Out with the old, in with the new (to me)

[M R Dux]

When I bought my red 2007 FX4 truck, I had found it at a dealer in south Texas. His price on similar equipment and miles was $6000+ cheaper than any I could find within hundreds of miles. I took a leap of faith and flew to Houston on a 1-way ticket. The dealer picked me up for the 2.5 hour drive.

The truck was exactly what I had hoped for BUT I didn’t look into a spark plug issue with the 5.4 Triton engine in the model years around mine. I went to a local certified mechanic a year after I bought it who said changing out the plugs and removing broken electrodes was no big deal.

Long story short— the mechanic shop destroyed my engine and all together cost me the$6000+ I had saved when I had a Jasper engine installed (by another mechanic) at 78K miles.

Fast forward, I have some changes coming down the pike that will warrant quite a bit of travel. My FX4 had 173k miles and was not up to the task at hand. I had installed a fiberglass topper several years ago that was a billboard for both my businesses as well as the businesses that support me.

I’ve been a Ford devotee since I bought my 1st of two 1970 Mach1 Mustangs shortly before Vicki and I wed.

Her Dad bought into a large stake of a local Ford Lincoln Mercury dealership soon after we married. That pretty much led me to 40+ years of Fords.
I recently took up the quest for my newest Excel puller.

Today I signed my life away for a 2016 F150 with all kinds of towing bells and whistles. It has a 3.5 EcoBoost turbocharged V6 that I have done a lot of research on with positive feedback. We found out a friend of ours bought the truck new and took excellent care of it. It did sustain damage to the tailgate when it was being brought to me that is going to be fixed as soon as I can find the time to be without it a couple of days. The new truck has a flat, fold up bed cover that I think will work just fine while giving me tons more view even though it has a rear view camera.

With the topper and decals off ,the FX4 looks like a different truck. I’ll gladly give the5.5’ red topper with no side glasses to somebody who will come pick it up. I also have a 6.5’ topper for a 2001 series extended cab. It is a roof-level Century red paint that still has decals but has been inside a barn since 2010. Come getit it’s yours.

I took these pics today. The 07 right before the dealer brought the 16 back after new Michelins and alignment. I’ll miss the console mounted shifter and buckets of the FX4. Vicki says the Caribou color of the 16 matches the Tan Excel. I’ll take her word for it.






Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

[SpeckledSlab]

​Hope it serves you & your family well.

[M R Dux]

Btw, the 07 pic was during a quick hail fall from a heavy thunderstorm that flooded around my shop.


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

["G"]

Good looking truck

[crp4570]

Great looking truck. Well as good as a ford can.

[LittleJohn]

Congrats Doug on your new vehicle.
LittleJohn

[Retired2Fish]

The new ride looks good and should pull the boat with ease.

[wannabe fisherman]

those ECO-BOOST engines run like a lot bigger engine with good mileage.

["G"]

Are you going to get it wrapped ?

[ET Fish]

I like it!