Hi. I plan on buying a pickup truck. A used, well, based on my budget, very used truck. I suspect in the 1997 to 2001 range and my budget is around 4000.

I will be using it to pull a boat of about 3200 lbs and using the bed to haul lumber or landscpaing materials and so on. I am not sure if need the 4x4 or not. I only plan on towing the boat twice a year. Once to drop it in the lake and once to pull it out. Maybe a tow here or there but nothing really far. But I live in a snowy area (Chicago) and suspect that a 2WD truck will just slide around too much in the winter.

It would be limited use and a 3rd vehicle. Pretty much for towing a boat or hauling building materials as I work on an old lake cottage in WI.

As stated, I live in the Chicago area so, road salt is a problem and I know whatever I end up with will have some amount of rust on it. I also know It'll be high mileage, like 130k to 160k or so. I can live with that. It doesn't need to be pretty, just reliable and easy to fix when something does happen.

I have been reading about Ford, Chevy, and Dodge pick up trucks. Each has their benefits and problems. The one problem that sticks out for the Ford is this spark plug problem. Does anyone here know how BAD it really is? I mean, does this impact 5% of all those on the road, 10%? 90%? Is there a certain mileage that it would happen around?

I am leaning towards the F-150. I like the styling and the size, The dodge trucks seem too big and this does have to fit in the garage. Maybe it just look bigger. The GM lineup (Chevy / GMC) are okay for these years but I feel more comfortable in the ford.

Is there a certain engine that has this problem or certain years? It seems to be just about everything from 1997 on. Would I be better buying a 96 or 95?

Just curious. I have had a few ford products in my life and have generally been satisfied. I loved my 1978 powder blue lincoln continental 4 door with the 460 V8. Sold it with 200k miles. It ran well but was really rusting out BAD. I have not owned any pickup trucks though.

Thanks for your input.

 

The spark plug blowout problem in the 97-03 4.6 and 5.4 is very easy to prevent - use Motorcraft plugs, no antiseize, and torque them to 28 ft/lb. *ANY* 97-03 with a 4.6 or 5.4 and auto trans will be reliable, as will a 99 or newer 4.2 V-6 with automatic. The 97 and 98 V-6 had mechanical issues, and the 5 speed manual is not recommended for towing over 2000#. The auto V-6 will tow up to about 5000#, the V-8's more.

 

If I wanted to get a used truck... I'd personally shoot for a '02 or '03 Heritage with the v6, automatic, and 4x4.

That 4low and automatic tranny works wonders with boat ramps.

 

A 2 wheel drive will go in the snow if you put weight in the rear of the truck. But, I'd try to find a 4x4 if I drove in the winter in that area.
Buy a truck from the south and you won't have a rust bucket most likely unless it sat on the coast.

 

Thanks for the info. Would a V6 tow 3200 lbs uphill? My driveway is about 220 feet long and on a hill so, when I take the boat out of the garage, I'll be going up a fairly steep hill. The driveway is paved so at least it's not gravel.

I'd prefer the manual but since my wife has to use this, a manual is out so I'll definitely get an automatic.

So, really, it's just making sure the plugs are in properly? I heard it's a real PAIN to get them out and it's possible to break them. I have done plugs before on many cars but in looking into the hood of the F-150's I've seen, the plugs look somewhat hard to get to. If I do end up with an F-150, would it be wise to get all 8 plugs replaced up front before I use the truck? I do some IT consulting work for a family owned service station and I think I can get the owner to do this. (Maybe at a discounted price since I fix him and his extended families HOME PC's for free) This way I can start off knowing they are good and properly torqued.

 

The plugs that break are on the 3V 5.4, 2004-2008. The years you are contemplating, breakage is not a problem, keeping them from blowing out can be an issue. The cure for that was posted above.

 

The V-6 can tow 3200# uphill just fine with an automatic trans. Let me repeat - do not get a 97 or 98 V-6. The V-6 has no plug issues whatsoever and are very easy to change, it uses conventional plug wires. The issue I was talking about is on the V-8's.

Depending on year and engine, the V-8's have either conventional plug wires or coil on plug. They are not that hard to change, but you do get better access if you unbolt and lift the fuel rail. They are a bit unusual, they are on the intake side of the valve covers and are in deep wells.

 

The 03 engines had the plug issues resolved. The problem was with the number of threads used to hold the plugs in. If the plugs were over torqued the threads could be stripped out. The later years had twice the threads so this isn't much of an issue on them.

Also, the 99+ 5.4s have the PI heads and intake manifold. That adds a few more ponies to the engine.

 

I think we have discussed on the forum that the likelihood of stripping the threads on a 97 - 03 V8 plug hole is remote. The issue is that the factory manuals recommended a torque that was too low. If you follow the recommendations the plugs are not an issue. I'm on my second 5.4 and have not had any plug blowout issues.

 

Yep, 28 ft lbs, with no anti-sieze on the threads.

 

Thanks for all the info. I did find a truck. 2001 F-150 with the 5.4, 4x4. In decent shape. Sort of rusty on the bottom of the cab on both sides but from what I see, that's pretty typical on any pickup here in Chicago . The frame looks good and I see no fluids leaking. It has 158k miles. It's at a normal used car dealer. A Chevy dealer. They have a load of used trucks on their lot. It's not one of those corner lot beater dealers. The f-150 had 2 owners. The last one had it for 9 years. Carfax comes back without any issues.

Took it for a ride. Drove well. 4x4 worked in high and low. Transmission shifted smoothly. Stopped well.

There was a noise from the engine. Sounded like a exhaust manifold noise. If I accelerated gently the noise was not that bad but if I pressed the accelerator hard the noise was louder and more noticeable. At idle there was no noise. Even with the hood up could not really hear anything.

What does it sound like when a plug is loose?

i am not sure if this is an exhaust manifold leak or maybe the noise of air escaping around a loose plug that's about to blow.