The New F150

BobinCols · Sep 3, 2003

Ordered my 04 F150 4x2 Lariat Supercrew on 4-1-03. Was built last week in Kansas City. No shipping date as it is "being held for inspection".. Sold my 1997 Ford 4x2 Supercab Lariat last week also with 68,000 miles. For the price, I hope the new one is light years above the 97 as it treated me well.

BubbaJr · Sep 3, 2003

Thanks for all the suggestions guys, but I've been there and done that. I should have mentioned that this is a 4WD. It has handled poorly since I got it, and the dealer has had it 3 times and checked everything and could not find anything wrong. According to them all 4WD's handle like that. I've only driven one other 02 4WD and it was not as bad as mine, but it was noticeable. Any variation in the road will cause it to wander and then you have to fight it to hold it against the wanderings. It feels to me like the toe-in is set at 0. I asked them to give it 1/2 to 1 degree of toe-in, but they said they could not alter the setting from factory specs while it was under warranty. I leased this one, so when the lease is up, someone else can worry about it. I have not seen any abnormal tire wear, so I guess I'll just put up with it for the duration. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

cowboydoc · Sep 3, 2003

It all depends on how you buy and sell 5030 and your tax consequences. I never pay retail and always wait until my current vehicle or other item is sold. Take my last purchase, my wife's new Expedition. She had a 2000 Mountaineer with 45k on it. It was out of warranty. We paid $26k for it new and I sold it for 19k. The new expedition had a sticker of $44k and we paid $33,500 out the door. Now not only that but with the new tax law this year I get to take a 100% deduction on the bigger SUV. Plus I get to take off any payments as well. What a deal! So in effect if you figure it costs me 50-60 cents for every dollar I take home I paid $2000 to move up to a brand new Expedition and I still get a write off on the payments!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

BB_TX · Sep 3, 2003

Bubba-I am going to chime in with the other guys. I have a 97 F-150 with 128,000+ miles on it and it tracks the road with almost no effort. I drive with one hand and only barely correct to keep it in my lane. You must have something wrong.

Docsknotinn · Sep 3, 2003

Buba, Thats the same thing the Ford dealer told me about my Bronco. they even set the alignment...well sort of. when I got it back from them the steering wheel was turned way left to go straight. All they did was set the specs. Front end Mechanics that get production pay have a nifty little saying....caster, Camber, Toe = kick out the Dough ! there is a Huge difference between a complete front end alignment and just the $40 quickie. But I hear ya on the lease. Its still a pain. been there and done that, no fun. Bye the way, I bought that Bronco new in spring of 95 for just under 30k. with over 100,000 miles I sold it for nearly 10k. It literally did not burn a drop of oil but I really cant blame the big boss for wanting a new ride after the same old for 8.5 years. The truck was a lease and I was glad they took that one back. Dave

F350Lawman · Sep 3, 2003

I started out my comments by saying they are dependable and I believe that. I stand by what I said they DO NOT carry weight near as well as similar domestic trucks.

Now a 17 years old truck with helper springs I can't comment on. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Maybe they were sprung differently or your helper springs are really doing the job. The fact that you needed to install helper springs does SEEM at least to support my theory.

I have stopped to help several newer (-5 years old) Japanese pickups. I have stopped to help jack up an overloaded Toyota after it blew it's tire and was so low a scissor jck could not get under the rear and I have helped unload another Toyota after the driver realized he was never going to make it home. Both cases were loads any 1/2 ton domestic truck would have handled better. I general find the ratings on the domestics to be very conservative and the imports highly optimistic. maybe the Japanese don't share our fear of lawsuits and rate their products more optimistically. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

I think the ride, driveability and lightweight of the imports results in sacrifice elsewhere.

Now I know people overoad ALL brands of trucks but I have never witnessed the "headlights in the sky" effect I have seen on the imports duplicated on a domestic truck to the same extent.

Nice that you stop to help people, I do whenever I can. I also think that the imports are great off road so I cann see you pulling others out of the snow. i am sure your 17 year old war wagon is better off-road than my heavy, cumbersome F350. I just don't like their towing/hauling capabilities even when compred to 1/2 tons.

bgott · Sep 4, 2003

I read on another website that Ford was supposed to start selling these trucks in July and had put off the release due to front crossmember cracking. Maybe there was some fact to that post. If I can find the post I'll link it, I think it was on flatratetech.com

Dozernut · Sep 4, 2003

F350Lawman
The reply was not meant as an attack, just bragging about the dependability of the truck. Sorry, if you took offense, it certainly was not meant that way. I put the helper springs on to carry the water tank, 1600lbs will make any light truck squat. If we are talking apples to apples, I think some domestic light trucks do not have the capacity to haul like the old Toyota. The new ones, I am not so sure about, after 18 years you get to know your truck. That old truck is a mountain goat and will go almost anywhere.
The last person I pulled out of the mud was down in the neighbors bottom land. The guy was down there cutting up
some old farm machinery for my neighbor. He had that 3/4 ton Dodge 4x4 overloaded with scrap metal and was buried to the axles. I had to fire up the dozer for that one, the Toyota would not have budged him. Yes, people do overload their trucks.

Mark_in_NH · Sep 4, 2003

BubbaJr,
Not that you need someone else telling you, but i'll thow my F-150's, 2 cents worth in.
My "2000" 4x4, XLT, reg cab, long bed, now has a little over 67,000 miles on it and it has always handled beautifully. Sorry to hear of your problems.
Other then mine losing an engine at 3,300 miles (Ford repaired without question) mine has been a pleasure to own.
I know that you have had it in for service several times, but I can't believe the dealer, there has to be Something more to it. Maybe turning in your lease early is an option worth considering, when I was considering turning / trading my lease early,(bought it instead) Ford was most receptive to it.
My truck goes in for service friday afternoon, I expect that they will have some 2004 on the lot, I thought I would check one out while I was waiting. I am not looking to buy one, just want be nosey. Hope your situation works out and you don't have to Just Live with it till lease end.

F350Lawman · Sep 4, 2003

No, I weasn't taking offense just giving my opinion.

Yes, the new 1/2 tons have really raised the payload ratings compared to trucks of just 5-10 years ago. That goes for the 3/4 and 1 tons as well. You see payload ratings going from 2000lbs or so on 1/2 tons to 5000 on 1 tons. Pretty hefty numbers!