Greetings from a new member. I'm relocating from Austin TX to Colorado and decided that my current car (a 99 SVT Contour) just isn't going to make it as a winter driver. The front spoiler has trouble clearing speed bumps, so I can imagine what a p.i.a. it would be to drive it in a foot of snow. My last truck was a 1990 F-250HD 4X4 which I really enjoyed (until an idiot hit it head-on doing 45 mph.) I've decided that I need a new F-150 X-cab w/ the Offroad Package.

Before I buy the truck, I wanted to ask you folks a few questions. First, how are the factory Goodyears in the snow? I'm not planning on doing much serious off-road driving, so I'm not too worried about their abilities offroad. Have any of you needed snow tires? My old F-250 dug through snow like an SkiDoo, but its wheels were a lot more narrow than the ones that come with the Off-Road package.

Secondly, has anyone had trouble w/ their paint? Ford repainted my old F-250 because the clearcoat started peeling, and I've know several people with SVT Contours who are driving around with new paint jobs courtesy of FoMoCo. Any paint problems with the F-150s? Are certain colors worse than others?

Also, I was wondering about transmission troubles. My Dad has a 97 4X4 Expedition w/ the 5.4 and he is on his 3rd tranny at 50K miles. Any problems w/ the newer trucks?

One last question for now -- are there any other common problems I should look out for? I'm going to try and find one without the sliding rear window so I shouldn't have to worry about the leaking problem.

I'm excited about getting back into a truck. It's been 5 years since I sold my F-250, and that's just way too long to go without a truck.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Sam in Austin
99 Contour SVT (current)
2001 F-150 XLT Supercab w/ the Off-Road Package (soon)

 

Well I hope you find a truck soon as you need it for all that snow as for the Goodyears mine did very well last winter in the one snow storm we had in TN last year and my truck is a 4x2. So far no problems with the trany after 21,000 plus miles of driving and no paint problems either then only time my sliding window leaks is when I'm at the car wash using the presure washer it hasn't leaked in the rain yet.

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2000 F150 XLT Reg. cab
4.6 Triton Engine
4x2 3.55 rear end gear
sliding rear window
automatic keyless entry
white styleside short box

 

Welcome to the board.
No problems with the Goodyears in the Colorado snow and mountains on my previous
97 F150, 98 Expy, and my current Y2K F150.
Not paint problems, or tranny problems with any of the 3 all 5.4L and auto 4X4s.
Over 31,000 on the 97, about 29,00 on the Expy (still have it) and 20,000 on the Y2K.
Good Luck

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2000 F-150, XLT, SPORT 4X4, BRIGHT RED/DARK GRAPHITE, SUPER CAB,
SHORT BED, 5.4L, AUTO, 3:55LS, TOW PACKAGE, HD COOLING/ELECT, SKID PLATES
SPORT CLOTH SIX WAY POWER CAPTAIN'S CHAIRS, CONSOLE, SINGLE CD,
CRUISE,ESOF,REMOTE KEYLESS, FORD SNAPLESS TONNEAU COVER, FORD BEDLINER,
FORD MOLDED SPLASH GUARDS, FORD BODY COLOR CABSTEPS,
MODS: CATCH ALL FRONT MATS, LUND DEFLECTOR, FORD VENT SHADES,
GIBSON SWEPTSIDE CATBACK,
K&N GENII FIPK,
FORD HITCH COVER

NEXT: SUPERCHIP!!

 

I can't tell you for sure about the trans, but my mom's Expedition (99) has 40k on it and is trouble-free so far. As for the tires, it depends on WHICH Goodyears you get on it. The Wrangler RTS tires suck in anything other than dry pavement. I had them on my 97, and they just didn't do well in either snow or mud, and didn't grip worth a fart in the rain or slush. From what I've heard, the Wrangler ATS tires are far better in those conditions. I can't say for sure because my truck hasn't seen the rain yet, let alone been pushed through the snow and slush. Won't be long, though.... got our first snow last night, so I drove the Explorer today. :-)

-Joe-


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98 Explorer (Lemon Law Case in Progress)

'00 F-150, X-cab, 4x4, Lariat, Off-road, Trailer Tow, Holandia Sunroof, built 11/99 picked up 10/00!
List of planned mods: Clear corners and tails, CB wiring, Stainless brush guard, at least 1 set of KCs (probably more!), custom radar detector mount, color matched trailer hitch with stainless steel ball, torsion bar tweak, bug deflector, spray in liner, and a tonneau of some sort...