Hey, this is my first post here and well the main reason I joined was to ask this question and do some more research. I am looking for my first truck and I really like the design of the 2004 compared to that of the 2003. I have been looking around on craigslist and have found some pretty good deals on trucks of this year but most are the xlt package and they are about half half supercrew and supercab. The ones that are on the right now are mostly supercabs and this may actually be a good thing since this will be my first automobile and it would be better having the supercab with the small back seats compared to the full size of the supercrew which will allow me not to have to drive everyone around since they wont be that comfortable in the back of the supercab. My dad has a 2003 f150 lariat fx4 supercrew and it is a nice truck although I don't like the design having all round edges. Although this is not out of option I would prefer the 2004 styling. So now here are the real questions. Is the supercab just as safe as the supercrew for collisions? I have read that the 03-previous year supercabs were death traps while the 04-present are just as safe as the supercrews from both the 03 styling super crews and the 04 styling supercrews. Is this true? Is the 3 valve system a bad system and can it really screw up and brake off your spark plugs? If so I have also hear the 2 valve system of the 03 can split them in half. Which do you prefer? How is the handling between the two? Is it true that in both motors the cam phasers tick really bad or is this a myth? The reason I ask this one is well my dad has a 03 and it doesn't tick and a buddy who I fish and hunt with has a n 04 and his doesn't tick either. lastly I have hear a lot of bad about the windows on the 2004 with the motors in them going out. Is this true? basically which do you guys think would be a better option for a kid looking for his first truck? and which is better for me supercab or supercrew? Thanks.