Ford lists the skid plate package as $100.00 and the FX4 at $225.00.
I have the FX4 package now and a just wonder ing if any know is the shcks and sticker is worth the extra cash. So my question is is there any real differece in the shocks?

 

I bought the skid plate package, specifically staying away from the FX4 because I heard the shocks were stiff. I don't know if it's true or not to be honest, but I do know I like Rancho 9000 shocks and plan on switching to those in the future. The FX4 shocks are nothing like the Rancho 9000s so I didn't think paying an additional hundred dollars or so for the shocks and stickers was worth it.

 

I just the trans case skid from an online Ford parts shop right after I bought my F250. I think it came to about $55.00. I don't see a need for the gas tank skid plate for the kind of offroad use my truck sees. The trans case hangs down lower than all the drivetrain components between the axles but the gas tank barely hangs below the frame rail.

Unless you have a long bed crew I can't see even needing the gas tank skid unless you're into rock crawling!!

I've heard alot of guys say the FX4 Rancho shocks are bottom of the line items made just for Ford and are stiff and cheap. I've never looked at them personally. I know my stock black shocks on my 4x4 F250 are all rusty after 35K miles and two of them are leaking a small amount so I need to repalce them.

I just recieved my set of new Rancho RSX shocks in the mail and I'm going to put them on tomorrow. I got the set for a little over $200 online and I hope they improve the ride on and offroad. I know they'll look alot better-the rusty stock shocks are crappy looking.

 

Get the skidplates and save the rest of the money towards some real shocks, like Bilsteins. The only thing the "Rancho branded" shocks in the FX4 package have in common with real Ranchos (like the 9000's I had) is that they rust out in two years or so. The whole FX4 thing anyway was just to compete with GM's hugely popular "Z71" package which was nothing more than skidplates, some stickers, and shocks also. Incidently, the Z71's originally came with Bilsteins until the "beancounters" axed them for something cheaper.

 

Thread moved to Superduty forum.

Too much good information in this to keep it down in v10-land

As long as it doesn't turn into a shock flamefest...

 

come on now, 225 dollars for some cheap shocks and skid plates? your better off just ordering some skidplates when you get the truck or just getting the skidplate option.

i said this on thread before but i will say again, the fuel tank skid may not seem of any use until your driving down the road at nite and come across some stuff in the road you run over and a pipe flips of and ruptures your fuel tank, happened to my dad in his bronco.

and those fx4 stickers are just dumb, what year did all this 4x4 and off road sticker stuff happened? what, can't tell its a 4x4? i ripped mine off as soon as i i got it.

 

The Rancho shocks on the FX4 package do look to be more stout than the stock non-Rancho's, but I couldn't tell you if there's an actual difference in feel. I would say if a person was planning on modifying to begin with, then it probably is a waste to spend the extra $225, since they're probably going to change the shocks out anyway. And then they could just buy the skid plates later. If they're the type that tends to keep things as is, then the FX4 package might not be a bad deal. The sticker's are a personal taste call, if you like them, keep them, if not, they come off easy enough.

 

Guys...a lousy $225 compared to the $30-40K your spending on the truck, and spread over the 48-72 months you're financing for, who cares? Opt for the package. Sheez.

 

realy..i am with you...person buys a truck for $30-40K worries about $150.00..
only in america...

 

Wouldn't it cost you closer to $325 - $350 over 4 - 6 yearsyears (at 8% interest)? How about every 5 years you send me a check for $350?

 

i agree, money is money, i don't see to many people around handing 100 dollars out to people for no reason, so why hand a billion dollar corporation money like that?

and after interest, as Ace! said, it would be about 350 bucks (didn't do any of my own calculations) heck, if a person makes $20 an hour, thats like 17 hours or so of work somebody is doing for no reason at all.

 

My skid plates we an option, the truck didn't have the FX4 package, a quick search on ebay and I found 4 brand new FX4 shocks for $40 shipped.

 

Monotube, monotube, monotube. In my experience (limited, I know) and from what I researched, monotube shock designs are the best type of shock for heavy duty truck applications. That is what Bilsteins are.

A lot of guys like the Rancho 9000's but that's a lot of money, especially for a stock application. And unless you consistently travel over a lot of different terrain, why do you need all that adjustability? Most of us use our trucks for driving and towing on the highway.

Twin-tube shock designs are great for cars which have less sprung weight and the lighter independant suspensions, but these 7,000 pound monsters with the heavier tires and wheels plus the big heavy axles need a little more. To make a twin-tube shock heavy duty enought to handle all this sprung and unsprung weight you have to adjust the valving so stiff that it will jar your teeth out, which is what the cheaper Rancho's and other twin-tube off-road shocks do.

For "stock" applications, companies like Bilstein, Edelbrock and KYB make monotube shocks for heavy duty applications which they say are valved for each manufacturers factory setup. According to what I've read, the monotube design allows for more oil and gas inside the shock which increases the damping and decreases the heat and foaming which causes fade.

I've personally used the KYB Monomax on my last two trucks, a '94 F-150 and '01 F-250 and absolutley love the way they ride. I have recomended them to several friends and they couldn't believe the difference over the factory shocks.

Just trying to relate MY experience. I haven't the time or money to do a overall comparison and i know you have to be carefull with what you read on the internet.

 

If your ordering, get the skid plate package. Mine didn't have them and getting them through parts dept. was spendy, mainly nickel and dime you to death with captive nuts and bolts.

 

I got the skid plate only package and have been happy with the std shocks. I use my vehicle for driving to work, carrying building supplies on occasion and towing an 8K travel trailer.