Yo Tileit1,
Congrats and good luck!
As Big Mike wrote; ck the fluids first, & look for:
besides the usual visual, driveability and leak checks, look for:
- oil pan rust - our 96 formed rust spots @ 60k miles
- radiator plastic side seam leaks esp. during engine cool-down period/overnight - 96 leaked @ 40k miles or so
- auto tranny and transfer case operation - electric push button motor/connector is a prob. area - shift motor connector/mtor gets whacked
- auto hub operation (get it in sand or mud and try the 4x4 system) - switch to manuals asap as Miketn wrote
- rust in inner rear fender lips and bottom of tailgate (our fender lips was rusting due to beach sand wearing the paint)
- radius arm bushing deterioration esp passenger side
- cracked exhaust manifold/y etc.
- roof/gutter area cracks (mostly earlier years)
- rotor warping/under specs (prob get only one turndown on oem rotors)
..
Do you have service records? or where prev owner(s) had it serviced? if so, ask dealership for an OASIS report. Maybe someone here in FSB has access to OASIS.
Have an Owner's Guide? If not, p[ost here & I'll give you the Ford url for a free on-line Guide (+ service schedules, etc. ) in pdf format.
https://myford.fordvehicles.com