Lookin to buy a 2002 Ford F150 reg cab 2x4.. 2500

[timberfaller]

After a life full of 4x4's my best was a 73 Chev, my WORST of the WORST is my present 02 4x4(5.4 motor)Super Crew.

Poorest turning radius, poorest MPG, poorest(most expensive)repair issues!  Driving in four wheel in the hills, sounds like its coming apart, twice to a Ford Dealer only to be told, "that is normal for Fords"

But then all rigs have issues,  some more then others though!!

Good Luck!
 

[Smossy]

After a life full of 4x4's my best was a 73 Chev, my WORST of the WORST is my present 02 4x4(5.4 motor)Super Crew.

Poorest turning radius, poorest MPG, poorest(most expensive)repair issues!  Driving in four wheel in the hills, sounds like its coming apart, twice to a Ford Dealer only to be told, "that is normal for Fords"

But then all rigs have issues,  some more then others though!!

Good Luck!
 

This one's only a 2x4. Again most the rigs with the big problems I'm hearing and reading about were the 5.4l. This one's a 4.2. So just gotta hope we get our money out of it. Take that risk with any used rigs.

[JDHasty]

We had a 2003 F150 FX4 Lariat SCREW, 5.4 that means that it had every option available on it.  It had ZERO problems.  Put an alternator on it @ ~ 150K.

It was totaled by an idiot w/no license or insurance, we still miss that puckup.  Our new F150 is roomier, and gets better mileage, but other than that the 03 was everything we wanted in a truck.   

[Happy Gilmore]

For every problem the 5.4 has, I can find a problem that pretty much every other engine on the planet has.
 

Lol
.. I'm not a Chevy fan however... The last 350 made was 100x better than any ford gas motor made.

5.7L R motor(Vortec)....Intake manifolds puke coolant at the corners and injectors go bad like they're going out of style. Exhaust leaks like mad. I made mortgage payments off of the commissions I made from those repairs.

I'm not a "Ford guy" for the record. I just work at a Ford dealer. I've pretty much only ever driven Chevy trucks with a couple Fords mixed in here and there.

Huh, three of my buddies have over 350k and my ex gf had 400k on non rebuilt 98 5.7's. The ex put on headers at 200 with flowmasters. My other buddies had done exhaust gaskets when the exhaust rotted out from under them. That's way more expected than rotted and broken spark plugs at 125k. Sucked lower gaskets that are a biotch to replace.

The latest 5.7 is hands down the best ever, cheapest and easiest motor to repair. Anyone who says differently shouldn't be trusted for truck advice.

[Happy Gilmore]

After a life full of 4x4's my best was a 73 Chev, my WORST of the WORST is my present 02 4x4(5.4 motor)Super Crew.

Poorest turning radius, poorest MPG, poorest(most expensive)repair issues!  Driving in four wheel in the hills, sounds like its coming apart, twice to a Ford Dealer only to be told, "that is normal for Fords"

But then all rigs have issues,  some more then others though!!

Good Luck!
 

This one's only a 2x4. Again most the rigs with the big problems I'm hearing and reading about were the 5.4l. This one's a 4.2. So just gotta hope we get our money out of it. Take that risk with any used rigs.

Whatever you heard is not good info. Find a two wheel drive Chevy with a 5.7. You will get same gas mileage, way more power, parts are cheap and its super easy to dyi repairs. That 4.2 is junker.

[Happy Gilmore]

In my mind, for a gas truck, after having seen a bunch of them never quit first hand... This low miles v-8, waaay more power than a v-6, same or better mileage(I've owned both)... Nice truck right here.

https://seattle.craigslist.org/kit/cto/6064226808.html

[Smossy]

In my mind, for a gas truck, after having seen a bunch of them never quit first hand... This low miles v-8, waaay more power than a v-6, same or better mileage(I've owned both)... Nice truck right here.

https://seattle.craigslist.org/kit/cto/6064226808.html

It's a shame I didn't see this a few days ago. Damn good truck right there I would have jumped on that. Oh well.

[Happy Gilmore]

I didn't realize you bought it already. I thought you were looking because of your post question about it. Sorry.

[Happy Gilmore]

I'm half interested at that mileage and price. It's the same as my ex truck except not a 4x4. I really like that interior, seats and layout. Super nice truck. Even same color 😊  sorry Shelah... Hahaa

[fish vacuum]

The other thing about them is that there isn't really a good reason for a v-6. They do not get an better fuel economy.

One good reason for a V6 is that with less hp is puts less stress on the fragile Ford transmission. 

[Smossy]

Well for the price we got it for, if we really decide we don't like it we can just sell it and even probably make a few extra bucks. Gonna have to ask questions sooner to you truck guys before finding something else if that happens. I wanted a Chevy to but SG doesn't like the older boxy look.

[Happy Gilmore]

The other thing about them is that there isn't really a good reason for a v-6. They do not get an better fuel economy.

One good reason for a V6 is that with less hp is puts less stress on the fragile Ford transmission. 

Never had a clutch issue with my f-150. Put 170k on it before it blew up/imploded.

[jackelope]

For every problem the 5.4 has, I can find a problem that pretty much every other engine on the planet has.
 

Lol
.. I'm not a Chevy fan however... The last 350 made was 100x better than any ford gas motor made.

5.7L R motor(Vortec)....Intake manifolds puke coolant at the corners and injectors go bad like they're going out of style. Exhaust leaks like mad. I made mortgage payments off of the commissions I made from those repairs.

I'm not a "Ford guy" for the record. I just work at a Ford dealer. I've pretty much only ever driven Chevy trucks with a couple Fords mixed in here and there.

Huh, three of my buddies have over 350k and my ex gf had 400k on non rebuilt 98 5.7's. The ex put on headers at 200 with flowmasters. My other buddies had done exhaust gaskets when the exhaust rotted out from under them. That's way more expected than rotted and broken spark plugs at 125k. Sucked lower gaskets that are a biotch to replace.

The latest 5.7 is hands down the best ever, cheapest and easiest motor to repair. Anyone who says differently shouldn't be trusted for truck advice.

I won't argue which one is better. I was just mentioning some of the common issues they have/had. It's been almost 20 years since they put a 350 in a truck, so they're pretty much all worn out by now. 3 trucks without issues doesn't really set a benchmark.   I had a '95 and it was a great truck with zero engine issues up to 200k miles. The ones pre-96 were better than the latest ones IMO in regard to reliability. When they switched over to the Vortec and the injector issues kind of tanked their reliability. The TBI injection was pretty rock solid.

[Smossy]

The other thing about them is that there isn't really a good reason for a v-6. They do not get an better fuel economy.

One good reason for a V6 is that with less hp is puts less stress on the fragile Ford transmission. 

Never had a clutch issue with my f-150. Put 170k on it before it blew up/imploded.

So any other things to look out for on this rig I'm picking up? It's being detailed right now so i should have it by this weekend.
Yall are stressing me out alittle.  it's mostly going to be for hunting/fishing/dragging my tiny boat, pickin up supplies for the property. Etc. Doubt there will be any serious road trips or work commutes in its future unless my daily brakes down.

[Skillet]

You will be fine, man.  Sounds like you committed to it, so just filter out the stream of negativity that polluted your thread and take the good bits of advice (relating to your truck as opposed to Ford vs Chev, V6 vs V8, etc.)  Watch it close for a little while, just like you should with any new or new-to-you vehicle.  Maintain religiously.  Buy a shop manual for it.  If something breaks, fix it.  That's how you keep a nice rig nice.

Enjoy your new ride.