'06 F-150 Advice

[michelle]

2006 King Ranch F150. Have it overnight for a "test drive". Any suggestions on what I should look for? Not sure if it has the original plugs in it, but I am aware of that issue.

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[Prince Valiant]

Look under the hood...if it's ford powered, give it back


:goof

[Waver]

Look under the hood...if it's ford powered, give it back


:goof



Ha, ha. Over all they are not bad trucks. how many miles are on it? I am surprised that some dealers are still doing the "puppy dog" close. Most insurance companies dont allow it.

[michelle]

Puppy dog close?

It has 107k on it. More than I would like, but the bottom of the doors look absolutely brand new. I can't find any rust on this thing, especially considering most miles were put on in when it was in IL. It's a one owner who did a few things to it (exhaust, Edge programmer, in-dash navigation and everything else unit, nice new tires, etc.). I could do without the bright blue wireloom all over the engine bay though, but that's an easy fix. Would rather have the stock radio over the Pioneer unit, but the navigation is nice. The King Ranch is a nice package, but more than what I had on my "requirement" list. All I was looking for was full size 4-door, sunroof, and floor shifter. Figured that would put me in a few XLT and FX4 packages, but never gave the KR much look because of the $$ that usually comes with it.

[BOSS LX]

How much is it?

[michelle]

I sent you a PM. Well I tried, but your box is full. :goof

[BOSS LX]

I sent you a PM. Well I tried, but your box is full. :goof

Clear.

[Waver]

Puppy dog close?

It has 107k on it. More than I would like, but the bottom of the doors look absolutely brand new. I can't find any rust on this thing, especially considering most miles were put on in when it was in IL. It's a one owner who did a few things to it (exhaust, Edge programmer, in-dash navigation and everything else unit, nice new tires, etc.). I could do without the bright blue wireloom all over the engine bay though, but that's an easy fix. Would rather have the stock radio over the Pioneer unit, but the navigation is nice. The King Ranch is a nice package, but more than what I had on my "requirement" list. All I was looking for was full size 4-door, sunroof, and floor shifter. Figured that would put me in a few XLT and FX4 packages, but never gave the KR much look because of the $$ that usually comes with it.

Puppy Dog close, I.E. letting the customer take it home over night. Usually when a person has a vehicle over night they establish mental ownership. Kind of like kids taking home a puppy and the parents say only over night. By the time the day is over, the kids are so attached to the puppy, the parents end up keeping it.

As far as what you are looking for.....
XLT's dont come with the floor shift from the factory in the years you are looking at. To get that you have to look at an FX4 or higher.

Plugs should have been changed, since the average time frame to change the plugs is about 60-100,000 k on those vehicles. If it was done at a dealership, it should appear on a car fax, (not an autocheck). If you get it and want to get rid of the pioneer nav system, I would possibly be interested in it.....even get you a factory one in its place.

[jbiscuit]

Why so many miles?

[Rocket Power]

5.4? When we bought my Screw, we test drove a 5.4 and 4.6. I was surprised at teh power difference between the two.

[michelle]

5.4L. The "performance" option on the Edge programmer makes it a bit more peppy too. I could feel the difference between the three options.

[Rocket Power]

I love my Screw and whenever it dies I'll either get another or a crew cab Super Duty. Mine's got over 160,000 miles

[Gregor]

I have the 4.6 in a F-150 and the truck is a pooch. At least comparied to my current work truck, 2011 Ford F-250 Diesel and the 04 RAM Hemi 1500 I had before. The Ram would run circles around it even with 300000 miles on the ticker.

Glad you went with the 5.4. The 4.6 sucks.

Watch for the torsion bar in the tailgate it sometimes sticks in cold weather. Make sure you have the upgraded 4x4 actuator on the firewall. Your 4x4 hubs are powered by engine vacuum. It water gets in there and freezes your hubs wont lock. It happened to me twice.

There is a airbag recall on them also. But that might have been done before they let take it off the lot.

[Waver]

I have the 4.6 in a F-150 and the truck is a pooch. At least comparied to my current work truck, 2011 Ford F-250 Diesel and the 04 RAM Hemi 1500 I had before. The Ram would run circles around it even with 300000 miles on the ticker.

Glad you went with the 5.4. The 4.6 sucks.

Watch for the torsion bar in the tailgate it sometimes sticks in cold weather. Make sure you have the upgraded 4x4 actuator on the firewall. Your 4x4 hubs are powered by engine vacuum. It water gets in there and freezes your hubs wont lock. It happened to me twice.

There is a airbag recall on them also. But that might have been done before they let take it off the lot.

