Bye Bye Sierra Hello Expy

[lncoop]

My wrench man just gave me the green light, so I'm taking down an 06 Expedition 4x4 Eddie Bauer with 78k miles. The seller is getting my 05 Sierra Z71 Crew Cab with 98k miles and a thousand bucks. In 23 years behind the wheel this will be my first time to not have a pickup. Feels kinda strange, but I'll pick up an old beast this winter for a couple grand, and it will be nice to have all that people hauling space when next summer rolls around. Also, it has the 3.73 gears instead of the 3.42s in the Sierra, so it should tow at least as well and probably better. Giddyup.

 

[DJ]

Re: Bye Bye Sierra Hello Expy

Going backwards?

 

[windsors03cobra]

Re: Bye Bye Sierra Hello Expy

Sounds nice, good old 5.4 litre I'm guessing ?

 

[lncoop]

Re: Bye Bye Sierra Hello Expy

Going backwards?

Sorry DJ, you lost me there. Yep, 5.4.

 

[fat fanny]

Re: Bye Bye Sierra Hello Expy

I'm with DJ anytime you trade a Ford for a Chevy your going bacwards period! But I do hope it works out for you. Good luck!!

 

[642mx]

Re: Bye Bye Sierra Hello Expy

Expy's are very nice and the really cool part is, they don't require any of my money to build them.

Congrats and post some pics!!!!

 

[sublauxation]

Re: Bye Bye Sierra Hello Expy

Some days I miss the pickup but I wouldn't get rid of my Expedition for anything, you'll love it. 5.4 is great, pretty sure they fixed the spark plug popping problem. I bought one of those hitch hauls that fit into the 2 inch receiver for times when I don't have the boat, works great and keeps nasty stuff from messing up the carpet. Good luck, hope it works well for you. I'd say you came out good in that swap.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Bye Bye Sierra Hello Expy

I'm with DJ anytime you trade a Ford for a Chevy your going bacwards period! But I do hope it works out for you. Good luck!!

Oh, okay. Gotcha. Yeah, that's the ongoing debate LOL. I've generally had good luck with both, with the exception being the one I just unloaded. I think the drive train's good for many more thousands of miles, but it was about to nickel and dime me to death.

 

[Joshua Nichols]

Re: Bye Bye Sierra Hello Expy

Sounds like a good rig.. Chevy truck?? well I wouldn't own one.....

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Bye Bye Sierra Hello Expy

I'm pretty much a Ford guy but I'm not sure I'd be able to justify that trade?
Your gaining a one year newer truck and 20,000 miles and putting out $1000?
Doesn't the crew cab seat 5 or 6 persons?
I've had a few 5.4L trucks, they ran fine but were hard on gas.
You may be gaining a passenger seat or two but losing lots of cargo area the way I see it.
Was the Chevy a 4x4? Long bed?
I've owned both a 2002 Expedition and 2002 and 2005 Chevy 1500 extra cab pickups, both 4x2 trucks, the 2002 Chevy ran circles around the Ford and got over 20 mpg. The Ford barely hit 15 on long easy trips. The Ford trans failed at 101K, the Chevy is still going strong today with it's new owner at 180K. The 2002 Chevy had the 4.8L, the '05 had the 5.3L and drank more fuel.
As much as I like Fords, I'd take another minty clean Chevy with the 4.8L again in a heartbeat over any of those year Fords. The last Ford pickup I really liked was my 1995, after that the body styles just don't do it for me. The HD series looks better but I'm just not a fan of the new look they have. At least GM has held pretty consistent over the years that way.

The one point about all the newer Fords that really bothers me is the fact that my knees hit the corner of the dash getting in and out on every model since the 1998 body style change. The 250 and larger models were ok, but that half ton cab is just too tight for a big guy. Overall, the GM is just way more comfortable too.

It may be a different situation if your not 6' 4" tall but I drove a company truck, a 1999 F150, and a 2005 F150 both for three years each and both had the same issues. The first Chevy I drove belonged to a buddy of mine, I used his truck on a 200 mile tow and was surprised at how well the 4x2 half ton with a 4.8L did towing, all while getting over 22 mpg the whole trip. A short while after that, I found nearly an identical truck at auction for cheap and added one to the fleet at the shop. While the 2005 wasn't as nice or trouble free, my main complaint with the '05 was gas mileage and brake issues. Otherwise it was ok. The 2002 was a far better truck overall.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Bye Bye Sierra Hello Expy

