Please Help My Buddy
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Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 38
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Please Help My Buddy
I have a few questions for my buddy who just recently lost his vehicle to a drunken driver and now is need of a new one. He really wants to get a '98 - '01 F150. There are many out around my area and he would like to know how the vehicles perform, mpg, and much more. He wants to use it for light towing. Does anyone know which year would be better? If any year had some defects that he should be worried about? Any help would be great. I am sorry that i do not have info about specific trucks but he has not bought one and there are many different ones for sale in the area. I am pretty sure he wants an extended cab and short/long bed does not matter. Any help is greatly appreciated, we both thank you guys. Ya'll have the best info. Thanks.
FTE Legend
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 37,887
Likes: 20
From: North Central Rural Sask.
Tell him to get a 99-00. I have a 4.6 and it gets decent mileage and has good power. I dont use it much for towing, but when I do it works fine. If your buddy does more towing, then he should get the 5.4. The reason I say to get a 99-00 is because by then they hae more of the bugs worked out. They are pretty good reliable trucks, and I havent had many problems with mine, and the problems I have had are small ones. Hope this helps abit, and tell your buddy about this site too 
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,209
Likes: 1
From: Louisville, Kentucky
Depending on the how much he has to spend, get as late a model as 2003, the last year before the new models. Like preppy said, all bugs worked out by then. I love my truck and it has been trouble free.
There are plenty of threads on this forum concerning mileage. Bottom line is trucks are not intended to get mileage numbers like an automobile. Expect 14 - 15 mpg around town and 18 - 19 mpg on the highway. The 4.6L and 5.4L engines get about the same mileage.
If he plans to do some light towing it is best to find a truck with the factory trailer towing package. This would include a receiver hitch with both 4 pin and 7 pin wiring receptacles, heavy duty shocks, a heavy duty battery, and an auxillary transmission oil cooler. All of these things can be added to a truck not so equipped but why not find one with it already there since these are plentiful. The 4.6L equipped with an automatic transmission is capable of towing light loads. Some 4.6L models are available with manual transmissions. These models are not reccommended for towing purposes.
These trucks are available with a 4.2L V-6. While some early versions of these trucks had problems with hydrolocking. Later models should be OK. I wouldn't try to do much more than a utility trailer on one of these especially if it is a manual transmission. The 4.2L trucks also are not much better on mileage.
I hope this helps your buddy make a good decision on buying a good truck that will last a long time.
There are plenty of threads on this forum concerning mileage. Bottom line is trucks are not intended to get mileage numbers like an automobile. Expect 14 - 15 mpg around town and 18 - 19 mpg on the highway. The 4.6L and 5.4L engines get about the same mileage.
If he plans to do some light towing it is best to find a truck with the factory trailer towing package. This would include a receiver hitch with both 4 pin and 7 pin wiring receptacles, heavy duty shocks, a heavy duty battery, and an auxillary transmission oil cooler. All of these things can be added to a truck not so equipped but why not find one with it already there since these are plentiful. The 4.6L equipped with an automatic transmission is capable of towing light loads. Some 4.6L models are available with manual transmissions. These models are not reccommended for towing purposes.
These trucks are available with a 4.2L V-6. While some early versions of these trucks had problems with hydrolocking. Later models should be OK. I wouldn't try to do much more than a utility trailer on one of these especially if it is a manual transmission. The 4.2L trucks also are not much better on mileage.
I hope this helps your buddy make a good decision on buying a good truck that will last a long time.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,595
Likes: 52
From: Lawton, Oklahoma
Isnt it sad that by the time all the bugs are worked out, they completely change the vehicle?
I like the 2002-2003 in the 5.4. A LOT of 99-00 had head milling problems causing headgasget leaks on the 5.4. I would avoid 99 especially for that and for electrical problems as well, like blanking out odometer.
All of them were prone to water leaks at windshield thru 2003 so be aware of possible water contamination problems in the GEM/Fusebox.
I like the 2002-2003 in the 5.4. A LOT of 99-00 had head milling problems causing headgasget leaks on the 5.4. I would avoid 99 especially for that and for electrical problems as well, like blanking out odometer.
All of them were prone to water leaks at windshield thru 2003 so be aware of possible water contamination problems in the GEM/Fusebox.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,595
Likes: 52
From: Lawton, Oklahoma
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Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,517
Likes: 3
From: SE Wyoming
Stay away from '99s at all costs they have a very inordinate amount of problems compared to other years. '98s will have NPI heads/intake and about 30hp less than '00+ . Not sure where you live or whether he wants 2wd or 4wd but the 4.6L will get better mileage. A 4wd 5.4L will not get over 15mpg unless you drive it down hill and like an old man, 2wds can get 17 if you are easy on it. Add 2mpg or so for the 4.6L unless you live in real hilly mountainous areas then they will get about even mileage. I got 12.8mpg with a '97 Reg. cab 4wd 5.4L after lots of mods I've gotten it up to 14.6mpg.
Another option is to get the 4.2L, because they are incredible devalued, and throw a turbo on it.
Another option is to get the 4.2L, because they are incredible devalued, and throw a turbo on it.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,595
Likes: 52
From: Lawton, Oklahoma
Originally Posted by TJM70
Hmmm everyone is trashing 99's...i just bought one a week ago lol.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 364
Likes: 0
From: Republic of TEXAS
hummmmmmm I guess my '99 F150 4.6 is an anomaly..... 69K - no troubles except the recalls for the front end and cruise control.... just gas and oil.... and go.
Good luck with whichever one you choose.
Good luck with whichever one you choose.
5th Wheeling
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 46
Likes: 1
From: IL
I have a '98 w4.6L and I love it. It only has 83,000 miles on it. I have not had any problems with it at all. I do a lot of light towing with it, and it performs well for only being a 4.6L. I have pulled a car hauler with a truck on it, but I would not recommend it for the 4.6 all the time. Definitly need the 5.4 for that. I like the look of the short bed, but the long bed will hold more stuff. I recommend getting at least an extended cab. It comes in handy for hauling extra grocerys when it is raining out or when you need to give more than one girl a ride
OH, and captains chairs are much more comfortable.
Hope this helps.
OH, and captains chairs are much more comfortable.Hope this helps.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,673
Likes: 0
From: Chicago Area
If you get the 60/40 seat, the driver side is exactly like the captain's chair...might be an advantage when you have that extra girl, too!
On the serious side, the COP's (Coil On Plugs) seem to be a weakness on the newer trucks, but if you log on here, you'll know how to handle it.
On the serious side, the COP's (Coil On Plugs) seem to be a weakness on the newer trucks, but if you log on here, you'll know how to handle it.
Last edited by MrBSS; Dec 22, 2006 at 01:51 PM.
New User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Hey all,
I just bought my first truck about a month ago, '03 F-150 supercab 4x4 sport flareside w/5.4L. I absolutly love it. I know I haven't had it long enough to know if there's any bugs to be worked out and that the mileage isn't the best, but it was a lease return so it was taken care of really well.
I just bought my first truck about a month ago, '03 F-150 supercab 4x4 sport flareside w/5.4L. I absolutly love it. I know I haven't had it long enough to know if there's any bugs to be worked out and that the mileage isn't the best, but it was a lease return so it was taken care of really well.