I'm looking to purchase an '04/05 F150 sometime in the coming months. One thing I absolutely want is something that is going to be completely capable off-road, and can handle practically every terrain I can throw it at. I should point out I'm only looking at either '04 or '05 because I want to register it for permanent plates, which requires a vehicle to be a minimum of 10 years old in my state, so my search results are pretty narrow to begin with. I prefer the styling of the '04 & up models, so anything older is out.

I've been looking primarily at FX4's since it's obviously a package geared toward off-road capability. However, my search results for a reasonable mileage FX4 in my price range in those model years are few and far between. Meanwhile, it's a lot easier to find more XLT's in my searching.

So given what an FX4 has that an XLT doesn't, is it worth just being patient and waiting for the right FX4 to come along in terms of off-road capability? Or, if I went with an XLT, how much time, cost & effort would it take to make it equally off-road capable to the FX4? I've been doing a lot of looking around, but I haven't had much luck getting a definitive answer so far.

Thanks!

 

shocks and skid plates and decals are most of it.. Get the XLT and change shocks and tires as you want. More important to get the right axle ratio and LS rear end.

 

I have skid plates and body color bumpers as opposed to chrome and of course the stickers. I really don't think there is much difference. I think the FX4 Level II on the rangers made them more capable off road than just the fx4 and xlt's.

 

If you really want off road capability and strength you will want a solid axle up front, the ifs is a weak point. That puts you into a 250 or bigger if you are staying with Ford or an older 150

 

My XLT has the off road package(said so on the window sticker) but not the FX4 off road package. I have skid plates and limited slip but not the decals and interior trim package.

 

Frontend Feud - IFS Vs. Solid Axle - Four Wheeler Magazine
Here's a link to an article by guys who know how to explain it much better than I do. IFS and a solid axle both have advantages off road. I can remember driving through ruts in my TTB Ranger where a Toyota Tacoma with larger tires got high centered on the differentials. The front suspension of my truck had enough travel to allow the front tires to pull me along dragging my rear axle.

 

Huh, I guess I was expecting a bigger difference between the two. It sounds like with a few modifications, an XLT could easily become an FX4 equivalent in overall performance. That really helps a lot, now I just need to find an F150 with a LS differential and the proper gear ratio vs. narrowing my search to one singular style/package. -Although I do like the painted bumpers instead of the chrome... Looks better IMO, plus the de-icer they use out here in the winter is notorious for pitting chrome body parts. Oh well, that's a worry for another day.

 

I choose to replace my rearbumper as it was a rusted out embarrassment. I really don't think they last any longer than chrome with all the salt used in the winter. My front bumper is rusting too just not as quick and bad as the rear.

 

Oh, I don't mean rust... the de-icer here just eats through the chrome finish and leaves it looking pitted and hideous. My dad discovered this years ago after buying a nice set of chrome rims for his pickup. He bought the rims at the end of the summer, but by mid-December, there were several pits in the chrome. After talking to a friend of his who owns a body shop, the guy told him that the de-icer they use is notorious for destroying chrome finishes, and that he should consider having a plain alloy rim for use during the winter months. Nasty stuff.