I know its probably just wrong but anybody run their lightning in the winter? I'm looking for another truck and basically i need it for the winter, summer i have the 37 street rod truck 2 mustangs and a bike. For about 4 grand more than the price of a 2004 4x4 flareside i can get a lightning. I really like the look of the lightning and was thinking of dropping the 4x4 to get close to the look, but if the lightning would handle the snow i'd consider it. If not back to looking for a 5.4 flareside thanks

 

 

there was a recent thread about this, guy is in chicago i think. i went the dropped 4x4 route because although in the past i've driven a z28 year round for a few years, after running awd for few more, i just don't want to be bothered. i actually miss awd for wet weather conditions in the f150.

depends on how much snow, and how much sliding around or soft pedaling you're willing to do i guess.

 

I've driven RWD 95% of my life and all 4x4 is does is make you wanna go fast, take more chances, and get you stuck deeper. I go on the policy, if my truck doesn't want to move, I'm not going to work. I'm not chancing my truck for some stupid idiot to hit me in a snow storm either.

There's absolutely no reason to have 4x4 unless you legitimately need it. There are only 3 reasons to consider 4x4: 1. Snow plowing. 2. Farm use. 3. Work related, ie: construction, surveying, etc.

 

You really need to get out more, you sound like those spandex wearing meterosexual yuppies in Des Moines that want paved hiking trails in the forest.

 

the '04 4X4 unless it's a heritage edition aka left overparts, won't look anything like a lightnig

 

The 04 is a heritage edition and yeah they continued to use up the parts they had but were also a little worried about people not liking the new model just like they did in the start of 97. The 04 i could get is the base model roll up windows and such nothing power. Ive had 4x4 for the winter since 1980 before that had a73 250 2wd and took my drivers test in the winter the only day they canceled school that year. So yeah i can drive in the snow. I have a 40 mile commute one way and its over two mountains Live up in the catskill mnts of ny so yeah we get a fair amount of snow. I need the 4x4 more for getting home than getting to work down mnt to work up mtn to home. And I'm not so much looking to make a lightning clone just a performance 4x4 ford should have made a truck like the 2004 chevy ss, dont get me wrong have owned fords all my life so thats not an option. So anyhow thanks to the people who had something constructive to say. I'm either going to pick up a wreaked lightning or just keep looking for a 4x4 with the 5.4 and a short bed. so far a hard truck to find as i want the regular cab and i dont want a 4.2

 

I agree entirely. I'm trying to do the same thing essentially, but after my z28 experience, I gave up on gm.

good luck on your search, don't know if you've checked out cars.com as they redesigned things a little while ago that can make very specific searches without out the tiered results bs like at autotrader (premium, featured, regular).

 

you can always finda 4.6 equipped truck and do a 5.4 swap

 

Found one but wrong color can't win that and plus they want 13k for it. Its a 03 xlt 4x4 4.6 with a 5 speed flareside. only 34k miles I'll keep looking.

 

might as well look at a "wide" bed you can always swap a stepside box over

 

Yeah I've been looking might have found one an 03 stx with 4.6 and 5 speed. Shortbed v8s hard to find with a regular cab in the north east. lots of 4.2s think the clunker bill grabbed a bunch.

 

No L driving in the winter, please! I bought a cheap ranger 4x4 for a daily/winter driver. It will pay for itself quick!