I can run the vin number to see if there is any open recalls on the truck

[Sprayaway Fox]

Have them change plugs in it, I dont care how many miles it has. They like to gum up with deposits and they like to get stuck in the head (ford makes a tool for this actually) but if it still cracks off your gonna pay for it.

If you like it, I would make sure they handed you the old plugs before you sign the papers. Good luck.

[michelle]

The changing of the plugs is going to be my main point tomorrow.

It was husband and father approved tonight. My dad even said I did good on picking it out! We grabbed our car trailer and put our heaviest car on it ('96 SHO) and tested it on the freeway, hills around here, bumpy roads, etc. It did really well.

This is going to be a bit of an upgrade from my 2001 Taurus! :goof

[Gregor]

The changing of the plugs is going to be my main point tomorrow.




I would make it a condition of the sale. Change the plugs or no sale.

[GsxrBots]

5.4L. The "performance" option on the Edge programmer makes it a bit more peppy too. I could feel the difference between the three options.

Make sure you have premium in it when switching to level 3. Mine knocked like a bitch with regular 87 octane in it... Overall don't be afraid of those miles on a 5.4. But definitely have them change the plugs...

Posted from my HTC EVO using tapatalk...

[michelle]

Make sure you have premium in it when switching to level 3. Mine knocked like a bitch with regular 87 octane in it... Overall don't be afraid of those miles on a 5.4. But definitely have them change the plugs...

Posted from my HTC EVO using tapatalk...

I read that later in the manual and felt like a moron. I switched it back to stock shortly after I was testing it all out, but still.

I'm hoping they agree on the plugs in the morning! It looks really nice in my driveway!

[Rocket Power]

What's up with the plugs on the newer 5.4's? I have the blow out option:goof what did they changed when they went away from that?

[badass88gt]

I have an 05 FX4 F150 and like it, was actually thinking of selling mine to upgrade.

[STANMAN]

They went to a 1 piece plug design when they started having problems. The "original" plugs are a two piece design, and the "lower" piece likes to get galled into the aluminum heads. 4.6's (like the one in my Mustang) had the same issues. Go to a 1 piece plug and everything is fine.

Michelle, make sure they use premium plantinum plugs 1 degree cooler than normal if you plan on using that "performance" tune, it just adds a safety measure, and as long as they are going to be in there anyway it shouldn't be a problem for them.

[michelle]

Thanks for all the advice guys! I'm anxious to get over there this morning and make a deal. Deal requirements: New plugs and $5k trade-in value received on my Taurus and the van. Basics: Put normal antenna back on (the manager mentioned it right away since he recently used it to haul something - wood it looks like since the bed was never fully emptied) and new plastic housing on one of the mirrors is cracked.

I've never got to make a deal like this before, so it's kind of cool. :goof

[wrath]

Ford 5.4L 3 valve engines aren't too bad. Never been impressed with the transmission. Which rear axle and gears does it have? Does the KR come with a limited-slip?

I wouldn't buy right now. My truck has 40k on it and I can trade it for what I paid for it two years ago... something wrong there.

[michelle]

I have an 05 FX4 F150 and like it, was actually thinking of selling mine to upgrade.

Did you have the cam phaser issue? I heard that was taken care of on the 2006's.

[Dr.Buick]

Good Luck.

[BoosTT]

Does it have a built in brake controller? I'm not sure what year ford started putting them in the F150's.

[michelle]

Does it have a built in brake controller? I'm not sure what year ford started putting them in the F150's.

It has the pigtail under the dash and it hooks right up to our brake controller that we'll keep. Nothing from factory.

[Waver]

I wouldn't buy right now. My truck has 40k on it and I can trade it for what I paid for it two years ago... something wrong there.
It is kind of funny, but since cash for clunkers, the values of vehicles at auction are going up. 2 year old Focus' with 25,000 are going for what you could get them with rebates in 09 (sticker of 16900 going for 13-14k) at auction...Not surprising to see some dealers asking 17k for them....It is like that across the spectrum

Does it have a built in brake controller? I'm not sure what year ford started putting them in the F150's.That wasnt an option till 09

[badass88gt]

Did you have the cam phaser issue? I heard that was taken care of on the 2006's.

If that is why my truck sounds like a diesel that wants to rattle apart, then yes, I have that option...

[-stew-]

It is kind of funny, but since cash for clunkers, the values of vehicles at auction are going up. 2 year old Focus' with 25,000 are going for what you could get them with rebates in 09 (sticker of 16900 going for 13-14k) at auction...Not surprising to see some dealers asking 17k for them....It is like that across the spectrum.


I think dealers are just using that as an excuse to inflate prices. From watching some shit on eBay and trying to sell my own car, nothing seems to be drawing any money. Idk, maybe its just that I'm looking more at older shit. I'd think that market would have been hit harder.

