What's the difference?

 

branding

same thing. Some trucks that have special lettering (Z71, FX4) typically have a Limited Slip and Skid Plates and the "Off Road" is a package you can buy ontop of the normal 4x4


but typically it's just a fancy way of saying the truck is 4wheel drive

 

Here we go again..

 

AFAIK

4x4 = Transfer Case + Front Axle
4x4 Off Road = 4x4 + transmission/transfer case shield and gas tank shield
FX4 = 4x4 Off Road + LS differential.

That's just a guess based on what I've seen.

 

FX4 might include the LS, but it's also available without FX4. Mine is just the regular 4x4, no off road or FX4 and I have LS.

 

I think what he is saying is that those options are 'standard' in those models. My 99 was not an off road package, just a 4x4. I have a stinky open diff

 

That's something I have never understood. I would think that LS would just be standard when you get 4wd. If you want the capability of a 4x4, why would you not want the extra traction from LS too?

 

Your using logic. they should have used more of that when designing alot of vehicles lol.

 

+1 on that

 

Open diffs aren't a bad thing. I had an Explorer that was a 4x4 but had open diffs. Sure there were a handful of times where I wished it had a limited slip rear but there were a lot more times where I was grateful to have the open diff on the highway in the winter. If I needed more traction I put it in 4hi.

 

'4x4 OFF ROAD' and 'FX4 OFF ROAD' are the same thing. The former was used from MY 1999 - MY 2002. For MY 2003, the off road package was re-named 'FX4'. This continued until the redesign with MY 2008. At that point Ford reverted back to '4x4 OFF ROAD' named package, as 'FX4' became an entire trim level. The FX4 trim was dropped for MY 2011, and the off road package again is 'FX4'.

As far as what is included in the package is debatable. What I believe it was was a factory-built (as opposed to dealer-modified) 4x4 with skid plates and a limited-slip differential. Sometimes a truck is factory built as just a 4x4, and the dealer will add the skid plates, which is why you will have a truck not marked as 'OFF ROAD', yet has the off-road options. As far as the 'FX4' package, it was essentially the same as the '4x4 OFF ROAD' except that it now offered Rancho-branded shocks. After 'FX4' was introduced in MY 2003, very few plain '4x4's were seen.

Also, the skid plates and limited-slip differential could have been ordered outside of the 'OFF ROAD' package, but if you were opting for both, getting them in the off-road package was a savings to you. These options are why it is a smashup of what designates what.

 

I always thought 4x4 Off Road cost $275.00 more because it was a bigger sticker...Then I realized that I had some skid plates made out of heavy Duty Aluminum foil also!!!

 

There are usually only a couple things different between the 4x4 and "4x4 Off-Road":

1. Skid Plates for the gas tank and transfer case
2. "4x4 Off-Road" sticker
3. Rancho shocks (depending on MY)
4. Steering Damper (depending on MY)

In '99, it was a $125 package simply called the 4x4 Off-Road package and included skid plates and the sticker. In 2001 and 2002, it included the steering damper. In 2003, it became the $225 "FX4 Off-Road" package and included a steering damper, skid plates, Rancho branded front and rear shocks and the FX4 sticker. The steering damper was eventually dropped on later model years. (I believe it was made standard equipment on all 4x4s)

In 2008, it was changed back to the 4x4 Off-Road package and just included skid plates and the sticker. This was done because the FX4 became its own trim line, which fell between the XLT and Lariat. In model year 2010, the FX4 trim was dropped and it went back to the FX4 Off-Road package, this once again including skid plates, shocks, and the sticker. In 2011, the FX4 package added hill descent control as well and remained unchanged for 2012.

Probably more info than you needed, but I thought it might be informative to know the whole story.

 

bottom line just a waste of money! My Fx4 2004 F350 had the "rancho" shocks which leaked after the first year so i changed them anyways, ands skid plates? Come on am i really going to take my brand new 32k truck over a rock pile in moab and bottom it out?NO not at all, besides the fuel tank should have the skid plate anyway, it is plastic. Remember the old 70's trucks? all three of mine came with skid plates on the tanks for a reason...

 

Ford seems to have trouble deciding on what to call their off road package. Sometimes it is 4X4 Off Road, sometimes it is FX4, sometimes FX4 is an add-on, and sometimes FX4 is an entire trim package. Very confusing between the years. On an early Superduty, the 4X4 Off Road got you the same items as the FX4 in following years.

I disagree that it is a waste of money. It didn't cost very much, and got you a good All Terrain tire instead of the crappy Continental M&S tire. That alone was worth the cost, and the skid plates should be on every 4WD. I agree the shocks were nothing but flashy show. On the other hand, it would be a waste of money for someone who was going to add a lift and oversized tires/wheels. You could skip the FX4 and just install skid plates yourself.