I've never owned a pickup truck before.

I will be moving to New England, and I want to buy a pickup truck to use up there.

I was thinking of getting a 4 wheel drive Ford F150 (2008 model or 2009)

The roads where I'm moving are are bad: potholes, muddy, ice and snow. The climate is cold, sometimes very cold.

I might want to attach a snow plow to the truck.

And I might want to tow a boat with it.

I have no idea what features would be mandatory for that location and for plowing and towing: I would guess that choice of transmission, engine size, axle ratios, are important--but I have no idea which choices would be good for where I'll be using the truck.

I appreciate any advice you all can give me.

Thank you.

DriverBill

 

Depends what you are going to be doing with the truck as far as how you want it configured. If you are going to be doing a lot of plowing and judging by where you are moving I would say thats a given. Also I would ask your self how often you are going to be towing and how much it weighs. I would guess that you are going to want at least an F250 with a 5.4 V8 or the 6.8 V10 to fit your needs.

 

I'd say get a Tundra- great pick ups!

 

I have seen a few 150's with plows--but it has been suggested that it be for light plowing only---perhaps residential and the like---their own driveway. If I was going to get into serious plowing I would look into a 250.

TSC

 

If you do get a 250, get it with a diesel.

The 5.4L is too weak and the V10 sucks fuel like crazy.

The diesel has plenty of power and can still get decent mileage on the road.

Get a block heater if it won't be garaged - $35 option (easier starting and faster warm-ups).

If you are going to put larger off-road tires on it, you might want to go with a steeper gear ratio in the diffs.

Ford offers a snow plow prep package for the 250 for $85 - I don't know what it does though.

If you buy a 2009 4x4 F250 Crew Cab with a diesel and a few options, the sticker will be near $50,000.

But I'm sure they will wheel and deal now as well...

Good luck !!!

 

Yes, if I use it for plowing it will be for my own driveway, and maybe a few of the neighbor's driveways, too.

I won't be using the truck commercially--but for my own use instead of a car.

Any towing I do would be if I get a boat, which would probably be around 3000 or 3500 pounds at most.

What I know for sure I will be doing is driving on very bad roads and ice and snow.

I don't know what engine/tranny/axle ratio/tire size/wheels I should consider.

And more important: which engine/tranny/axle ratio/tire size/wheels to avoid.

An F250 is out of the question.

Even an F150 is a lot of money, not to mention fuel cost and insurance, too. I'd consider a Ford Ranger, but I don't know if it would be good enough for the climate.

Not to mention, if I hit a moose, I'd be more likely to survive in an F150 than in a Ranger.

 

Buying an American truck now does have me worried because of the financial troubles the American auto industry is having: I'm not sure I'd want to buy something that was assembled by worried and demoralized workers.

I was thinking of buying a Japanese truck--maybe I'll look into Tundras, too.

 

Thanks, but an F250 is totally out of the question--I will be buying a truck to use like people use a family car, only I'm buying a truck instead of a car because of the very bad roads and to haul supplies to my home, like firewood and a month or two worth of supplies.

Any plowing would be my own personal driveway, and maybe that of any neighbors who need a hand.

I might back my truck into my garage when a storm is coming, and then after it stops snowing, simply open the garage door and plow my way down the driveway.

But towing and plowing are optional--my main need is for a 4wd to use on bad roads: ice, snow, huge potholes, flooded streets, etc.

But again: for family use--not for commercial use.

 

Thanks, but absolutely no F250. I mean, why not a Sherman Tank while I'm at it?

But seriously--I need this truck for my personal use--not commerical use.

Even an F150 is a lot of money to buy and maintain.

 

I understand what you are saying about the trucks being a lot of money but there are some great used trucks out there for with some great prices. I just picked up a used 06 F350 CC FX4 Diesel for 18k out the door with 125K on it and it is my daily driver. Is the truck I purchased overkill for daily use most definetly. But I can hang a heavy Boss power V snow plow off the front end and not have much to worry about. My wife and I are also getting into camping and the F150 I had was an awesome truck and didnt give us any problems while we owned but we could not tow the size and type of camper we wanted and not be over weight. All I am saying is dont get your self locked into a truck that wont meet your needs two or three years down the road. There are many truck choices out there that are Ford certified vehicles that are used and come with a great warranty on them. Just something to think about.

 

Just do what I did and get a F150 4x4 for a daily driver and give your neighbor a bottle of rum now and then to keep your driveway plowed and get a snowblower to clean up the tighter areas yourself. If you're real worried about snow and ice buy an extra set of cheap rims, put studded snow tires on them and use them only in the winter. Get a V8 if you want more power for towing.

Have you driven in snow and ice before?

 

Whatever you do, I'd make sure I opted for the biggest engine I could get, which would be the 5.4 in the F-150. The gas mileage difference between the big V8 and the smaller one is minimal, and in the applications you are describing, you will appreciate the extra "grunt" of the bigger engine!

Also, don't be so down on the American worker and economy -- we're all acting as if this is the only economic downturn we've ever been in or will be in -- we'll come through this one just fine just like we always do! I personally wouldn't hesitate to purchase a Ford vehicle at this time!

 

Even if the auto companies file bankruptcy, it will be a Chapter 11. This is a 'Re-Organization'. Nobody is going out of business.
Delphi, the electronics company formerly owned by GM, filed Chapter 11 a few years ago. They are still making products for the auto industry and consumers.
I have owned Toyota, Ford, and GM trucks. I just bought my 2nd Ford a year ago. I am not worried about the future of Ford or GM. I have put my money where my mouth is.
Good luck.

 

"In a 33-page plan submitted to the Senate Banking Committee, Ford said it was healthier than the other two Detroit automakers but warned that its fortunes were closely tied to that of General Motors and Chrysler. GM and Chrysler have said they could soon run out of money."
Ford can survive without taxpayers help, while GM and Chrysler Can't. We hard working American tax payers will have to bare the burden of paying for Chevy's and Dodge's mistakes. There-for we should help an American company Ford that is by buying their products and helping in this tough economic times. This is the time when we should stick together and help each other now that we can. Buying foreign product will only dig a deeper and deeper hole in our economic down turn.
Bottom line, buy a Ford F150 4x4 should be suffice for personal use. I own both gas and diesel, and I found diesel problematic because not every gas station carries diesel. I sometimes have to drive for miles from gas station to gas station looking for diesel when I'm in cities that I'm not familiar with.

 

Good joke!