Need some recommendations for my 2019 XLT FX4 Ranger

Stephen Abbene

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Hello,

I bought a 2019 XLT FX4 ranger in Sept of 2019. Ive done quit a few road trips in it now and some light off roading. The truck is pretty stock. I added some shrockworks rock sliders, and an ARE topper that I built a deck in for camping. The deck and camping gear stay in the truck 99% of the time. So far its been a great truck.

I'm not sure if this is the correct board to post to, but because I have questions about the engine/suspension/etc this seemed like the best place to me.

What I don't like:
1) When accelerating to pass there is often lag. Some times it is fairly significant between hitting the gas and having the truck respond. This is pretty annoying, and potentially unsafe?
2) The suspension is very soft. Going over even small bumps causes the truck to rock like a boat.
3) On rougher or washboard roads I get a fair amount of bump steer. So far this hasn't been a real issue, but it does feel concerning when the steering wheel is suddenly turned in a direction you don't want to go.

What I really like:
1) I get pretty good gas millage. I recently drove ~2,000 miles from the San Francisco Bay area to Baja California, Mexico and averaged 22.5 mpg. This was a combination of highway, city, dirt, and off road driving.
2) The truck is fairly quiet. Compared to my 1988 ranger or my 2012 accent I get very little road/tire noise.
3) With the deck/camping gear in the back of the truck it sits pretty flat without a leveling kit.

What I would like feedback on:
1) To address the acceleration lag, I was thinking about the Ford Power Pack tune.
A) Will this actually help with the acceleration lag?​
B) From what I have read most people do not see a significant reduction in MPG and some even report a slight increase in fuel efficiency. Is this correct?​
C) I am not a particularly aggressive driver. I don't really care about going fast, and rarely tow. I get on the highway and set my cruise control at 70mph and call it a day unless I am passing someone.​
D) The rough shifting some people report doesn't really bother me, and happens only occasionally in my truck.​

2) To address the soft suspension, I was looking at the Fox "Tuned by Ford Performance" 2.0 Performance Series IFP shocks and coils.
A) It is my understanding that this will lift the truck 1-2 inches.​
B) What sort of impact will that have on my MPG?​
C) The advertising says that it will level the truck. But because of the deck/camping gear in my truck it is already level. Does this mean I will need to add some blocks to the rear suspension to keep it level?​
D) Will my truck look stupid with stock tires and a lift? If so what would be the impact of larger tires on my MPG?​
E) Will a lift make the bump steer worse?​

3) Any suggestions on what to do for the bump steer?


truck.png
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SigOris

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Install some Bilstein 5100's lot of us have and it really tames the Ranger wallow as I call it. Can't address the other stuff since other than the shock change my truck is bone stock
Winner Winner Chicken ? Dinner ? on this suggestion
 

Squatchranger

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Hello,

I bought a 2019 XLT FX4 ranger in Sept of 2019. Ive done quit a few road trips in it now and some light off roading. The truck is pretty stock. I added some shrockworks rock sliders, and an ARE topper that I built a deck in for camping. The deck and camping gear stay in the truck 99% of the time. So far its been a great truck.

I'm not sure if this is the correct board to post to, but because I have questions about the engine/suspension/etc this seemed like the best place to me.

What I don't like:
1) When accelerating to pass there is often lag. Some times it is fairly significant between hitting the gas and having the truck respond. This is pretty annoying, and potentially unsafe?
2) The suspension is very soft. Going over even small bumps causes the truck to rock like a boat.
3) On rougher or washboard roads I get a fair amount of bump steer. So far this hasn't been a real issue, but it does feel concerning when the steering wheel is suddenly turned in a direction you don't want to go.

What I really like:
1) I get pretty good gas millage. I recently drove ~2,000 miles from the San Francisco Bay area to Baja California, Mexico and averaged 22.5 mpg. This was a combination of highway, city, dirt, and off road driving.
2) The truck is fairly quiet. Compared to my 1988 ranger or my 2012 accent I get very little road/tire noise.
3) With the deck/camping gear in the back of the truck it sits pretty flat without a leveling kit.

