Difference between a FX4 or a 4x4?

[DukeCanBuildit]

Not all. Definitely 2WD trucks in Canada. The thing driving the high take rate is the trade-in/resale market will pay the majority of the original cost of 4WD. That is because the demand for it is so high.

For the OP - just get the standard 4WD and skip the FX4.

I think @LaBalbe is referring to 5g Rangers - only available here in 4x4 - no 2WDs - unless something has changed recently.

To @widetrax … Treat yourself to a Lariat 4x4 - at 78, you’ve earned it. The Tremor comes equipped with all kinds of off-road goodies, including agressive tires. The FX4 comes with a few less off-road goodies and standard A/T tires. The regular 4x4 works just fine for most 4x4 needs but is missing a cool looking front skid plate found on the FX4 and Tremors.

Your sales guy has his idea of the suspension backwards (stiffer on Tremor - for good reason - it has better rebound damping).

FX4 and regular 4X4 ride like a big old sedan, a little bit of lean in the corners and a bit bouncy over expansion joints or railroad crossings. A simple rear shock upgrade on either of these two addresses that for most folks. Tremor already has upgraded suspension, front and rear.

I think you’d be happy with either the FX4 or 4X4 but the comforts of the Lariat over the lower trim levels are worth it, especially if this is your last truck.

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[Todd Chapin]

The pure trash tendered about the junk stock shocks performing better the faster one drove was laughable. Don't bother trying to tender that crap again because myself and a growing number of others now know from experience, an expensive lesson at that.

My 2019 listed for $43.6, and to be fitted with crap shocks from the factory was pure embarrassment. Ford should have been flogged at the stake. Sorry Ford, that was a bad judgement call on someone's part, presumably to balance the development budget.

Trash? I drove my fx4 for 2 1/2 years and did not know how bad they were until I read about them sucking on this forum as well as needing bigger tires, better lights, dash cam, weather tech floor liners, trifold bed cover, spray in bed liner, bed rug....?

But once I decided I wanted to keep my truck for the long haul upgrading to Eibach was a good investment and drastically improved the truck. Had i turned in the truck at the end of the lease I would have been happy with stock fx4 dampners and crappy Hankooks it came with that did ok on and off road.

 

[Progeny2021]

personal experience aside, show some data to back up what your ass feels. its that simple.

How was the recent batch of meth tea at the homeless camp? Those of us who bit the bullet know the differences in suspension performance. I don't pander to fools.

 

[D Fresh]

I'm ordering a new 2023 as soon as possible and want a 4x4. How much difference is there between the two? Does one ''ride'' better? This will be just a grocery-getter, no ''off-roading'' for me. I'd like to have the best ride available, with the 4x4 power,, if needed. Thanks for looking at this,,,

Here's my thoughts. You said you're getting a 4wd no matter what, you're 78, and this is your "last truck."

Get a Lariat Tremor. The Tremor will have the best ride on the road of any Ranger from the factory hamds down. At your age you probably don't want to be modding the suspension, stock is probably prefered.

Treat yourself. Lariat Tremor.


Also, welcome.

The way the salesman explained it to me, the standard 4x4 will be stiffest (probably also the least squat when loaded with X weight in the bed), FX4 next, Tremor next. The Tremor has the most pleasing ride around town and also the most articulation off road as it is the softest sprung, but will also have the most squat (to a point, as it also has a progressive rear spring package), at least, that is what the salesman said….

That's a good synopsis. It's rare to find a salesman that knows what he's talking about.

*Unless you have an FX4 with Terrain Management in which case the locker will stay on up to 55-60 mph if you have the TM in Sand Mode.

Through extensive research (fuckin' 'round to find out) I've found that the locker will STAY engaged up to at least 55ish as long as you keep your foot in it and keep it locked up even in 2wd. That's with AdvanceTrak off also, not sure if that matters.

Those that say the FX4 shocks are garbage probably cant tell you why they think that. Sheep comes to mind because "thats what everyone else says" Take the naysayers with a grain of salt.

They are severely underdamped in compression, and only marginally better in rebound.

At 11k miles I could compress my rear take offs by hand like an accordian. And while I don't have a damper, I'm by no means strong.

 

[halligan1201]

Not rough , bouncy with terrible rebound dampening

I dated a girl like that once.

 

[Progeny2021]

but you do like to personally attack them.
give it a rest.

you like your truck better, great, happy for you. but it doesn't mean everyone wants the same thing as you. does it bug you a lot when people can enjoy their ride without modifying and spending money, or are you more pissed because you spent the money and need to justify why?

I really don't care.
don't respond back, i'm not going to trade barbs with you on this. not worth my time. I said my piece to the OP, and hopefully he takes the advice about the salt and makes his own choices. He can buy what he wants, outfit it with whatever shocks he wants. I'll sleep good tonight and wont be tossing and turning hurling insults at you for whatever reason.

I promised the admin that I will ignore you from now on, not put you on 'Ignore'. Too many of your posts are priceless and worth the screen shot.

