Hello all,
I am considering buying a F-150, currently I am a student at Oregon State. Although, I live in the Bay Area, California, I will be driving through Mount Shasta. My parents want me to get a 4x4, I considered getting other 4x4 vehicles but that was before I got an internship. They want me to have a truck (its an internship for a contracting company). Now, I have to decided what year, what engine, what transmission and what body type (single cab, ex cab or crew cab). Any help would be great, any information about what year, engine and transmission are most realiable. I am also willing to go to other previous 97' trucks and/or bigger trucks. I just can't get a ranger, a ranger will be too small for what I need for my internship.

Thank you,

Barry

 

Barry

considering that you placed this in the 97'-03' section, anything newer than that is out of your price range?? meaning 04' and up^

With that in mind...a 01'-03' would be in that category...redesigned heads (PI performance enhanced) and thicker spark plug thread...less chance of a plug blow out, in either 4.6 or 5.4 v8's. there is also a 4.2V6 which does pretty well. Nice used ones are out there..just have to look & not jump at the 1st thing. Ask for past maintenance records, if they can not produce that, walk away.

depending on how much gear you'll be hauling and what is needed to be out of the weather... & if others are with you, will dictate extended cab or crew cab. (Sorry not a fan of regular or single cab). If your alone with a few smaller things needing to be secured or weather tight..then extended or super cab mostlikely will do fine. If a little more bulky items and a person or 2 come with you, then Crew Cab. I like a soft tonue cover over a topper or clam shell hard bed cover...tonnue covers the bed and low items & rolls back for bigger stuff to haul quick and easy. & being in college you'll prolly move a few times before its said and done or maybe make a few bucks hauling stuff for others.

as to 4x4 or not, most times it isn't really needed...but when you need have it for your job rough terrain or mountainous areas...get that more for resale value...if nothing else.

With the 4x4's Most have a switch on the dash, (electric) a few have the lever on the floor for manual transfer case activation of the 4 wheel drive. either is OK, Just have to use them once in a while to keep them functioning. if you don't mind a lever on the floor I'd consider a manual T case on the basis of a few less thing to maintain. A manual transmission is going to be super hard to find, IMO, & Auto trannys are very durable so that isn't too big of a issue.

Are you going to need to tow anything for your job or otherwise??
If yes, then definatly get a V8 with tow package, this will give a tranny cooler ( for auto trannys) hitch reciever and trailer hook ups.
If your gonna tow more that 5000lbs consistently, you will be happier with a 3/4 ton truck.

 

Thank you for your advice, yes anything newer would be out of my price range. I will not be needing to tow 5000 lbs consistently, but occasionally. I would prefer a extended cab, but I might go with a crew cab, the only down fall would be the shorter bed.

 

I got the extended cab or super cab & like it...with the "hidden rear doors"...after 99-00' they went to 4 doors on the extended cabs, prior to that, there was only the 3 doors and that was on the passenger side. So if its only got 3 doors, its older. I really like the one on the drivers side.

FYI-that rear seating isn't very big on the x cab...but in a pinch can hold adults...they definitely wouldn't want to be back there very long...If only one adult is back there...its pretty good then, they just stretch out the whole back seat. I've had 5 in my cab ( the wife and I, 2 high school girls and my son, hes 6'.2") and it worked...for a short time.

I hear you on the shorter bed length with the crew cab. That is something your going to have to weigh in on for yourself...I bet those whom have the crew can maybe help with how much storage you actually loose. the crew cabs tend to come with a higher price too....but maybe not so abused....urban grocery getters....not construction or heavy loads.

 

Besides the minimal space in the back of the cab, do you have a problems or complaints with your truck??

 

No complaints on mine, but it's only got 60,000 on it. Averages 20mpg with the 4.6l 2wd

 

Hi Barry,

I've got a '97 F140 4x4 5.4L, standard cab, long wheel base. Except for a an issue with the rear end, it's been rock solid and I've got 189,000 miles on her. It's rarely had a mechanical problem and has never left me on the side of the road. (That's also true of my 2000 6.3L Excursion and a 2000 3.0L DOHC Taurus). It does eat plugs and coils on the 4 & 8 cylinders, but that's common for that year truck.

Gas mileage isn't what I'd like, but the difference in gas mileage costs and the cost of a new(er) one leaves me with my faithful old girl.

The point is, Ford made some great motors in the years that interest you. Keep them lubricated and cool and they'll last a very long time.

Personally, I can't live without the 8' bed. It does make the rear end a little light, but that's never been an issue with me.

 

02' here x-cab 4x4 with a 5.4...bought little over a year ago with 132K...now has over 146k...no real issues...just normal maintenance. I did go and change all the fluids along with the Serpentine belt & T stat after got it...just as a starting reference point for myself.

Yes pretty satisfied with it, no complaints here....gets somewhere around 17-18mpg on the road. But I haven't kept real close trac of that.... I short trip it to go to work, so my average is down closer to14-15mpg in the summer and 11-12 mpgs in the winter depending on how cold it is.

Like Bassfantisizer mentioned...keep them maintained, cool, and lubed...shouldn't be too much to make you have a bad day.

 

I used to have a 02 Supercrew 5.4L with 4x4, as well as 98 Supercab 4x4 5.4L. Excellent experience with both trucks. I only had the 98 for two or three years, when the rear seats got too tight for my teen girls. Before trading in for a 02 Supercrew, fell madly in love with it. Kept it for six years and around 80K before trading in for newer one recently.

Had excellent ownership experience with both 98 and 02. I miss the 6.5 bed on Supercab, I had fiberglass shell on it that I occassionally camped in it during my yearly scout trips prior to hunting. I lost that on 5.5 bed and it bugs me alot. But the comfort of rear seating for my family far outweigh the need of 6.5 bed. Only had normal maintenance, oil changes, filters, brakes, shocks, and no surprise repairs on both trucks. I tow camping trailers on both. THe 98 Supercab had subpar brakes and leaf springs that really effect the rear towing. The 02 had much improved towing performance and notable power on towing and doesn't deflate the rear end as much. Better off road performance as well, likely due to better shocks and tires.

You being a college student and likely a single, the supercab is probably the best option. Tad cheaper and longer bed for contractor internship type work.

Best of luck finding a nice one. It's so popular and finding a decent used one shouldn't be difficult.