I'm pretty much a Ford guy but I'm not sure I'd be able to justify that trade?
Your gaining a one year newer truck and 20,000 miles and putting out $1000?
Doesn't the crew cab seat 5 or 6 persons?
I've had a few 5.4L trucks, they ran fine but were hard on gas.
You may be gaining a passenger seat or two but losing lots of cargo area the way I see it.
Was the Chevy a 4x4? Long bed?
I've owned both a 2002 Expedition and 2002 and 2005 Chevy 1500 extra cab pickups, both 4x2 trucks, the 2002 Chevy ran circles around the Ford and got over 20 mpg. The Ford barely hit 15 on long easy trips. The Ford trans failed at 101K, the Chevy is still going strong today with it's new owner at 180K. The 2002 Chevy had the 4.8L, the '05 had the 5.3L and drank more fuel.
As much as I like Fords, I'd take another minty clean Chevy with the 4.8L again in a heartbeat over any of those year Fords. The last Ford pickup I really liked was my 1995, after that the body styles just don't do it for me. The HD series looks better but I'm just not a fan of the new look they have. At least GM has held pretty consistent over the years that way.

The one point about all the newer Fords that really bothers me is the fact that my knees hit the corner of the dash getting in and out on every model since the 1998 body style change. The 250 and larger models were ok, but that half ton cab is just too tight for a big guy. Overall, the GM is just way more comfortable too.

It may be a different situation if your not 6' 4" tall but I drove a company truck, a 1999 F150, and a 2005 F150 both for three years each and both had the same issues. The first Chevy I drove belonged to a buddy of mine, I used his truck on a 200 mile tow and was surprised at how well the 4x2 half ton with a 4.8L did towing, all while getting over 22 mpg the whole trip. A short while after that, I found nearly an identical truck at auction for cheap and added one to the fleet at the shop. While the 2005 wasn't as nice or trouble free, my main complaint with the '05 was gas mileage and brake issues. Otherwise it was ok. The 2002 was a far better truck overall.

As stated in the OP, it was a Z71 crew cab, so yes 4x4. Bed was super short (under 6'). It seated 5, but not comfortably, and hauling that much human cargo meant all gear had to go in the bed, which I could have lived with if the truck hadn't had so many problems. In the three+ years I've owned it the following has been required, some at my expense some at theirs: both cats replaced (twice), entire stereo system completely rewired due to a squeal they could not isolate and eliminate, horn contacts, SIR coil, tranny was slipping from takeoff (seems to have been eliminated following flush fill and filter on my dime), complete fuel system flush when truck started dying while idling, left front wheel hub (that one hurt), and the beat goes on since there's more I can't recall at the moment. And, lest you say I've already replaced everything, it's due for an a/c belt, new brakes fore and aft, plugs, left front impact sensor (air bag light is on) and other fun stuff. In other words, while the power train may have a lot of life left in it, the Sierra was about to nickel and dime me to death. UNCLE!!!!!!! Now, the Expy seats eight comfortably (gain of three passenger seats), rides WAY better, has 20k fewer miles and is a year younger. Plus, the interior is in much better condition than the Sierra. And, based on comps I'm not giving up any of the equity I had in the Sierra. Can you justify the extra G now?

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Bye Bye Sierra Hello Expy

The '06 Expy is NOTHING like an '02 Expy. They share a 5.4L which isn't even the same 5.4L (2V vs 3V). The spark plug blow-out issue was fixed with the new generation 5.4L, however they did have issues with a 2-piece spark plug breaking upon removal. In any case, it's of little consequence. Comparing fuel mileage for an engine more than half a litre smaller isn't really a good comparison. The gas mileage for a 5.7 and a 5.4L are pretty close, they both put out aruond 300HP, and do the job admirably. I don't know many guys who've owned a Ford truck/expy that had the tranny go out at 100K as the tranny itself is pretty stout as long as it isn't abused. I had 140K+ on my 98 F150 without a slip and nothing but a filter/fluid chance twice just for routine maintenance.

The expy will be a great trade-up IMO, and the rediculous electrical issues that ALL GM's seem to have (thanks to Delphi) should be avoided. Window motors, ignitions, gauge clusters (especially the fuel gauges) on the 90's/early 00's were absolutely TERRIBLE.

I'd say it's a good trade for $1K. The solution to your "cargo carrying" might be better solved with a small utility trailer which will carry more than any truck would, take up less space, cost less money, and be perfectly happy being towed behind the Expy.

 

[sublauxation]

Re: Bye Bye Sierra Hello Expy

Assuming the Expy is 4X4, you did good on that trade, don't let anyone convince you otherwise.

I get about 18 mpg on my Expedition without a boat on the highway, about 14-15 with it. That's not bad in my opinion. My Exploder only got 19 mpg and 12-13 with the boat.

One problem on the Expedition is the paint on the liftgate likes to bubble and fall off, especially just under the glass and above the plastic trim above the license plate. Keep an eye on it and catch/fix them early and she'll look pretty for a long time.