Why order an FX4 package after reading this forum?

[ProtonDecay]

Heh, I actually use all, or nearly all, of the FX4 bits on most trips. Terrain mode took awhile to learn, but now I count on it. Trail control is a huge advantage on long, tedious trails with large swaths of monotony interspersed with interesting obstacles. The locker has saved me so many times. The front limited slip actually works (see my other posts for the video). Now, it is true that I swapped out and added many thousands of $ to get an off-road worthy tow vehicle (wheels, tires, bumper, sliders, under armor, front suspension, rear suspension), but now I have a truck that really works the way I'd like. The Tremor, IMHO, was a lot of money for middling fixes to only a few of the things that needed to be done to get the truck I wanted. To each his own, I am very happy with my Ranger.

Side note - just finished installing the Icon replacement springs - huge improvement! We mostly tow, where the stock springs were adequate, but the times just going around town between trips got to be too jarring on my aging back. The Icon setup at 50% is so much nicer.

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[D Fresh]

You're making my exact point. The $3800 or whatever it costs to upgrade to the tremor package, IMO is a complete waste of money. In the aftermarket you can get the exact tires, wheels, and suspension that you want for $3800 or less, and still have all of your stuck stuff to sell to the highest bidder on marketplace. All in you're probably more like $2800 or $2400 once you sell what you took off.

My point is, the tremor package represents bad value, and looking at it as "you get $XX of stuff for a $500 discount!" is just bad economics, straight through. But, Ford knows people are lazy, and a lot of people dont want to fuss with their truck after they buy it, so sell them a turn key "off roader" and they can go park on snowbanks at the mall.

No I'm not, perhaps I'm not explaining mine well enough though.

Let's say you have neighbor, he's looking at a Ranger. He's ordering new so it's dealers choice.

He thinks he's done his research and he comes to you telling you this is his plan.

He wants an FX-4 because that's what he wants, he wants a leveling kit, and he wants a set of progressive rate multi leaf springs. Also, he wants different wheels and upsized tires. Like it or not, basically THE formula for 90% of the trucks here. Leveling kit, he's thinking Fox or Eibach, tires, he's not sure but we wants an aggressive AT, springs he likes the ROW springs he's read about here, and for wheels he really likes the look of the ones on the Aussie Rangers.

He could do as you would suggest, buy the FX-4, and mod it himself. He could then turn around and sell the factory bits as you suggest. Those parts would run him about $3800 to purchase. And between running around getting tires mounted on the new wheels and installing his suspension he spends 2 days putting it all together. He's a fairly average guy, he makes $150 a day at work. All told now he's $4100 into his home built Tremor.

But wait, he's got stuff to sell.

He's got a full FX-4 suspension, rear leaves included. But unfortunately that's literally worthless. I've seen people fail at giving them away here.

Wheels and tires though, those have got to be worth something, right? Well the factory FX-4 Hankkoks are hot garbage that don't move fast or for much on the secondary market. I know, I sold mine. Wheels are worth a bit though. Let's be super generous and say he gets $1000 for the set of 4.

Now we're down to $3100 for a home built Tremor equivalent. $200 more than Ford wants for their Tremor.

Even if you try to sell the takeoffs the math still doesn't work. And the math absolutely proves that if the offering of the Tremor package are what you are looking for it is a good value.

Again, why did you buy an XLT over an XL? Because you wanted what the XLT offered over the XL. But why didn't you follow your own advice and just add those bits yourself?

 

[D Fresh]

Heh, I actually use all, or nearly all, of the FX4 bits on most trips. Terrain mode took awhile to learn, but now I count on it. Trail control is a huge advantage on long, tedious trails with large swaths of monotony interspersed with interesting obstacles. The locker has saved me so many times. The front limited slip actually works (see my other posts for the video). Now, it is true that I swapped out and added many thousands of $ to get an off-road worthy tow vehicle (wheels, tires, bumper, sliders, under armor, front suspension, rear suspension), but now I have a truck that really works the way I'd like. The Tremor, IMHO, was a lot of money for middling fixes to only a few of the things that needed to be done to get the truck I wanted. To each his own, I am very happy with my Ranger.

Side note - just finished installing the Icon replacement springs - huge improvement! We mostly tow, where the stock springs were adequate, but the times just going around town between trips got to be too jarring on my aging back. The Icon setup at 50% is so much nicer.

Where did you find an aftermarket limited slip front diff?

 

[AvockAdoo]

No I'm not, perhaps I'm not explaining mine well enough though.

Let's say you have neighbor, he's looking at a Ranger. He's ordering new so it's dealers choice.

He thinks he's done his research and he comes to you telling you this is his plan.

He wants an FX-4 because that's what he wants, he wants a leveling kit, and he wants a set of progressive rate multi leaf springs. Also, he wants different wheels and upsized tires. Like it or not, basically THE formula for 90% of the trucks here. Leveling kit, he's thinking Fox or Eibach, tires, he's not sure but we wants an aggressive AT, springs he likes the ROW springs he's read about here, and for wheels he really likes the look of the ones on the Aussie Rangers.

He could do as you would suggest, buy the FX-4, and mod it himself. He could then turn around and sell the factory bits as you suggest. Those parts would run him about $3800 to purchase. And between running around getting tires mounted on the new wheels and installing his suspension he spends 2 days putting it all together. He's a fairly average guy, he makes $150 a day at work. All told now he's $4100 into his home built Tremor.

But wait, he's got stuff to sell.

He's got a full FX-4 suspension, rear leaves included. But unfortunately that's literally worthless. I've seen people fail at giving them away here.

