2005-08 4.2 liter..impressions please.
01-31-2010, 09:26 PM
#11
Senior Member
I agree with you, my 4.6L is everything I wanted. It has no problem towing 4,000 lbs. I have hauled scrap steel with that weight and the truck didn't even hesitate. I have 64K on mine now and have not had any issues at all. I would highly recommend the 4.6L to anyone. Sure the 5.4 would be nice in a sense, but they have a few issues that the 4.6L doesn't have. I agree also that the STX models are nice and definitely "old school", but it is nice to be able to take a hose to the floor to clean it out. I would go with the 4.6L, I think the 4.2L will not have the power your looking for and you will wish you went bigger.
01-31-2010, 10:17 PM
#13
Bronco II Nut
if any of the motors were "garbage," ford wouldn't be selling a crap load of them.
I think the 4.2 will be perfect for the needs of "shawnbama1." especially stepping up from a 4 banger ranger. i recommend a stick shift, though. no need for a v8 if you never use it.
use the money you save to buy a nice "cab height" topper, and color match it.
btw, as long as you are going slow, a 6 banger can haul some heavy stuff. at work, i have used 80's model chevy 1500's (with the 4.3 v6) to haul: a smaller kubota excavator, a skid-steer (bobcat), and a scissor lift. i've also packed enough weight into the bed to bend the bed-floor. they will still accelerate to 40-45 mph without too much trouble.
I think the 4.2 will be perfect for the needs of "shawnbama1." especially stepping up from a 4 banger ranger. i recommend a stick shift, though. no need for a v8 if you never use it.
use the money you save to buy a nice "cab height" topper, and color match it.
btw, as long as you are going slow, a 6 banger can haul some heavy stuff. at work, i have used 80's model chevy 1500's (with the 4.3 v6) to haul: a smaller kubota excavator, a skid-steer (bobcat), and a scissor lift. i've also packed enough weight into the bed to bend the bed-floor. they will still accelerate to 40-45 mph without too much trouble.
01-31-2010, 11:01 PM
#14
Thanks for the replies. I was originally looking at mid size extended cab trucks as a replacement. I sort of stumbled across the regular cab f 150's when I realized "hey there's actually a little room behind the seats for stuff." Then when I started looking at them I kept finding 4.2 trucks w/ low mileage for not much green. I actually love the idea of the base model ones- rubber on the floor, vinyl seats, roll up windows...a real old school kinda truck. My dog could put her muddy paws all over it- you can practically take a garden hose to it. I was mainly worried about how well the 4.2 does lugging around 4600 lbs of truck ( why did full size trucks have to get so darn big?). To be honest though- the power to weight ratio has gotta be better than my '00 Ranger 4 cylinder.
I have a 5.4L in my truck, and it's no race horse (is it supposed to be, from what I gather from these posts should I expect it to be
). My old 4.9L F150 5-speed pulled good, almost as good as the 5.4L truck (due to being lighter) that I have now, and we know how the 4.9L I6 has a reputation for being "slow" or whatever. But, it was a truck, more of a truck than this "luxury type" truck I have now. I agree with your post, my next truck (hell, might not even be a Ford, depends on who has better deals at the time, really looking for a midsize crew with a 5/6 speed manual) will have rubber floors (for the kids spilling drinks) and maybe electric windows, depends on how I feel about the price of the upgrade.
Bottom line, test drive the truck and if it meets your needs, go for it.
01-31-2010, 11:16 PM
#16
BAMF Club
The 4.2 with a 5speed is a good engine. It is easy to overload weightwise, but you can easily just leave it in 3rd and do just fine. We towed a Ford Focus and Lincoln Continental on a flatbed trailer (at separate times) as well as a 4500lb tractor. She didn't like it, and I wouldn't recommend doing it daily, but she got it done. She also got 17mpg in the winter where my 5.4 is getting 10mpg...
01-31-2010, 11:25 PM
#17
BLOWN club
My first new truck out of school was a regular cab "sport" with a 4.2. That was a good truck. I hauled jet-ski and 4-wheeler with it all the time. It got decent mileage on the interstate and was very comfortable on trips. Loved it. Put 70k miles on it in 3 yrs. I got rid of it because when I went up north in it I needed 4x4. When I traded it in for my 4x4 it stayed on the lot maybe a week and was gone. Good truck, very reliable and low maintenance.
I don't know now because that was a few yrs ago, but the 4.2 had more torque and hp than the 4.6 below 2k rpms. Above 3k rpms though it fell behind against the 4.6.
04 True Blue FX4 Screw
Options: Moon roof/ Reverse sensing/ Audiophile w/sub/ power rear window/
MODS: Roush charger/ True duals-dumped/ 20" DEJ Black Chrome tanks/305-55-20 Cooper Zeon/ Custom Gauge pod/Leather throughout/Leveling kit/
I don't know now because that was a few yrs ago, but the 4.2 had more torque and hp than the 4.6 below 2k rpms. Above 3k rpms though it fell behind against the 4.6.
04 True Blue FX4 Screw
Options: Moon roof/ Reverse sensing/ Audiophile w/sub/ power rear window/
MODS: Roush charger/ True duals-dumped/ 20" DEJ Black Chrome tanks/305-55-20 Cooper Zeon/ Custom Gauge pod/Leather throughout/Leveling kit/
02-01-2010, 12:20 AM
#18
Fords For Life
Just my 2 cents take it as a grain of salt!
02-01-2010, 02:46 AM
#19
I understand
.... I used to be "true blue" back in highschool, but I grew out of that
Hey, money talks ..and bull**** walks .....and if Ford doesn't offer as good of a deal ( or no deal at all, as in a REAL midsize crew truck, not a "sport trac") as another maker.....well
Then my hard earned coin goes to another maker who offers what I am looking for. Pretty simple really, it's called capitalism.
.... I used to be "true blue" back in highschool, but I grew out of that Hey, money talks ..and bull**** walks .....and if Ford doesn't offer as good of a deal ( or no deal at all, as in a REAL midsize crew truck, not a "sport trac") as another maker.....well
Then my hard earned coin goes to another maker who offers what I am looking for. Pretty simple really, it's called capitalism.
02-01-2010, 03:01 AM
#20
Of course they would agree with you since they bought one. But in my opinion a truck should have a **** ton of torque. Yeah I couldve worded it differently other than "garbage" i guess but thats my opinion and you are entitled to yours. Stick with the "Big Boy Triton!!" Yeah it knocks a little bit and there are a few problems with the cams but I would never trade down for the "Baby Triton" or the even smaller 4.2 There is just something about having all that power whenever you need it.
Just my 2 cents take it as a grain of salt!
Just my 2 cents take it as a grain of salt!
, yeah...right. I could see needing a "**** ton of torque" in a 6K pound crew 4x4 truck, but in a regular cab 4x2? Not every one "needs" 365 lb/ft of torque . They bought "what they needed" . Key word: Needed.
I own a 5.4L Triton, I never feel "something about having all that power", I would have bought my truck with the 4.6L in heart beat because I like the truck, could care less about a few lb/ft of torque and the price tag that comes with it.
