I have seen several post about this package and most have been pretty negative. I agree ford could have done a little better especially with the Rancho shocks. However, correct me if I'm wrong, this package includes the following:
-Rancho shocks

 

It depends, really. I had the FX4 on a 2012 F250 and decided it really wasn't all that great for day to day driving. Since passing my Jeep on to one of the kids, the closest I find myself to off-road is if I take a wrong turn on the way to a campsite. If you intend to pull any kind of load, the skid plates really eat into your cargo capacity. The E-locker is only half a solution if you are going to seriously off-road. You need it at both ends, really. For on the road, a limited slip works much better. Hill descent (for a gasser) can help save your brakes in the mountains when pulling a camper, so that's a good thing. With diesel, we now have an exhaust brake, so gain nothing in that area. The off road tires are really just AT's. They are usually Michelin's, not my choice for true off road by any stretch. The Rancho shocks are made by Ford and have Rancho stickers on them. They are good for a few years of service, but aren't anything special. If you really like the FX4 decal, you can buy it off Amazon for cheap.
If you really want an off road truck, there is a lot more that has to be done to it to get it ready. If all you're going to do is trails, then the FX4 package is unnecessary.
For my purposes (towing), the weight penalty far exceeds any potential benefits of the package.

 

I agree. It's a bargain. My last 3 trucks have had this option. I have used these skid plates, and they work. Same with the hill descent.
I have also never had any issues with the shocks. And the lots of my miles are gravel and dirt road allowance.

 

I'll say it's better than not having it...sure, it doesn't make the truck a rock crawler but the locking diff is a big bonus.

 

I'm happy with it. Some guys say it's cheaper to put the skid plates and DHA on ala cart after the purchase. But that's cutting it close enough to just buy the whole package and not let Murphy wrench on the truck.

Any skid plate is better than no skid plate. I can beef them up with more steel plate if I want to.

The Rancho shocks are good until they fail. Replace them at the same time as your tires. Any shadetree mech can change them, so I agree with Fords stance on this. GM doesn't even include shocks. They put these tube shaped shock like things on my service vehicles, but they sure as heck weren't shocks. The truck would bounce and do the rocking chair dance ever time I hit a bridge expansion joint on the hwy. I think GM offers a z71 Bilstein package, that my employer will never check.

 

The skid plates while not great are nice to have and the rear locker is a no brainer.

 

The FX4 package on the website says "$400" but it actually changes the price $955 by making you add the E locker and the off road tires. I cant remember how it was set up for 2017 except that the limited slip was I think $395 option alone and the fx4 basically included shocks, tires, and skid plates.


Maybe I'm wrong on the 2017 cause it's been awhile.

 

oh as for it being a worthy add on... it depends.


I have no use for an E locker so that's a waste of money
The skid plates could help some day if I ran over something in the road but I never go off road. could be cheap insurance JIC. But theres the added weight they include so that may be a factor to you as well.
I replaced my stock tires at 40 miles so that would have been a waste
I removed all decals so I definitely wasn't going to pay extra for an FX4 decal
Hill descent I can't comment on other than to say Im not sure when I would ever use it.....
I replaced the stock shocks with FOX shocks at around 1,000 miles. Who knows maybe I would have been happy with the rancho's?


But that's me. Im sure most guys on here are towing heaving or plowing or going off road and may make use of these items.


It's up to you to judge based on your use of your truck.

 

The locking rear diff is a required option if you order the FX4 package. That means it is a stand alone option that must be purchased in addition to the FX4 package and is NOT included in the $295 FX4 package price. The locking rear diff can be optioned onto a truck without the FX4 package. So if you are buying off the lot, the FX4 sticker guarantees the locking diff, but lack of a FX4 sticker does not mean the truck is missing the locking diff.

Hill Desent Control is for off road use ONLY. It is disabled above 20 mph and is therefore pointless for speed control while towing on paved mountain roads (unless you want to maintain15 mph). This feature can be added for less than $20 in parts if you are willing/able to use Forscan.

The skid plates can be optioned for $100. They are probably hard to find on a dealer stock truck without the FX4 package, but can be ordered separate.

If it were me, I would order a truck with the locking diff and skid plates without the FX4 package. This would save about $200 over the FX4 package that can then be spent on good shocks.

 

The "Rancho" wannabe shocks are junk. The skid plates can be added by themselves for $100. Hill Descent Control can be added with a $20 switch & Forscan. The tires & locking diff are not a part of the package, they are added costs as a consequence of adding the package. The FX4 stickers just take the place of the normal 4X4 stickers. Not worth it to me.

 

Shows just how often I used it on the F250 - I did not realize it was disabled above 20 mph. Good thing I didn't rely on it for anything!

 

 

OK, I had to go back to the window sticker and you guys are correct, I did pay seperatly for the locking diff and the tires. So for the $295 I got shocks, hill descent, skid plates, and fx4 decals. Still doesn't seem like a bad deal but I can see how some folks wouldn't want to pay for this option.

 

well the shocks are the same as the normal shocks, just red and white. IDK when someone would use hill descent with a 3/4 ton truck. i immediately removed the fx4 stickers lol

 

I recently asked this question regarding an F150. After researching the option, I found that the costs are as follows for the FX4 vs regular F150 4X4 3.5 Eco.
FX4 package is $770 with an additional $50 for 3.55 electronic lock rr axle. (Quoting the window sticker) The 3.55 comes with the 2.7 Eco, not on 3.5 Eco.
On the regular F150 4X4, the 3.55 lock rr axle is $470. A difference of $350. And for $350 you are getting decals, skid plates, and Hill Descent Control.