8 Foot Bed / Other ?s

[Gomez]

I'm going to replacing my 88 F150 soon. I've been waiting to see the 04 F150, and from the pictures I've seen, it looks much more appealing to me than the 03.

Initially, I had dismissed the F150 and was seriously considering the SuperDuty
since you could not get a manual trans in the 1/2 ton. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

I'm no longer stuck on having a manual, but there are a few other things that are steering me back towards a SD.

1. I want an 8' bed.

2. I want an extended cab (for when the wife AND dog are along).

3. I'd like leather seats (easier dog hair removal). /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

On the 04 F150, to get an 8' bed, the highest trim level is the XLT.
With XLT, you can't get leather. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

All the above things are available in the
03 F250 AND a manual trans (if I decide
I want one).

I've monitored the ford-truck website for
some time, but I figured I'd throw this question out here as well.

Any comments would be appreciated. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[yooperdave]

Can't you get some seat covers?

I have a XLT F150 and I do have lots of dog hair /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif!

I also have lots of dog "marks" all over the windows.

Just some of the joys of having dogs that love a ride.

Yooper Dave

 

[F350Lawman]

If you like the 04- F150 why not get it and get one of those tube steel bed extenders that flip over and with the tailgate down five you about 8' of bed. The CC in the 04- F150 is supposed to be pretty big so it should suit you.

I have an F350 8' bed but I usually have my toolbox installed guess I really only have a 6' bed /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Only time I take it out is when I need to load gravel or wood chips in the bed. Normally I get along fine with the 6' of space.

I wouldn't let the bed size stop me from getting the F-150 IF that's what I wanted. As long as it has enough towing/hauling capacity for you that is.

 

[bgott]

http://www.leatherseats.com/

Get the XLT and then add your own leather. However, being the '04 is a new design, you might have to wait awhile for the covers you want to be produced.

 

[Egon]

If you want an 8 foot bed and are gona haul/pull stuff get the 250.

Egon

 

[MikePA]

<font color="blue"> Any comments would be appreciated. </font>
I'd use the F250 SD as the base truck and add options from there. Be advised that an extended cab truck with an 8 foot bed is a long truck and will take some getting used to.

I currently have a Chevy K1500 Extended Cab with a 6.5 foot bed. While the previous owner added an additional leaf in each rear spring pack, I wish it was a 3/4 ton, or even a 1 ton. I priced new Chevys and the cost to go from a 1/2 ton to a 3/4 ton was not that large and it's definitely worth it. Might even look into the $ to go to a 1 ton.

 

[cowboydoc]

I wouldn't own anything but an 8' bed. You have to decide what it is you want to do. If you don't need the F-250 though you will be sacrificing mileage. With the price of the 150's now you can get a 250 for about the same price. If I was looking get a 250 with the new diesel. Your mileage will be better than either gas engine and you will have a really cool truck to drive. Nothing you won't be able to pull with it. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Gomez]

Thanks for the replies.

I would LOVE to have a new SD w/6.0 Powerstroke. (Even
with its first year problems). /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Not sure I need that much truck, though. Also, the extra $$$
could be pushing it a bit. I could buy a BH with the difference. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[F350Lawman]

I would LOVE to have a new SD w/6.0 Powerstroke. (Even
with its first year problems).

They should be taking orders for the 2004 trucks anyday(maybe already?) so you can avoid many of the 1st year bugs /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[cowboydoc]

On the diesels my dealer will sell to you for $500 under invoice plus give you all the rebates.

 

[Phred]

The extra cost of the diesel is no big deal if you intend to keep it since you will get your money back.

My F250 is 10 years old with 120K miles and the engine is just getting warmed up. It will start great even in the cold and runs very well. The rest of the truck has a had a hard life. Farm and construction work. Truth is in my case the engine may outlast the rest of the truck.
200K to 300K is not uncommon.
Hard to do with a gas burner.

Plus you have the cool sound /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Just kidding, the new ones are much quiter.

I would like to replace mine in the next year or two and both the new dodge and ford diesels have a lot to offer.

You won't be able to find a hill big enough to challenge a turbo diesel with that B2400 in tow.

Fred

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

Find out if there are any conversion companies (outifts that redo basic vans and pickups into the fancy, tricked out ones)in your area. A lot of them order in leather seats and still replace them as they can sell the factory seats to people like you.

If that's not an option and you're ordering the truck, ask the dealer to order in something he's getting for stock that he'd normally order with the lower trim level with the leather seats and swap them with yours. Pay him the difference on the list prices on the seats plus the two R&R labor charges.

You get the seat you want. The dealer's inventory truck has the seat trim level he wanted for it. The service department got a little work out of the deal, too.

Problem solved and everyone's happy.