Ok so my mom is in the market for a truck. She is stuck between two trucks. A 2010 Ford Explorer 4x4. Then there is the amazingly awesome 2005 Ford F250 4x4 King Ranch 6.8L Triton V10 crew cab 4x4 is the second truck that I need some information on. I did some reasearch and it is saying that the 2005 triton v10 has a 3 valve engine. I am not familiar with theses I have only dealt with our 2002 F250 4x4 crew triton v10. What is the diffrence? Is this 2005 any good? They are asking $18,000 for it and it has low miles only 82,000. The truck is alot cheaper then the explorer but how good is it?
Trav

 

The 3 valve engines has a lot more power. Low miles for a v-10, and plenty of power for that truck also.

 

very reliable and a very nice truck! lots o power

 

ok so the truck has a K&N air filter and intake system on it. Plus dual pipes out the back with flowmaster loud exhaust on it. Is this going to hurt performance and gas milage. The 02 we have now is running an Airaid intake system and air filter with Banks exhaust and it is getting 17.5MPG hwy and 15MPG City. Is it going to be any diffrent. We are at a higher elvation as we are in the mountains so thats one reason we are getting good gas milage. The 2005 we are looking at has the same body style as the 2002 as we have yet a chrome grill (our 2002 has had a 2005 face lift black grill). Sounds clean and rides fine 4x4 works great. But with these options are they going to affect the peformance and gas milage on this 2005. I really need to be schooled on a 2005 style 6.8L as I have only been around the 2002 style 6.8Ls. Any info would work any problems what ever. I mean my family uses big trucks with big engine because we have 6 horses a whole bunch of dogs and plus we are rebuilding our house. Again I need schooled on theses engines I am pathetic when I looked under the hood of this thing. So far though you all are saying great engine.
P.S. no this isn't going to mean we are going to get rid of our 2002. My dad and me are going to use the 2002 while my mom and younger sister use this 2005 and my brothers using there 1989 F350 crew cab when we haul big loads like this summer starting the rebuild so probably all three trucks are going to be running back and forth getting building supplies.

 

the 3valve heads give more power and dont change the reliability of the V10. its a fantastic motor! some 3 valves 5.4 and 6.8 alike have issues with spark plugs breaking off in the head. it cant happen.

otherwise your looking at more power, a 5 speed auto!!!! and much nicer interior. you cant go wrong.

 

Ok well thats good about the reliabilty. If I am extremly careful changing the plugs do you think it won't happen to me or what. The plugs look like they were changed recently they look very clean and are motorcrafts. We are trying to close the deal on it but it is taking a while. I mean the truck is defeniatly worth $18000 with them miles. I haven't found a better deal yet. The loud pipes had my mom sold. The pipes out the back and luxury had my dad sold. And the Engine saying triton V10 had me sold. The other 3 family members were sold because it said "King Ranch" on it. I mean I am not a fan of big fancy trucks like the King Ranch but this one has me sold because I love the Triton V10 engine. I mean our 2002 is a lariat with cloth option but this is leather heated seats now thats big for our family thats like riding in a Caddilac for our family. I mean the V10s are a hard find up where I am because everybody wants them because of big loads. (in a small town with alot of ranches.)
Trav

 

Here are some pics of the truck we are looking at. It has a few scratches on the rear passanger door and cab. It also has a few dings in the tailgate. Sorry for the bad pictures they were taken off my mom's cell phone. Beauty isn't she. I love the Triton V10 symbol on it. The truck was has a radar sensor installed in it.





I love these pipes set up I am going to do this on my 1988. that is our 1986 rear part in the pic the 2002 couldn't get out in this mud.




Trav

 

No one has mentioned it, but the other benefit of moving of a 2005 and up gas engine is it comes w/ the Torqshift transmission (assuming it's an auto?) which is a lot more reliable than what's in your 2002. That said, some of the early 2005's had a bad snap ring on the reverse gear that could come loose and grenade the case. It was a short time frame but something to keep in mind.

Really don't think the intake and filter or exhaust will improve or hurt your milage, so that's a wash. The stock setup is really pretty good.

Another benefit this one might have is the "TowCommand" package, which if it's the King Ranch it probably has - it includes an integrated trailer brake contoller which works seamlessly w/ the truck's computer - basically modulates how much it applies to the trailer based on how much you're applying to the truck - no more trailer jerking the truck. A King Ranch should also include the upfitter switches which were new in 2005, gives you 4 integrated switches you can run any sort of aftermarket accessory on.

Also, as mentioned above, don't take the spark plugs lightly and I would want to know if they'd already been changed. They were a two piece plug and with the carbon build up they would stick in the head and if you weren't REALLY careful you could break them off in the head. The new design is a one piece plug and are supposed to be installed w/ antiseize to prevent the issue in the future. Ford's current TSB on it (08-7-6 i think) says to soak them in carb cleaner to loosen up that carbon buildup before even attempting to break them loose.

 

Ok I will keep those in mind. The truck we are looking at has all of those options. We were going to add a winch so it probably is good it has uplifter switches. It has tow command which is one thing I really thought was cool because we are constantly towing a 16ft flatbed trailer for our side jobs. Plus our horse trailer. The 2002 is for the boat because it seats 6.
Trav

 

All i can say is i have one its only has 56,500 miles on her and no issues at all im very happy withit.That being said you wont see 17 mpg i get 12. Ididnt buy it for gas milelage
I bought for the power and tranny. also a tuner is nice wake up for it.

 

oh we aren't completely worried about gas milage just wondering. Also we don't ever install tuners into our trucks we don't see the point it already hauls what we need.
Trav

 

Don't worry about buying that truck. (by the way could you tell me where it is located so I can buy it?)

 

I will once my family has it. . I can't tell you where the deal is then you are going to get it. I will if the delarship can't get us in though.
Trav

 

Look over in the V-10 forum if your worrying about the motor. My post is the one about 355,000. I now have 375,000+ on my V-10 with no problems. I sure hate they don't put them in the 250's anymore.

 

You have 375,000 miles. wow. we have only 131,000 on our 2002. Mainly because we have so many trucks we always drive one every day. I am mainly just wondering if it has any common problems it looks like there isn't to many. Now just waiting for them to approve us. Bad credit for my parents because of this economy. Hope we get in. If not it is the Explorer and not that a GMC Jimmy. At least I don't have to drive it if it is a GMC.
Trav