I'm sure you guys have explained this a million times but enlighten teenage me.

98-?? 4x4 Off Road

02 FX4II badged as a FX4

03+ FX4 and FX4II

I've heard that FX4s and 4x4 Off Roads are the same essentially yet I have seen 01-03 4x4 Off Roads and 01-03 FX4s. So did for produce two identical Rangers with different badging for a year or two? Or are all the 01-03 4x4 Off Roads really just 01s and 02s and they stopped after FX4IIs were made in 03?

Thank you almighty ranger-forum members for you oodles of knowledge.

 

fx4's have skidplates i know that for sure

 

i have an 07 FX4ll and ya, they have the skidplates, 4.10 ls diffs, aluminum alcoa rims and 31-10.5 bfg all terrains all standard. the FX4 is a trim level and im guessing that you could add an 'off road' package to a lesser trim level.

 

my 4x4 offroad has skid plates too. unless you can get the twin stick level II FX4 with the torsen there really isnt anything special about them over a regular 4x4.

 

Yea nothing special just bigger axels,alcoa wheels, bilstein shocks, painted grills, black moldings, bfg tires, all black interior, badass seats, different gauges, silver around the radio, stainless tow hooks, torsen differential, thers quite a bit different, its all about what you like, and i think the only twin sticks were 02 and 03 not sute though. I wouldnt want that year anyway for the timing chain tensioner problems alot have.

 

^i have an 03 fx4 off road and i have everything except the all black interior,alcoas,and manual shift t-case.i have the same size axle i have the gauges,silver around the radio,the seats with the bigger side bolsters,and the torsen diff

 

FX4 lvl 2 twin sticks FTW

 

Proof? You have a 31 spline axle?

 

Don't the Level ll's have all black interior? Nothing really major in difference. But the main is the skidplates, the towhooks, black interior with either blue or red seats, and Bilstein shocks.

 

I think all Fx4s have black interior, just Level 2s have special seats.
The big change on Level 2's is twin sticks on early ones and 31 spline torsen axle on all of them.

 

nah only level 2's had black interior

 

This may jump around like mad....so bear with me. lol. And please note: '02 Fx4 Off Road = '03+ Fx4 Level II. '02 4x4 Off Road = '03+ Fx4 Off Road. Many including myself roll the '02 Fx4 in with the Level II title as they are the same truck feature wise, minus the typical model wide year differences.


01-05: XLT 4x4 Off Road and Fx4 Off Road(EXCLUDING '02) are your normal everyday XLT 4x4 with the following add-ons: skid plates(some years got all 3, others just got two), 4.10's, clutch driven Limited Slip, that's about it.

06-07: Fx4 Off Road and Fx4 Level II appear the exact same truck. Instead of just being a package that was optioned on top of an XLT, Fx4 became it's own trim package with two levels. They both were two-tone, only Sports and Fx4's got flares, All XLT's are flareless.


ONLY the '02 Fx4 Off Road and 03-07 Fx4 Level II's got all black interior, 'stainless' hooks, 31spline axle w/ gear driven limited slip, ALL got buckets w/ either blue or red insert(02-03 got driver AND passenger lumbar....other Ranger buckets of the same vintage have just driver lumbar or no lumbar at all), ALL got every power options(tilt/leather/cruise/power doors/windows/mirrors, ALL were 4dr(though I have pic proof of one two door), ALL had Bilsteins('08+ went to Ranchos if optioned). '02-07 LII's got the Alcoas(and there were optional Alcoas....brushed, polished, and painted DSG). 02-03 Fx4 LII's got BLACK exterior plastics where the standard Fx4's and XLT's got grey exterior plastics(grille, valence, flares, rear bumper step pad).

Basically, LII's are as optioned and 'tricked' out as you can get off the showroom floor.



I won't really get into the bastardized Fx4's of '08+.... They're all basically just like 06-07 Fx4 Off Roads, but the individual LII specialized stuff were optional.....Ranchos(no more Bilsteins), chrome shifter, 31spline torsen axle just to name a few. And don't even get me effin' started on those 2010 Canadian Fx4's that are a SPORT w/ buckets and 4.10's with Fx4 decals on the bedside! lol.

 

You've got a plain jane nothing special Fx4.

You DO NOT have the same size axle as the "real" Fx4's... you have a 28 spline 8.8 w/ a Ford TracLoc LS. NOT a 31spline, Ranger width axle w/ the Torsen T2 diff. But if you say you do, please provide pics of where the axle tube meets the brake flange and a measurement of the axle tube @ the spring perch.

Those seats are just optional seats(if buckets)...even the 60/40's got side bolsters. Bet ya don't have driver AND passenger Lumbar right?

All the other things like silver gauges and silver radio bezel is an '03 XLT thing....nothing too special....nothing Fx4 specific.

 

so i have essentially the same truck as the 98-01 4x4 Off Road?

 

Shane, I know you know your crap but wouldn't his FX4 have a Torsen? I thought all FX4's got Torsens just you had the difference between standard FX4 rear ends and Level II rear ends.

 

^yea same here i thought all fx4 have torsens

 

lvl 2s have a torsen
fx4s have a ford tracloc

 

shane to the rescue thankfully! good write up shane, that should be stickied so this question and answer can seen without another thread being made about it lol.

 

Si

This would be 100% true. The only years where it gets iffy is 08-09 Fx4's where it's just the one model and the 31spline Torsen axle was optional. In addtion, all others with an LS would be the TracLoc. Fx4 LII OR those 08-09's if properly optioned got the Torsens and they were only found in 31spline Ranger axles.

HAHA! Ah...no. lol....I don't care. I could type it out and type it out. I've always planned on making a sticky or at least a Fx4 extravaganza info thread. I've got alot of pics and stuff....just working on these newer model bastardized ones. lol.

Though, I've got 2010 CDN Fx4 pretty much down good! lol.

 

so shane is there anything unique to the fx4 off road over the regular xlt 4x4?

 

I'm glad I cooked up this thread. I didn't realize all the differences. So the 4x4 Off Road was defunct after 2002?

 

^well not as much defunct as much as renamed

 

yep. sounds like it. defiantly paste up a "this is the differences thread" Talk about engines, models, options, years, packages, wheels, the whole deal. Set it straight.

 

I have on bit of information to add to this almost complete description. The 2002 FX4 bucket inserts were not blue or red. They had that one year unique black and white insert that I call "cracked ice". It was not all that popular and is probably the reason why it lasted only one year.

 

You're just pissed because we still have the FX4 option and you don't.......Boo Hoo

LOL

Mind you, these newer Rangers just don't bring anything to the plate anymore. Ford's giving then away at ridiculous prices now. Heck, they are almost paying YOU to drive them off the lot. LOL