Hi All,

I am in the marker for a used F150 4x4, supercab. The truck will be used for commuting, weekend chores (worked hard) and puling our pop-up camper. Currently I have a Toy PU, which has served me well, but the kids are now outgrowing the back seat. In addition the strain of the camper is lot on the little truck.

My Toyota has been extremely reliable; will I experience the same with the F150? I did look for used Tundra but they run about $3k more than the equivalent F150 on the used market so I though I would give Ford a shot. I know most come here with problems but it seems users here have experienced a fair share of problems with the F150.

I plan on staying away from 97 and trying to find a nice 2000 or 2001. Any other advice.? What about the 4.7 vs. the 5.4 in terms of reliability.

Thanks

Bob

 

I purchased my 1998 F-150 new and it has 119,000 miles on it now. So for I've done a few minor repairs but nothing that wouldn't be normal wear and tear. I have the 4.6 motor which I like better than the 5.4. I read a lot about spark plugs blowing out of the 5.4 (expensive) and there seems to be more posts in here about the 5.4 but maybe theres just more of them I don't know. This is my first Ford Truck and I will buy another one but they are goig to have to wait. I plan on making the 200,000 club and the way it's running today I see no reason I won't make it. This is a great site but keep in mine we don't normally write in untill theres some sort of problem and we need help. I'll bet theres a ton of ford drivers that just aren't here because they don't have any trouble.

 

Thanks for your comments, 50th

>spark plugs blowing out of the 5.4 (expensive) and there seems to be more posts in <

Wow this is all over the net. Does anyone know if the 4.6 is safe from this problem? Thanks Bob

 

I don't think the 4.6 had any spark plug blowout problems.

 

The only posts I've seem on blown spark plugs are on the 5.4. I beleive they fixed the problem but I don't know what years to watch out for in this respect.

 

>The only posts I've seem on blown spark plugs are on the 5.4.<
That is what I have found as well. Do you find your 4.6 has all the power you need? Do you tow anything?

I wonder if the 5.4 problem is just so small I should not even worry about it. Just make sure the plugs are installed correctly.

thanks Bob

 

I don't tow any thing normally buy I have towed an enclosed 6' X 10' utility trailer full of stuff while moving and it did just fine. You could tell it was back there but not to much of a load for it.

Do a search on Spark plugs blowing out and read away. There's plenty here on the subject. It's not a big problem till it happens to you.