New (to me) 2007 F150 CCLB

[Longrange308]

So last night I traded the Xterra in for a CCLB F150. The truck is in great shape and came with full service records. The nice thing too is the fact that I was also able to purchase an all-inclusive extended warranty with it.

The truck had some ugly seat covers on it when I looked at it, but they did a great job protecting the seats as the fabric is in damn near perfect shape. The truck also has a nice spray in beadliner, bed perimeter hold down hooks, and weathertech floor mats front and rear and almost new Toyo tires. Im now shopping for a camper shell, looking at snugtop and leer. I may just have to jump on craigslist though and see whats available because the price of a new snugtop is just outrageous (though I know they are the best)

So now I just have to decide how I am going to mount the offroad lights, 2meter and CB radios I salvaged off the Xterra. It will at least make for a good weekend project to plan all of the installs out.

 

[turboale]

Looks clean! Love the color too...

Sent from my SGP561 using Tapatalk

 

[richard310]

Can't wait to see what's in store for this rig. A good thing you're able to salvage some parts from the Xterra. What made you want to switch it up?

 

[Longrange308]

Thanks Austin!
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Richard, Plans are basic. 33" tires, 3" lift up front to level it out, snug-top or leer shell, lights, coms and a winch. I want to keep it basic and reliable. I figure I will get more utility out of it overall if I keep it somewhat basic. I need to live with it comfortably both in the back country and everyday around town.
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Ownership costs of the Xterra was just beginning to be too expensive. In the past year, I had to replace the lower control arms because the bushings were completely seized around the camber bolts, so I was not able to get a proper alignment, during that same time I had a cam position sensor that went bad and the timing chain needed to be serviced also. That was $3500.. Then I developed a rear pinion seal leak, so that was another few hundred to have the dealer fix, not to mention the U-joints in both drive shafts that were replaced, and most recently I had to have the output shaft housing and seal replaced on the T-Case because that was leaking and at the same time they discovered that the radiator was weeping (not quite dripping yet) so that was replaced as well.. When all was said and done, cost of ownership for it in the past year was well over $5k, and that's just repairs, not including general maintenance. It was just too much to swallow when I finally added it up.
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Fords are everywhere, they have been the best selling trucks for the last couple decades. The 5.4L Triton that I have under the hood has been around for a few generations now and there is TONS of aftermarket support for both the driveline and chassis. It just makes sense in my head that this will be a better vehicle for longer. Not to mention that this truck has a good amount more power and torque and sees better economy everywhere. The 30gallon fuel tank helps a lot in the backcountry range department also.

 

[duckhunter71]

One of my loan customers was considering a 2008 identical to yours except for being white with steel wheels. All I could think about the entire time we were talking about it was how perfect it would be as an expo truck. I'm excited to see what you do with this one. I love my 2014 with the EcoBoost V6, but I loved my 2010 with the 5.4L just as well. I had a 2010 Xterra Off Road for a little while and enjoyed it, but it always left me wanting for more. If you don't need something small and nimble, a full size truck is definitely the way to go. You should have a long, pleasant relationship with that truck!

 

[Longrange308]

Well, week one with a truck and I put it to use already. This past weekend I did some landscaping since its getting close to snow on the ground time (relatively speaking). I crossed the scales with an 11,100lb trailer full of top soil this past weekend. A few hundred pounds over the factory limit of 8600, and the truck pulled it like a champ, with room to spare. I was impressed it pulled so much weight so gracefully. I think I have a great canvas for a true back country rig that will be quite self contained.

I am currently on the hunt for a camper shell that isn't overly expensive.

 

[Longrange308]

So I haven't done much with the truck, but I haven't gone many places since I got it either. I did however do a front brake job with new premium pads and rotors, and I installed a rough country leveling kit. Now I just have to fill those wheel wells. I was pricing 33-34" tires today while at the alignment shop. Now I just have to decide between the Toyo Open Country AT2's (what the truck currently has in a 30" tire) and the Cooper ST MAXX's, which I had on my last rig and totally loved.


