Buying a used F150--what do you wish you had known before you purchased?
03-05-2019, 01:20 AM
#11
Haven't bought a used f150 ever but wanted to add in general that the first model year of a vehicle tends to have more issues than later model years, for example the 2015, also of note the 2013-2015 ran the old sync system and the 2016s and up have sync 3 which is a much more user friendly version and has smartphone like user interface where you can scroll, idk if that makes a difference.
Also the new generation 2015+ have engine hours listed on the gauge cluster not sure about the previous gen but worth noting to see if your engine was idling for long amounts of time by the previous owner.
I think miles are subjective, 25k miles in nyc are not the same as 25k miles in wyoming, so that's why engine hours are pretty important.
The 3.5 and 5.0 are both great engines, lots of people like the 5.0 because they can work on them without the complexity of the twin turbo system on the ecoboost, the rest is nonsense, both engines have their pro's and cons, and both engines are great engines in my opinion, we went with the 3.5 in both platimums we leased simply because we got a better deal on the 3.5 and truth be told most of them were equipped with the 3.5, which leads me to my next point, you will find the higher trims more typically have the 3.5 such as the king ranch, platinum and lariat 502a.
Other things of note, the 36 gallon extended fuel tank is one of the best utilized option for a pickup truck, the tailgate step is awesome, bed extenders depending on your usage, led bed lights on 15s and up are nice, if you work at night the 15s and up are loaded up with leds such as spotlights, puddle lights, etc.
Most of my knowledge is for the 15s and up, I can't speak for the previous gen but I hope my insight helped and best of luck on your search!
Also the new generation 2015+ have engine hours listed on the gauge cluster not sure about the previous gen but worth noting to see if your engine was idling for long amounts of time by the previous owner.
I think miles are subjective, 25k miles in nyc are not the same as 25k miles in wyoming, so that's why engine hours are pretty important.
The 3.5 and 5.0 are both great engines, lots of people like the 5.0 because they can work on them without the complexity of the twin turbo system on the ecoboost, the rest is nonsense, both engines have their pro's and cons, and both engines are great engines in my opinion, we went with the 3.5 in both platimums we leased simply because we got a better deal on the 3.5 and truth be told most of them were equipped with the 3.5, which leads me to my next point, you will find the higher trims more typically have the 3.5 such as the king ranch, platinum and lariat 502a.
Other things of note, the 36 gallon extended fuel tank is one of the best utilized option for a pickup truck, the tailgate step is awesome, bed extenders depending on your usage, led bed lights on 15s and up are nice, if you work at night the 15s and up are loaded up with leds such as spotlights, puddle lights, etc.
Most of my knowledge is for the 15s and up, I can't speak for the previous gen but I hope my insight helped and best of luck on your search!
03-05-2019, 01:26 AM
#12
Everybody has different priorities. I want the most value for my dollar and have no interest in the higher trim levels. My XLT is fancier than I'd prefer. I bought my 2014 used in May of 2016. I've owned vehicles in the past that were designed to operate in full time 4X4 like the 4A option and it just isn't a big deal either way. It wasn't a handicap, but I'd not pay a dime more for the feature. It takes a second to flip the switch into and out of 4X4 and I sorta like having control.
The 2 biggest things you need to pay attention to is the axle ratio and payload. MOST trucks with the 3.5 EB and 4X4 come with 3.31 gears. That is adequate for most uses including towing with that engine unless you go with oversize tires. The 3.55 is better if you can find one.
The payload is the real limit when it comes to towing. I've seen trucks with 1100 lb payloads, and others with 2000 lb payloads, but most Supercrew trucks are in the 1600-1800 lb range. Even if you get the 3.5 EB which is rated to tow 10,000+ lbs you are going to realistically be limited to much less, especially if you choose one with a low payload rating. A 10,000 lb trailer with the required weight distribution hitch will put 1400 lbs on the tongue. Figure 500-600 lbs for passengers and cargo in the truck and you need a truck with a 2000 lb payload to handle it.
The trucks with higher trim levels are heavier trucks, with lower payloads. You need to figure out how much you plan to tow in the future and choose wisely.
