Hi Everyone :) i would like your opionons

[oldgeek]

I am amazed. I saw the thread title, asking for "opinions", and expected a spiral downward into utter silliness with you all.

Okay, who is that injected some maturity here???

 

[Gary DuBois]

Ride/handling was fine, my '16 is better.

5.4 wasn't a speed machine but was adequate. It made a lot of torque at low rpm and was beautiful for towing. I wish I could get an engine with the bottom end of my 5.4 and the top end of my 5.0.



I thought about it. Even looked into getting a clean one with a bad engine/trans to make one of two.

The problem was I couldn't find a worthy candidate. Really had to find one any cleaner than what I had. Also they only had the 5.5' bed which is kinda too small for my camper (designed for a 7' bed) My '16 is a crew cab longbed.

The Aluminium Falcon

I have had my old '02 F-150 dang near forever. It has been my faithful steed for 17 years and I have put 175k miles on it (had 25k when I got it) Still a darn good truck but with the whole family thing the Supercab isn't really working out super well. Vehicle market in general is wonky so I...

www.therangerstation.com

I actually had a dream last week I somehow found a 7 lug (heavy duty) 03 crew cab with a longbed and was going to sell my '16

They never made a 7 lug supercrew or the super crew longbed until '06

It would run faster empty of course (shut off at around 100mph) but with a 1984 camper strapped in the back I didn't want to push things too hard. It was close to hitting the wall for speed with the big brick in the back. Ran and handled fine but I had to get over to pass semis a bit earlier than normal because it would start to get a wiggle in the back from their turbulence.



Never really been around a Dakota. I drive them occasionally at work and they don't really feel much of any bigger than a Ranger. 4.7... kind of mixed reviews but I suppose if they are still going by now they must be a good one.

The problem with buying this vintage of vehicle for a dd (and another reason I didn't seek out a 99-03 too hard) is upkeep. I took good care of my '02 and it showed. Brakes, suspension etc, if it needed it got it. Trans flush, oil change every 5k, I tried to baby it.

Most trucks are not maintained to that level as they age. So if you just run out and buy one that tugs on your heart strings you could walk into a bunch of catching up. Brakes are shot, balljoints, tie rods etc. Oh wait, now the trans has five neutrals...

I knew what I had and I knew what had was probably better than most trucks similar vintage for sale... which makes trading it for a equal at best unknown kind of a tough pill to swallow.

We actually have a halfway decent looking 4.7 Dakota at work waiting to go to salvage. 5 speed truck which is kind of cool but the trans makes gawd awful noises, teardown/full diag exceed what the kid just paid for the truck let alone any parts/repairs. Trans fluid was full of metal and t-case had no fluid in it all.

Why do you think your 16 is better and your 02's ride/handling was fine ? why do you think the 5.4 was adequate ? how is the 4.0 compared to the 5.4 ? what did you mean to make one of two ? how long were you looking for, i think i would like the 5 foot 5 inch bed i am 8.5 inches longer than that bed, what color was your 03 crew cab long bed you should send a email to ford telling them about your dream you had lol

 

[JoshT]

I'd keep the 93.

You already have a Ranger, do you really need two of practically the same truck? I can see having two Rangers, but not two of the same Ranger. Hell I've got a few, primarily a 99 and a 85, the rest are parts vehciles for those two. One is square body 2wd 4 cylinder, the other is round body 4wd and V6 for now.

IMO the 93 F-150 with the 5.8L is a more capable truck than the others you mentioned. It's damn sure a better looking truck than the others you mentioned.

Maybe I'm biased, the 93 was one of my favorite body styles of F-series trucks. I was on the hunt for one of those myself a few years ago before I decided that I wanted to start fixing up dad's old '68 F-100 instead.

 

[Gary DuBois]

Ride/handling was fine, my '16 is better.

5.4 wasn't a speed machine but was adequate. It made a lot of torque at low rpm and was beautiful for towing. I wish I could get an engine with the bottom end of my 5.4 and the top end of my 5.0.



I thought about it. Even looked into getting a clean one with a bad engine/trans to make one of two.

The problem was I couldn't find a worthy candidate. Really had to find one any cleaner than what I had. Also they only had the 5.5' bed which is kinda too small for my camper (designed for a 7' bed) My '16 is a crew cab longbed.

