Greetings, I posted similar question on the expy board as I am considering both an expy and an F150 (XLT, supercab, short box, 5.4L, 4x4, auto)

1) How do they handle on bad roads, snow, ice, etc? (4x4) I am worried that the lightly loaded cargo bed would be a big problem on icy roads even with 4x4.

2) how is the manuverability on tight mountain roads??? In parking lots??

3) have you ever taken it off-highway? On gravel roads, mountain trails, occasional rocks, mud??? How does it do????

4) How do they do in windy situations??? We get a lot of gusty cross-winds here.

Thanks, karl

 

Karl
I myself would go with the F-150. With the 4x4 and some good tires you can some decent handling out of it. Sway bars don't hurt either.

As far as the manuvering if you mean how sharp will it turn, not the greatest especially with the 4x4 option. When I went from my Ranger to my F-150 the change was very noticable, but I don't have any problems getting into and out of lots.

If you want to go off road with it I would get some mud terrains and depending on the size of the tires either 3.73 gears (smaller tires) or 4.10 gears (larger tires). I would definately get the limited slip rear diff. I wish I had one on my truck.

With the cross winds, its a truck you're gonna get blown around a decent amount. But comparing that to an Expedition I would think that the F-150 would do better. Never really driven an Expy in heavy cross-winds.

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1997 F-150 Lariat
Ext Cab Short Box
4x4 Off Road Package
3.55 Gears
265/75 R16 Uniroyal Laredo M/Ts

My 2 cents worth

 

Karl: The f150 will handle just fine on bad roads depending on 1. the skill of the driver 2. how bad the road is 3. your tires & 4. If you've put some weight in the bed of the truck
manuvability: for a full sized pickup, I think it's pretty good. Off road you do have to watch out that you don't high center it. Personally, I think the F150's turning radius is pretty good but that's because my current truck needs the whole parking lot to turn around in
Wind will affect any vehical and there's a lot of sheetmetal for wind to push. I've not had any problems to speak of with wind with either my old F150 or my new truck.
I had 4x4 on my F150 and would take it out on the beach. (wet, loose sand) If you slow down in that stuff, it wants to suck you down. But if I just kept moving, 4x2 would even work well. Limited Slip was a must though. My new truck is just to heavy to take out on the beach without 4x4.

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2k F250 CC SWB 6 speed 4x2 Diesel XLT Super Duty, Woodland Green
Power Mirrors, 3.73 LS, Captains Chairs, ARE tonneau top, rear privacy glass
TT Pkg, Class IV hitch, sliding rear window, running boards, mud flaps
265/75/16 AS OWL tires, am/fm/cassette/cd, rechargable MagLite
Clarion APA 5240 amp, Memphis speakers:Components front, 5x7 rear, 10"sub
SuperChip, Stepshields, Ventshields on windows, rubber bed mat
rugged liner bedliner on tailgate, quick disconnect jumper cables
unaFORDable (decal on tailgate) Western Diesel Turbo Brake (whoa boy)
Finally gauges!!: Pyrometer & Boost on the A-Pillar mount

 

I am a new truck ownner & I LOVE it. I live in Buffalo - Blizzard Capital of the US (IMHO!) & I got 4X4 because of that.
I had the truck out the other night & tried it in both 2 & 4 WD. In 2WD I had a hard time getting going after a full stop - lots of fishtailing. I haven't put any weight in the bed - yet!
When I put him in 4 WD I had NO problem! The truck would pull ahead nice & straight - no fishtailing, no spinning tires - just nice, good handling. There was a light snow cover on the street - the kind that is left when a heavy snow gets "driven down" because the plows weren't able to keep up.
I would definitely go with the F150 4WD but remember - on ice, NO vehicle is 100 % safe. Ice is the great equalizer - be it a Ford, Dodge or (shudder) a Shovie. It doesn't matter if you have 2 or 4 WD. I don't know of any vehicle that can manuever on ice w/o sliding.
Good luck - hope this helps. Keep us posted!!!

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If you can't beat 'em, you're NOT driving a FORD!

'97 Black F150 XLT ORP 4X4
4.6L/auto/power EVERYTHING,
nerf bars, 17" wheels, fog lights, trailer hitch w/electrical connector, front tow hooks, bed rail caps,
6 CD changer, lumbar support & 3 cow license plates - so far!
I'll fill in the rest as I get to know the truck better BUT it's big, it's pretty & best of all - IT'S A FORD! He's SO cute!

 

Cowlady!!! I spent my formative years in Buffalo!!! We lived in Hamburg, just off the thruway!!! Yes, I know what real snow is like, comming off Lake Erie!!! GREAT when you are a kid!!!! I'm dating myself, but we lived there when Pres Kennedy was killed.

