Well, my wife and I just had a new addition to the family about a month ago, and so far we've been shocked by how much stuff you have to carry with you when you have a baby! Just for a one-night stay, we have to carry two bags of baby stuff, his portable swing, his stroller, plus whatever stuff mommy and daddy need. So, we're thinking we might need something bigger to drive. I've got a '99 F-150 SC, and she has a '06 Hyundai Elantra. So, it looks like my F-150's the one that gets the boot. I love the '03 and up Expeditions, I've driven my bosses '03 several times, so one of those is a strong candidate. I've seen quite a few '05 XLT's with anywhere from 20,000 to 40,000 miles going for about $22,000 and lower. I'd like to get an '05 or newer, to get the 3V 5.4 to move that heavy thing.

Unfortunately, I still owe some money on my '99, and it's pushing 75K. I don't want to get rid of it, but, as they say, a baby changes everything!

How do you Expedition owners like your vehicles? Any problems I might need to look for while shopping? How do those prices I quoted above sound?

 

Congrats one the addition!! Anybody tell you that you don't have to pack all that crap with you for one night? With 3 kids (one is a month old) all we take is a backpack, duffle bag, diaper bag and playpen for a weekend trip. Thats clothes and toys for all 5 of us for 3 days. If you still want to take all that stuff along and like your truck maybe you should think about a tonneau cover or one thing that is handy when we take the F350 is a bed tool box for all the bags and crap. Good luck you think one is fun wait till you get three

 

I haven't had any major problems with my '03. The split power fold third row seat is awesome. Ride is great, mpg is yuck. Definatley can haul all the baby plastic crap you need. Been there with two girls.

 

I thought about getting one of those Pace Edwards roll-top covers, those are pretty slick! If I had a Supercrew, I'd hang-on to it get a cover. But that S-cab rear seat is a little too tight. Maybe I'll just get a new Supercrew, with a bedcover.

Of course, I'm sure we overpack, being first-timers and all. I'm sure by the time you have three of them, you're pretty much a pro!

 

I love my 03, We also have been blessed with an addition to our family 18 days ago. That will bring the clan to 13,12,6,2, years & two week old, mom, dad and copper (beagle)for a total of 8. My two older girls visit several times a year, prior to the new born the Expy had rome for eveybody and some cargo space left over. Now that the addition has come there is still room for everybody but the cargo space is pretty much gone.
I have not taken a trip with all the kids yet, but I think when we do we will take the wifes 01 Honda Odyssey. It has plenty of cargo space for all the stuff needed for a family trip.
All in all I think my Expy is awesome!!

 

As my kids are getting older we ditched the sedan for a SUV. My 03 is the first full sized SUV I have owned since attaching the ball and chain to my leg. (she's acually an awesome wife). The Expy is probably the most well rounded family hauler you can buy IMO. You can also have fun putting some perfomance upgrades when you want to show some muscle on the way to soccer games!

 

I don't know about being a pro but it definately gives you enough experiance to know what is important and what can stay at home but that comes with practice. I know what you mean about those extended cabs being tight. I had a '94 F250 PS before the '00 F350 and that extended cab would have never worked for an infant carrier and two other car seats but we decided to get rid of that before we had another one.

Congrats on another new addition man we must have all been busy last winter I couldn't imagine having four to pack up especially two teenagers might be time for the conversion van (get a power stroke in an E350 and that would be a bad @ss family wagon) That would save you from having to ride around in an over rated station wagon. The wife loves her EXPY for hauling kids but it also tows our wall trailer with 4 ATV's or the boat (depending on were we are camping at) while the F350 pulls the camper. (if we get to many more toys I'm gonna need a Peterbuilt)

 

I've had my Expy for six years now and I can't force myself to sell it and then buy something new. My kids are six and three so I've been there and done that with hauling gear around and I just don't know how people manage without large vehicles.

I drove a 2005 Limited Expy for a couple days last week and while it drove great on the highway, it sounded like it was going to fall apart (plastic rattling like on airport shuttle buses) while driving down my 1/2 mile gravel road. I don't think I could deal with those annoying sounds for an extended period of time. I also didn't like the blind spots in the newer model (my wife's Sequoia has similar problems) compared to my '00. The engine had a bit better throttle response from a stand still, but not appreciably more pick-up or power at higher RPM's.

 

Congrats to all those with new additions!

I myself have 3 and bought my '05 EB a few months ago to make things easier when travelling as a family (that and my Merkur was losing the rust war).

I am very happy with the Expedition, and the kids love it too (the DVD player helps!). It is nice and roomy and has plenty of cargo area.

One thing though -- I passed up a few nice ones as I wanted the 2nd row bench to fit all 3 kids and still be able to fold down the 3rd row for cargo space -- captains chairs aren't for everyone!