Here's a before and after of the leveling kit.

Sent from my mobile communicator device.

 

[Longrange308]

New tires today. 285/70-17 Cooper ST-MAXX. Just in time for this weekends Christmas tree hunting (yes, legally chopping down a tree in the national forest.)


Sent from my mobile communicator device.

 

[Raul B]

Looks great... im happy to see another Full size rig on here especially a F150

 

[pgidley]

Nice, I'll be following this closely. I just bought a 2007 Super Cab F150. It has a topper and is Dark Stone colour - my last F150 was a 2000, and is still running strong with 455,000km. I'm keeping the old one as a farm truck.

I also was planning on 33" tires, and 2" level with Bilstein 5100's. Only thing is that I have 3.55 gears, so I'm a bit worried about that. Although with the 5.4 it might be okay. I swapped my KC daylighters over from my old truck and picked up a Gryphon programmer secondhand for a great price.
Can't wait to see what you do with yours!

 

[Longrange308]

Nice, I'll be following this closely. I just bought a 2007 Super Cab F150. It has a topper and is Dark Stone colour - my last F150 was a 2000, and is still running strong with 455,000km. I'm keeping the old one as a farm truck.

I also was planning on 33" tires, and 2" level with Bilstein 5100's. Only thing is that I have 3.55 gears, so I'm a bit worried about that. Although with the 5.4 it might be okay. I swapped my KC daylighters over from my old truck and picked up a Gryphon programmer secondhand for a great price.
Can't wait to see what you do with yours!

Thanks!

I haven't done much yet. Im still searching for a used topper that I like that isn't going to cost me an arm and a leg for. Once I get that I will be building a removable sleeping and storage platform that I will be able to slide out and hoist up tight against the ceiling in my garage. Ive been finding toppers all over the place for the 5.5' bed, but the 6.5' bed toppers are rare as hens teeth.. Maybe worse..

I also plan on putting an aftermarket exhaust on it at some point, probably a magnaflow. I have seen decent MPG increases with aftermarket free-flowing exhaust on my previous trucks, and the exhaust system on this ford is pretty restrictive.

Other plans include mounting the LED lights from my old rig in the grille of this truck, as well as doing a hidden winch setup in the front bumper. When all is said and done, it should be a rig that will easily be able to get me into and out of just about anywhere that I want to go hunting, fishing and camping.

 

[pgidley]

Sounds like a solid set of plans. So far ive been sorting out some wiring. I hardwired in a usb outlet behind the dash to come on only when the radio is on since the always-on 12v plugs were bugging me. Now i have hidden power for my usb adapter and my garmin handheld. I also swapped my kc lights from my old truck. They are looking pretty tired though so i might replace them with some LEDs. I sorted out the truck cap wiring so that it is linked to the dome lights and not the reverse light (who thought that was a good idea?).

Let me know what you find for hidden which mounts. It seems that the warn short barrel only works on 04-05. Id love something low-profile.

Next up is some led reverse lighting for winter, and in the spring planning skid plates, 4.10 gears and 33" general grabbers. Thule rack for the cap, and whenever the current exhaust starts to leak ill put in a good stainless setup.

That should all keep me busy and broke for the next while.

 

[ak_cowboy]

Before you toss your KCs, pick up a HID kit with H3 bulbs and try them out. I love mine.

If you used a 3" levelling kit, watch your balljoints, they'll wear out pretty quick. Check the UCA angle also, mine would hit the coil under droop with just a 2.5" level.

 

[pgidley]

Plan is to go pretty conservative on the level, probably 1.75" or 2" with Bilstein 5100s. I was reading about the HID kit conversion, seems like something worth doing. The outside of the KCs is a bit rusted, but I have them mounted behind the grille, so you can't really see the housings.

 

[ak_cowboy]

Good idea on the shocks.I cranked mine up to 2.5, but also added a uniball UCA to help with flex and clearances. The HID conversion is as easy as swapping bulbs and wiring the ballasts to your existing hot/ground. You'll be shocked at how much more light gets put out. Do you have the spot or flood lens?