Your story is simmilar to what a co-worker's experience is. Last winter was not real bad in these parts, hence the awful fire season. But driving out to the site the roads were either snow covered or snow packed into ice. He had a '99 F150 reg cab, 4x4, 5.4L. He told me when he put it in 4wd the back end stayed where it should be and it tracked straight. And these are very icy roads, too.

BTW, went truck shopping today, looked at explorers and F150's. For me, comfort wise, the F150 wins hands down. So that is what I am going for.

--karl

 

These trucks do fine in snow.As long as its a 4x4.That ice is whole lot different.It is very hard to control any vehicle on ice and I try not to go anywhere where everythiing is just a sheet of ice(don't want to wreck my baby)Not only do you have to worry contolling you rig, but all the other rigs out there are a threat. The ex cab does good in the mountain roads untill you want to turn around.You can do it but sometimes its a 27 point turnaround.

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2000 f150 4x4 sport,black, 3.55 5spd ,4.2 liters of fury ----mods----
stereo,pioneer cd,cadance ultradrive amps,alpine 12 sub,eclipse mids&tweetsAppearance: profile bug guard,smoked headlight covers,Gts tailblazerII taillight covers painted to match truck,blue cargo lights,chrome exhaust tipFunctional:265/75 pirelli scorpion at,cranked torsion bars,black Delta tool box,valley towing class III reciever hitch,herculiner bed liner,taz floor mats Performance: Jet reusable air filter,modified airbox(crash1style)Coming Soon supercharger, jba headers,throttle body spacer,ravin cat back,superchips

 

It's now exactly one year since adopting Nick -- and he's ever-so-much more fun than Ed, a '97 4x2.

Ed had Goodyear Wrangler AP P255's and needed 300# of sand bags in the winter, while Nick's Goodyear RT/S LT245's do ever-so-much better in 4x2 -- and in 4x4, were just great in this morning's 12" of snow that blanketed the 'Zoo.

Just a little over two weeks ago, the 'Zoo was hit with over 16" of white in one day -- and I had fun frolicing down the drifted two-on my way to being one of the few who made it to work.

Snow! Bring on the Snow!!!



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Y2K™ 7700 4x4
Jim - N8JG@Hotmail.com

Toreador Red, Keyless XLT SC SB 5.4L E4x4 4wDisc/ABS, 3.73LS, Skid, HD 7700# Towing, LT-245's on Chrome, Tube-Steps, Captain's, 6CD, Tonneau, named: "Nick"

 

Jim and others:

what tires do you think are best to replace the stock ones?? Personally I prefer coopers.

I will probably get the regular 4x4 without the ORP. Cant see spending that much on (basically) a dressup package.

--karl

 

If I am not mistaken, the only thing the off road package adds is the skid plates and 17inch wheels(?)

 

Ice Monday. 7" of snow last night & today. KC, Missouri might get the stuff plowed sometime by April Fools Day the way they are going so far. This morning, I'm driving on one of the many 3 lane (grass median), Boulevards in the city on my way to work. This woman in the center lane in a early 90's Accord decides to move into my lane when my bumper is about 10 feet from her head. It was either run over the Accord and her at the same time, or quickly swerve over the curb and onto the grass. I choose the latter, and gave it gas and my Ford went right where I pointed it, and then right back on the road after I passed her. No problems 4x4'ing around the past 3 days in this crap. Up hills that semis and rear-wheel-drive vehicles were stuck like flies on flypaper.

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1999 Lariat 4X4 SuperCab Flareside 5.4; Auto, Tow Pack, Offroad Pack, 3.73LS, Factory Step Bars, 17" Chrome Wheels, Oxford White/Silver, Graphite Leather, Keypad Mod., Airaid, SuperChip, ARE LSII Bed Cover, Alpine CDA-855/JBL AMP, Polk dX7's, Custom cat-back exhaust.


[This message has been edited by rons (edited 12-13-2000).]

[This message has been edited by rons (edited 12-13-2000).]

 

Hey rons thats testimonial enuf!!!

We are getting our first snow (and maybe only snow) of the season today, and, of course, my heep I mean jeep dies on me while I was delivering christmas packages to ups...had to get towed home...ugh.

 

Well fisrt off I am going to say my truck is a 4x2 it went through the snow we had last winter with no trouble at all. Now as far as getting the F150 over the EXPY go with the F150 as you always have the bed to haul stuff if the need ever comes.

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2000 F150 XLT Reg. cab
4.6 Triton Engine
4x2 3.55 rear end gear
sliding rear window
automatic keyless entry
white styleside short box

[This message has been edited by hmustang (edited 12-13-2000).]