Hello everyone,

I've been reading this forum off and on for a year. I've always owned SUVs but never a truck. I'd thought I was interested in the Ranger but then looking at the screw with the 2.7 I can't see much advantage to the Ranger except it's closer to a size I'm used to.

Here's my question though. I've been looking at 2018 or newer. My towing needs are minimal and while I don't do rock crawling I do get into some spots that are treacherous enough that with the larger vehicle I'm thinking I might want a locking rear diff. Is the FX4 package worth it or just the locking diff and aftermarket skid plates?

Bonus question, I live is the Pacific NW of the US...anyone have similar setups and can describe how the rig does in our wet, slippery, overgrown conditions?

Thank you to all willing to take your time to give me the benefit of your experience.

 

Welcome! My $0.02: I special ordered my 2020 RCSB with the FX4 package, but if you're buying from existing inventory in your area, I would probably be inclined to let the final sale price of a particular truck take precedence over whether it's an FX4 truck or not. Factory skidplates are what I'd consider minimal, and on the newer models part of the transmission is actually left quite exposed, in my opinion. I would state that aftermarket plates are a good idea for the serious off-roader in these trucks, although they aren't exactly cheap. So if you can save money on a truck without factory plates, you are ahead of the game now if you install proper aftermarket plates!

A locking rear diff is something that the vast majority of people wouldn't typically need to use very often, but I personally feel like it is worthwhile to have. I live in British Columbia, so we're similar in geography and terrain, and a great example of locker usefulness is when traversing those water drainage ruts while climbing... Some of those drainage ruts are gnarly, and almost every one seems to run across the road at an angle, ensuring pretty decent suspension flex.

My truck is stock, except for a 1.5" level up front, and different tires. You know these are large, heavy vehicles, that can get quite long depending on configuration, but tires are probably the one thing you'll want to upgrade for the terrain right away, as I did. It's not Southern California here, so I sold my almost brand new factory rubber to help offset the costs for decent, larger rubber for my uses!

 

Thank you very much for responding. Yeah I never really considered a full size before, especially a screw, but given pretty much the same MPG as it's smaller brother and the very similar price 18/19 F150 vs Ranger. I guess ideally I would want more back-seat room than the ranger but I could do with less than what's in the F-150. But the bigger Ford seems the better value. Thanks for the input on the plates underneath the FX4. I had wondered given the longer chassis how much of it was actually protected. Given the breakover angle I can definitely see myself wanting to protect things down there. I will probably also end up with a 2in level up front just to help out that approach angle. Given how much heavier they are, I can see myself using the locker in the wet, rooty stuff we deal with. For me, it really comes down to having a narrower, shorter vehicle that can probably get around our hills better versus frankly just a vehicle that is a better value overall. I never skimp on tires so I'm sure I'll have to upgrade them.

 

I will skip the FX4 in the future. I do find the ELD helpful (ELD+4x4 means I know I've got 3 wheels turning) but I would spend the FX4 package money on a set of RCI skidplates that are actually skidplates, not the factory jokes.

 

Thanks. Are you using the RCI? How was install?

 

I understand the Ranger dilemma, as I too had bought a Ranger years ago from the dealer when that truck still gave good bang for the buck... It was a good little truck actually, even though lacking in some 'refinement,' it never let me down! Nobody ever asked me to pass the Grey Poupon though...

Now I look at the new Ranger prices, and while they look to be a decent little truck, I just couldn't justify buying one when the F150 isn't too far off in price! Way more truck for the money, with room to spare and stretch out inside.

Only you can decide what options are important to you, and it's better to buy what you want right off the bat, because it's almost always a loss should you decide to sell your new truck for the the 'actual' new truck and options you wanted all along!

And when the off-road going gets really tough? Around here, that's when the dirtbikes/quads/snowmobiles get unloaded from the back of the Ford!

 

I live near Seattle. That pathetic open diff back there gets me stuck in steep driveways. I've been stuck in the snow as well. The locker is incredibly useful because the one tire fire doesn't help anything. It's easier to turn on the locker then to engage and disengage the 4x4. If you want to play in the snow you want at a minimum 4x4. My tire choice isn't the best though so take that with a grain of salt. I'm switching from my Mickey Thompson atz to ko2s next time.


I burnout in the wet constantly. Snow is not very good with my tires. Not enough siping. Dry pavement it doesn't brake loose except for steep angled driveways. Tail end gets squirly in the wet going around corners. Overall I'm not very happy with my tire choice lol.

 

I appreciate you taking the time to respond. I myself am south of you down in Vancouver but we have similar climates. I'm in the hills a lot, and so I'm concerned about how a vehicle that large does with our tight twisty fire roads and trails. I am definitely going 4 by 4 and well I think definitely go with a locker. I just don't see a way around that. I'm thinking though that the locker with aftermarket plates might be the way to go. I haven't used any of the trail control features that the FX4 brings though so I'm not sure how practical they are.

 

I used the hill descent in the snow on a very steep hill that was nasty icy. It worked really well. If I attempted it myself I would have slid I'm sure but I would have geared down to first.

The biggest problem with these trucks is the *** end is so light. Aftermarket shocks tend to help as well as tires. For me with my baja atz hybrids. It's horrible in the wet. Higher air pressure helped a little. Last winter at crystal mountain I got full blown stuck on a plowed hill.

 

I'm not the person you asked but I have an FX4 truck and swapped the factory skids with RCI. My build thread: https://www.f150forum.com/f78/smitty...at-red-471160/

My personal opinion is that some features of the FX4 are worth it but the skids are not. In my build thread you can see the factory skids lined up along side the RCI skids on my driveway for a comparison. Of note, the only FX4 skid that's worth anything at all is the t-case. The engine skid is useless and the transmission thing is just a sound dampening diaper, not a skid plate.