XLT vs Lariat Do not drive the same

[Magician]

I’d be willing to bet there is close to a 15lb per wheel/tire weight difference between the 18” and 20” wheel and tire combo stock on the two trucks. That’s a lot of weight on all four corners requiring more effort(horsepower) to rotate them and more braking force to stop. Unsprung weight will translate to a noticeable decrease in performance. Added content between the two trucks could also decrease performance. Together all most assuredly can cause one to perform noticeably different.

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[Tomatoboy]

Doesn't the Lariat have a different 4x4 system? Where both in 4x2 mode? Maybe the Lariat was in 4A. If the tire diameter is the same I doubt the difference is due to wheels. These are not race cars. The ride will be softer on the XLT wheels. LT tires are stiff.

Yup. The Lariat is where you transition to the 4A transfer case (IIRC the Borg Warner 4417). That said, I’ve never noticed any loss of power when mine is in 4A.

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

I had the same experience. I test-drove both Lariat and XLT. The Lariat felt heavier and stiffer ride. I am leaning towards a XLT.

The lariat may have the electronic shocks, they do make the truck feel a little stiffer or a bit more stable

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

I’d be willing to bet there is close to a 15lb per wheel/tire weight difference between the 18” and 20” wheel and tire combo stock on the two trucks. That’s a lot of weight on all four corners requiring more effort(horsepower) to rotate them and more braking force to stop. Unsprung weight will translate to a noticeable decrease in performance. Added content between the two trucks could also decrease performance. Together all most assuredly can cause one to perform noticeably different.

that is a darn good point. However, every power boost I’ve seen in my local area has 20 inch wheels. I’m yet to see if power boost first hand with 18 inch.

 

[NateV]

I have a 21 lariat long bed eco with 20s, and a 23 xl powerboost short bed with 17s through work. The xl definitely rides and handles better, and had me thinking of trading down to an xlt.

 

[TheGoatman]

I have a 21 lariat long bed eco with 20s, and a 23 xl powerboost short bed with 17s through work. The xl definitely rides and handles better, and had me thinking of trading down to an xlt.

Wouldn’t it be cheaper just to change the shocks? There’s a ton of great options for these trucks so you can find a shock to your preference.

I don’t talk about mods to friends and family that ride in my truck but since I changed my shocks and tires, Ive been getting comments about how good it rides. Not once with the oem setup.

I have Fox snap rings in the front and oem tremor shocks, blocks, and bumps in the back.

 

[JRonchetto]

XLT for the WIN!

 

[Magician]

I added the Bilstein 6112’s set to 2” lift in front and the 5160’s in the rear. The ride became more in control if that makes sense especially in the rear of the truck. I’ve driven a service loaner Platinum and thought it pretty much floated. Haven’t driven a Lariat so I can’t really compare. It Doesn’t ride as smooth as the ST or my wife’s Nautilus but still is better than my Ram was.

 

[Eighthtry]

Struggling here with the weight differential. Unsprung weight makes a difference. It can be felt.

Bed size can make a difference. It can be felt.

Otherwise, I bet the two trucks spec out within 200-300 lbs of one another.

 

[DMuiser]

I had a 21 xlt PowerBoost with fx4 with 20 inch stock wheels and duratrac RT 275/60r20 tires. Was a great truck! Traded for a 24 lariat PowerBoost. Basically the same truck other than 24 is non fx4 but has moonroof. Even got dealer to swap over my tires onto the 24. Payload is 200lbs less so can assume lariat bells and whistles/ moonroof attribute to that.

brakes feel the same on both trucks and if I stomp it down they both haul ass. However what I notice is the 24 has worse mileage. Was averaging 11.5 L/100km with 21 xlt and after 3000km on 24 I’m averaging 13L/100km. It seems as though the 24 doesn’t stay in electric mode nearly as long.

not sure if the 200lbs difference is all to blame for that. Or if more cameras, sensors etc is using up the electricity more than the xlt. I haven’t calculated by hand yet so this is assuming the computer mileage is accurate.

 

[mrichard02]

Did they have the same gearing and engines? Were they both power-boost models? I didn’t think you could get an XLT as a power boost. There’s also 3.31 gears axle and 3.73 axle gears. Vehicles with smaller rims and more rubber tire between the rim and the road will always ride softer. The smaller wheel diameter will also lend itself to less rotational mass and therefore slightly snappier acceleration if everything else is the same. If the XLT is not a hybrid and yours is then that would explain the difference in brake pedal feel.

They had the same 3.73 gear. There are plenty of XLTs as powerboosts.

 

[mrichard02]

Fx4 vs non fx4? Or did one have max tow ?

Both were regular 4x4 non Fx4 and both have max tow.

 

[mrichard02]

Doesn't the Lariat have a different 4x4 system? Where both in 4x2 mode? Maybe the Lariat was in 4A. If the tire diameter is the same I doubt the difference is due to wheels. These are not race cars. The ride will be softer on the XLT wheels. LT tires are stiff.

Both were in regular 4x2 normal mode. Lariat was not in 4A.

 

[Buyer2021]

Both were in regular 4x2 normal mode. Lariat was not in 4A.

Even so, IIRC the XLT ESOF still uses IWEs that disengage the front half shafts & shaft into the transfer case, where the Lariat TOD since ~2022 build 2 does not (that mass is always rotating even in 2WD modes).

IF correct, that might account for some of a difference in 'feel' in a side-by-side comparison.

Maybe ignorance is bliss .... I've not done the side-by-side comparison, I never even drove an XLT when shopping model year 2022 because I knew it lacked features I wanted. I'm very happy with the 'feel' and comfortable ride of my 3.5EB Lariat, never felt a need to question or compare to other trims (granted, it does have Billstein 5100's at stock height on all corners).

YMMV, no worries!

 

[dochawk]

YMMV, no worries!

Actually, isn't that what he's worried about?
?

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