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Okay first and foremost, I need to clarify that I joined this forum to ask some simple questions I cannot for the life of me find answers to. I apologize, but this may be long. I need these answered.
It seems Ford makes hodge-podge trucks and therefore presents the unique problem of having a feature, look, style, performance change, upgrade, chrome, standard feature, trim, package, or otherwise on some trucks but not others and definitely not all. This alone is irritating, but I will remain on topic specific to my truck since I realize that most of these features are ordered by the original customer that bought the truck.
I have recently purchased a very early 2005 model year (VIN says 2005 produced in 07/04) F-350 6.0L King Ranch Long bed with the FX4 package (I think). The problem stems from pretty much everything after that. All I really know is that I purchased what looks to be a F-350. Allow me to elaborate.
I see major discontinuities with all the information I have gathered to date.
1. Let's start with FX4...
What does this ACTUALLY give you in the package?? I have seen people say everything from hill decent control, to locking rear differential, to 'Rancho' *branded* shocks, and skid plates for transfer case and fuel tank. Problem is, I have no idea which feature an FX4 of this year should *actually* have. My truck has the FX4 Sticker on the bed (we will get to the bed in a bit) but lacks the obvious white 'Rancho' *branded* shocks that are supposed to come with it. I have what looks to be some random yellow shocks front and rear. Any thoughts as to why the white ones aren't present? I've heard they don't ride as well as stock, and I suppose it's a possibility they have been replaced. Additionally, I would love to know what other and ALL features of this package were offered in 2005.
My grandparents have a Lariat F-350 of the same year (which makes it convenient for me to compare) and turns out they do indeed have White 'Rancho' shocks. What makes this situation worse is that I was not able to find the sales brochure for this year to reference what the FX4 package includes.
I was however, able to find a sales brochure for a 2006 F-350, the only catch is, under the section that details exactly what is offered in the FX4 package, there is no explicit mention of upgrade replacement shocks to Rancho..... simply a mention of "specifically tuned shocks", a sticker, and skid plates for the transfer case and fuel tank.
if this is the case, what about the locking differential, the hill decent control? Were those even options in 2005? You get my confusion.... It doesn't help that it seems the skid plates seem to have been an independent add-on option anyway, but I digress.
2. Let's talk about the bed
I have done a painful amount of Googling and can't seem to find one person that mentions this as odd or even mentions the existence of this at all.
On the passenger side, there is a plate stapled to the front of the bed right behind the cab. I assumed that my truck started life as a Lariat, then had upgraded interior, badges and what not put in it. However, when looking at this bed plate, it shows the bed that is on my truck was made from the "XLT DIE". What on earth would an XLT part belong on a King Ranch for? I checked both my grandparents Lariat and another Lariat we have for good measure and sure enough, those beds are stamped with "LAR DIE". Has my bed been swapped with another one of the same color? Is that why it seems I don't have the correct shocks?? Someone, please tell me if the beds are VIN matched to the truck. It would terrify me if this is actually an XLT truck that has King Ranch interior and some badges slapped on.
3. Paint
This being a King Ranch, it has 2-tone paint. The problem I see is the quality of the spray. It doesn't seem uniform in the door jams and around the back of the cab. Compared to another 2-tone truck from 2006 that we have, the lines are much more defined and 'masked'. Same goes for the pinstripe sticker that runs along the paint edge. Is it normal for this, or am I looking at a respray?
4. King Ranch floor mats
Quick question on this one, just wondering what years are exactly the same as the 2005 King Ranch floor mats. I've seen 2008 floor mats and they look fairly close if not the same, any input?
I'll try to add pictures where applicable to aid the reading experience. If you can add any input, please try at all possible to answer a full section, 1, 2, 3 or 4. Thanks in advance for your replies, and if I've missed some obvious treasure trove of info somewhere, leave a link!
Last edited by PrIsMaTiSm; May 4, 2021 at 12:22 AM.
It seems to me that all of your questions could've been answered by a dealer rather than relying on Google.
There are no Ford dealers within a couple hours of me, and no one wants to field a phone call for 3 hours while they describe the intricacies of what I'm asking. What I'm hearing you say is that you assumed I didn't already try, and that you know nothing to help me?
