FX4 off road Vs. Z71 Off road.

I think the Z71 off road has been around since like 1988. The package consists of Skid plates, Bilstein Shocks, and Z71 offroad stickers on the truck. Just recently ford has come out with a truck Called The FX4 which consists of Skid plates, Rancho Shocks and FX4 offroad stickers on the truck. Does anyone else not find this weird? I think ford copied Chevrolet. Id like to hear what everyone else thinks on this matter.

I think the Z71 off road has been around since like 1988. The package consists of Skid plates, Bilstein Shocks, and Z71 offroad stickers on the truck. Just recently ford has come out with a truck Called The FX4 which consists of Skid plates, Rancho Shocks and FX4 offroad stickers on the truck. Does anyone else not find this weird? I think ford copied Chevrolet. Id like to hear what everyone else thinks on this matter.

I think it's just for Ford to say that they have a truck to compete with the Z71 and they gave it a like name. Like a Ford could ever compete with a Chevy :loser:

Also what skid plates come on the Z71's?? I'd really like to know cuz my 92 has skid plates on it yet it's not a Z71.

I think it's just for Ford to say that they have a truck to compete with the Z71 and they gave it a like name. Like a Ford could ever compete with a Chevy :loser:

Also what skid plates come on the Z71's?? I'd really like to know cuz my 92 has skid plates on it yet it's not a Z71.


Oh it's a 3/8 inch thick piece of billet aluminum, and it's very pretty..lol. It should be 24 karot gold for what they charge extra for that option.

Chevy just makes em better, no questions asked.

So your paying extra for some stickers that aren't anywhere near neccessary, Shocks that you can buy (all 4) for well under $100, and a skid plate I could go out and make in my shop... Cool

So your paying extra for some stickers that aren't anywhere near neccessary, Shocks that you can buy (all 4) for well under $100, and a skid plate I could go out and make in my shop... Cool

Not if you get the factory spec shocks you want. I gave $110 for four shocks and I have a non-Z-71.

I can't say much about the skid plate, but the Z-71 package also consists of a transmission cooler, an oil cooler, usually a locking differential (G80 is the RPO code) and I think a towing package.

So your paying extra for some stickers that aren't anywhere near neccessary, Shocks that you can buy (all 4) for well under $100, and a skid plate I could go out and make in my shop... Cool


Hey those are high quality stickers man! LOL, no but serously I replaced my stock bilstiens with same kind and payed about $250 for all 4. I don't know for sure because I traded for Electrical hook up of some machine tools at a 4 x 4 custom shop. But the packing slip was still attached to the box they gave me. As for the skid plate..yea you can probally make one with a hammer and some vise grips... J/K.

Z71 also has a heavier duty suspension.Springs are either 2500 (3/4) ton or close.

Bob B

But if you actually take it off-road very much, you would not want a heavier duty suspension. You want as much flex as possible.

Tow package...I just bought a 15,000 lb hitch the other day for $40.

Shocks, anyone that's seriously into wheeling know where the good deals are on them.

Locking differential...that is worth something, if it's a locker. If it's just a limited slip/posi, what's the point??

The tranny and oil cooler might make it worth it (with the other stuff combined) until you look at what a wrecking yard has to offer...where you can build your own for very little $$$.


Just to let you know, I'm not argueing with anyone at all...I'm just trying to make a point...half joking around (even though I am serious about all that stuff above).

Locking differential...that is worth something, if it's a locker. If it's just a limited slip/posi, what's the point??

It's not a locker, it is limited slip. But limited slip is better then not having limited slip. As soon as one wheel slips, then they both lock, and they will be no more spinning.


Now about the trans. cooler, you can actually get a brand new one for about $40, and you can get a new hitch for $100.

So I would agree with you that you coudl make a better off roader for the same amoutn of money, maybe less, lol.

The only thing is, those do it yoru self parts are not warrantied.

My original window sticker (which I still have) says "Z71 Off-Road Chassis Equip. PKG" = $270. But the "HD Aux Transmission Cooler Sys" and the "Heavy Duty Trailering Equiptment" are not part of the Z71 package they r seperate options. and the locking differential rear axle is a standard on all K1500's. I am quoteing this right from my window sticker "1998 Ext. Cab SWB fleetside pickup 4WD"

My original window sticker (which I still have) says "Z71 Off-Road Chassis Equip. PKG" = $270. But the "HD Aux Transmission Cooler Sys" and the "Heavy Duty Trailering Equiptment" are not part of the Z71 package they r seperate options. and the locking differential rear axle is a standard on all K1500's. I am quoteing this right from my window sticker "1998 Ext. Cab SWB fleetside pickup 4WD"



The Z-71 option consists of the skid plates and Bilstein shocks and thats it. The oil cooler is standard with 3.73 gears and optional with 3.42's. The trans cooler is an otion or it comes with the tow package. The heavy duty springs are part of the heavy duty chassis package which is optional and comes with a 14 bolt 9.5 " semi floating diff. an extra leaf and bigger rear brakes (it is the same rear set-up as a 7,200 lb GVWR 3/4 ton). It changes the GVWR from 6,200 to 6,600 lbs. The locking differential is an option on all c/k trucks and not standard. I have a regular 4x4 and a Z-71 and also the window stickers for both.

