Are they now making a FX5 SD? Local dealer has a new 150 that is a FX5. Just wondering if there is any upgrades with this new package?

 

Could it be the new five wheel drive trucks? (5x5) Even the spare tire is powered!

 

n578md you are not getting in the pearly gates for that one. You're a bad, bad man.

 

Oh, I knew that when I was 4 years old! (Or maybe younger, I can't remember.) I got up on a chair and dunked our wiener dog puppy in a pot of boiling water on the stove... I wanted to give him a bath. So I might as well enjoy myself now. I read an article back in 2002 when Ford came out with the "FX4" nomenclature that said it was aimed at GM's Z71 gimmick name. The article mentioned that FX4 meant "Four x 4" (Four by 4). So, I'm assuming FX5 is Five x 5 ???

 

doesn't make sense to me.

It could be a joke type sticker that someone put on. I have seen a few chevy Z99s and such before.

 

The FX5 is the FX4 with a programmable 5th wheel trailer hook-up equipped with the new OBD6 diagnostics. In the event that the vehicle gets stranded to the axles in mud or sand (rocks or downed trees require a flash) then the truck will flip on its back and pull itself out.

 

Ive seen the fx5 also, but it was on a ranger.

 

Well, that's very possible. Fuel prices are going up, cost of living is going up, interest rates and tax rates are going up. I guess it was bound to happen. I should have bought a 4WD when the getting was good. FX4 finally went up to FX5... I heard that by 2010, it might even go up to FX6 or FX7!

(That thread reminds me of that guy whose amplifier's volume goes up to "11".)

 

It was the "flash" prerequisite that I was worried about, however. Turns out that OSHA will not allow reprogramming unless the owner is a logger or has some other type of special certs. Talking about discrimination...

 

Big Orn, I don't know what you're worried about. You already have an FX6. Duallies have six wheels, don't they? I guess to stay compliant with OSHA, you could just take one of your rear wheels off. You think you have problems? All I have is an FX2, how am I going to come up with the 3 extras that are now mandated?

 

This is how urban legend's are born. You pack of wild dogs.

 

AH! I found a picture of a 2006 F150 FX5! You should see the owner's manual and the procedure for changing that center tire!! (All 3 rear tires are mounted on the same axle. Ford/Visteon came up with a winner, here.)

 

It's in the SOPs' for the FX3 - same procedure - believe it or not! I wasn't aware that an Engineering Order was legally capable of being changed to accomodate the 5th wheel as it did the Ford 3Wheeler...but they've always talked out both sides of their mouths in corporate.

BTW, n578md, how can you tell I have the FX6? I actually have it registered as a std 4x4...no one was supposed to know about the 6th wheel...

On edit: You forgot to mention that the 5th wheel - as shown - was just to demonstrate it's adaptability. The main function as I addressed earlier is to pull trailers. (I think that's to keep from reclassifying it from a light-duty truck to an full-size ATV, though)

 

Well, you know how these corporate types are. It's all about saving money per unit. They could have made it functionally simple and gave FX5 F150 owners a 10.25" or 10.5" dually full floating axle with just 3 wheels on it. (1 on one side, two on the other) but see, this way, with a 9.75" SF axle with the center wheel right next to the pumpkin, they kill two stones with one bird! 1) They save having to install a single fiberglass fender extension per truck, 2) they are also able to get around the DOT regulation that vehicles over 80" in width require clearance lights, and 3) a 9.75" SF axle is much lighter and cheaper than a 10.25" or 10.5" FF. They save one fender, and a set of 5 clearance lights per truck, they also spend less money and get better fuel economy because of the lighter and smaller rear axle. Of course, as always, it's the buyer that suffers the high cost of maintenance and the extreme inconvenience of having to remove the entire axle assembly from the frame and to remove the left brake assembly to change the damned tire!

How did I know you have an FX6? Hey! Come on now, I know we're not the sharpest things around, here in Allen, but really! Everyone knows that the FX6 package is required when towing a yellow 1973 F250 390 FE Engine, 4 Speed Manual Tranny, D60 Rear with a 200SA Lincoln Welder, Oxy/Acetylene Rig, Toolbox, Headache Rack with rollups, Fab Table with vise and modified taligate for additional work table.

 

Good lawd! That’s right…my gallery. I forgot about that discriminating compilation…

But, I only have the single-unit diff. The FX5 now has the IDD (Independent Dual Differential). It was the off-road test that found the fly-in-the-soup. See excerpt below:
So, fundamentally, the FX6 and FX5 are worlds apart in that respect. And why OSHA requires tons of paperwork in order to get the flash.