I just wanted to drop a little note detailing my latest big-rig moment with my little 4.2. I had not replaced the yard mulch around the house in some time. I wanted to get about 8-9 yards of mulch (bought my house from a landscaper) I borrowed a friends large utility trailer and loaded 3.5 yards of mulch in the trailer and 1.5 yards of mulch in my 2004 Heritage Scab, 4.2, 4x2, auto, 3.55 rear. The truck squatted like no other. I live about 4-5 miles from the forest products store. The truck, although a bit overloaded, pulled the load like a champ and stopped like a champ (4wheel disc with ABS standard on 04 Heritage models). In fact this truck easily out brakes and is faster than my old 1995 F-150 5.0, reg cab 8ft bed, 4x4.

More than I can say for some of the s-10s, toyota tacomas, Ford Rangers I saw getting mulch at the same time.

Only down side was washing the mulch residue off of my line-x liner.

Although not as big a job as pulling 6000# across the country (bucks-heritage) I was still impressed.

Any more can do 4.2 moments to share?

 

My uncle has a 98 F150 Reg cab long bed, 2wd, with a 5 speed and a 3.55 LS; motivated by the 4.2 liter V6. He has put over 200k on this engine with ZERO problems. He has run Mobil 1 synthetic oil with Mobil oil filters since day 1. This is 100% work truck, he hauls easily 1000 lbs (sometimes more) in his truck daily for his carpentry job. Even with that many miles and all that weight, it seems to still get up an go with no problems. I don't like the fact that the 4.2 replaced the old tried and true 300 inline six. I don't think they build the torque that the old 300 did. I have gained a great deal of respect for the 4.2, they seem to have the same durability and reliability as the 300; just not quite as strong.

 

I will agree with you on the 300 inline six. Not alot of HP but, tons of torque and down low where it is needed. I think that starting with the 1997-2004 F-150 Ford has tried to move most of the contractors/work truck needs to the XL model F-250/350 with the 5.4 and the 4r100 tranny combo. The 4.2 with the 5spd or the 4r70 tranny is not up to daily heavy hauling. I think your Uncle is A. lucky and B. must take care of his equipment to get that kind of mileage out of that combination. Congrats to him!!! I have seen many pre-1997 F150's mostly 1992-1996 F150's with the inline 6 loaded down grunting away with tremendous loads and heavy trailers. Not many work Chevies or Dodges on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

Another story with my 4.2 was pulling a friends boat out of a dirt ramp/ditch at low tide over rough ground. We where behind rehobeth DE. pulling this 17 foot skiff with 50hp suzuki outboard on a bunk trailer (which is mostly under water) out of a ditch on low tide. The toyota 4runner with 4wd didnt have weight / girth to do it so my truck with me in the bed (280lbs) as weight and my neighbor driving yanked his girlfirends boat out of this ditch like it was shot from a gun. felt bad for the boat but, sure was fun.

 

I tow a 3200 pound boat and trailer every weekend in the summer an hour, and about 2-3 times a year I tow her to another lake about 6 hours one way. Truck is a heritage 2004 SCREW with the 4.2L and 3.55LS rear. I've got 19000 miles on her and other than a tranny leak from day one (which was repaired under warrenty) I have no issues. Granted, I would rather have one of the V-8 models, but the price on this truck was a steal.

As long as the intake gaskets don't blow (and I have a feeling they blow when you run the motor hard before she's warmed up) the 4.2L motor should outlast the salt of Ohio rusting the body away.