I know it's 11 years old, but this thing is in great shape. 5.4 reg cab fx4. Not a spot of rust, even the rockets are rust free. Runs great, but all the parts are original. Most fluids, plugs, suspension. I know Id need to spend a bit for preventative maintenance, the plugs may break (128k on it). $6000. Was thinking about getting it cause I could really use 4wd in the winter. Bringing my xl back to stock height, small oe size summer tires and keeping it just for better mpgs in the summer.

Worth it? Or just sell my truck and get a newer 4x4? Problem is, I'll never find something used in as good of condition as my xl and I enjoy not having a payment.

Here it is

 

Hey.

Don't be surprised if it ends up being a $9,000+ truck. There is a lot of potentially expensive stuff that may need fixed ( IWE's, phasers, timing chains, guides, tensioners, VCT solenoids, FPDM ). In addition to all fluids, and the other maintenance items list I previously published. Oh - yeah ... them plugs, lol.....

I'd buy a good set of snow tahrs and throw a couple hundy pounds o' sandbags in ye XL, and save 6+ Large.

good luck
MGD

 

you can buy a LOT of gas for the $6k you'd spend on that track

 

Looks great.

Get some nice rims on and it's a winner.

Or do what Iam doing and pile $$$$ into it. Make it a little more swift.

 

Can't imagine having two of the same truck (aside from the 4WD). Either buy it and sell yours or just keep yours. I don't think you go wrong either way.

 

Exhibit A: The XL. 2WD. Fastidious, exemplary maintenance from Day 1. Complete records. Flawless.. Simple. 7 years old.

Exhibit B: The FX fer. 4WD. 3V. Complex. Unknown maintenance history (actually, NO maintenance, looks like). Records = ??? 11 years old. 128K.

Reckon ye can go wrong ....

MGD

 

Haha good points. All of them. Had a lot of snow this winter, and while I've never actually been stuck, I almost got stuck when the roads were terrible the other day. Luckily was able to back up and then gain enough momentum to make it. That's what had me thinking about a 4x4. I live in a snowy climat half the year and I have an open differential and no weight in the bed. I'll try 300# over the rear axle and look into the cost of adding a detroit Truetrac.

Just really like the look of that reg cab fx4. Worth it? The guy kept avoiding my question "have the plugs been changed" his response, "it runs great and needs nothing." Me: "I get that, but have they been changed?" No response. Ha. Guess that tells me something.

 

I have to agree with MGDfan here. I had a 2005 XLT 4x4 regular cab / short box with the 5.4 in it. That's pretty much exactly the same truck you're looking at - with a whole year of Engineering Change Orders to tackle stuff that didn't work as designed. I hate to say it here, but that truck was the biggest POS I've ever owned. The 5.4 was a never ending source of exactly the problems MGDfan has noted.

Yes, it's a sweet looking truck - and so was mine. Probably the best looking truck I've ever owned. It looked great in the dealership Service Department on many, many occasions. I'd stay away from it.

 

Thanks for your insight. I do remember that truck you had, sure did look great. I also remember all the issues you spoke of. You have the 3v 4.6 now, right? I take it that ones not giving you half the problems Huh?

 

Truth be told, I had a 2010 with the 3V 4.6 that otherwise was pretty much identical to the 2005. I owned the 2010 until the motor (at 45,000 miles) started sounding like it ingested bucket load of scrap metal. When the Service Manger at my dealer showed me a TSB describing my exact problem - and that it was completely normal - well, that was the last straw. I should note that the 2010 was a lot better than the 2005. Just not good enough for what I paid for it. Sad, but true.

 

I mainly asked since it too was a 3v and I wasn't sure if there were issues. Sorry to hear. How's the Tacoma? As far as mis size, I do really like those trucks to be honest.

 

I've said this before, and I've taken heat for it before, but I won't touch a 5.4 3V with a 10 foot pole, especially an 04, which was the first year. Now, if you found something like that with a 2 valve 4.6, I'd be all over it.

 

So far (only 14,000 miles), so good. I really didn't need a full sized truck anyway, so this one's a better fit for me. That 2005 turned heads wherever it went though.

 

GLC,

Somewhat in defense of the 3 valve motors, my 2005 was a 5.4 with the 4 speed automatic and a 3.73 LS rear end. The 2010 was a 4.6 with the 6 speed and a 3.73 LS rear end. (So basically identical trucks except that the 2010 had a smaller motor with 2 more gears in the tranny.) The 4.6 (up until my issues) was one sweet motor. And as far as get up and go, it would flat out walk away from the 2005 with the 5.4. It was one fun truck to drive. The transmission made all the difference in the world. Alas, the darn 3 valve issues soured both of them.

 

I invested about $3500.00 in a "beater" '03 4WD Explorer for those winter days when I need 4WD. Insurance isn't bad (no collision), and it really is a tank and pulls through anything. I put a set of Hankook ATm's on it this past winter and with those I rarely need to put it in 4WD. Not as fun to drive as a pickup, but practical for me and fairly easy to repair. The 4.0 is a decent engine and you'll see alot of them on Craigs with well over 200k on them.
If I had to rely on my 2WD '08 in the winter I would be looking at a set of winter tires, and yes 250-300 lbs of weight in the bed. I have limited slip but it really is of no use in the snow with a 5-speed manual. It takes some finesse, but I can get around pretty well in it need be.