[Flicktitty]

best of luck with the truck. my dad has a 05 f150 with 44k on it. truck has a good list of shit "wrong" with it.

[Waver]

I think dealers are just using that as an excuse to inflate prices. From watching some shit on eBay and trying to sell my own car, nothing seems to be drawing any money. Idk, maybe its just that I'm looking more at older shit. I'd think that market would have been hit harder.

Stew, I wish that was true, however cars are bringing stupid money at auction. At least cars that are 2003 or newer.

[michelle]

I now own a 2006 F-150 King Ranch.

[xxtremeteam]

cool congrats I really want a 4dr f150 but in white

[michelle]

Thanks! I originally wanted white as well, but I really like this color. Kind of nice to have something different besides black, red, and white. I love the two-tone too.

[Dr.Buick]

Must be Nice to have CASH like that

[pOrk]

Must be Nice to have CASH like that

Must have got the big promotion at the school! Congrats on the new purchase Michelle, don't booger it up by pulling a Taurus on the trailer anymore!

[Slow Joe]

I think dealers are just using that as an excuse to inflate prices. From watching some shit on eBay and trying to sell my own car, nothing seems to be drawing any money. Idk, maybe its just that I'm looking more at older shit. I'd think that market would have been hit harder.

Yeah, that's not the case. I'll back Nick on this one... Because of cash for clunkers, the lack of leasing from '08-the end of '10, financial issues, etc there just aren't enough vehicles out there, and dealers are trying to keep vehicles on their lots. That means that the prices are up at auctions, and across the board. Older stuff hasn't seen the increase, however it hasn't really decreased either.

BTW Congrats Michelle! That looks like one hell of a nice truck!! P.S. I'm jealous!! Only cause I was looking at them earlier this year and they were 4-5k more...

[michelle]

Must be Nice to have CASH like that

Yeah I am just rolling in it! :rolf

[CATNHAT]

I now own a 2006 F-150 King Ranch.

Congrats! Is it going to be big enough to haul those big dogs!

[Dr.Buick]

ford= MONEY PIT cangrats

[1320PNY]

Congrats.

[michelle]

Still sad to see them go. Or leave them, I guess.

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I saved my altezzas though! :devil

[Prince Valiant]

*sigh* someone didn't listen to me.

:goof


congrats! Nice upgrade for sure!

[STANMAN]

Awesome!

[michelle]

So far, I am really liking it. It's super comfortable to run around in and although it's big, it doesn't feel obnoxiously big like the van was when driving it. Weather looks nice today that I can give it a good bath after the rain lately and to get the tire shine off the truck that seemed to splatter on my way home from picking it up. And take some better pictures.

I found some more data on the radio/navigation/thing.
http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-AVIC-D3-Navigation-System-Player/dp/B000MY72F0/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1308192133&sr=8-9

I believe it is that one. Decent? I don't know anything about aftermarket audio systems. The speakers in all the doors look non-stock too, but they are covered by the door panels that I don't want to take them off to find out. I'm not an audio person, but it sounds good!

[88Nightmare]

The d3 is a few years old now but for what you want to do with it, it should be decent. I might be wrong but I think one downfall of the avic d3 is you need the navigation disc in to operate it so you can't listen to music and run the nav at the same time

[michelle]

The d3 is a few years old now but for what you want to do with it, it should be decent. I might be wrong but I think one downfall of the avic d3 is you need the navigation disc in to operate it so you can't listen to music and run the nav at the same time

I noticed that. It has the jack in the glovebox for an iWhatever. I'm sure one day I will pick one up, which would solve that problem. I like my CDs and regular radio. I see that XM option on the unit as well, but I am not in a vehicle long enough to make that worth it either. On the plus side, I was playing with the options on the Pioneer and the Edge unit and can get both to switch to a nice pink display color! (:

[michelle]

Haven't had windows tinted on a vehicle since 2004. What should I expect to pay for the two front windows on this truck to match the factory rears? I miss tinted windows!

[The Shaolin]

Call around and compare some prices. I would guess $75 or less.

[xxtremeteam]

my brother used the place grampss recomended to him superior window tint they do good work and great prices something like 25.00 a window I think and lifetime warranty

[Mudd Runner]

my brother used the place grampss recomended to him superior window tint they do good work and great prices something like 25.00 a window I think and lifetime warranty

I used superior when I got my explorer 50 bucks for the front 2 windows.

DroidX Tapatalk

[Yooformula]

I've had my car and client cars tinted by Joe Rachel and he does GREAT work with awesome prices!
http://tinterforhire.com/aue/

[CATNHAT]

^^ x 2

[michelle]

Old vs. New. ):
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Interior
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Ooooogly!
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[FoxStang]

Teacher driving a King Ranch.... Figures!



