In the market for an 04-06 Supercrew with the 5.4 and 4x4. Lot of trucks, but I am unsure about what mileage range I should look for. I drive about 12k a year and plan to keep it as long as I can. I have a winter beater Grand Cherokee I use from Dec-March so it won't see much snow. A 100k scares me, but if they're maintained, maybe? Any thoughts?

 

A kid that live one block over from me just bought a exact stock twin of my truck , he bought it from his boss who bought it new. The truck had 13X,XXX miles on it when I saw it a couple weeks ago. I think he paid $11000 for it. Jim, the former owner,is very big on maintance and actually has a full time mechanic for his work trucks (Jim owns a big concrete company).

So basically as long as the truck has had all of the maintance done when needed I wouldn't be scared to buy one. My 94 F150 has 160000 miles, it runs and drives just like new.

 

A general rule for mileage on a used vehicle is 1K miles a month or 12K a year. You can find the build month and year on the drivers door data plate, the first 04's rolled off the line around 08/03-09/03 so they should have approx 43K-44K at most, even less for a newer truck. There are trucks out there with a lot more miles on them, but you should look for one with an average amount of miles on it. Also, if you can, stay away from an 04, they were the first year of the new model and had some teething problems.

 

several years ago the average milage went up from 12k a year to 15k a year in most areas. Go to KBB.com and look at a truck like the one your checking out. It gives you the average milage range of vehicles that age. Pretty good tool. With good maintenance you should get LOTS of miles out of these vehicles.

 

i baught my 04 used with 44k on it. although when i hit 50k one my cats rattles. other wise no big complaints

 

Mileage also depends on where you live here in AZ they figure the miles a year to 15k because we are so spread out. I put on 22k a year just to work home and school, we use my girlfrinds car for eveything else, getting around in my truck is expensive, not that easy and I allready put on a lot of miles. She lives, work and goes to school in like a 10 mile loop so she has miles to spare.

 

What about an '04 in the 100K - 150K mileage range. I've seen several. I may have to get over the mental barrier of spending 10 to 15k on a truck with 100+K.
I suppose if the truck is in good shape, high miles probably mean highway miles.
What are some specific problems with the 04's?
I have been looking at '04-'06 with less than 60k in the $18-22K range and have found several. I am a bit limited as I want power seat and sunroof, but I they are out there.

 

I wouldnt say that you need to stay away from the 04's. I have a 04 that was put into service in Oct of 03. I now have 54,xxx miles on the truck and have had 0 mechanical/driveline problems. the only issues that my truck has had is power window failure (x2) and leaky breaklight housing. Motor, transmission, suspension, a/c, etc are all functioning just fine and show no sign of wear.

On principle, I myself, would stay away from a used vehicle that has more than 70K miles that I would plan on using as a daily driver. Dont trust a saleman/previous owner to tell you the truth about maintence records. They're taking advantage of your state of mind to close the deal. That said, I am confident that my truck will easily see 200K with my routine maintence and proper care.

Ox

 

04 Teething problem? What problems?

 

My cousin had a 05 with 147,000 miles on it and he can turn it in (company truck) in August but doesn't plan on it. He said it will only have 175,000 on it by then but he likes it and it has given him no problems so he plans on keeping for a while longer.

The only teething peoblems I have had with my 04 is the teething problems of a mechanic in training that didn't know how to install a clutch pack (which was very common 1997 and up). In addition to my truck, I have had 3 other first year vehicles that were ordered before they were introduced (company cars so no exposure for me) and they all did fine.

Buy based on price and condition.