Anyone have a Ford Expedition?
 

This one is within my driving distance. Looks to need just some minor bodywork. I need a larger vehicle to transport all the kids. Minivan is too small now.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/231135798514...torefresh=true

Being a Chinarider I have to look for the best deal out there.:tup:

That was weird. Talking ad, with music. I didn't like that...

I don't know KBB on that but the price seemed very low to me, with minor cosmetic damage. Could be a great deal.

Too many kids for a minivan? That's a lot of kids!

Out here people (jokingly) refer to full size passenger vans as 'Morman Vans' Big families there.

They tend to be less money than SUV's because they lack the style and panache/macho of an SUV (like that matters...) and don't have 4WD usually.

Same mileage, more room, and less expensive than a comprable SUV.

If hauling a lot of people is a concern consider a Morman Van ;-)

I have looked at the big vans too. They actually command a fair price around here if you can find one that has not been used to haul commercially. The problem with the minivan is that when everyone is in there is no room for their stuff. It also only really seats 6 in reasonable comfort. 7 people and the three in the back are very tight. We ride with 7-8 so that means two cars.

4wd is not really needed neither is the style. I actually like this one since it does not have all the leather and frills that break all the time.

The edmunds value was about $7200 in good condition. Kbb is usually higher than that.

Headlight $50, fender $80, Bumper cover $275. Hood is repairable. Paint about $300. So about $700 should have it looking good again. My guess about $3K at a body shop. Maintenance guy at work does auto body on the side. He can paint it. I only need it close.

I bet that 5.4l is thirsty.

I watched the video a couple of times, and it doesn't appear to have much more room inside than a Pontiac Montana / Chev Venture, and both of those vans can seat eight.

The later model Caravan with Stow and Go seating is really nice, because seven people can ride comfortably, and there is cavernous space in the floor (behind the driver's seat) and in the back (behind the rearmost seat). The 3.6l VVT engine is just shy of 300hp, and it gets unbelievable mileage. A lease return can be had for a very reasonable price. My 2011 is about to come up for purchase for around $7000.00, with only 65,000 miles on it. Remember that is a Canadian price, and you should be able to pick one up for even less.

With whatever you choose, the rear HVAC is totally worth it. I spotted rear HVAC in the Expedition ad.

I'd also look at a full size van before an AWD Expedition. I can appreciate that eight people and two cars is difficult, and being able to haul everybody in one vehicle offsets some poor mileage.

Our van is an 05 with the stow and go. It has been fine up until now. We plan to keep driving it and add another vehicle to the fleet. Part of what I am after is a vehicle that can handle the trailers too. This won't be a daily driver, just the one that can be used when everyone is going at once.

I am surprise that your van is so cheap. The seem to sell for more in the US.

I haven't found any grand caravans with 8 seats. Does yours have a bench in the middle?

I don't like the GM minivans. Really a Ford person, but I look for the best deal.

How about this morman van. I would like a non extended one.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-E-Serie...US_Cars_Trucks

another option..

i bought this lil over a year ago. 02 gmc safari awd... fully loaded. has more interior space than a suburban!. 3 row seating, so could seat 8 if needed..

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n.../sahara3-1.jpg

i wanted this vehicle as it has a truck drivetrain.. the vortec 4.3 is pretty well bullet proof. mine came with a classIII hitch with trans cooler/oil cooler and 7 pin e brake controller. so i can tow with it as well. or just plug the hauler and throw bike on back..

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n...a/IMAG0407.jpg

a typical minivan has engine that sits in frame sideways and trannies won't hold up to pulling over time. the safari will pull all day long. we just had some nasty weather here recently and the awd worked flawlessly...

remove the 2 rear rows and you can lay 4x8 sheets of plywood in there, so a twin bed/air mattress or cot fits nicely.

