Well, I've got a line of two good possibilities. Both trucks are 2002 V10 F250 XLT extended cab rigs. Both are dark shadow grey (my fav color), and both have power seats. Both are extremely clean (supposedly, need to see the trucks to confirm) inside and out. One is a 4x4 the other is a 2-wheel drive. Both trucks have approximately 68K miles on the odometer.

I'm waiting on the VIN's so I can run an OASIS report on the trucks.

The 2-wheel drive is only 30 minutes away, on a dealers lot. I called him on the phone and just talking to him, he came down 3 grand off his price.

The 4x4 (which I prefer) is over 4hrs away, and is being sold by a private party. The asking price is 3K more than the 2-wheel drive was listed at, BEFORE the dealer said he'd knock 3K off his price.

Would I be happy with the 2-wheel drive? Will the owner of the 4x4 come down in price enough to make it more attractive? Would it look stupid putting a lift on a 2-wheel drive truck?

I dunno...i need to go see the one local to me.

Decisions decision!

Stewart

 

I would go with the the 4x4. I have the same exact same setup and love it. Also if you are going to lift it I would go with a 4x4, you never know when you might want to go "play".

 

Same config here as well. I guess it comes down to what you're going to use it for. If you're just going to put alot of highway miles on it and never see off road (more than a dirt road), then the 4wd would go unused (waste of money and gas). If you're gonna use the 4wd, then by all means, buy it!

Lifting a 2wd seems counter productive to me. Are you gonna go 4 wheeling or just want to look like you're gonna go?? No offense to those 2wd owners with lifts, just adding in my .02....

 

It's purely for looks. I can't stand looking at a SuperDuty that doesn't look like a heavy duty truck. In my eyes, the stock suspension of a 2-wheel drive makes the truck look anemic. Stock 4x4's are almost perfect in my eyes. A leveling kit or 4" lift with new wheels makes them look perfect.

I cannot stand the look/stance of a 2-wheel drive SuperDuty rig. It just doesn't look right.

Think of it this way, after a hard day of work, you come home to a frosty, superchilled glass mug of your favorite, cold to the bone beer. You take a drink only to discover your ice cold beer was actually milk because you grabbed your kids mug.

You know that face you'd make? That's how I feel when I look at a SuperDuty F250 with a 2-wheel drive stance. It just doesn't look like a man's truck.

Stewart

 

You can lift the 2WD. In fact, there is a leveling kit (spring spacers) on eBay for about $70. Easy to install and will change the look and stance to your liking. You'll need an alignment afterward.

 

I dunno. When I look at a Kenworth or a Peterbuilt, both have a long, very low to the ground look. Considering they are both huge trucks, designed to tow and/or haul heavy loads down the highway. You know, a real mans, real truck!

I like the look of my 4X2, F250. It too has that long, very low to the ground look. She was built, ordered by me, to tow/haul my heavy loads down the highway. No off road use ever intended, a tower and a hauler is its only purpose.

Just a matter of opinion I suppose!!! Both trucks look great when considering the purpose they were built for.

Enjoy your new truck, sounds like a good deal either way you decide to go. Post some pics when you get the chance.

Will you like 4X2? That is a question only you can answer. The first time you get stuck somewhere you feel having 4X4 would've gotten you out. And you listened to someone elses advice and got the 4X2. You're gonna be pissed at that person, and yourself.

Do you see a lot of snow? Do you plan to take the truck off road? In the mud or sand? Do you hunt and need to take the truck down any old logging or unimproved roads? Then 4X4 is the only way to go.

If, like me, you never intend to take the truck off road, and you see little snow, then perhaps a 4X2 may be all you need. But, if you really like the way a 4X4 looks, and you're willing to pay for it and maintain it, then that is another reason to consider the 4X4. If you don't like the way a 4X2 looks and you get one, you'll always be kicking yourself for doing so.

RustyFuryIII

 

C'mon bro, yer comparing apples to oranges when you bring big rigs into the equation!

Yes, and for me, the type of truck. My Lightning has been lowered in the rear with drop shackles. If I had the coin, I would have ordered a Hotchkis TVS kit which lowers the front and back.

To me, a Gen 2 Lightning in stock form looks terrible, with that "stink bug" rear end sticking up. It needs to be lowered in order to "look right" in my eyes.

It's the same way with the F250's. To me, in order to "look right" they need a nice, level stance just at, or slightly above a stock 4x4 position.

It's just asthetics and what looks "correct" to my eye.

Will do, Rusty.

BTW bro, when I used the term "man's truck", I was just trying to evoke a mental image in the reader's mind, in an attempt to convey how I viewed the factory, 2-wheel drive suspension setup. That's not how I feel about the 2-wheel drive trucks. It was just a term to help others understand how it looked to me.