Wheels and tires though, those have got to be worth something, right? Well the factory FX-4 Hankkoks are hot garbage that don't move fast or for much on the secondary market. I know, I sold mine. Wheels are worth a bit though. Let's be super generous and say he gets $1000 for the set of 4.

Now we're down to $3100 for a home built Tremor equivalent. $200 more than Ford wants for their Tremor.

Even if you try to sell the takeoffs the math still doesn't work. And the math absolutely proves that if the offering of the Tremor package are what you are looking for it is a good value.

Again, why did you buy an XLT over an XL? Because you wanted what the XLT offered over the XL. But why didn't you follow your own advice and just add those bits yourself?

You win Doug.

No use arguing, we're both stubborn, and I'm frugal - so I usually go the harder route, pound the pavement, buy take offs, etc.. so I'll leave it here, for me - the tremor is a rip off.

But then again, so was my whole ranger. Endless issues and a manufacturer who doesnt care. Mine is long gone now, but I do still hit this forum every week or so because I like the group of people here, but that's all beside the point.

You eat your cake, and I'll eat mine.

 

[Dr. Zaius]

Where did you find an aftermarket limited slip front diff?

I think he's referring to the electronic traction control on the front diff.

 

[Iowa Guy]

ya my buddy has a 62 swap on his tacoma with a set of deavers and 14" fox smoothies and it rides really nice the main reason for my want for them is when i finally sell my overland trailer i plan to buy a gfc and ill need leafs that will support more weight then stock but i dont want it to lift the rear of the truck and deaver has an option so it will improve ride and payload a bit and not lift the vehicle.

265s will look good a lot of members here run that size and have no issues with them and keep good mpg i chose 275s since i didnt want a 265 to small and didnt want a 285 for its weight or really needed a 33 so i went for the middle lol

id like to tune mine but ill prob wait awhile and do all my other stuff i want done before i tune my truck

Changing the leaf springs will not change the truck payload, that is determined by the stock axle rating

 

[D Fresh]

You win Doug.

No use arguing, we're both stubborn, and I'm frugal - so I usually go the harder route, pound the pavement, buy take offs, etc.. so I'll leave it here, for me - the tremor is a rip off.

But then again, so was my whole ranger. Endless issues and a manufacturer who doesnt care. Mine is long gone now, but I do still hit this forum every week or so because I like the group of people here, but that's all beside the point.

You eat your cake, and I'll eat mine.

Nothing wrong with that. And that's a little different than what you were communicating.

If a person wanted to build a homemade Tremor out of even a 4x4 using Tremor takeoffs sourced from Tremor owners who've changed parts out that would be a great value. And hardware wise it would certainly be cheaper than buying it from Ford. The problem would be the time as those takeoffs sre few and far between.

Also, don't forget to pay yourself for your time when you're trying to be frugal. Your time is valuable too.

Sucks you got a stinker. Hope the Taco treats you well.

I think he's referring to the electronic traction control on the front diff.

That makes sense. Thought I missed something.

 

[MXGOLF]

There are two versions of the front skid plate. Are you saying you replaced with the silver fx4 bash plate? Or that the black non fx4 skid plate was stolen off your vehicle?

My Ranger had the littler black one if I remember correctly and the long rubber air dam. I removed the smaller one and put on the larger silver one and added the two small air dams by each wheel. That was 8+ months ago so I don't remember exactly what I did.

 

[Dr. Zaius]

I'm gonna put a Rubicon sticker on my Ranger and a Tremor sticker on my Jeep, just to watch the world burn...

The Holy War has begun.

Muahahahahaha!!

 

[TXRangerTim]

The Holy War has begun.

Muahahahahaha!!

Now that's just blasphemy. It looks like it might be applied more level than on most Rangers though.

 

[Dr. Zaius]

Now that's just blasphemy. It looks like it might be applied more level than on most Rangers though.

I applied it with GIMP, so I was able to tweak it a bit ?

 

[dtech]

I think we are all better off with any Ranger variant than a Subaru Forester Wilderness, KIA Sorrento X , Honda Passport Trailsport to name a few, count your blessings folks !

 

[Todd Chapin]

I did not seek out a fx4 but did want 4x4 with a locker having needing it in my Frontier that had open diffs.

I got lucky that they had a
lariat fx4, max loaded that had been on the lot for 4 months and got it well under msrp.

I have 2k plus upgrades in tires and suspension. I mostly daily drive it but do take trails in NC. Mostly moderate offroading but the fx4 package works very well for me and I am glad I have it ( minus the obnoxious sticker?)

Oh and if the Tremor had been available in 2019 I would seriously shopped it.

 

[sklnbnz]

Try trail control on somebody else's truck sometime. Not saying you need it or should have it, but it's worth learning about.

We've got a really steep driveway at our place in Glacier that turns 180 degrees at the steepest section. Getting up or down that when it's icy, with a fully loaded truck, is so, so much less sketchy using TC. And that's just a simple driveway as one example. Another good one was I had to climb a crazy steep miles long grade down by the grand canyon last spring. Very rocky, very bumpy. Trying to modulate the throttle myself was very jerky. But setting TC to 10mph just smoothed it out nicely.

I've actually used TC in our Bronco and it is nice in certain circumstances for sure, the downhill assist is great too. BUT... for my use in the Ranger build, not a necessity.

 

[Pinepig]

But then again, so was my whole ranger. Endless issues and a manufacturer who doesnt care. Mine is long gone now, but I do still hit this forum every week or so because I like the group of people here, but that's all beside the point.

Damn shame you got a built on Friday just after liquid lunch truck.

Mine has been solid for the admittedly low miles ( 24k ) I have on it.

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