I wouldn't rule out the 5.0. When I was buying I found that for exactly the same money I could buy a truck one year newer with 10,000 fewer miles with the 5.0 vs the 3.5. And since all of the 5.0's I drove had 3.55 gears that went a long way toward equalizing the power. The 5.0 engine is a little lighter in spite of being bigger which means everything being equal a 5.0 will have 100-200 lbs more payload. And since payload is the real limit on trailer towing either engine maxes out on trailers at about the same weight. The 3.5 does have slightly more HP and torque, so it will pull those loads faster, and not need to drop down to lower gears as often.
Not going to be negative about the 3.5. I've seen absolutely nothing to indicate that it is a bad engine, nor that it won't last as long as the 5.0. But it is a high performance engine that will need more maintenance, and more expensive maintenance over time. It needs premium fuel when towing, it actually averages about 1/2 mpg worse than the 5.0 and while it will pull heavier loads faster, especially up mountains. It also has a habit of getting hot when doing so. There is a price to pay for that much power in such a small engine. But if I needed it, that is the engine I'd pick. I don't need it, and am happy with the 5.0 that I have.
The 2 biggest things you need to pay attention to is the axle ratio and payload. MOST trucks with the 3.5 EB and 4X4 come with 3.31 gears. That is adequate for most uses including towing with that engine unless you go with oversize tires. The 3.55 is better if you can find one.
The payload is the real limit when it comes to towing. I've seen trucks with 1100 lb payloads, and others with 2000 lb payloads, but most Supercrew trucks are in the 1600-1800 lb range. Even if you get the 3.5 EB which is rated to tow 10,000+ lbs you are going to realistically be limited to much less, especially if you choose one with a low payload rating. A 10,000 lb trailer with the required weight distribution hitch will put 1400 lbs on the tongue. Figure 500-600 lbs for passengers and cargo in the truck and you need a truck with a 2000 lb payload to handle it.
The trucks with higher trim levels are heavier trucks, with lower payloads. You need to figure out how much you plan to tow in the future and choose wisely.
I wouldn't rule out the 5.0. When I was buying I found that for exactly the same money I could buy a truck one year newer with 10,000 fewer miles with the 5.0 vs the 3.5. And since all of the 5.0's I drove had 3.55 gears that went a long way toward equalizing the power. The 5.0 engine is a little lighter in spite of being bigger which means everything being equal a 5.0 will have 100-200 lbs more payload. And since payload is the real limit on trailer towing either engine maxes out on trailers at about the same weight. The 3.5 does have slightly more HP and torque, so it will pull those loads faster, and not need to drop down to lower gears as often.
Not going to be negative about the 3.5. I've seen absolutely nothing to indicate that it is a bad engine, nor that it won't last as long as the 5.0. But it is a high performance engine that will need more maintenance, and more expensive maintenance over time. It needs premium fuel when towing, it actually averages about 1/2 mpg worse than the 5.0 and while it will pull heavier loads faster, especially up mountains. It also has a habit of getting hot when doing so. There is a price to pay for that much power in such a small engine. But if I needed it, that is the engine I'd pick. I don't need it, and am happy with the 5.0 that I have.
Great points, like I said in my post both engines have their ups and downs, the 5.0 loses power in higher elevations versus the 3.5 not losing that power on the other hand they are literally a 1-2 mpg difference when not loaded or towing anything which makes you wonder why it's marketed as so much more fuel efficient than a v8, I feel like the 3.5 is definitely faster though, the exhaust is a bit drone ish but thats what I have the hellcat for. You really can't beat the sound of a v8. Seems like it's more of a personal decision as to what engine you want/like
03-05-2019, 02:19 AM
#13
Senior Member
With me, it's a little different. I didn't expect light's out MPG when I got my HDPP with the 3.5L EB in 2014. I knew I had a major towing adventure to the Rockies, which I did this past summer. I wanted the turbos for use in the high mountains, and the EB worked like a charm.
Now, since that major RV trip is in the rear view mirror, if I had to replace my current truck, I'd strongly look for a HDPP with a 5.0L engine.
Now, since that major RV trip is in the rear view mirror, if I had to replace my current truck, I'd strongly look for a HDPP with a 5.0L engine.
03-05-2019, 07:27 AM
#15
I bought used and if I had a do-over I would have done more research. After driving my Dodge for 18 years I was tired of looking at it's face and wanted a new truck. The obvious choice for me was an F150, the world standard in pickups.
While the chassis and body are fine, unfortunately I didn't research the 5.4l 3-valve engine. It is a con-job piece of crap. Very difficult for an amateur to maintain and short-lived, not what one expects from a truck engine.
