Have managed to hold out another year with the 2004 F150 FX4 4WD with 5.4 V8 and 3.73 rear end. Truck now has 155,000 miles and is due for minimum front brake rotors and pads. Will need new tires in 10,000-15,000 miles. Probably need new rear brake pads. Have the typical "tick" from cam phasers and has for over 100,000 miles. Have a little noise from rear differential when turning. Not sure if is clutches just making noise or sign of worse issues. Made several 30 mile trips moving 5303 4WD tractor, with loader and implement on 22' bumper pull 12k trailer with brakes on all axles. Still wind up back and forth between the F150 and F250. With kids getting older and into more activities we are finding ourselves on the road traveling more and more. Most often in the F150.
The current dilemma is I have a friend that works at a local Ford dealership that bought the first F150 Ecoboost that came out in 2011. We discussed when he ordered it and he basically ordered just as I would have if ordering my own. Truck is a F150 Lariat 4WD Crew Cab with 3.5 Ecoboost with 3.73 rear end. Truck has around 50,000 miles mostly just hwy miles. Think he has pulled a 8000 lbs bumper pull camper 200-300 miles a few times. He is ordering an identical 2015 F150 and will be selling this one. I have enjoyed my current truck and it seems to manage to do all I need it to do. Torn over whether to trade my current truck on this one and stay with the F150 or is there too much risk in the first year Ecoboost long term. Have even considered purchasing an older 3/4 ton for towing, but just don't tow enough to justify adding a second vehicle for three or four trips a year less than 30 miles one way. Gut feeling is to hold out one more year and give the Ecoboost another look then. For what I do, the F150 Ecoboost seems to be a good fit. There would be about 5% of the time a 3/4 ton would be preferred.