I've always been a fan of the blue-oval, and thus subject to tirades and criticisms by Honda/German fan-boys around. So much so that I decided to try out the rice-rocket life for awhile and my only connection to the blue oval was the grocery-getting Mazda. Since then, I've had my first child and it's time to put childish things away and go more towards a family vehicle. Luckily, my wife abhors anything to do with "mini" and "van" and the thought of those two words in our drive way causes gastrointestinal reflexes (sometimes, you know you married a good woman).

Now on to the question - I've basically decided on a Ford F-150 Extended Cab. I've only sat in two, a 1999 which was a bit too small, and a 2007 which was just about perfect. I have a three-month old, so a child seat is going to be a regular presence in the vehicle, and the hope is to eventually fit 1.5 children, two adults, and two dogs in the vehicle (dogs in back as God intended it).

I know certain vehicles have "lemon" years, and I've been searching the electronic world over trying to find any information about F-150's, and I was hoping someone on this site might be able to point me to a fountain of information for what years/trims are the creme-de-la-creme, and which ones to avoid.

Also, if there is anyone with children-experience and think this is a horrible idea for a good reason, I'm all ears. The intention is that this will be my DD and the "road-trip" vehicle.

Thanks for listening to my ramblings and thanks to any helpful comments!

 

With a car seat Id look into getting a Supercrew (4 door cab). The rear seats are still a little tight on a Supercab (extended cab). A car seat might not fit unless the front seat is up towards the dash quite a bit.

Expect about half the gas mileage of a fwd 4 banger car. I went from a Hyundai Elantra to my truck and went from 32 mpg to 15. Something to consider if you do alot of driving and dont really 'need' a truck.

Id say avoid a 2004 just because Ive always been told to avoid the first year of a new model/redesign.

Definately get a 4x4. To me a 4x2 is rather useless, especially if you live where it snows.

 

I agree totally on the SuperCrew. Great vehicle, but not being in snow country, just the opposite on the 4X4 and would never use it. Just something else to maintain. I love my 2005.

 

Thanks for the quick reply! I have that concern about the Supercab, but those suicide doors seem to be so much easier to deal with in tight situations than a standard four-door supercrew. I wonder what the dealer would think if I brought a carseat with me for a test drive . My current car gets an amazing 23 mpg (long story), but it's only a 10 mile round-trip to work, so I'm hoping I won't see TOO huge of an impact on the gas-side. I live in eastern VA, and the entire city shuts down if there's the mention of the word snow, so I'm hesitant about the 4x4. I have this fear that I might only use it once or twice during the ownership time, but I guess it's nice to have when you NEED it. I doubt the extra weight affects gas mileage too much....

 

Welcome to the site

Without going into all the little things that are wrong with the different years, your best bet would be to look at a 08' model. Ford seemed to have worked all the bugs out of the 04-08's in the 08 model year just in time too introduce a new model for 09 .

On the home page here you can also look at the TSB's to see what type of problems the different model years have had.

Search the boards here, there is a wealth of knowledge here not to mention a wealth of knowledgeable Ford freaks too.

Good Luck

***edit*** BTW, you also metioned that your currently getting around 23mpg in your car. Expect about a 7-10mpg drop with the truck. Stay easy on the right foot and it won't be too bad for ya'.

 

Another aspect that needs to be mentioned, especially with a family, these trucks are one of the safer vehicles on the road.

 

Supercab doors are actually harder to operate in tight spaces. 4 real doors are much easier to use.

 

Or you could get a 4.6. Almost all those bugs were with the 5.4. A 4.6 SuperCrew won't be a road burner, but it will run forever without spark plugs breaking or noisy cam phasers. If you plan on towing, get a late 08 5.4.

 

but the 4.6 could spit a plug even though they've got the 8 thread holes since '03

 

I bought my 05 screw because I had my second son. Great all around truck and had a bigger back seat then my wifes 2005 Tahoe at the time. As a family we take this truck on an 18hr one way vacation every year, its my wifes daily driver for the last year and a half and we take it 4 wheeling nothing extreme just trails and beach. I get sick of my rides after 2 years and now we are hitting the 4 year mark and still love driving it. We alway get complements on the truck were ever we go. And the dealers will have no problems with you bringing a baby seat with you to test fit it.

 

My experience with the doors is just the opposite. I had an extended cab before getting the Screw. Keep in mind the doors open the wrong way. Any time I was parked next to something, it was a hassle. I though as you, that it would be a plus. Found out the opposite.

 

Same here. I had a '98 SuperCab before my SuperCrew. The suicide doors are a pain with kids and/or loading anything else when someone is parked beside you. You have to stand with your kid in between the doors, open the front door , move to that open space and then open the rear door. If they are in a stroller then you have to leave the stroller behind the doors by the bed, open the doors, partially close the back one, grab the kid, open the door again and load them in. No such problem with the SuperCrew.

I also hated when I had to run to the grocery store in the SuperCab. Try fitting a shopping cart in between the suicide door and the car next to you. You have to grab some bags with the rear door partially open, go back and open it to load them in, partially close it again to get the bags, etc.

One other problem that I had with the SuperCab was with infant rear-facing seats. Luckily, I had the captain's chairs because the only space it would fit was in the middle of the back seat. Anywhere else and it would be in the way where you had to have the front seat moved almost all the way forward. I have 3 little ones so the SuperCrew is great. I can fit one toddler 5-point seat on the outside or middle and then two boosters next to it. The SuperCrew is a lot easier to climb into to help your kids buckle their seat belts in the boosters.

After having both I would not even think about going back to a SuperCab.

 

I love my supercab, but the suicide doors can be a pain when parked next to something. A child seat will fit behind the seats in mine with the front seat all the way back, and my normal sitting angle. I like the looks of the supercab more than the screw, but when I start having kids I will definatly be going with the screw for the extra room and ease of getting them in and out in a parking lot.

Blue I put my groceries in the bed so I dont have that problem.

 

The '04 and up SuperCabs have more back seat room and the back seat is at a better angle. My '98 was at almost 90 degrees. I put them in the back now because I have a BedRug and an A.R.E. lid so they don't slide all over the place. I just had a drop-in liner in my '98 and I didn't want everything to be broken when I got back home.

 

We usually go to 2 or 3 stores when shoping. Grocery, Target, Walmart, maybe Dillards, so need to put it inside. Plus, my wife does not want the bags dirty or wet, to go in the house.

I didn't mention traveling. The dog's crate fits perfectly inside the Screw along with all the luggage, etc. A lid on the back would be nice, but then I use my bed to haul stuff, so would be in the way. Having had both, I would really hate to go back to a Scab.