So I've been doing research on a new rig. I don't want to spend more than 8 grand. I'm stickin with a 97-02/03 Expedition or F150. I think the body style is modern enough to not look like an old rig, and old enough to still enjoy out at the beach or mudpit.

In a nutshell I've broken down my choice to two choices. The truck would have to be a V8, 4x4, Extended/Crewcab (if F150). I want an auto tranny as it will be my daily driver.

Now I have two kids, and maybe a 3rd in a year or two. My wife has her own Expi but when the kids want to ride with me, I want them to be comfortable.

Now other than being my daily driver, I also enjoy building up my vehicles. I've modified EVERY vehicle I've ever owned since I was 17. Its who I am. This vehicle will have a 6" lift (or so) and run on a minimum 35" tire (most likely bfg all terrains). I enjoy using the 4wd on all my vehicles. The action I can expect this truck to see would be occassional backwoods mud trails and weekend trips out to South Padre Island (for some sand fun). This type of fun would probably be 10 times a year but never see hardcore wheeling action. It won't be a mall crawler though

I have a ranger right now and never really use the bed. Ill be keeping it though as a backup vehicle. As for towing, eventually, I'd like to get a bay fishing boat and/or a pop up travel trailer to take to the island.

I've priced similar trucks in my area. Most have between 100k to 130k miles, all 4x4, all 4.6 or 5.4 trucks. The F150s are around the 8000 range (top of my budget) while Expeditions are going for almost half that, 4000-5000.

Now please share your input and opinions. I have thick skin so don't take things personally

Which should I go for? F150 or Expedition and more importantly why?!?!

 

If I were in your position I'd go with an Expy. Seems like you would be happy with either one. Why not go for the one with the most room and the cheapest?

 

agreed

 

I'd get the expy, just because it'll have the room for your kids to be comfortable in.

 

Im going to go with the f150. If you get a crew cab theres plenty of room. And you have the option of hauling stuff and if the kids are getting annoying you can throw them in the back.

 

Crew cab. 4 full size doors, 4x4, and a bed. You can lift,tow and haul.

 

It sounds to me like you answered your own question. In your situation I would go with the Expedition, for the simple fact that you don't use a truck for what it's designed for. Also, you have roughly the same towing capacity with the expedition that you would with the pickup,so if you decide down the road you need to be able to haul something you can get a nice flatbed for under 2 grand. Plus, the expeditions are going for half what the trucks are and frankly with 3 kids you need something with some room in it. If you needed a bed I would recommend a 250 crew cab with a 6 foot bed because I think the little bed on the super crews is about half useless.

 

Maybe I'm trying to convince myself to be honest with you. I'd prefer the looks of a truck. I do normally use the bed (on my previous full size trucks) but the ranger bed is so damn small, it aoint worth it. But even then, if push come to shove, I can go ****** by dads f350

 

You have to be happy with it. Get what you like, I personally won't get an expedition because it's kinda hard to put a load of gravel in the back or haul an engine and transmission without ruining the carpet. If you want the truck then get the truck, but be aware that in the regular cab truck the backseat is fine for kids up to about 10 in my opinion. Any older than that and it's getting a little small to be comfortable. The problem with the Super Crews is that they have all the room inside but they sacrificed room inside for bed capacity and size. I believe the bed on them is 5ft 5 in but I'm not 100% sure. I also believe that once you figure in all the extra stuff on them like the power options and extra seat that they sacrifice a bit of load capacity for that. However I don't know how much, I don't think it's a lot though.

But the major thing is that you're going to be the one to drive it everyday so you have to get what you're comfortable with. If you get something you don't particularly like you'll be wanting to trade it off or sell it within 6 months. And honestly how many long trips do you take, is it so many that you couldn't just load the kids in the back of the truck and let them live with it for an hour or two.

The bottom line is that you need to follow three rules. Get what you can Afford, Get what you like, and if possible don't settle because it's alright unless you have to. As a general rule if you follow these three rules you'll get something you are happy with and can keep for many years to come.

 

I appreciate ALL the feedback and forgive me if I am annoying, I'm really on the fence about this.

Part of me says Expi because I have NEVER seen a well built, purpose built, non-mall crawler lifted Expi down here.

I love the look of the urban assault/weekend warrior expi look. Lifted with black cragar soft 8 rims, grill guard, nerf bars, safari roof rack and mounted kc lights. I think It looks mean! I've gone through tons of pics in various site galleries and love that look!

 

I hear you on the cragar soft 8's. I think you should go for it.

 

here is a good idea of what i wouldnt mind rolling around in and building from there. Its a great starting point.

 

Sounds like the Expi is the way to go. If you need the bed for more stuff than what the Expi can do I'd say the F-150.

 

Honestly the Fords super cabs are a joke, don't get me wrong I love my truck but all my chevy buddies get in my truck and the first thing they say is your back seats so small. Once I get a few guns back there for hunting and some other equipment its full and then you can only have 2 people comfortably upfront. I've been looking at some super crews for a while but waiting to find the right one

 

If you have small kids a scab isn't bad. Hauling your buddies around on the other hand is another thing but if you're driving and they don't have to I doubt they will complain to much. I couldn't do with out a bed but thats just me.

I'm gonna be biased because my truck is for sale in the Classifieds section