If you can get the skid plates separately how important is the steering damper? The FX4 package comes with some stuff I don't want like color keyed front end I believe. Does it get you the carbon fiber inside as well? That would be fine.

 

If you check the right boxes when ordering you can get the camper and tow packages, I think the camper pkg. includes the steering damper. Skid plate package is also a seperate option. So then all the FX4 package gets you is Rancho branded shocks and a silly sticker. Damper definately helps smooth the steering.

 

Sinjin,
Here is all you get with FX4

FX4 Off-Road Package $225.00

- Transfer Case and Fuel Tank Skid Plates
- *Branded Rancho Front and Rear Shocks
- Steering Damper
- "FX4" Decal

If you want carbon fiber then:


XLT Sport Package $895.00

- Unique Body-Colored Grille
- Unique Body-Colored Front and Rear Bumpers
- Body-Colored Door Handles
- Privacy Glass
- Sliding Rear Window
- Fog Lamps (4x2/4x4)
- Chrome Tubular Step Bars
- Chrome Exhaust Tip
- LT265/75Rx16 OWL All-Season Tires
- Unique 40/20/40 Two-Tone Cloth Seats (Ebony/Charcoal)
- Unique Ebony Carpet
- Unique Black Throw-In All-Weather Rubber Floor Mats (Front and Rear)
- Unique Black Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel
- Unique Ebony Accents (Cluster Finish Panel/Scuff Plates/Cowl Trim)
- Unique Door Trim Panels with Ebony Armrest and Power Switch Bezels and Platinum Upper Applique



Manny

 

Thanks Manny. Too bad you can't mix and match.

 

I feel your pain. I thought since I was ordering a vehicle(expedition for the misses) I could get what I wanted in any way shape or form . I have since put my order on hold for a bit
Manny

 

When I ordered my truck I opted out of the FX4 package b/c the Rancho shocks are not the RS5000's, RSX's or 9000 that we all would prefer. I'm not really sure if their not just ford shocks with a Rancho sticker. I ordered the skid plate package for $100 and the camper package to get the rear stabilizer bar. I then added my own Rancho RS5000's and a steering stabilizer. I know I paid more but I got what I wanted. I also got Rancho springs up front to level out the truck. That's what it took to fit my 35x12's

 

MY truck has the plow prep package, and has the X springs (which lift the front end a little, levels the truck) and a steering dampener. The FX4 has the shocks,and skid plates that I don't, but Mine is higher in the front.

 

I guess Ford figures they can leave crap on the standard truck and try to add to the FX4 package. Dodge is raising the standard and making more Cool stuff standard such as 4 doors, and all wheel all time 4WD. Along with their big wheels Ford needs to wake up and give us some value in the F-Series to keep us coming back.

 

When you say Dodge is raising the standard with 4 doors, what do you mean? Wasn't Ford that introduced the rear suicide door on the extended cab and who introduced the crew cab in the 3/4 ton size with a short bed and also introduced the crew cab on a 1/2 ton? How did you get Dodge in the picture?

 

Just get the plow prep package. I forget the actual term... You get the X springs as well as the steering damper. At least mine came that way... It's only a $70 add on according to the sticker.

 

Well business is about today not yesterday. So perhaps Ford has done some good things to advance the standards on their trucks. I am saying they are again at that point. Thats why we are seeing a total redesign of the F150. Hence there have been posts on here questioning if buying the F250 was a good move or if they should have bought the F250. Those of us who have driven both know the answer to that.

All I am saying is that Ford has been going down for years. They are still on that trend and their financials back that. The stakes are now higher with the foreign market now building full size trucks. We can sit here and say "I would never switch" to a foreign truck...and for the most part that is true. However, the foriegn market is looking to find the new generation of truck owners. First time truck owners. That is a huge market for Ford as their F150 has always allured a large majority of first time buyers.

What I am saying is that Dodge has made some major moves on their trucks. I have read and compared the 04 crewcabs - It is intersting that Dodge only builds 4 door trucks. Also that all 4 of their wheels are spinning. It was only time until they attacked with what people want. Their standard 20 inch wheels also was a smart move. Lets talk about the here and now and not about the past. Past performance does not guarantee success in the future.

My message reverberates the opinions out here on these posts. Look around and you will see guys complaining about the crap Ford bolts onto these trucks. Its the customers saying "Raise the bar" - if Ford ignores their customers desires the customer will shop for a better base model truck.

 

- 4 doors is in direct response to Ford kicking their axes in the truck market with the introduction of the SD CC and F150 SuperCrew. Also, the dudge interior is A LOT smaller than a SD CC.

- All 4 wheels (well 2 1/2 anyway) turning all the time is a BAD thing IMHO. I like being able to disengage the front drive train, it saves fuel and saves wear and tear, that equals SAVING MONEY. They can keep their full time all wheel drive.

- 20" wheels is a fad, carried over from the aftermarket and ricers. They can keep those too. Why would I want to pay a ridiculous amount of money for tires (rubber bands) now, let alone 10 years from now when the 20" wheel has gone the way of the Dodo.

Ford is doing the right thing with the SD IMHO. Not perfect, they could definately make some improvements to the interior ergonomics, but other than that, the SD is the best package out there. Minor tweaks to the package are all that's required to keep the F series as the #1 selling truck.

Kannata

 

Oh yeah, FX4 vs. 4X4.

I wouldn't pay for the FX4 package. Get the skid plate package if it makes sense for you, but the shocks and sticker aren't worth the price.

Get the Camper Package, it has the sway bars and steering damper, and it's about a $50 option. Alternatively, the snow plow package will work, but it will give you a pretty harsh ride up front.

Kannata

 

Lets get down to the facts and figures -

Ford, which lost $6.4 billion in 2001 and 2002 combined, can ill afford any slip in sales or new pricing pressures. ''You can try to downplay it, but you know how important this launch is,'' said Rich Stoddart, the marketing communications manager for the Ford division. ''Let's face it.''

Ford will spend more than $100 million in four to six months, its most expensive marketing campaign by far, said Steve Lyons, president of the Ford division. ''The biggest one before that was the launch of the Explorer two years ago and this is close to double that,'' he said.

''It's a 'make it or break it' vehicle,'' Maryann Keller, an auto analyst, said of the F-150. ''You can't overestimate the importance to Ford. It's the largest-selling vehicle in the country and the most profitable model they have.'‘

In an interview last month, John Casesa, a Merrill Lynch analyst, said the F-Series accounted for $2.4 billion of net income last year; the company over all reported a $980 million net loss.

The market for full-sized pickup trucks--which is based on the full-size F-150 chassis--has doubled in the last decade to 2.2 million vehicles per year.

Model Units Sold
1. Ford F-series 115,847
2. Chevrolet Silverado 80,260
3. Dodge Ram 58,543
4. Ford Ranger 36,352
5. GMC Sierra 22,581
6. Toyota Tacoma 20,561
7. Chevrolet S-10 19,781
8. Dodge Dakota 16,360
9. Toyota Tundra 12,448
10. Chevrolet Avalanche 11,837

 

They hit a home run with the F150 IMHO, and they did it their way. It's a great truck.

The question is, how do any of those facts and figures affect the SD?

It's the #1 selling "heavy duty" pickup, and in no danger of losing that title. Some of the things you mentioned are key differences that keep the SD #1. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Just keep it well maintained.

Kannata