4x4 difference??????


MatthewT

15+ Year Member

Joined
Oct 24, 2009
Messages
50
Points
3,101
City
Cannon AFB, New Mexico
Vehicle Year
2004
Transmission
Manual
Can anybody tell me the difference between the regular 4x4, the Fx4 Level 2 and the Fx4 offroad??
 
price, shocks, and an inch of ride height.
 
Really not much difference in the 4x4 system, other than the FX4 Lvl2 had a torsen diff & full skids (for, mid, aft). Everything else is just a change in trim package. XLT 4x4 is without the side well molding. FX4 has the wheel well molding.
 
you guys are forgetting the biggest difference the fx4 level 2 have a 31 spline rear axle.
 
LearjetMinako said:
Really not much difference in the 4x4 system, other than the FX4 Lvl2 had a torsen diff & full skids (for, mid, aft). Everything else is just a change in trim package. XLT 4x4 is without the side well molding. FX4 has the wheel well molding.
Click to expand...

My 98 4x4 has a t-case skid and a gas tank skid. The only one it doesn't have is the front skid. There's really not much difference...
 
Downey said:
you guys are forgetting the biggest difference the fx4 level 2 have a 31 spline rear axle.
Click to expand...

Does the 4X4 have i think the 28 right?

So if i want to buy parts to make it comparable on my 04 4x4, is basically buy after market shocks front/Rear(any Brands yall would recommend). The Skids I am not sure on my truck, i think it came standard with one for the gas tank but the other 2 i don't think i have. And the "torsen diff" i have no idea(i will have to look into that). I like the Trim on the XLT 4x4 the Best.

**Off the topic Question i have P245/75R16 Goodyear Wrangler RT/S on right now and will need new tires in the next 6 months. On the TRS conversion it says the Diameter=30.5, width=9.6, height=7.2. Do yall know of any A/T or M/T that will fit that rim or do i have to buy a whole new wheel and tire assembly(which i do not want to do till i put my lift kit on), if so i will just settle for a cheap A/T till then.
 
tire wise any mud or allterrain from a 30-32 inches tall 9.50 to 12.50 wide will fit fine although the 12.50 is pushing a 7 inch wide rim wit ha torsion crank you can fit 33 12.50s
 
As far as tires go, what sort of driving do you do with the truck?

MT tires usually have the shortest lifespan. Alternately, some AT tires suck for traction when you need it.

With my 2wd Ranger I tried running mud tires on the back for awhile. They had killer grip in mud and deep snow, but wet roads, ice or packed snow they were next to worthless. IMHO, for what I did with the truck, they weren't worth having. After that I picked out an aggressive AT tread. Even though most of the driving I did with it was on the road, since I worked construction I often had to get off the street on a muddy jobsite or so forth. Good tread was a must. I ran Sport King AT tires and loved 'em.

Now I've been looking at tires for my F-150 and I refuse to look at BFG AT tires. I've seen them load up bad trying to get into a muddy jobsite. I'm leaning towards getting a set of Mastercraft Courser C/T tires. The cleats look almost as big as a MT tire, and that's what I liked about the Sport Kings.

I would say get a set of 30 or 31" tires for your truck and either keep the rims or look for a cheap set of 15" rims on craigslist. (15" rims are easier to find tires for until you get into like 35" tires and bigger, IMHO)
 
Regular 4x4 is a 4x4, maybe with limited-slip and skidplates as separate options, regular shocks.
98-02 Off-Road and 03-up FX4 had t-case and fuel tank skidplates, HD shocks, 16" wheels with A/T tires. Earlier ones, 98-99 maybe, included a front skidplate. 03-up FX4 included a regular limited-slip rear.
02 FX4 and 03-up FX4 Level II included ALL the skidplates, Bilstein shocks, 31 spline rear with Torsen limited-slip, Alcoa 15x7 wheels with BFG All-Terrains.

My first Ranger was a 99 that I special-ordered, no Off-Road package or skidplates but I did get a limited-slip rear. Mostly I got to get around in snow and be good on gas.
My second Ranger was an 02 Off-Road that rode like the shocks were made of concrete. The limited-slip rear was listed as a separate option on the window sticker. Had t-case and fuel tank skidplates, no front skidplate.
 
JohnnyO said:
Earlier ones, 98-99 maybe, included a front skidplate.
Click to expand...

I've yet to see a 98-00 with a factory front skidplate:icon_confused:

I have the offroad package and I don't have an LSD, just the tank/tcase/torsion bar skid plates and "Platinum" moulding/fender flares
 
Last edited:
My neighbor has a '98 Off-Road that he bought new and it has a front skidplate.
Also someone who lives on my dad's street has a '98 to '00 Off-Road with a front skidplate. I don't know who owns it or what year it is for sure, I just see the truck parked there.
I think it's just one of those pot-luck sort of things.
 
JohnnyO said:
My neighbor has a '98 Off-Road that he bought new and it has a front skidplate.
Also someone who lives on my dad's street has a '98 to '00 Off-Road with a front skidplate. I don't know who owns it or what year it is for sure, I just see the truck parked there.
I think it's just one of those pot-luck sort of things.
Click to expand...

Can you grab a pic for me?
 
Not real likely, I never carry a camera around.
 
MountainMike said:
I've yet to see a 98-00 with a factory front skidplate:icon_confused:

I have the offroad package and I don't have an LSD, just the tank/tcase/torsion bar skid plates and "Platinum" moulding/fender flares
Click to expand...

I know this is pulling this thread from the grave, but I was searching for tire info and stumbled on this.

My truck is a 2000 Ford Ranger XLT 4x4 SuperCab with the Off Road package and Tow Package and it has factory front, mid (t-case) and rear (gas tank) skid plates.
 
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