And I have to say I was really impressed when we went out for my daughter's birthday -- our whole family plus 3 of her friends. Eight seated comfortably! I loved it.

 

I don't know if you've seen my post with my kill pics but the XP is a great pick for a family vehicle. I'm sure the 2nd gen would fare better than my 1st gen did...





So at least you know you'll all be safe!

 

Bryan,
My wife and I had our first kid two years ago and like you, we packed everything but the kitchen sink into our '01 EB Expy when taking an overnight trip to the grandparents. It gets easier the older they get. I upgraded to an '06 EB Expy last May. Not a whole lot of difference from the first generation Expy. The DVD and power fold seats are nice, but the engine (stock) does not seem to have any more power than my '01. I had to do a few things to increase the engines output. A search will reveal the most common issues with the '03 up models. The ones that bother me the most are the rattles (new ones pop up weekly), the rough idle and the hard starts. Mine car also seems really loud after start-up. Other than that, good car for the budding family. My 2yo daughter seems pleased with it as well. She calls it the "Nemo Car", a reference to the fact that when I picked it up from the dealership she went with me and watched Nemo on the DVD player on the way home.

 

Well, I'm eager for the day when my boy won't need the whole nursery when we go somewhere! I have driven an '03 EB Expy, and I did notice that it was a little short on power. Of course, that one had the 2V 5.4, also. I have heard of the issues that you speak of. My uncle has the '03 I mentioned above, and he's had a couple of electrical system issues(seat heater/cooler switches shorting-out, outside mirror getting stuck on reverse tilt-down), but mechanically, it's been great. 100,000 miles and no drivetrain problems. He's been running Amsoil, as well.

I might end-up getting a F-150 S'crew, with one of those nifty roll-top bedcovers, that way I'll still have a truck bed when I need it, but have some weatherproof, lockable storage when I need that.

 

I know the feeling. We have a 1 year old and a 4 week old and try to fit that in a dodge neon. We are looking to get something the beginning the first of the year. Probably an expy. 98-01 thats about my price range.

 

I'll give you my female perspective...

I've got three kids (15, 14, 10) and three 110 lb. dogs. We've got an 05 Expy and 06 F-350 supercrew. Both are great, and have their own beneficial purposes. Can't haul the ATV in the Expy (made it easier with the 8-ft Christmas tree as well), but I won't put the three dogs in the open truck bed, so they ride in the Expy. The expy gas mileage stinks, but it is better than the F-350, so it is all relative. The second row bench in the Expy is perfect for all three kids, and we have the electronic folding third row which is great if the kids bring along friends with them. Otherwise, the third row stays down and I keep a Husky liner in the cargo area so I can throw one or two of the dogs in there if I need to (e.g., vet trips). Did the whole minivan thing when the kids were younger (I hate minivans but they are good with young kids). But once the dogs started getting added to the mix the minivan just didn't work anymore. Went from the minivans to an Explorer, which I loved, but it just wasn't big enough. So I went with the Expy.

Don't think you can go wrong with an F-150 supercrew or Expy. Just depends on what your family needs are. I can't imagine being without both at this point, but that's because we need both for different reasons. Makes life much easier. Just make sure that whichever you go with you put in a DVD player. Those things are a Godsend with young kids on trips!

I love my Expy and hubby loves his F-350. Neither is perfect, but then what vehicle is? We took a trip this past summer to Disney World, and we had six people in the Expy. Cargo space was very limited, but it was still do-able (coming back with all the souvenir "stuff" was a different story). If I were to do it again (which I won't ;-)) I would get one of those cargo carriers that install on the hitch. That would have easily solved my cargo limitation problem.

As for all the baby stuff you are carting around now, the pile will dwindle as time goes on. The first year is always a big learning curve with babies. My arms worked double-duty as baby swing when mine were little! :-)

Enjoy your new bundle of joy. They are so much fun when they are infants, but they grow so quickly. You won't start getting the parental headaches until they actually become little thinking human beings...then the mischief begins! LOL

 

bryan, congrats on the new addition. I have a 2003 expedition (5.4l) and have experienced the following issues: 2 door lock actuator failed, A/C condensor failed (middle of summer;not pretty), fuel pump, some type of front end problem that only surfaced in 2WD (small fix; needed a new spring), rear A/C roof control panel failed.

I consider these minor repairs and all were covered under factory and ESP warranties. So to date I have only spent $100 in repairs. I leave the comfort and roominess of this truck. She eats gas pretty good, but I knew that going into it. I'm a big guy so I know it takes a lot of fuel to keep me going. Best of luck, if you do buy be sure to get the extended warranty.