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n...a/IMAG0408.jpg

i never thought i would have a van, but i must admit it one of the most versatile vehicles i have had yet! has rear heat/ac that works nicely... had 96,000 miles when i bought it and has 106,000 now and only thing it has needed is oil changes. runs like a watch!... i gave $5,000.

I had a safari. Spun two rod bearings in Iowa. Really didn't like it either. That van must have been a friday build. I built the transmission with 4l80 planetaries and a shift kit.

It did have alot of space, but I want the V8. I am planning on towing 6-7K trailers.

We have been using the town and country, but towing with it is really not good. 1500lbs is okay.

My Caravan has buckets in the middle row and seats seven in total; I've never seen a Caravan that could seat eight.

I've never heard a good thing about Ford minivans, particularly the Freestar. I like Ford and GM mostly. I'm not a Dodge guy, but I can't deny how versatile these vans are.

You could make some money on those crazy rims, and I'm not sure that you'd want a lifted van. Not sure what it would take to lower it to stock, without knowing how they did it.

I think that van would be rock solid for a long time.

X2 on an Astro / Safari with a 4.3 Vortec and a Class III receiver. I've put about 100,000 miles on an extended Astro with excellent results, but it was uncomfortable for me. Since the left side wheelwell is under your left foot, there's nowhere to stretch your left leg on a long drive.

I would not want a lifted van for hauling kids either. Forgot about the no foot room of the safari. So many bad things with that van. It only got 14-15 mpg too. I can get that with a V8 or even the v10.

We stopped and looked at an excursion yesterday. My wife like it. :yay: Its what I wanted. The excursion has room behind the third row seat.

expeditions are good vehicles, hope you have good luck with it. the 5.4 is a good engine. maybe find out if the plugs have been changed, they can be troublesome... either pulling threads outta head or snapping clean off.

sounds like maybe yours had issues.. my awd got 19.2 pullin a trailer with two bikes on it... haulin 2 people and camping gear running ac as well on a trip outta state.

totally agree about the cramped foot room thing though, sometimes i hit both pedals at same time...

I think that the engine had some problems that led up to the spun bearings. Even after we put a new crank, bearings, and oil pump in it still was not right. I got rid of it after the new crank was installed. Only lost about $1000 on it after a year of repairs.

I also did not like how difficult it was to work on. We managed to put the new crank in from the bottom of the van. Removing the engine requires lifting the body off the subframe.

Not concerned about the 5.4 sparkplugs. The newer ones break off and there is a tool for that. Tip is to remove them hot with an impact. The earlier ones would strip the threads and leave the engine. Had that happen on an old subaru. Thought the exhaust fell off again, but we found a loose plug wire with a missing plug. Auto parts store in Shakopee, MN had one left. Threaded it back in and continued on our way. This subaru was worth about $50 with a full tank.

i have had several f-150's over the years, two of em had the 5.4. i never had a single issue with em. last on i had was getting to the point it was bout time for the spark plug swap. bout that time i was wanting a 3/4 or 1 ton truck and this one fell into my lap...

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n...527_150428.jpg

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n...527_150453.jpg

was a no brainer... sold the 150 and bought the 350 with the 7.3/manual trans. i don't drive it that often... it sits in barn mostly but i can throw my camper in back and tow a trailer same time no problem. so now... dunno if i should sell the van for something a lil smaller, but it does such a good job.

decisions decisions... :hmm:

I have always like that body style. The excursion we looked at had the same colors. You got the best powertrain.

i like the obs (old body style) trucks too, this my 3rd one with 7.3. a good friend of mine (farmer) bought this one new, he had a couple.. when he found out ford was changing to the super duty he ran out and bought this one as he wanted no part of the ugly super duty.

he has had it ever since. i seen it in his barn covered in walnut dust with 4 flat tires and 2 dead batteries. asked if he would sell.. said NEVER! 2 years later outta the blue he calls and says it's time. i sold mine and picked it up.... great truck, only one spot of rust on inside of pass door and has 104,000 miles. even has updated single stage solid flywheel clutch!


anyway... you get that new rig post up some pics..