The Aluminium Falcon

I have had my old '02 F-150 dang near forever. It has been my faithful steed for 17 years and I have put 175k miles on it (had 25k when I got it) Still a darn good truck but with the whole family thing the Supercab isn't really working out super well. Vehicle market in general is wonky so I...

www.therangerstation.com

I actually had a dream last week I somehow found a 7 lug (heavy duty) 03 crew cab with a longbed and was going to sell my '16

They never made a 7 lug supercrew or the super crew longbed until '06

It would run faster empty of course (shut off at around 100mph) but with a 1984 camper strapped in the back I didn't want to push things too hard. It was close to hitting the wall for speed with the big brick in the back. Ran and handled fine but I had to get over to pass semis a bit earlier than normal because it would start to get a wiggle in the back from their turbulence.



Never really been around a Dakota. I drive them occasionally at work and they don't really feel much of any bigger than a Ranger. 4.7... kind of mixed reviews but I suppose if they are still going by now they must be a good one.

The problem with buying this vintage of vehicle for a dd (and another reason I didn't seek out a 99-03 too hard) is upkeep. I took good care of my '02 and it showed. Brakes, suspension etc, if it needed it got it. Trans flush, oil change every 5k, I tried to baby it.

Most trucks are not maintained to that level as they age. So if you just run out and buy one that tugs on your heart strings you could walk into a bunch of catching up. Brakes are shot, balljoints, tie rods etc. Oh wait, now the trans has five neutrals...

I knew what I had and I knew what had was probably better than most trucks similar vintage for sale... which makes trading it for a equal at best unknown kind of a tough pill to swallow.

We actually have a halfway decent looking 4.7 Dakota at work waiting to go to salvage. 5 speed truck which is kind of cool but the trans makes gawd awful noises, teardown/full diag exceed what the kid just paid for the truck let alone any parts/repairs. Trans fluid was full of metal and t-case had no fluid in it all.

I had a dream a few weeks ago that i bought and i was driving a lifted silver crew cab long bed 2001-2003 f-250 4x4 off the lot and i didn't remember if that truck had the 6.8 v10 or 7.3 v8 power stroke diesel

 

[Gary DuBois]

Ride/handling was fine, my '16 is better.

5.4 wasn't a speed machine but was adequate. It made a lot of torque at low rpm and was beautiful for towing. I wish I could get an engine with the bottom end of my 5.4 and the top end of my 5.0.



I thought about it. Even looked into getting a clean one with a bad engine/trans to make one of two.

The problem was I couldn't find a worthy candidate. Really had to find one any cleaner than what I had. Also they only had the 5.5' bed which is kinda too small for my camper (designed for a 7' bed) My '16 is a crew cab longbed.

The Aluminium Falcon

I have had my old '02 F-150 dang near forever. It has been my faithful steed for 17 years and I have put 175k miles on it (had 25k when I got it) Still a darn good truck but with the whole family thing the Supercab isn't really working out super well. Vehicle market in general is wonky so I...

www.therangerstation.com

I actually had a dream last week I somehow found a 7 lug (heavy duty) 03 crew cab with a longbed and was going to sell my '16

They never made a 7 lug supercrew or the super crew longbed until '06

It would run faster empty of course (shut off at around 100mph) but with a 1984 camper strapped in the back I didn't want to push things too hard. It was close to hitting the wall for speed with the big brick in the back. Ran and handled fine but I had to get over to pass semis a bit earlier than normal because it would start to get a wiggle in the back from their turbulence.



Never really been around a Dakota. I drive them occasionally at work and they don't really feel much of any bigger than a Ranger. 4.7... kind of mixed reviews but I suppose if they are still going by now they must be a good one.

The problem with buying this vintage of vehicle for a dd (and another reason I didn't seek out a 99-03 too hard) is upkeep. I took good care of my '02 and it showed. Brakes, suspension etc, if it needed it got it. Trans flush, oil change every 5k, I tried to baby it.

Most trucks are not maintained to that level as they age. So if you just run out and buy one that tugs on your heart strings you could walk into a bunch of catching up. Brakes are shot, balljoints, tie rods etc. Oh wait, now the trans has five neutrals...

I knew what I had and I knew what had was probably better than most trucks similar vintage for sale... which makes trading it for a equal at best unknown kind of a tough pill to swallow.

