Why order an FX4 package after reading this forum?

[Colo_Ranger]

When I bought my truck, it was at the height of not having anything to buy. I had 2 options on the lot (technically, coming off the truck) and this was the best one of the two for me. I would have loved to choose all the things I wanted, but it wasn't in the cards.

In reality, I probably would have gone with an XL with a locker as the only option. That being said, I like all the features my truck came with and I'm glad I got what I did.

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[YaBoiNewton]

Not trying to be a dick, just curious why someone would pay more for this despite, it seems, a lot of FX4 owners on here immediately paying $500-2000 to swap out/upgrade the suspension.

I didn't order my ranger and specifically wanted a 4x4 with a locking differential and the tow package. The only trucks that met those criteria had the FX4 package. I like the looks of the Fx4 skid plate and I was happy with the stock suspension before upgrading around 45k miles. The stock LT Hankooks are actually pretty good all terrains and I swapped them at 60k miles. Probably had another 15k-20k miles on the tread but I just wanted new tires. Lots of time off road before upgrading.

I hardly use them, but the terrain modes actually work pretty well. I just prefer to use sport mode and manually control 4WD or diff lock.

 

[YaBoiNewton]

Nice, yeah can’t go wrong with Deavers from everything I’ve read. Tires will be my one of my next changes and I’m thinking I’ll go with the stock tremor sized tire on my STX wheels. I’d like to go a bit bigger but driving 70 miles a day for work makes me think the stock tremor size would be fine for mileage purposes. Other than that I may try an 87 tune to help transmission shifting in the future. That’ll be the extent of upgrades other than very minor ones.

Non-LT rated tires would be a good option if you're concerned with gas mileage but want to go bigger. My 255/75r17 Duratracs actually came in lighter than the stock LT hankooks and I don't have any apparent mileage losses. Gained a little over an inch of ground clearance too!

Took a road trip from Tampa, FL to Marquette, MI with my in-laws. Wife and I were in my leveled ranger on the 32s, and they had a totally stock FX4 with P rated tires. We compared numbers at every fuel stop and the pumps were always within 0.5 gallon of each other. Not a super controlled test, but I'd say that's effectively the same mileage.

 

[Shoran12]

I didn't order my ranger and specifically wanted a 4x4 with a locking differential and the tow package. The only trucks that met those criteria had the FX4 package. I like the looks of the Fx4 skid plate and I was happy with the stock suspension before upgrading around 45k miles. The stock LT Hankooks are actually pretty good all terrains and I swapped them at 60k miles. Probably had another 15k-20k miles on the tread but I just wanted new tires. Lots of time off road before upgrading.

I hardly use them, but the terrain modes actually work pretty well. I just prefer to use sport mode and manually control 4WD or diff lock.

I ended up with a 22 STX XL 4x4 with locking diff and the 8 inch touch screen so pretty much everything I wanted even though it was the XL trim.

 

[ylwjacket]

I'm not upgrading the suspension because I hate it, I just wanted to level/small lift it.

 

[Pinepig]

My must haves were locker, skid plates and supercab. Since I was buying off the lot an FX4 was the only way to get what i wanted. I knew the shocks were shit ahead of time and negotiated the price paid based on that. After a couple of weeks of ownership I concluded that everybody was basically correct, they were shit. I went Ford version of the Fox 2.0 and I'm still very happy with them.

If I was ordering one to my taste I'd still have to do an fx4 minimum because of the skid plates, Tremor might be a valid option but they gimped the fucking thing with the non adjustable front coil overs, I'd likely have to replace those anyway.

 

[underwhelmed]

The locking diff, the off-road modes and skid plates.

 

[Dereku]

I wouldn't get one. Just get tge optional locker. All factory skid plate options are mediocre at best and all the electric stuff is a little gimmicky. Just my 2 cents. Might be hanging onto tge glory days of no ABS a little too hard ?

 

[Azhang253]

Terrain Modes, skid plates. Personally, I just got the rear locker by itself, since if I want, I can fab my own skid plates and install my own upgrades. I do miss out on the terrain modes, unless I want to mess around with forscan, which I don’t really want to.

 

[RangerRob]

Really happy with my 2019 FX4 Lariat, I agree the suspension at low speeds can be bouncy, but the highway ride and lack of noise have left me ok with it. I tow a ski boat and SxS from time to time and I love it, great little truck.

I may replace the shocks someday but 63k miles in andnot looking back.

 

[Friday yet?]

Really trying to say this without sounding like a dick.... but if you want 4x4 why would you not spend the extra few bucks and get the FX4? It's really a cheap option for the additional items.

Not intended as a smart ass comment. Just the honest way I view this thread/question.

 

[Hickesy]

Really trying to say this without sounding like a dick.... but if you want 4x4 why would you not spend the extra few bucks and get the FX4? It's really a cheap option for the additional items.

Not intended as a smart ass comment. Just the honest way I view this thread/question.

For me, those extra few bucks were lacking from a tight budget. I wanted to pay it off sooner, I only have a couple of months left. Plus, I don't go off roading, just wanted the 4x4 for Pacific Northwest winters. And I'd read negative reports of the FX4 suspension.

 

[TXRangerTim]

Really trying to say this without sounding like a dick.... but if you want 4x4 why would you not spend the extra few bucks and get the FX4? It's really a cheap option for the additional items.

Not intended as a smart ass comment. Just the honest way I view this thread/question.

The way I read it, the intent of the orginal question was why get an FX4 like some many people do and have ot upgrade that package. That leaves either buying a Tremor or an FX4 or 4X4 and then upgrade to suite your needs. Tremors aren't available at all dealerships.

None of the 4X4 trim levels are bad. They just offer slightly different items.

 

[JohnnyO]

Depends if you need skidplates and Terrain Management or not. I don't off-road any more and mostly need 4wd for wet boat ramps and getting around in winter. My old Sport Trac had traction control instead of a limited-slip rear and I got around fine with it for 12 years. My Ranger was the only one the dealer had and I needed something quick because the Trac lost a head gasket at 212,000 miles and I judged it not worth fixing. The Ranger was almost EXACTLY what I would have ordered, even the color, did not have the locker I would have got and has the drop-in bedliner that I would have skipped, but otherwise nothing different. STX, 4x4, tow package, no step bars. Traction control is better than a straight open diff but not as good as a locker. ARB has skid plates and lockers if you don't have them.

 

[Wes Siler]

People who call the terrain modes gimmicks are really missing out. Take the time to learn how your equipment works (you paid for it after all), and I think you'll be really happy that technology continues to amplify off-road performance.

Fx4 is honestly great value. A locker alone, in the aftermarket, would cost more by the time you got it installed. And the factory skid plates are pretty solid.

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