 

[D Fresh]

i know thats been said before, maybe a couple times. but at 11000 miles can you confirm they were like that at new, or had something failed internally by that time?

we all know stock shocks are garbage on everything you buy, not just FX4 or lariat, Dodge Chevy or KIA...they all are mass produced garbage. Anything aftermarket better be higher quality, that's the backbone of their business.

the stock shocks, for the most part are sufficient for most drivers needs, no one can argue that.

Can I confirm to your standards? Likely not. Can I confirm? Absolutely.

From my own experience driving the truck from new, 23 miles I think, the rear shocks were not failed when I removed them. From test driving I knew that the factory suspension in both 4wd and FX-4 Rangers left much to be desired. The ride is great on smooth streets, as @DukeCanBuildit said, like a big old sedan. But driving a Cadillac over rough roads is not ideal.

My shocks showed no sign of leakage at all. They're still in the rafters of the garage, I know a good shock dyno shop, you pay the fee and we'll get them tested.

I would never try to argue that the stock shocks are not sufficient for MOST people's needs. Ford, and every other manufacturer, has spent millions in suspension research to know the market.

I also wouldn't say that I'm the average consumer when it comes to vehicles. Every mass produced vehicle is made of compromises. Generally my position is on the losing end of that compromise. I wouldn't even that any of us here are. This forum is a very small percentage of Ranger owners.

 

[bRaptor]

Once you hit a massive speedbump it should smooth out the ride.

 

[deleriumtremor]

That's a good synopsis. It's rare to find a salesman that knows what he's talking about.

He has been selling trucks to farmers for a long time. It is the largest dealer in the area, no dickering, fixed pricing.

He was the guy who took my original Tremor order, before I found my current XLT FX4.

They will be where I take the windshield recall to.

 

[YaBoiNewton]

I'm ordering a new 2023 as soon as possible and want a 4x4. How much difference is there between the two? Does one ''ride'' better? This will be just a grocery-getter, no ''off-roading'' for me. I'd like to have the best ride available, with the 4x4 power,, if needed. Thanks for looking at this,,,

Ride quality isn't noticeable. I drove both, swapped my Fx4 shocks for aftermarket shocks later on. Bought the Fx4 for the styling of the front skid plate and locking differential.

A good locking diff is worth the money in my opinion. A 4x4 with an open diff will fall short as soon as wheels come off the ground.

 

[jflogerzi]

Just get add the rear locker and skip the FX4 package

 

[SteveRanger]

Lol,

LOL , I was about to post something similar . What type of vehicle are those who are complaining about the FX4 ride coming from , a Mercedes ? My Lariat FX4 rides great . In fact the wife has been in a MB since the 90's and she even likes the ride of the Ranger .

Lol, I come from driving crappy work trucks that are on their last legs, so this truck rides like a dream for me.

 

[RANGER_MARC]

I'm ordering a new 2023 as soon as possible and want a 4x4. How much difference is there between the two? Does one ''ride'' better? This will be just a grocery-getter, no ''off-roading'' for me. I'd like to have the best ride available, with the 4x4 power,, if needed. Thanks for looking at this,,,

I got the FX4 on my 2019 Lariat but quickly replaced the stock suspension with the Ford Performance Leveling Kit. The stock FX4 was way too bouncy! I have been very happy with the truck since I upgraded the suspension. From what other members report, the Tremor seems to have the best ride of all the stock Rangers now available. If I purchase another Ranger in the near future, it will likely be a Tremor (or Raptor). The best advice I could give is to spend significant time test-driving all the available options, regardless of what the sales advisor says. It is easy to overlook things during a short, "around the block"-style test drive...

 

[SteveH]

Up here in NY. Hell, off roading means going down the street for milk and bread. Roads in my neck of the woods are awful!
Being in the Finger Lakes area has its rewards. And punishment. We can get brutal lake effect storms in a blink of an eye. And my 40 mile commute has taken 3 hours in the past.
We've always had at least one AWD or 4x4 in the driveway. Usually both are.
I find the Ranger's ride a touch bouncy. But not bad at all. 2022 XLT 4x4 with locker.

 

[JohnnyO]

They are severely underdamped in compression, and only marginally better in rebound.

At 11k miles I could compress my rear take offs by hand like an accordian. And while I don't have a damper, I'm by no means strong.

Shock valving is based on percentages. Most shocks are 50/50, i.e. the compression and rebound forces are equal. Now for example, most drag race cars run 90/10 shocks in the front, 90% compression and 10% rebound, to allow the front end to rise easily for weight transfer to the rear. From the way people describe it, I'm thinking the FX4 shocks are maybe more like 40/60, soft on compression to absorb bumps off-road and more rebound to keep the tires on the earth after they are compressed. Maybe good for off-road but not necessarily the best for on-road.

Just an educated guess, I am not a suspension engineer and I did not stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

Also I wonder how many Ranger owners came from cars and SUV's and simply weren't expecting the stiffer ride that a truck gives you. If you think these trucks are bad I can point you to one of the Rangers I had previously, a 2002 Off-Road Package with shocks as big as my calves and rode like a cement mixer. I went from that to my first Sport Trac and it felt like I'd stepped into a Town Car.

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