We actually have a halfway decent looking 4.7 Dakota at work waiting to go to salvage. 5 speed truck which is kind of cool but the trans makes gawd awful noises, teardown/full diag exceed what the kid just paid for the truck let alone any parts/repairs. Trans fluid was full of metal and t-case had no fluid in it all.

I have had a few dreams were my 1993 f-150 5.8 v8 4x4 were in them and i had one dream about my 2002 ford ranger 4.0 v6 4x4

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Why do you think your 16 is better and your 02's ride/handling was fine ?

It has 14 more years of development and refinement.

why do you think the 5.4 was adequate ?

Adequate as in enough but not excessive. 265hp is hardly groundbreaking today.

how is the 4.0 compared to the 5.4 ?

No comparison. An early 5.4 was similar to a 351W so you can make that comparison yourself. In '99 they got a slight power bump.

what did you mean to make one of two ?

Find a supercrew that needed an engine or trans and take the good one out of my '02 to make the supercrew go. Then also swap my new front suspension (balljoints, tie rods etc) and new rear shackles and junk my '02. I couldn't bring myself to kill it.

how long were you looking for, i think i would like the 5 foot 5 inch bed i am 8.5 inches longer than that bed?

6.5', same as a Supercab. My camper is intended for 7' (longbed Ranger)

What color was your 03 crew cab long bed you should send a email to ford telling them about your dream you had lol

Dark toreador red and tan.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I am amazed. I saw the thread title, asking for "opinions", and expected a spiral downward into utter silliness with you all.

Okay, who is that injected some maturity here???

Espicially considering i was involved.

 

[Josh B]

Why would a 97-03 f-150 feel bigger ? the 97-03 f-150 rounded body style looks smaller than my 93 obs body style. And the dakota is smaller than the f-150 because its a midsize truck.

I already own a ranger but if i was to get another ranger i would get a 2000 with the 4.0 v6 ohv and 4wd.

how is the older 4.9 300 different than the 4.6 v8, giddyup and go whats different between the 5.8 v8 351 and 5.4 v8 330 and my 93 f-150 is a fun truck and i don't do any towing.

I could keep the f-150 for sentimental sake but i think my dad doesn't want 3 trucks around my dad already owns 5 cars so it would take up to much of our front yard. I don't have a need for a full size f-150 so i will probably get the dakota and then have my 2002 ranger 4.0 v6 fx4 off road and my 2002-2004 dakota 4.7 v8 4wd quad cab i could get $6,000 or high 5's range and then give the cash i get from my f-150 to my dad and then buy the dakota.

Get you a few of those car stackers they use in parking lots

 

[wildbill23c]

I love the older Rangers, their automatics can be a roll of the dice because most people never bothered to maintain them, and overheated them.
You already have a Ranger, unless you sell the one you have now and buy another one don't bother getting rid of what you already own and hopefully don't owe money on by now.

As far as the F150, why sell it and get another one, even if you get a newer one its still an F150 regardless what engine is under the hood, its still a 1/2 ton truck, again keep what you have if its paid for and isn't draining your wallet in repairs.

Dodge Dakota...the only one I'd want would be an 80's or 90's with the 318, or seldom optioned 360 and a manual transmission...their automatics are not great, and that 4.7L V8 is gutless as all get out...the 4L I6 in my 96 Grand Cherokee had far more get up and go to it than the 4.7L V8....test drove a 2001 crew cab Dakota 4x4 4.7L V8 when they came out, was far from impressed with them. I had a 99 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 regular cab with the 318 and 5 speed, that thing was extremely reliable, bare bones, no power windows or locks, just a basic work truck...its only negative was it had 3.55 gears so it sucked at towing anything, but would get 25mpg on the highway.

I tossed around the idea of buying an F150 for the occasional towing I need to do, but realized they don't tow much more than my 08 V8 Explorer sticking with the older F150's....so I said the heck with it and bought an F250 SD with the V10....for what I do it'll handle it with ease and not have to worry about overloading the truck.

The older trucks of course are much easier to work on as they're far less electronically controlled, and easier access to engine components....it was quite the chore replacing the spark plugs and ignition coils on my V10 F250...its not hard, its just the space is the limiting factor, and having to do it blind for the most part as you can't see the plugs as they're down in a recessed space that you can't see into.

The 302 and 351 are both good engines....the problems lie in the lack of maintenance by previous owners which 99% of the time is well no maintenance. As long as they put gas in it and it gets them to the beer store they couldn't care any less about it.