I got my 05 screw FX4 with leather for $23,900. It had 22,800 miles on it 2 weeks ago when I bought it.

 

The middle of the rear seat is the best place for infants for safety reasons. If you buy a truck with the captain's chairs it will help out a lot in the SuperCab because the seat backs will not be in the way. I am not sure on the '04 and up trucks but I had a '98 SuperCab and a rear facing infant seat fit in the middle with captain's chairs up front.

 

Actually, the best position is in the middle. You can use the LATCH for the outboard positions for the one center seat, just can't hook two carseats to the same latch. Center is always safer, away from the doors.

I would go with the Screw over the Scab. You will thank yourself. There is much more room for a rear facing infant seat. Our kids are 4 and 2 and it is also much easier getting them into the Screw than the Scab with the proper opening doors.

 

$15K will not get you a late model truck unless it has VERY high miles or salvage title.

BUT the old style screw are still very nice and within your budget. Can get one with reasonable miles and nice condition for 10-15K. But why do you need a truck. A sedan will do just fine. OR get the wife a used explorer and a newer truck for you. Explorers will depreciate much faster than a truck....

 

One thing to note if this is going to be hauling the younguns around. The '97 - '03 (and '04 Heritage) was not a particularly survivable vehicle in a serious crash. The '04 and up F-150 is one of the safest according to the NHTSA.

Budget is going to be an issue for sure, but he poster that said that $18K won't buy you a late model scab or screw unless it was high milage, or a salvage title is WRONG....

I got mine for $22K with extended warranty, 4x4, and less than 18K miles. You should have no trouble finding a 4x4 scab XLT 5.4L in good shape with under 50K for your price range. You MIGHT get lucky and find a SCAB or a 4x4...

You may also check the year end clearance deals that should be starting up soon. I would bet a SCAB STX would fit that price range on clearance with a bunch of the rebates and stuff.

 

VERY good point...

CONGRATS 01TruBluGT!!

 

The 04 has latches on all the seats in the rear, I don't know why the 05-07 only have it on the outter seats.

 

Yeah after alot of searching I can get a late model(04+) for around $15K however it would only be an SCab and no 4x4.

As for the Sedan and used Explorer I don't want my wife driving around with my baby in a used car, I want it brand new with no problems or hidden damage. Besides I looked for a while at a few 06 and 07's and the price difference between new and used is so little its worth the extra $$ to get it new in the color and with the options she wants not just the best of what we could find. As for me and a sadan, I have always kept a truck of some sort since I was 15 as well as my regular daily driver. I had a 97 SCab until about 3 months ago when I sold it. I keep the trucks mostly for towing and hauling and honestly I could not do without. Since I am going to spend the money to get a vehicle I might as well make it a truck.

I have looked around and it seems that I can find ALOT of decent mile SCrew 4x4's in my area within my budget so that is probably the road I am going to take. If I do happen to come across an 04+ SCab that fits my budget now atleast I know an infant seat will fit into it since I always believe in keeping the child seat in the middle away from the doors incase of a side impact.

Thanks for all of your help guys I appreciate it.

 

Weird. We have the Graco Snug Ride thing for our boy, and I have always just used the LATCH, even when I actually drove an F-150. You would think there would be some kind of standard from the government, mandating all manufacturers to use the same length of straps, etc..

Also, if your boy is older than mine (which I am sure he is) then that would explain the huge carseat. He's almost ready for one of those soon, ay 7 months old.