Stewart

 

Stewart,

Good luck on your search for a spark plug firing monster!

What is the intended purpose of the pickemup?...Towing or simply playing?

I know you have the PSD Ex already and the Lightening is your baby for play...so just wondering.

I only ask because if it is for towing...I know in the many years I have towed and launched and recovered boats and the times I have been in campgrounds with wet grass/mud or loose gravel...the few times I needed 4 wheel drive to accomplish those chores I NEEDED it...there was no way no how I would have pulled the boat out of the water or pushed my TT back up the hill in wet ground/loose gravel had I NOT had a 4x4 in those rare but real situatations.

Plus I live in a somewhat cold northern climate where we have snow...I can usually count on 1 or 2 storms a year where I NEED 4 wheel drive.

So...to make your decision harder...once you run your own OASIS report and if both trucks check out equally 'good'...and you can negotiate the price to where you are happy (I assume the 4x4 will always cost slightly more)...if you plan on towing your camper with the truck...my choice would be for the 4x4 even if only for those very rare times in a campground you encounter a dicey site...at least you are prepared.

Like I said...I carry the extra transfer case around as added weight 99% of the time...but that 1% when I need it...it is there for me...the alternative is let some girlie man dude in a chebby pull/push me into my campsite...and that ain't gonna happen!

Good luck with the search!

Of course if $$$ were no object...I'd tell you to look for an '05 so you get the 3V version with 5sp torque shift trans!!!

Joe.

 

Stewart, Check out the 2wd real well & then take a drive to see the 4wd. I had to drive to the other side of Houston (Deerpark, about the same drive 3.5hrs) for mine. Rented a car dolly & towed my Focus back. Glad I did, This set-up is hard to find. I wanted the Dark Shadow Grey also, but had to settle for the Arizona Beige, I've gotten used to it. Good Luck!

 

Just my opinion, but I think a lifted 2 wd looks like a high school kid had too much spare time in shop class. I guess we all have our likes and dislikes.

 

I agree

 

NO 2X4

4x4 is the way to go, my friend had a 2wd truck that would get stuck in wet grass. there is no weight in the rear and you would be able to get any traction, if it snow or you get any type of mud you will wish every day you had 4wd. 3k is WORTH it. These trucks are so squirly without it in snow.

 

Well, the Lightning got retired from work truck duty. The '03 F150 (that took the place of the L) will soon be going to my son. The Excursion has been doing the heavy duty work for whenever I need to haul the 10k lb dump trailer (which was just bought by the family I work for...AKA my mamma) to the landfill. But since it's my wife's rig, there are times I NEED to use her Ex, but she's at work with it (40+ minute drive, one way) and her shifts are 48 hours long, so she's gone for two days...sometimes three if she picks up OT...doing her paramedic duties.

So, since my son will soon be getting the F150, I figured now would be the time to get a V10 F250 because the price would be right!

So, the F250 would be used as my work truck, but I'm picky. I'm in my vehicle so much, and I love modifying my Fords (passion/hobby), that it's actually stress-reducing and relaxing to drive my Ford vehicles. Well, not so much the '03 F150, because I knew it would be going to my son, so I found the absolute best deal I could find (practically stole it from the dealership) to replace my old, beat to heck, worn out '94 F150. I didn't care about color or creature comforts too much when I went looking for, and found, that truck.

But the F250 that will be my new work truck will have some large shoes to fill, left vacant by my L. Obviously it won't be as fast, so it has to make me smile in other area's...like looks, sound, creature comforts, and yea, even performance, hence the V10.

I just don't know if I'd be happy with a 2-wheel drive rig. Would I ever use the 4x4? Yep, everytime I go to the landfill. Do I NEED the 4x4 at the landfill? No, I can make do with a 2-wheel drive.

I guess I just need to check out both vehicles and see how I respond to each one.

Stewart

 

Hi Stewart,

I was just messin with you. I knew what you trying to convey, and liked your post. I have two friends with F-250s w/ 4X4 equiped w/ diesels and another with an F150 4X2 w/ 5.4L And we are always busting each others chops about who has the real he mans truck. Good neighborly fun!

I know I was comparing apples to oranges with the Kenworth and F250 comparo. But I do like the long, low slung look of those big tractor trailors. I drive with 'em every day on I95.

Looking forward to seeing what you get.
Enjoy,
RustyFuryIII

 

I'm glad, but you did have a point. I wasn't very clear in my post, and I certainly don't wanna dis any 2-wheel drive F250 owners.

I'm gonna check out the 2-wheel drive truck tomorrow. We'll see how it goes.

A $4,500 dollar savings (depending on how firm the 4x4 owner is on his price...he just lowered it to $13,500) is pretty big right now in our downward trending economy.

Stewart