Is the FX4 Package worth it

[Platinum Peasant]

I shy away from trucks that aren’t FX4, I imagine there are buyers like that too. If you plan to keep for a long time then it’s a personal preference. If not, might be worth getting.

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[TerryG]

I am going to be purchasing a Platinum with a Hybrid powertrain here in Canada (southern Ontario region). I am debating between the FX4 and 4x4 packages. I rarely offroad and would never use the crawler gear, but I am curious about how the truck will drive day-to-day with either package. We get some bad snowstorms here in the winter but summertime there isn't a dirt road in sight.

More background: I rarely tow but like to drive a truck for the size (and like the payload in the bed).

Any insight is appreciated!

A couple of additional things to consider from a 4Runner owner (but soon-to-be F150 owner) with some brief, but moderate, off-road experiences:

If you are buying FX4 for the skids plates, you better check the quality of OEM. You can get REAL, beefy skid plates from a manufacturer like RCI for about the same cost (after shipping).

If you do off-road, my experience is that you are going to be more likely to need real rock sliders / rock rails than skid plates. You might be better off taking that money and applying toward sliders. My sliders have saved me some trail damage 3-4x's. I have only tapped by skids a few times. This will even be more true in an F150 due to the longer wheelbase (even on shortbeds).

I think you also have to build your truck online, both WITH FX4, then without, but adding ala carte selection to see if it makes a big enough difference. You other package selections will impact this. I think it did on mine. I had moving parts around 36-gallon tank, rear locker, tow vs mx tow, etc.

 

[Cartgreg]

I checked resale vale of a 2020 f150 with and without FX4 on KBB, about $400 - for reference.
From my perspective coming from a 4x4 ram 1500 that would only spin donuts on dirt turning left, its definitely worth it!

 

[Mtnman1]

A couple of additional things to consider from a 4Runner owner (but soon-to-be F150 owner) with some brief, but moderate, off-road experiences:

If you are buying FX4 for the skids plates, you better check the quality of OEM. You can get REAL, beefy skid plates from a manufacturer like RCI for about the same cost (after shipping).

If you do off-road, my experience is that you are going to be more likely to need real rock sliders / rock rails than skid plates. You might be better off taking that money and applying toward sliders. My sliders have saved me some trail damage 3-4x's. I have only tapped by skids a few times. This will even be more true in an F150 due to the longer wheelbase (even on shortbeds).

I think you also have to build your truck online, both WITH FX4, then without, but adding ala carte selection to see if it makes a big enough difference. You other package selections will impact this. I think it did on mine. I had moving parts around 36-gallon tank, rear locker, tow vs mx tow, etc.

skid plates are easy to add. rear locker is not. You also lose the rock mode and hill decent control, if that matters.

 

[MitchCox]

I wasn't necessarily looking for the FX4 package when I bought my 21. It just happened to be on the one I found. At the time back in July 21, Powerboosts were few and far between (apparently even harder to find now, Feb 22), I wanted a Powerboost with the Pro Power and the co-pilot 360 Active Prep Package (to support hands free) in a Platinum trim. I found one 6 hours away and it happened to have the FX4 package.

If I was building one, would I add it? No, I don't go off road. I probably wont need to lock the rear dif, I will probably never use the rock crawl mode. We do get some snow in my area in the Jan and Feb months, but not to much that a standard 4x4 wouldn't be sufficient.

Now that I have a truck with it, I may try to find a place to go off road a bit, just because I can, but its not something I would use if I didn't have it. I don't think i would just get it due to resale value. But that is just me.

I do notice the ride is a bit stiffer, more truck like, than my previous 2015 F-150 2WD. I don't know if that is due to the FX4 or due to my 21 being a heavy 4x4 hybrid, since my last truck was a XLT 2WD.

I am not sure if it helps you decide but that is just my experience.

Good Luck.

 

[Newton]

It is worth doing a test ride with and without, if that is still possible these days. I like the ride quality of the FX4 better. It seems fine on the freeway. We drive forest roads sometimes but not extreme off road.

It wasn't on our radar when we were looking, but we tested a lot of F-150s on a rough dirt road, and the ones that made my wife feel sick were the non FX4s. It took us awhile to figure out that was the difference.

The e-locker is definitely something that you want, you may never need it but that one time you do you will appreciate it. If you don't think there is any possibility that you need it, get a 4x2.

 

[Walters96]

In Canada, it's even more expensive than $1,000. If this is something that helps on resale it might be worth the time even if I don't use the feature... good call.

On my window sticker for my 2022 on order that I got the FX4 package on its $950.00

 

[RR89]

I have it on my 2015 and have never used any function of it in 104K and counting. I did not order it on my 2022. It may be an illusion but I also hope it rides a little better than with "offroad tuned shocks".

 

[tbeneteau]

I am going to be purchasing a Platinum with a Hybrid powertrain here in Canada (southern Ontario region). I am debating between the FX4 and 4x4 packages. I rarely offroad and would never use the crawler gear, but I am curious about how the truck will drive day-to-day with either package. We get some bad snowstorms here in the winter but summertime there isn't a dirt road in sight.

More background: I rarely tow but like to drive a truck for the size (and like the payload in the bed).

Any insight is appreciated!

I just traded my 2014 FX4 5.0 in for a used 2021 Limited Powerboost. I can say the FX4 ride (especially the rear) was stiff and felt every imperfection in the road. It was very noticeable when I started driving the Limited (does NOT have the Continuously Controlled Damping suspension). Limited is smoother and I don't miss the FX4. I never needed it in the first place.

 

[redline]

the fx4 for 2023 is a 1000 in canada ... stupid ford canada site i cant seem to find the 2024 config page... but i am sure it is 1250 is something close to that...

i live in the rockies and fx4 is must for me...

 

[3Ranger11]

It’s got a few extras on the base 4x4. You get a rear locker, shocks, skids, and now a drive mode that uses the ABS on the front wheels to simulate a front locker. In the past, some believed the FX4 to ride a little stiffer but I’ve never personally felt a difference. If you’re not really going off-road, the base 4x4 with winter tires should suffice for snowy conditions. And the rear locker is a stand alone option if you think you need it.

What drive mode is it that you’re talking about?

 

[amschind]

If you can get the 3.73 E-locker rear without the FX4, then I would absolutely ditch FX4. The big upgrades are supposed to be the shocks and skid plates, but you're better off getting a Fox 2.0 it and a skid plate package. It's tough to name a component from the FX4 package that I didn't replace other than hill descent control, and I recall someone telling me how to add that for free.

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