What I would like feedback on:
1) To address the acceleration lag, I was thinking about the Ford Power Pack tune.
The lag is likely turbo lag so yes that would help being in sport mode will too but will reduce mpg some say tow mode helps as well.
A) Will this actually help with the acceleration lag?​
B) From what I have read most people do not see a significant reduction in MPG and some even report a slight increase in fuel efficiency. Is this correct?​
C) I am not a particularly aggressive driver. I don't really care about going fast, and rarely tow. I get on the highway and set my cruise control at 70mph and call it a day unless I am passing someone.​
D) The rough shifting some people report doesn't really bother me, and happens only occasionally in my truck.​

2) To address the soft suspension, I was looking at the Fox "Tuned by Ford Performance" 2.0 Performance Series IFP shocks and coils.
A) It is my understanding that this will lift the truck 1-2 inches.​
As far as I know you can do adjustable ones that will keep stock height but I don't know if the ford ones allow for that, the regular fox ones (no appreciable difference other than being adjustable) you can keep at stock height
B) What sort of impact will that have on my MPG?​
leveling or lifting will reduce but not a whole lot
C) The advertising says that it will level the truck. But because of the deck/camping gear in my truck it is already level. Does this mean I will need to add some blocks to the rear suspension to keep it level?​
You will be squatting unless you adjust accordingly yes if you get the adjustable ones for the rear you can help compensate
D) Will my truck look stupid with stock tires and a lift? If so what would be the impact of larger tires on my MPG?​
that is personal preference but depending on how high you go yes it can look like it is on stilts bigger and heavier tires will reduce your mpg somewhat significantly and beyond a certain size you will need to do some surgery
E) Will a lift make the bump steer worse?​
shouldnt affect it
3) Any suggestions on what to do for the bump steer?
it is a natural thing it is better that the wheel give than something break because something has to give and based on what you are driving over clearly the terrain isnt gonna budge just be mindful of the lines you pick

truck.png
 

Squatchranger

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Install some Bilstein 5100's lot of us have and it really tames the Ranger wallow as I call it. Can't address the other stuff since other than the shock change my truck is bone stock
yeah after upgrading the shocks it was night and day way more composed and controlled
 


Vitis805

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1) I get pretty good gas millage. I recently drove ~2,000 miles from the San Francisco Bay area to Baja California, Mexico and averaged 22.5 mpg. This was a combination of highway, city, dirt, and off road driving.
I like to see this number reported because many members on here report 25+ mpg and it is misleading, and makes other members question their trucks and the EPA ratings. The truck is certainly capable of 25+ mpg, but under great conditions (highway driving with no hills, little wind resistance, 55-65 mph, etc.). Under true mixed driving conditions the EPA ratings are nearly spot on.

As for the lag, many members just use S mode and find it more responsive, or you could install a throttle controller as the throttle is fairly numb as well. If you do the two options combined with a tune, you have a rocket truck.
 

Dr. Zaius

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I can't recommend the Bilsteins 5100s on the rear highly enough.

A 30 minute job in your driveway and it will make a world of difference in the handling, removing the majority of the wallowing you're experiencing.

Put them on the front too (a lot more involved labor wise) and your truck will drive and handle great.

As far as the lag, give Tow mode a try. S mode will definitely reduce the lag.
 

BettaRanga

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Really like my Bilstein 5100s.

I don’t have lag like that when passing. In fact, I’m stock (no tune or engine upgrades) and I feel like it accelerates quickly even from 70- 85 if needing to pass. That turbo just kicks right in.
 
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Stephen Abbene

Stephen Abbene

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Install some Bilstein 5100's lot of us have and it really tames the Ranger wallow as I call it. Can't address the other stuff since other than the shock change my truck is bone stock
Thanks. I took a quick look at them and they seem pretty nice. Their documentation says that they can lift the truck .5"-2". Did you put larger tires on after? Did you see any impact to your MPG?


Thank you Squatchranger for your detailed reply.

1) To address the acceleration lag, I was thinking about the Ford Power Pack tune.
The lag is likely turbo lag so yes that would help being in sport mode will too but will reduce mpg some say tow mode helps as well.
I have noticed that S mode does help quite a bit. I have never driven with it on long enough to see what impact it has on my MPG. But I do frequently forget to turn it on when it would be handy. I usually use it on short on ramps, or places where I have to turn left across highways. Things like that.

D) Will my truck look stupid with stock tires and a lift? If so what would be the impact of larger tires on my MPG?
that is personal preference but depending on how high you go yes it can look like it is on stilts bigger and heavier tires will reduce your mpg somewhat significantly and beyond a certain size you will need to do some surgery
That was my expectation. I see that you run some fairly large tires. Do you have any before/after numbers?

3) Any suggestions on what to do for the bump steer?
it is a natural thing it is better that the wheel give than something break because something has to give and based on what you are driving over clearly the terrain isnt gonna budge just be mindful of the lines you pick
That makes sense, but it does seem slightly more intense in this truck vs. my old ranger. Maybe I am not as careful with this one.

I like to see this number reported because many members on here report 25+ mpg and it is misleading, and makes other members question their trucks and the EPA ratings. The truck is certainly capable of 25+ mpg, but under great conditions (highway driving with no hills, little wind resistance, 55-65 mph, etc.). Under true mixed driving conditions the EPA ratings are nearly spot on.
The truck seems fairly consistent on its millage for me. I almost always get just over 400 miles out of a tank.
 

rang19ca

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I use the S mode when I need to accelerate quickly, then I shift it into D for highway sections when I just cruise. I installed Fox 2.0 rear shocks in the rear only and it helped settle down the wallow quite a bit. I'm also using a Rough Country 2.5 level lift in the front to minimize the rake and i installed Bora 1" spacers all around.
 