Just kidding, awesome truck, I love the color of KR leather.
I would have had them pull all of the dealer crap off too, but that's easy enough to do. Can't tell from the pictures, does that have the class IV tow package?

[Rocket Power]

That cold air intake tube looks small. Maybe its just the pic. Love the truck.:thumbsup

[michelle]

I would have had them pull all of the dealer crap off too, but that's easy enough to do. Can't tell from the pictures, does that have the class IV tow package?

It already had the sticker on the back, but I was more comfortable taking it off when I got home with it than have them do it. The rear plate will go too.

Might be a dumb question, but how can I tell the difference between a III and a IV?

[-stew-]

Might be a dumb question, but how can I tell the difference between a III and a IV?


Worst. Math teacher. Ever.

[wrath]

Easiest way to tell is just look at the sticker on the hitch or maybe Ford has it stamped in. Class III = 7500lbs, Class IV = 10,000lbs, and Class V is 12,500lbs without a weight distributing hitch. I have yet to see a Class V or higher that didn't take front most hitch mounts in front of the rear spring hangers.

Get airbags, a beefy rear sway bar, and a weight distributing hitch and you'll never look back. A brake-sensing brake controller is worth every penny. I've always liked Tekonsha controllers.

[michelle]

Easiest way to tell is just look at the sticker on the hitch or maybe Ford has it stamped in. Class III = 7500lbs, Class IV = 10,000lbs, and Class V is 12,500lbs without a weight distributing hitch. I have yet to see a Class V or higher that didn't take front most hitch mounts in front of the rear spring hangers.

Get airbags, a beefy rear sway bar, and a weight distributing hitch and you'll never look back. A brake-sensing brake controller is worth every penny. I've always liked Tekonsha controllers.

Thanks! I'll take a look at it today. I'm going to assume it's a just a class III since it isn't a Super Duty.

[michelle]

Worst. Math teacher. Ever.

If I had a nickel...

[BoosTT]

If you need a brake controller still, get the "Brake Max" brake controller. It IS the best one you can buy. The only downside is the cost ($350). It uses the same method as the built in brake controllers.

Weight distribuation hitches and sway bars help a lot too. If you need a WD hitch setup, check craigslist. I've seen some good deals.

And, Nice truck!

[michelle]

I have a brake controller already, but I would definitely like to upgrade to a load leveling/weight distribution hitch with the car trailer.

[88Nightmare]

W/D hitches are nice but I felt like I didn't need one when towing cars on an open trailer with my 1/2 ton silverado. Truck towed just fine.

[wrath]

Thanks! I'll take a look at it today. I'm going to assume it's a just a class III since it isn't a Super Duty.

It might be a class IV depending on what the truck is rated to tow. My truck has a class IV because it's rated for 10,400lbs.

If it's too much work to put a factory brake controller on a Ford (brake controllers that sense line pressure are awesome) I'd look at getting a higher-end inertia controller. They work fine. The ones that sense line pressure are really nice when pulling heavily loaded trailers or ones with brakes on only one axle. Otherwise you probably won't miss it that much.

Bags are really nice because you can:
Put a lot more tongue weight on the truck.
Not get motion sickness from the pogo stick effect of a light spring rate, especially if you have car-type shocks with too much rebound and not enough compression.
You can keep it level so then your headlights are where they're supposed to be, you don't have the back of the truck diving when hitting the brakes, and you don't have the back of the truck lifting when you accelerate.
Stiffens the rear of the truck so it doesn't feel like the trailer is going to push the back of the truck around corners, especially if you have car tires (as opposed to light truck LRD or LRE).

Sway bar is nice to have, especially when pulling a lot with a lot in the bed of the truck.

Weight distributing hitch is kind of an irritation until you are pulling more than the truck weighs. It's nice because you can get some of the trailer weight onto the truck and some of it can be put on the front tires of the truck. It helps slow down the pogostick effect when the trailer starts wallowing and trying to drive the hitch of the truck into the ground. If you've got car tires with a lot of sidewall (say 5" of sidewall or more) then it's nice because you can put an anti-sway device on the weight distributing hitch. There are two types, the most common is a friction device (makes it more difficult to turn) and the less common type is basically a steering damper (or two) found on the front of SFA trucks.

Once you get to the point of considering an anti-sway device on the weight distributing hitch you might actually find that putting shocks on the trailer will help more. Or your tires just don't like the kind of tongue weight you've got on them. Or just too much tongue weight.

And all of this is assuming that you make it so whatever is on the trailer is not moving independently of the trailer. That is, if you're hauling a car on a trailer it should move as one unit with the trailer. You probably already do this anyway since the miles put on the suspension of your car by being trailered is far harder on it than what the racetrack has to offer.