The excursions with the 7.3 bring too much of a premium price over the v10 for me. I know that I will only drive it about 8K a year so mileage is not going to be a big concern. The V10 will be able pull tractors. I think the 5.4L expedition will pull the tractors I want to move too.

I was also surprised to hear Kato's mileage figure on a Safari / Astro. The two Astros I had (a '93 and a '94) both delivered amazing mileage, even loaded with tools and parts for work. Plenty of power as well.

Too bad about the foot room.

I was surprised too after we got it. Mine was a lemon and left a bad taste for GM products. I have looked at suburbans, but its hard to get over the cheapness I feel in a GM product. The current stuff seems to be put together much better. I have 2013 silverado at work and it has been flawless except for a uhaul truck running into it.

Hard to blame that on the Silverado.

Nope. Parked at the gas pump. Uhaul driver tried to drive an 8ft wide truck into a 3 foot space.

My one ton 2006 Ford 5.4l ex Home Depo rental truck with added lift kit.
Most useful truck that I have ever owned but bad on gas (12 MPG). One day the lady at the rock pit put 3.5 tons of gravel on her. Too much load but she handled it.

I would love a dump bed. I am sure that the mileage is mainly due to axle gearing on that truck. Probably has a 4:30/1 or something. What do you haul in that trailer?

Yep, the dump is so handy. I've only driven it 10 k miles in two years so the MPG is not a killer.
I can remove the top part of the trailer to convert to an open 6x12.
Hauls calves, one big bull at a time, cows, tractor, motos, junk, whatever.
Bulls get to fighting so only can carry one at a time.

Back of the one ton Ford with a few additions.

I bet your bike and your truck are both easy to find in the parking lot ;-)

Here is one that is not too far away. Pretty low mileage yet. Already has a tow package on it. 6.0L with 3.73 axle. Should handle up to about 10K without issue.

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-s...55574376&Log=0

Scheduled to take a look at this van next Saturday. 2004 with only 35K miles.

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-s...56893935&Log=0

Nice! That should handle your family.

Nice vehicle.

You could drive that around SLC and you'd fit right it ;-)

I think we would have to pimp it some. Some shiny 18" wheels would make it look good. Chrome bumpers and a composite headlight upgrade link the nicer ones have.

Who are you, and what have you done with Kato?

Lmao!

I can fit a whole dumpster in the back. Maybe find a set of wheels in one.

We got a winner. Looks like a trip to Missouri later this week.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/301081097254...84.m1423.l2649

Looks like a good buy. That should haul your crew plus some more.

GREAT CHOICE.

Looks clean, and exactly what you need. A perfect Mormon van ;-)

The only down side is that it will drink gas, I'd guess less than 15 MPG but for your purposes will not be much of an issue.

I'm sure you can fix the exhaust cheaply enough, but I bet it will be a knuckle buster if the manifolds have to come off. Vans are a PIA to work on depending on a variety of factors.

Back in the day when I was an EMT 90% of our ambulances were gasoline powered 350 Series Ford Econolines. Despite their hard service and leadfooted paramedics ( ;-) ) they would go 300,000 miles easily.

My Dad has one and it has only been in for oil changes. 200K and last week had a tune up done. He has the 5.4 in a E350 cargo van. Idles alot to run the large power invertor and still gets about 15mpg overall.

I am only planning on 12-15mpg with the V10. Currently known as the big gulp. It should pull the trailers and haul everyone. Going to take out one seat and move the large one forward. We usually need room for 8-9. Everyone will have room and elbow space. I told the teenage girl I was going to have prisoner transport put on the sides.

Not really looking forward to the exhaust, but it shouldn't be expensive. Broken exhaust studs are common. Getting them out is may prove to be fun. I think I will have to work from the wheel wells.

This one has everything I wanted. Power windows, locks, cruise, brake controller, hitch, cloth seats. Heat and AC are suppose to work.