New to the site pretty cool. Anyways going to buy my first real truck and looking at the 2004 F150 S/Crew 4x4 FX4. It test drives real nice and the price seems ok, But have a chance to buy a 2003 S/Crew 4x4 FX4 6" lift , 35" tires. Any opinions? also does anyone have the towing specs for the '03? Will be towing a 5000lb boat.

Thanks

D

 

2003 vs 2004? There was a huge evolutionary leap from the 03 to the 04s.
Like:
- 3 valve engine - more HP, more torque
- Noise deadening all around - windows, quarter panels hood, etc.
- frame is 8 times stronger
- shocks are mounted out toward the wheels for better ride
- increased towing capacity
- deeper bed
- and more

It's the 04 without a question. Even without the evolutionary leap, I would not want my truck lifted with larger tires etc. Larger tires change the drive ratio and will reduce gas mileage substantially. These are not trucks you buy for mileage anyway, but with mileage decreasing features like 33" tires.........you'll have to feed it. And unless the gear ratios are changed you will loose low end performance.

These are pretty darn nice trucks out of the box without modifiying them that way in my opinion.

I have modified mine a bit per my signature below, but they are not substantial mods like lift kits and big tires.

I'd buy the 04 and modify it myself or at least have it modified as I might like it done - with the help of the guys here in this forum - if I was going to modify it.

Towing a 5000 lb. boat - either truck should do that without a problem.


Just my take on it.

Tom

 

Thanks for the reply. Your truck looks awesome. Thanks for the advantages of the '04. I test drove the '04 and it is very quiet almost carlike, but I sure like the truck feel. The '03 is priced well and I know the owner. decisions....

 

I would definately go with the '04.

I had a truck with a 6" Skyjacker suspension lift and 35" BFGs before my new one. As stated above, it drank gas like it was going out of style, and low end was horrible.

Before I bought my '05, I was planning on maybe a leveling kit and 33" tires, but now that I have it......it's perfect the way it is. The only thing I'm going to do with it is get a Borla cat back exhaust system. It's like a 4x4 Cadillac IMO. Perfection. My old truck looked sweet, but I'd never do it again, too expensive all the way around.

Just food for thought.

 

The new F150's are the wave of the future in trucks. Its total redesign of the frame, suspension, engine, etc, etc, etc, is the new benchmark of pickup trucks. That’s the bottom line.

 

I replaced a perfectly good '02 SC with an '04. Never had a bit of trouble with the '02. I have had two probs w/the new one, and am going back in this week for the 2nd repair on the LS diff problem.

Perhaps expected probs with a virtually new platform; I don't know. Some folks have reported similar probs to mine, plus the 45-50mph vibration thing; search this site. I do like the new one, particularly the interior. However, its frustrating to have any probs at all.

 

I agree with Ralphie

Seems like a tough choice, if it was stock against stock, I would go for the old style. No offense to anyone who has a 04, I love them, but it was a new model year, and with that comes all of the bugs that need to be worked out... check out the 2004 forum and do a little reading.

35" tires are going to DRASTICALLY reduce the life of any truck unless properly equipped. I speak from experience when I say that I LOVED my 35" Mickey Thompsons on my 95 F150, but had to constantly track down "issues" due to excessive wear and tear.

If you know the owner of the older one...

Damn, tough choice!!!

What kind of price difference between the two?

How long have the 35" tires been on, and can/will you opt for a size smaller?

Why is he getting rid of the truck? I ended up getting rid of mine because I was sick and tired of not only having a truck that was as much as my mortgage(after insurance,gas and initial cost) but also because I was tired of tracking down the "issues" that go along with modifying a truck with big tires, etc...

GOOD LUCK!!

 

you're towing...


Scratch everything I just said, go with the 04. You'll kill that truck with big tires and towing.

Just my opinion.

I wonder if there are good deals on the 05's, bet they took care of some of the "issues" that they had with the 04's.

 

I've got a 2003 Screw, was going to trade into a 2004 leftover. BUT...this thread changed my mind.

https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...5&pagenumber=1


It's long, but worth reading.

 

There are a lot of sour grapes on that thread not worth reading...

 

Update... Passed on the '03 looking at the new F150 today

 

35" tires with stock gearing will suck gas and be very slow, especially when towing.

 

Down here in the da south...we call 'em Cajun' Cadillac's

Tony