Im in the market for a new truck, sold my old 94 F250 5.8L 8ft reg cab and decided I dont really need a 3/4 ton anymore. Basically looking for an 05-08 3.73 geared, 5.4L x-cab 6.5ft bed, 4wd and Id really like to put a small lift on the front and slap some 32's or 33's all terrains on it with 16 or 17" wheels.

That being said I tow things alot, nothing insanely heavy-but enough that the V6 and 4.6L are not worth it, so 5.4L should do the job I hope vs my old 5.8L? At the most Id be towing 5000lbs every so often, but most of the time just a 6x12 trailer and some quads or something under 1000lbs usually.

Can the 3.73s be had easily or are they rare (specific axle code I should look for)? Would the 3.55s do or would I be sorry once I hooked up to a heavier load and the slightly larger tires?

What kinda mpg does everyone get city/hwy? Im about 40/60 city/hwy. 13-14mpg is ok, but at least 16-17 hwy would be nice...

Also I assume that by now they figured out the plug blowout problem? Ive replaced a few on trucks Ive worked on and had to use the lisle tool kit a few times and it wasnt fun. By 06 did they finally swap to the better plugs?

Also might be sacrilege around here, but what about a 5.3L silverado. I drive the 2500hd trucks for work and they are actually pretty good but man the mpg is POOR at like 10mpg everywhere, dang old 460 does that and has no modern junk lol. I heard the chevy gets good mpg, but then again I also hear they have horrible gears.

Lastly, how reliable are these trucks. My old F250 gave me no real issues besides stuff failing due to age and mileage.

Thoughts?

Thanks.

 

i'll throw out what i know, dont own a 04-08 but my grandpa has had a '04 lariat super crew 4x4 5.4 w/3:73s and i've driven it alot over the years. only issues we've have is rear axle seals and a seat motor..otherwise its been oil changes, brakes,battery normal maint stuff. hes got almost 70k on it now.

the 3V 5.4s did not have the plug spitting issue(which was fixed around 02 with more threads added to the heads 8 verses 4) but the plugs they used untill 08 i think had the exact opposite issue. the plugs will break off in the head when trying to remove. some luck out and dont break any but most break atleast one when trying to remove them. there is a updated plug so if they have already been changed great! if not something to think about.

about gearing, i think if your looking at 4x4's the possibility of finding 3:73s is much higher. i've seen more 3:73 trucks but that may be a regional thing...not sure.

other issues i've heard of but never seen personaly and i know a few people with 04-08's is window regulators, cam phasers on the 5.4's,spark plugs...others may be able to help with other common issues.

MPG we see about 12-14 city and 14-18 highway with a crew cab, 5.4, 3:73 truck. this can differ alot depending on your driving style and the area you drive..we have alot of hills/mountains.

good luck with your search! you will love these trucks i think, i've been around many PRE's and have a '91. the 04-up trucks ride and drive SO NICE compared to the older ones its amazing.

 

yea, I was talking about the plug issues and realized now that I re-read it I mixed both the blowout and breaking off stuff together. Both suck either way.

Generally Im a ford guy like I said, the ride must be super nice vs the old trucks-specially my F250 or my beater toyota. Guess Im gonna go out to a few dealers and try and find a used one and see. Wish they would let me hook up to a trailer or two lol.

 

I'm in Wyoming and just purchased a 2008 F-150 XLT 5.4L to replace a 1995 F-250 7.5L. 460 Gas Demon!
I was looking for - 2006-2008, Low miles, Long box (6.5') Super crew, 3:73 Gearing, Clean, No Smoker, with leather if possible!
What I got was 4 out of eight!
I finally found a 2008 with fairly low miles (69,000) very clean, non smoker, one owner, religiously serviced at the dealership, Super Crew - Long box, 3:55 Gears, and Cloth (XLT).

What I found in looking at about 400-600 trucks in four surrounding states, was - 1. Long Box 1/2 tons in good shape are about as rare as Mastodon's!
2. 3:73 gearing and Long Box 1/2 tons are just about as rare!
I've only had this truck about a week, the trip home after purchase was around 300 miles and VERY windy (imagine that in WY!) At an average of 75 mph, I got 15.5 mpg (I should mention this truck also has a topper)

I installed "Bilstein" 5100 Ride Height Adjustable, struts to the front to make it look like a real four wheel drive! So far that's all besides driving it.
I's a nice truck, rides nice, is comfortable and once I can stop the death stare at the fuel gauge, from owning a 460, I think I'll really like it!
This is the second Ford I have owned, I was always a radical GM follower, but the Ford's I have owned have given me impeccable service! and since I'm a "Right Wing Nut Job" I WILL NOT support GM any longer! (although I guess I support them through tax dollars!)
Here are the gearing codes, Good luck!

H9 — 3.55 limited slip (F-150, F-250)
B6 — 3.73 limited slip (F-150, F-250)

 

Thanks for the info Bragg! Buddy of mine had an 11 supercrew longbox and he told me he went to literally 10 dealers till he found a leftover like that! Id like the same truck but to me its just WAY to long. I dont understand the point of a 5ft bed either, to me if you want that you should go buy a subaru cause its nothing more than an open wagon lol.

 

Hi i have a 2007 extened cab 6.5 foot box with 5.4l, you won't be disapointed in the power compared to a 5.8l. I have 3.55 gears and i put bigger toyo mud terrains which are very heavey size 275 70 18's and at first i noticed the power loss but now it does fine, i get the milage others said even with my big heavey tires. I pull a bumper pull stock trailer which weighs about 4000 pounds and on the flat no wind i can forget its behind me at like 60mph. (trailer is a brick against the wind)

 

Thanks JW

Either way I think Ill be happy with whatever I get

 

When you get around to looking, when you are on a test drive just floor it and then try, just try to wipe the smile off your face. lol. I like you came out of a 92 f250 supercab to an 08 screw FX4 with a 5.4 and 3.73 gears. Just awesome.
I've leveled it and put 34 inch tires on it and it runs pretty good. Up here in Canada they have alot of 3.73 and 5.4 litre motors but the short box mostly with the screw and 6.5 box with the scab. Good luck and happy motoring when you get your truck!