my truck to a Tonka toy"!!!

 

If the typical 650/750 buyer is a yuppie who is upgrading his 150 boat/wife's horse hauler, it is a great campaign. If the buyer is a business owner and he is worried about a rugged quality product or worried about what his employees think abut the truck they drive, different image. Ever wonder why Paccar does as well as they do in class 7? A key piece of driver retention, and even more so, part of the driver retention issue other than an hourly wage, is what the driver spends his time in.

 

Again an opinion based on being around trucks and heavy equipment all my life.

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Really? You really think that potential buyers will be sitting there saying "oh man, they compared it to a Tonka toy, it must be a terrible product that compares to a toy." Really?

 

If they think that, they're taking the vehicle/brand tie up (for one display vehicle) waaaaay too seriously.

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Couple of things.

 

Bob, you are right on driver retention. Especially with CDL drivers. A bargaining chip is what they will be driving. Image is a part of it, but comfort and space are big items also. I see more than a few "CDL drivers wanted" ads that tout "a modern fleet" or a "brand x fleet' as one of the benefits, as are air ride seats. But this really only applies to the larger fleets. I think that Ford will be targeting the small fleets and 1 or 2 Class 6/7 truck fleets, especially those that spec their trucks to be just under the CDL limit. The Tonka tie up will get their attention at least.

 

rmc523, It is not so much a vehicle/brand tie up as it is marketing ploy. In the medium/heavy world reputation goes a long way, and being considered a "real" truck (think International, Freightliner, and such) built for commercial service is a marketing advantage. The Tonka tie up can give the competition another knock on Ford, as in "come on, can you take these guys seriously?". Also, especially with fleets, sales are based on relationships that have been built up over years. Relationships not just involving new vehicles, but parts, service, and getting problems resolved with as little disruption as possible. People responsible for commercial truck fleet purchases are a relatively small and sometimes close knit community who often do not like "different".

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You can't get a higher quality toy truck than a Tonka.

 

 

The impact of the Tonka truck concept has been enduring and pervasive, especially the Mighty Dump Truck and associated "Mighty" line of construction equipment models introduced from 1964. The all-metal "Tonka Trucks" were sold throughout the world and earned a reputation as being indestructible

 

 

“From Generation Z to the Greatest Generation, Ford and Tonka continue to set the standards for tough trucks,” said John Ruppert, general manager, Ford commercial vehicle sales and marketing. “People of all ages have been counting on Ford F-Series and Tonka trucks to get the job done -- from construction site to sandbox -- for more than 60 years.”

 

 

I'll trust that Ruppert knows more about what his buyers want to buy than any of us do.

 

And this is just a simple show vehicle designed to draw attention. They're not actually selling these on the lot.

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You can't get a higher quality toy truck than a Tonka.

 

 

 

 

I'll trust that Ruppert knows more about what his buyers want to buy than any of us do.

 

And this is just a simple show vehicle designed to draw attention. They're not actually selling these on the lot.

I think that's the key point

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I guess those who support this marketing tool will say....."yes, Tonka built solid sand box toys". And guess what, I know from my grandson's collections, the Tonka of Mound Minnesota is long gone.

 

The Tonka trucks that any serious fleet buyer grew up with were the most rugged toys you could ever buy. That's what they're going after here.

 

And again - I'll trust Ruppert to know his customers far better than any of us.

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Exactly. And no vehicle manufacturer has a more comprehensive fleet program than Ford.

 

If Ford's fleet sales department sees no issue with this, I expect there will be no issue with this. Buyers who would flat out refuse to consider a Ford will use this as an excuse to dump on Ford, but then Ford wasn't going to get their business anyway.

 

Buyers on the fence who can be swayed by a competing sales rep saying, "Look, a big toy truck" when the F650/750 is cost competitive are idiots.

 

And everyone else should have the sense to see this for what it is: A publicity stunt.

 

especially with fleets, sales are based on relationships that have been built up over years

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Couple of things.

 

Bob, you are right on driver retention. Especially with CDL drivers. A bargaining chip is what they will be driving. Image is a part of it, but comfort and space are big items also. I see more than a few "CDL drivers wanted" ads that tout "a modern fleet" or a "brand x fleet' as one of the benefits, as are air ride seats. But this really only applies to the larger fleets. I think that Ford will be targeting the small fleets and 1 or 2 Class 6/7 truck fleets, especially those that spec their trucks to be just under the CDL limit. The Tonka tie up will get their attention at least.

 

rmc523, It is not so much a vehicle/brand tie up as it is marketing ploy. In the medium/heavy world reputation goes a long way, and being considered a "real" truck (think International, Freightliner, and such) built for commercial service is a marketing advantage. The Tonka tie up can give the competition another knock on Ford, as in "come on, can you take these guys seriously?". Also, especially with fleets, sales are based on relationships that have been built up over years. Relationships not just involving new vehicles, but parts, service, and getting problems resolved with as little disruption as possible. People responsible for commercial truck fleet purchases are a relatively small and sometimes close knit community who often do not like "different".