Frenchy

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So the Ford/Fox kit will actually only raise the front of the truck up to 2 inches of there is no extra accessories on the front. As for the rear it only replaces the shocks. If you want to mai rain a comfortable ride and increase clearance I would suggest the Old Man EMU suspension. I already have a noce write up in the suspension section of the Forum. Biggest thing is it will replace all springs and shocks and give you a little extra articulation in the rear(important with the OffRoad driving).

For the power issue(not really an issue) the best you can do it get it tuned but even then you may still experience the same thing.

Hope this helps
 

RANGER_MARC

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Hello,

I bought a 2019 XLT FX4 ranger in Sept of 2019. Ive done quit a few road trips in it now and some light off roading. The truck is pretty stock. I added some shrockworks rock sliders, and an ARE topper that I built a deck in for camping. The deck and camping gear stay in the truck 99% of the time. So far its been a great truck.

I'm not sure if this is the correct board to post to, but because I have questions about the engine/suspension/etc this seemed like the best place to me.

What I don't like:
1) When accelerating to pass there is often lag. Some times it is fairly significant between hitting the gas and having the truck respond. This is pretty annoying, and potentially unsafe?
2) The suspension is very soft. Going over even small bumps causes the truck to rock like a boat.
3) On rougher or washboard roads I get a fair amount of bump steer. So far this hasn't been a real issue, but it does feel concerning when the steering wheel is suddenly turned in a direction you don't want to go.

What I really like:
1) I get pretty good gas millage. I recently drove ~2,000 miles from the San Francisco Bay area to Baja California, Mexico and averaged 22.5 mpg. This was a combination of highway, city, dirt, and off road driving.
2) The truck is fairly quiet. Compared to my 1988 ranger or my 2012 accent I get very little road/tire noise.
3) With the deck/camping gear in the back of the truck it sits pretty flat without a leveling kit.

What I would like feedback on:
1) To address the acceleration lag, I was thinking about the Ford Power Pack tune.
A) Will this actually help with the acceleration lag?​
B) From what I have read most people do not see a significant reduction in MPG and some even report a slight increase in fuel efficiency. Is this correct?​
C) I am not a particularly aggressive driver. I don't really care about going fast, and rarely tow. I get on the highway and set my cruise control at 70mph and call it a day unless I am passing someone.​
D) The rough shifting some people report doesn't really bother me, and happens only occasionally in my truck.​

2) To address the soft suspension, I was looking at the Fox "Tuned by Ford Performance" 2.0 Performance Series IFP shocks and coils.
A) It is my understanding that this will lift the truck 1-2 inches.​
B) What sort of impact will that have on my MPG?​
C) The advertising says that it will level the truck. But because of the deck/camping gear in my truck it is already level. Does this mean I will need to add some blocks to the rear suspension to keep it level?​
D) Will my truck look stupid with stock tires and a lift? If so what would be the impact of larger tires on my MPG?​
E) Will a lift make the bump steer worse?​

3) Any suggestions on what to do for the bump steer?


truck.png
There are threads on here as long as your arm about the points you raise here. Long story short, a tune will improve the lag, and a leveling lift will help the suspension issues. I was unhappy with both of these issues in my 2019 FX4 Lariat (bought new, almost paid for), but solved them both with the Ford Performance Power Pack and FP Leveling Lift kit. (You can find discounts on both from Levittown Ford Parts.) Lots of other options are discussed on the forum, but these two mods worked for me, and I have been happy with my truck since then. Happy Trails!
 

Squatchranger

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Thanks. I took a quick look at them and they seem pretty nice. Their documentation says that they can lift the truck .5"-2". Did you put larger tires on after? Did you see any impact to your MPG?


Thank you Squatchranger for your detailed reply.



I have noticed that S mode does help quite a bit. I have never driven with it on long enough to see what impact it has on my MPG. But I do frequently forget to turn it on when it would be handy. I usually use it on short on ramps, or places where I have to turn left across highways. Things like that.



That was my expectation. I see that you run some fairly large tires. Do you have any before/after numbers?



That makes sense, but it does seem slightly more intense in this truck vs. my old ranger. Maybe I am not as careful with this one.



The truck seems fairly consistent on its millage for me. I almost always get just over 400 miles out of a tank.
It also could be because our steering is electric and has a bunch of adaptive weird features vs just an old fashioned hydraulic system that is gonna have less give at least initially
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