1. Let's start with FX4...
What does this ACTUALLY give you in the package?? I have seen people say everything from hill decent control, to locking rear differential, to 'Rancho' *branded* shocks, and skid plates for transfer case and fuel tank. Problem is, I have no idea which feature an FX4 of this year should *actually* have. My truck has the FX4 Sticker on the bed (we will get to the bed in a bit) but lacks the obvious white 'Rancho' *branded* shocks that are supposed to come with it. I have what looks to be some random yellow shocks front and rear. Any thoughts as to why the white ones aren't present? I've heard they don't ride as well as stock, and I suppose it's a possibility they have been replaced. Additionally, I would love to know what other and ALL features of this package were offered in 2005.
It's quite literally spelled out for you in the picture you posted. The standard FX4 compliment is a fuel tank and transfer case skid-plate, Rancho branded shocks (these are made by Rancho to Ford spec, and not equal to any Rancho off-the-shelf shocks), and a bed decal. That's it. If you dont have the original white shocks on your decade and a half-old truck, it's is very likely they have been replaced as they aren't expected to last that long. Yellow makes me think Bilstein shocks have been swapped out.
2. Let's talk about the bed
I have done a painful amount of Googling and can't seem to find one person that mentions this as odd or even mentions the existence of this at all.
On the passenger side, there is a plate stapled to the front of the bed right behind the cab. I assumed that my truck started life as a Lariat, then had upgraded interior, badges and what not put in it. However, when looking at this bed plate, it shows the bed that is on my truck was made from the "XLT DIE". What on earth would an XLT part belong on a King Ranch for? I checked both my grandparents Lariat and another Lariat we have for good measure and sure enough, those beds are stamped with "LAR DIE". Has my bed been swapped with another one of the same color? Is that why it seems I don't have the correct shocks?? Someone, please tell me if the beds are VIN matched to the truck. It would terrify me if this is actually an XLT truck that has King Ranch interior and some badges slapped on.
A much easier way to determine what your truck "is" would be to look at your vin plate and decode it. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/vindecoder.php
Also, if you can help us understand why you care, maybe we can help you better. If youre happy with your truck and just in search of answers, thats fine too.
3. Paint
This being a King Ranch, it has 2-tone paint. The problem I see is the quality of the spray. It doesn't seem uniform in the door jams and around the back of the cab. Compared to another 2-tone truck from 2006 that we have, the lines are much more defined and 'masked'. Same goes for the pinstripe sticker that runs along the paint edge. Is it normal for this, or am I looking at a respray?
Sounds more and more like someone converted your truck to a KR.
4. King Ranch floor mats
Quick question on this one, just wondering what years are exactly the same as the 2005 King Ranch floor mats. I've seen 2008 floor mats and they look fairly close if not the same, any input?
2004-2008 will be exactly the same. After that, there were floor pan changes.
That being said, I have run the VIN shown on the dash plate (which matches the title) and it comes up as an F-350 and that's pretty much it. I'm sure you're aware that the VIN does not have any trim details in it. At least in none of the free decoders I've been able to find. Straight off of Fords website they give you details on what every digit means in the VIN, none of which determines trim. It seems it would have to be an internal database that I would have to search to find what I'm looking for per manufacture number.
Also, if it were a truck converted to a King Ranch, would I expect to see this in the color code section of the door sticker?
I love the look of this truck, I just don't want to have any suspicions that I bought something that isn't actually what it said it was.
Thanks again for your answers!
Last edited by PrIsMaTiSm; May 4, 2021 at 02:48 PM.
I'm not sure if Ford does it anymore but a few years back I ordered a window sticker from Ford for our 2012. I believe at the time it was $35. I hope they still do them.
I'm not sure if Ford does it anymore but a few years back I ordered a window sticker from Ford for our 2012. I believe at the time it was $35. I hope they still do them.
Thanks for the info! I will try this. By the way, do you happen to know why a King Ranch would have an XLT bed?
If you will provide your VIN, Just Strokin is kind enough to use his subscription to the Ford ETIS site to get you all of the detail you are asking for. He has offered here in this thread, all you have to do is accept the offer by providing the VIN to him.
