Second F150
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Second F150
I had to retire my beloved 2004 F150 SC Lariat. I bought this new shortly after Ford brought out the new truck with the quiet steel. I really do think Ford set the bar for 1/2 ton trucks back then. The ride and livability seriously impressed me. My truck lived a pretty easy life, always garaged and used primarily to haul my RC aircraft around the area. I didn't have too many serious issues during our time together. Rear end clutch packs, a couple trim issues, window switches replaced numerous times, overhead light that melted the bulb housing, Moonroof I never wanted in the first place that Ford wanted 1800 to replace (seriously Ford?), cruise control inop due to a $600 widget in the tranny?, the coup de grace was the triton engine losing the cam train due to the known issue with oil flow at 148K. The spark plugs and this issue are pretty huge fails for Ford IMO. I had really hoped to get another 3 or 4 years out of this truck. I struggled with the decision of replacing the engine or the truck. At the end of the day all things considered I elected to get a new truck. I suppose I really can't complain, amortized over 13.5 years I paid about 3300/year to drive this truck.
I was able to find a replacement that checked most but not all of my boxes. 2018 3.5L SC XLT with 302A, Nav, max trailer, sync connect, tailgate step, power group and sport packages. My needs were pretty specific and in some ways limited my options. My toys require a 6.5 foot bed which given the depth of my garage meant I had to have a SC. Unfortunately it appears Ford no longer makes a Lariat model in a 3.5L SC outside a special order and 6 to 8 month wait
This drove me to the XLT which is honestly fine with the cloth seats but also meant I lose any possibility of folding mirrors and homelink. I'd love to see Ford acknowledge a 50K truck really should at least have the option for these two items. I can get an aftermarket homelink or just use my doors remotes but the mirrors present a much larger challenge. For the last 14 years I've had to roll down my window and manual pull in the driver's side mirror every time I come home due to the width of my garage door. I was really looking forward to no longer having to do this. Que sera sera. The truck as delivered is absent moonroof so I won't have that problem. It appears the sliding rear glass may be a better design than the previous generations that tended to become sticky with aging of the seals. The addition of a backup camera will be a welcome addition especially as parking spaces in this country continue to shrink towards smart car dimensions
The truck is beautiful and I love the power of the 3.5L. The turbos will be much appreciated in the Colorado Rockies. I really hope the geniuses of Dearborn put a little more thought into the window switches since 2004 and I don't suffer oil leaks or other silliness from this tech marvel. I'm installing both a Linex bed liner and a Bak revolver tonneau cover to shelter my toys. Don't know how much else I will do with it. Perhaps consider an intake and a chip at some point but the truck frankly doesn't need them for me anyway and definitely don't want to hurt the engine.
I intend to spend some time in the forum getting educated about this truck. Now, what oil to use
I was able to find a replacement that checked most but not all of my boxes. 2018 3.5L SC XLT with 302A, Nav, max trailer, sync connect, tailgate step, power group and sport packages. My needs were pretty specific and in some ways limited my options. My toys require a 6.5 foot bed which given the depth of my garage meant I had to have a SC. Unfortunately it appears Ford no longer makes a Lariat model in a 3.5L SC outside a special order and 6 to 8 month wait
This drove me to the XLT which is honestly fine with the cloth seats but also meant I lose any possibility of folding mirrors and homelink. I'd love to see Ford acknowledge a 50K truck really should at least have the option for these two items. I can get an aftermarket homelink or just use my doors remotes but the mirrors present a much larger challenge. For the last 14 years I've had to roll down my window and manual pull in the driver's side mirror every time I come home due to the width of my garage door. I was really looking forward to no longer having to do this. Que sera sera. The truck as delivered is absent moonroof so I won't have that problem. It appears the sliding rear glass may be a better design than the previous generations that tended to become sticky with aging of the seals. The addition of a backup camera will be a welcome addition especially as parking spaces in this country continue to shrink towards smart car dimensionsThe truck is beautiful and I love the power of the 3.5L. The turbos will be much appreciated in the Colorado Rockies. I really hope the geniuses of Dearborn put a little more thought into the window switches since 2004 and I don't suffer oil leaks or other silliness from this tech marvel. I'm installing both a Linex bed liner and a Bak revolver tonneau cover to shelter my toys. Don't know how much else I will do with it. Perhaps consider an intake and a chip at some point but the truck frankly doesn't need them for me anyway and definitely don't want to hurt the engine.
I intend to spend some time in the forum getting educated about this truck. Now, what oil to use