While the chassis and body are fine, unfortunately I didn't research the 5.4l 3-valve engine. It is a con-job piece of crap. Very difficult for an amateur to maintain and short-lived, not what one expects from a truck engine.
03-05-2019, 08:16 AM
#16
2013 EB for me. Loving it now, but I sure wish I had poked around online and in this forum before I bought it. Getting the infamous timing chain issue resolved after the truck was mine was a real ordeal. TSB 16-0027. Attached.
03-05-2019, 08:48 AM
#17
@marshallr great post, super helpful--thanks for taking the time to type all that out. @2pac thank you also for adding onto that post! @rockyraccoon I am trying to educate myself--like you I've driven the same vehicle for a long time (though not 18 years, holy crap) and wow have things changed since I last car shopped in 2011....this will also be the highest-priced/nicest vehicle I have ever bought so I really don't want to make a mistake. @Joe F thank you!
The following users liked this post:
Joe F (03-05-2019)
03-05-2019, 08:53 AM
#18
Senior Member
This sounds like me last year. I ended up upping my price with all the features I wanted in the truck and ended up getting a great deal on just about a brand new truck for 33k. It only had 9k miles on it from the dealership. The dealer even admitted they priced it incorrectly, but offered to honor the price I found it at. It was a 2017 XLT with 302a package, max trailer tow package, and was just mint condition basically.
The main reason I went a bit higher on my price was because I wanted the 10-speed transmission vs the 6 speed. Sync 3 was also important for Android Auto and heated seats. I also wanted port injection on the EB so that meant getting the 3.5 for the 2017 model year.
FYi you do not have to run premium in ecoboost when towing. It says nothing about that in the manual unless you are at high altitude. At this point, all manuals state that you could get better performance with premium gas.
If you want those high trim level, basically you are going to have to go older like you have found. If 4A is the only feature you really have to have, a forum member has posted on here how you can convert an XLT to have 4A for probably about 2-3k but you could tell the old transfer case for maybe 500 to re-coup your cost a bit. You would also need to find a mechanic that would be willing to switch out the transfer case for you.
I found Autolist to be helpful, but it's trim level search could use some help.
03-05-2019, 09:11 AM
#19
Senior Member
I would have bought one sooner!
03-05-2019, 10:00 AM
#20
Everybody has different priorities. I want the most value for my dollar and have no interest in the higher trim levels. My XLT is fancier than I'd prefer. I bought my 2014 used in May of 2016. I've owned vehicles in the past that were designed to operate in full time 4X4 like the 4A option and it just isn't a big deal either way. It wasn't a handicap, but I'd not pay a dime more for the feature. It takes a second to flip the switch into and out of 4X4 and I sorta like having control.
The 2 biggest things you need to pay attention to is the axle ratio and payload. MOST trucks with the 3.5 EB and 4X4 come with 3.31 gears. That is adequate for most uses including towing with that engine unless you go with oversize tires. The 3.55 is better if you can find one.
The payload is the real limit when it comes to towing. I've seen trucks with 1100 lb payloads, and others with 2000 lb payloads, but most Supercrew trucks are in the 1600-1800 lb range. Even if you get the 3.5 EB which is rated to tow 10,000+ lbs you are going to realistically be limited to much less, especially if you choose one with a low payload rating. A 10,000 lb trailer with the required weight distribution hitch will put 1400 lbs on the tongue. Figure 500-600 lbs for passengers and cargo in the truck and you need a truck with a 2000 lb payload to handle it.
The 2 biggest things you need to pay attention to is the axle ratio and payload. MOST trucks with the 3.5 EB and 4X4 come with 3.31 gears. That is adequate for most uses including towing with that engine unless you go with oversize tires. The 3.55 is better if you can find one.
The payload is the real limit when it comes to towing. I've seen trucks with 1100 lb payloads, and others with 2000 lb payloads, but most Supercrew trucks are in the 1600-1800 lb range. Even if you get the 3.5 EB which is rated to tow 10,000+ lbs you are going to realistically be limited to much less, especially if you choose one with a low payload rating. A 10,000 lb trailer with the required weight distribution hitch will put 1400 lbs on the tongue. Figure 500-600 lbs for passengers and cargo in the truck and you need a truck with a 2000 lb payload to handle it.