Hi

I currently have an 04 2wd lariat 5.4 supercrew. The truck has 214k on it and as much as I love the truck it’s gotten to the point of costing me $400+ in repairs every 2 or 3 months. Seems like it’s one thing after another and I’m tired of dealing with it being it in the shop all the time.

I would like to get something as new as possible in the next couple months...budget of around 23k.

Ive been looking at a lot of 2015 and 2016 Xls and xlt s. Extended cab work trucks basically. Although I have seen a couple crew cabs as well in my range. Just online for right now I know I should go test drive them.

I want some real world experience/opinions on the engine options in these newer trucks.

Looking for something with more power and better gas mileage than my current truck. Also want something reliable that I won’t have to do anything to for a while. Plan to have the truck 3-5 years atleast.

I own a small landscaping business and tow a small trailer for that regularly but it’s only 1200lbs or so loaded. I do plan to get a larger trailer and probably another mower at some point though.

I would want to level the new truck and get 33s but if I get a 4x4 maybe 34s.

Would a 2.7 or 5.0 be better for me? Or even a 11-14 3.5? My dad has an ‘11 3.5 and it is night and day faster than my 5.4!

Yeah if I got a 3.5 it would be in the older body style but could probably find a loaded xlt or maybe even a lariat for about the same price as a base ‘15 an up. I’d also def want crew cab if this body.

I really need to go drive a 5.0 I just don’t know if power wise it’d be enough of a difference over my current 5.4

I know the 3.5 ecoboost and 5.0 get about the same fuel economy but isn’t the 2.7 marginally better than both?

Basically the 5.0 is more reliable than the 2.7 but the 2.7 gets a lil better gas mileage?

I graduate college in a bit over a year and don’t plan to landscape my whole life so this is not my dream truck by any means. Just tired of the down time and paying to fix my current one all the time. More power with better mpg would also be very nice. Looking for something I can beat on a lil and not really care yet not have to do any costly repairs for a while....my current truck is long past that point and I care about it too much to really work it.