Hi everybody,


I just joined but I was lurking around for quite a while yet. I am not and never have owned a Ford but I am right now in the market for a 04-05 Expedition.

I drive right now a 04 Dodge RAM quad cab with the HEMI which I love but we might expand out family soon and I need something with more room for wife, dog and any newcomers

I am a bit worried as I see so many threads on here about stuff that goes wrong and wonder how reliable the truck actually is ? Anything I should especially look for when I buy one ?
My next question is: Is there is a lift kit our there for an 04/05 ? My truck will have to work and ground clearance is a bit of an issue for me.I drive some really bad roads here and pull in the winter my snow machine around. (I live in the middle of the snowbelt) and in the summer our boat.
I would appreciate any comments, hints,tips for this newbie here

 

Well you have to remember just like anything else one bad comment about anything goes alot further than anything good. I think in this setting that is even more true because the people that get on these forums eather really like to work on their vehicles or already have a problem so all you are hearing about is the bad things you don't see anybody on here posting that they just turned over 100,000 miles have done all the regular maintnence and everything is just fine. We have had our '02 for a little over a year now and besides doing regular maintnence we have not had an issue. Its about to turn over 80,000 and I am going through the brakes suspension and all the fluids as I can partly because of the miles but mostly because it is used and that is what I do with every used vehicle I buy because I have no clue how the previous owner treated it. As far as what to look for don't be afraid to drive it alot harder than you would regular drive a vehicle (thats why sellers always dread letting people take a test drive) these vehicles should be able to handle it. as far as specifics I can't think of anything but someone probably will. and as far as the lift we take ours up on logging roads pulling four wheeler trailers all the time and have never had a clearance issue so and I have never liked lifting anything so somebody else will have to answer that one. Good luck and happy hunting

 

Just like for any vehicle make sure you do a good background check on the vehicle you're interested in. If it had it's scheduled maintenance done when required, you'll be getting a good reliable vehicle. I couldn't agree more with hookd, there's thousands of expy owners out there and usually the ones with problems or ones that just enjoy helping others, join these forums. Never had a problem with my expy and I've saved hundreds so far by learning how to do my own scheduled maintenance from this website. Good luck!

 

I have had my 99 Expy for 4 years this month. When I bought it it had 72000 miles. Today it has 118000 and other than regular maintenance it has been trouble free. I drive it mostly on the highway back and forth to work everyday 45 miles round trip. Plus I drive it hard to fire calls, I'm a volunteer. I have no problem with pushing it extra hard. Sometime I get in it when the temp is 5 degrees and I floor it all the way to a call. The best truck I have ever had.

One thing I always tell people; If you drive a Ford like you stole it it will run forever. Every Ford I have owned I have driven hard, no problems.

Mark

 

98 Exp 4.6L 93,000 miles, very regular maintenance; other than replacing drivers power seat track, no real problems.

 

i have an 03 fx4, i like it it has good power with the 5.4. I have only scraped it a couple times doing some urban 4 wheelin thru the parking lots over the medians and stuff i hate traffic. I have had it out in the dirt up on the mountain behind my aunts house for a rescue for lack of a better term, and i had no clearence issues. But daystar lifts are available and easy to do. I like the fx4 mine has a locking rear axle. nice in the muck and real fun in the snow. I love the 4wd drive system, except some of the engaging noises are more than i was use to. I bought it with 38000 and now have 55000. just regular maint.