V6 F150 thoughts

Hey All,

looking at an inexpensive (read cheap) F150. It is the 4.2 V6 with a 5spd. I don't plan to tow cars or anything heavy -- looking for something that will allow me to do dump runs from the cottage, and will tow light things.

Any one have experience?

Rob

If its going to be doing light duty stuff, I say why not?

My uncle had a Chevy 1500 W/T with the 4.3L and it was fine hauling stuff around and towing small trailers.

I'd choose a post deathcool recall 4.3L chebby.....and I consider myself a ford person.

my brother had a 2003 4x4 f150 with v6 and 5 speed, and it was a neat truck for doing what you describe. He had it a couple of years bought it with 150k on it put another 10 or 15 and sold it for what he paid. I say go for it.

97-04 4.2/5spd f150s are pretty much my favorite modern ford trucks. I am NOT a ford person but i like those.

It'll do what you want and the price is right! Go for it!

If it were me, I would look for a 300 I6 truck instead, especially if I was looking for a 6 banger for cheap. Is there something about the newer generation that gets you interested?

I love my '98 short bed XL V-6 Auto.

I spent a summer driving these around Oregon, only they had automatics, and were all 2WD. Not a bad truck and I preferred them to the 4.6 version of the same. I wasn't the only one working there like that, and they were new at the time so this wasn't from a service perspective. Pretty good road manners, not too loud on the highway, pretty basic inside but that isn't such a bad thing.

tuna55 wrote: If it were me, I would look for a 300 I6 truck instead, especially if I was looking for a 6 banger for cheap. Is there something about the newer generation that gets you interested?

It's all about proximity, price, and patina at this point.

We have had several of these over the years at work and it was our standard technician truck. They are fine for lighter work, but they would not tow our Kubota ATV on a single axle trailer. The transmssion has a tendency to make a pecular noise on th 2-3 shift. Two had to be rebuilt and they were both 4x4.

Is there something about the newer generation that gets you interested?

I know you didn't ask me, but the newer truck is SOOO much nicer (which is not to say it's 'nice', just the pre-96 are NOT nice). Better interior, better to drive, better to look at, etc. The 300 i6 is a great motor but everything else about the truck is worse, imo.

but they would not tow our Kubota ATV on a single axle trailer.

That's weird. I've personally towed a bunch of scrap on a tandem-axle trailer with two of them (one 5spd, one auto) and know of a guy who towed all sorts of crap including a 10k lb tractor+trailer combo. Do you tow on the sides of mountains or something?

Yeah, I'm calling shenanigans on not being able to tow a four-wheeler with a 4.2/auto F150.

It may be a 302 and a double axle, but I could barely feel this going up a pretty good grade.

In reply to N Sperlo:

That's also a completely different truck vs. what OP is asking about.

I have a 99 F150 WT with a 5 speed, over 200k on factory everything including the clutch and that towing a single axle trailer with a 900 pound mower on it

My 2005 F150 XL single cab was the V6 with the automatic. I really wish I did not sell that truck, it did everything you could ever want in a truck even commute. It was a little slow with 3K of mulch in the bed but still got home every single time.

Our work F150 with V6 and an auto has hauled a helicopter from North Bay to Kitchener and back when the College could not rent a trucking for trailering. Even did it on a bumper mounted ball. The bumper is rated for 5000 lbs.

I had one. It worked fine.

I miss it. It got really good fuel economy.

Over 2/3 of the fleet at work are 4.2 F150's and 8 of the total 38 are over 210k, biggest issue I've had was the intake manifold gaskets going bad and give a real good look to the front cross member, I'll think of more tomorrow and up date.

Find the best you can post 05 or pre 04 you can (pre 04 is solid aluminum intake and not plastic,) 04 was a CRAZY switch year and a pain in the ass to get any parts, BTW when you get parts from ford have the last 8 (should start with the year of the vehicle) of the vin ready.

My Dad bought one in 2005 (a 2002) and still has it. Great as a work truck. Was certainly able to tow more than it should have with a V6. Rust has not been much of an issue except that the gas tank straps have had a recall. Ours fell out before that recall, but was put back in place without too much hassle. The 2WD long bed could not get traction on anything but good pavement.

pres589 wrote: In reply to N Sperlo: That's also a completely different truck vs. what OP is asking about.

It was more or less in response to this:

ZOO wrote:

tuna55 wrote: If it were me, I would look for a 300 I6 truck instead, especially if I was looking for a 6 banger for cheap. Is there something about the newer generation that gets you interested?

It's all about proximity, price, and patina at this point.

I'm happy with what I have. If he isn't interested, he doesn't need to respond.

I had a 97 F150 with the 4.2. I also have had a number of the 300 I6 trucks. I preferred the 4.2 which could do everything the others could do plus some. If my jobs hadn't changed from a highway commute to city traffic I would probably still have it.

04 was a CRAZY switch year and a pain in the ass to get any parts

My in-laws have an 04 Classic (97-03 body style) 4.2/auto/2wd ext cab short bed. It has about 265k miles on it now. Original trans acts GREAT (better than i can say for their 130k mile Ranger), motor doesnt smoke or make noise and has never been into, what little moving parts it has on the body all still work (windows hinges latches switches vents etc etc). It even gets out of its own way pretty well when empty.

I put an intake gasket on it (plastic intake) and they've replaced a bunch of oxygen sensors that were probably all mis-diagnosed (they didnt believe me that it needed an intake gasket for a long time). The worst thing about the truck at this point is that the foam/bolstering in the front bench is all jacked up so it's uncomfortable to sit in the driver's seat. Other than that it's still great and if the exterior weren't wrecked on 3 out of 4 sides i would happily buy it when they get rid of it at 300k+.

I think it's had less problems in 9 years than their POS ranger has had in 9 months, and it probably gets about the same MPG. And it's faster.

I forgot the year. It is a 99. Thanks for the feedback. I see it this afternoon.

I just bought a 2000 V6 auto extended cab in great shape for $3500. It's the work package, with almost not damage. Maybe like 2 small dents. So far it's been great. My Dad has an '03, same motor and body style and he has had very little trouble with his after several years of ownership. He had to do the intake manifold gaskets and his transmission gave him trouble, but that's it. His truck has towed several of my projects with no complaints at 70mph on the highway all day long.

I found out I need to do ball joints, but I love how cheap parts are. $35 for the entire upper control arm with ball joint on rock auto.

I was looking at getting a manual, but after doing a little research the tow rating for the manuals is much lower than the autos.