Ifeg- again appreciate your comments-although I would say equipment choice does matter even in certain class 6 and 7 applications. Employers may not be too selective when it comes to a non-cdl driving job and you are delivering groceries or furniture, but running a Hazmat class 6/7 (propane, HH fuel oil) or a ramp truck/hook lift or a dump pulling a tag trailer carrying a TLB that requires a class A, the bar does get raised. Like I say, with Ford at a bit over 6% of class 7, F'liners at 46.6% International at 27% and Paccar at 16.63% there are plenty of class 7 fleets that make a purchasing decision on other than price.

 

As to your comment directed to rmc523, agree 100% And for sure, MATURE- do I dare use that word? -fleet buyers are NOT going to be making a decision NOT to purchase a Ford because of the Tonka connection, but my point has been ...Why? When you are struggling with 6% market share, when you have people that are still pissed about being left at the altar when you abandoned class 7 and 8 in 1998-should probably add class 6 to that as well- you want to be doing everything you can to build your image as a serious player- but I'm sure I will not convince those here who thinks Ford can do no wrong. I myself call it..attention to detail!

 

Exactly. And no vehicle manufacturer has a more comprehensive fleet program than Ford.

 

If Ford's fleet sales department sees no issue with this, I expect there will be no issue with this. Buyers who would flat out refuse to consider a Ford will use this as an excuse to dump on Ford, but then Ford wasn't going to get their business anyway.

 

Buyers on the fence who can be swayed by a competing sales rep saying, "Look, a big toy truck" when the F650/750 is cost competitive are idiots.

 

And everyone else should have the sense to see this for what it is: A publicity stunt.

 

Well Richard, I would like to have you elaborate just what Ford has for a fleet program that makes it so comprehensive? And I'm assuming you have access to the Fleet-Ford website? You get a warm and fuzzy feeling when you check out the specs? When you get into the engineering details? And by the way, have you ever gone to F'liner's website or say Hino's or Paccar? Check them out and tell then tell me who gives you a good education on their product.

 

Unfortunately, I don't share your enthusiasm and confidence you have as evidenced by your statement .."if Ford's fleet sales department has no issue with this, I expect there will be no issue.."

 

For sure-its not a problem-unless it comes from this old guy who is every bit as loyal to Ford as you (as evidenced by the five Ford vehicles in my barn and garage as well as the amount of Ford stock I have invested in) but unfortunately does not look at this web site always with the thought that Ford can do no wrong. :)

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By the way RJ, Ford claims superiority in commercial truck market share class 1 to 7. Care to guess where Ford is when you take class 1 and 2 out?

 

Doesn't really matter. Ford's not looking to sell the 650/750 to people who are operating huge Class 6/7 fleets. They're looking to sell these trucks to customers with whom they have existing relationships.

 

And yes, Ford has a pretty crappy fleet website, but that doesn't seem to have impacted sales all that much. It could stand to be better, sure, but improving that website should be a pretty low priority, IMO.

 

Finally, I stand by my assertion that Ford's marketing people know their customers better than you do. This truck's carrying a quarter-million mile warranty on the engine. I doubt that a concept that looks like a toy is going to scare away anyone with an ounce of common sense.

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Apparently, also 250,000 miles:

 

The F-650/F-750 6.7-liter Power Stroke and commercial-grade six-speed TorqShift® HD automatic transmission have been developed and tested for medium-duty applications. The powertrain offers an unsurpassed five-year/250,000-mile limited warranty.

 

http://www.at.ford.com/news/cn/Pages/All-New%20Ford%20F-650F-750%20Diesel%20Will%20Provide%20Best-in-Class%20Standard%20Horsepower%20and%20Torque.aspx

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You have a way with words my friend. And how many trucks have you bought in your lifetime? Are you active in trucking or have contacts in the industry that you interact with on a regular basis?

 

I doubt it very much.

 

 

 

Ifeg- Appreciate your view -you might be right. My fear? If I'm a Hino, F'liner, International or Paccar marketing guy I'm pleased that Ford has chosen to align its marketing campaign with a Tonka toy..........My comment to my customer when he says he is shopping me against an F-750?...You mean you are comparing my truck to a Tonka toy"!!!

 

If the typical 650/750 buyer is a yuppie who is upgrading his 150 boat/wife's horse hauler, it is a great campaign. If the buyer is a business owner and he is worried about a rugged quality product or worried about what his employees think abut the truck they drive, different image. Ever wonder why Paccar does as well as they do in class 7? A key piece of driver retention, and even more so, part of the driver retention issue other than an hourly wage, is what the driver spends his time in.

 

Again an opinion based on being around trucks and heavy equipment all my life.

 

Not in the heavy truck business but from what I've seen on the road maybe Ford should have put 200 little amber and red lights on it 200 pounds of chrome and one of these classy things on the door.

 

1000x1000.jpg

 

Lighten up, just joking.

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Why can't this just be cool little add stunt to reflect on our childhoods and vibe on some nostalgic feelings?

 

If it achieves a little smile, some positive memories, and reminds people that Ford is out there and ready for business, I think that's a success.

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