Mine is has the z-71 package, 3.73 gears and oil cooler, pretty sure it has a trans cooler and i have the tow package (class V), have the same springs as a 3/4 ton and 14 bolt 9.5" rear with the G80 LIMITED SLIP, not a locker, to my knowledge their is no actual "locker" made by GM and it certainly would never be standard. But seriously guys, talkin about how its not worth the cost for the factory z-71 and tow package and all...who in the hell in thier right mind would run around tryin find all this stuff from retailers or junk yards just tryin to save what? maybe a hundred or two or three? so what you have effectively cut cost and wasted time where as it is much easy just to buy the factory installed package especially when some of the things are available only thru GM. To me when you can be able to buy something all at once and know that it was specifically designed for that vehicle but you in turn try to save a few bucks by doin on ur own is just foolish and pointless.

Just my :2cents:

All I was saying is why pay $300 more for skid plates and shocks (I guess that's all that's in the Z71 package then). Shocks made specially for that truck...you can buy whatever length shocks you want...they're certainly not specially made.

I guess I'm just not the kind of person that likes to waste money where I don't need too.

Also, is it the MSRP that is a few hundred more for that package, or dealers. Cause I'm sure there's a lot of dealers out there that will say "oh ya, It's the Z71 package...which makes it worth a LOT more...like more than a few hundred more." ??

I just don't see why it would be foolish or pointless to do it that way---But that just my $.02.



Plus the G80 limited slip is crap and well known for blowing up regularly.

I have granaded the so called limited slip in my suburban, Can't have anything larger than 33's or your guaranteed destruction of the carrier, It's not really much better than a standard open diff thats for sure. I put an Auburn posi on mine works OK should have put a Detroit Locker instead. The trans and oil coolers are not much either they are reservoirs (tanks) on each side of the radiator rather than than stand alone "coolers", So if you overheat your radiator, Your tranny gets hot too! Save you money since most people I know remove the "Z71" from the side anyway, I also have an F350 with the FX4 package and it is similiar but I bought the truck as is, took the stickers off of that one too!

This may be interesting to some you guys, my truck with all the add ons and package or w/e has to have a weight class 2 sticker on the windshield. dunno how much it actually weighs but i have said 6000-6500lbs and got laughed at by a guy who said it prolly weighs barely over 5000lbs, but when he saw the sticker he didnt have much to say.

Is this a state requirement? if so for which state, Here in California I had to get my F350 Crew Cab PSD 4x4 weighed in order to get it registered and it weighed 7800lbs! ($6 local public scale) Geeze, I think it's just another way to get more registaration dollars from us by claiming were in a different weight class?????

Im not sure if its a law or not in Pennsylvannia but the place i got it inspected said i had to pay to get another one to complete the inspection

The Z-71 option consists of the skid plates and Bilstein shocks and thats it. The oil cooler is standard with 3.73 gears and optional with 3.42's. The trans cooler is an otion or it comes with the tow package. The heavy duty springs are part of the heavy duty chassis package which is optional and comes with a 14 bolt 9.5 " semi floating diff. an extra leaf and bigger rear brakes (it is the same rear set-up as a 7,200 lb GVWR 3/4 ton). It changes the GVWR from 6,200 to 6,600 lbs. The locking differential is an option on all c/k trucks and not standard. I have a regular 4x4 and a Z-71 and also the window stickers for both.

Well what can I say, my window sticker does not jive with yours. And this whole issue isn't worth aruging about anyways. And whoever said the trans cooler is a pass through on the radiator tanks, mine is a seperate (smaller radiator) dedicated for the trans.And this does NOT mean your wrong, just wrong about mine.

and the locking differential rear axle is a standard on all K1500's.

No its not. My 1992 K1500 doesn't have the limited slip rear end (G80). It has the 5.7 TBI, 4-spd automatic trans. (I assume its the 700r4, but I really dont know), and .342 gear ratios (which are standard on K1500s).

Now the limited slip rear end is standard with the towing package, and my truck did not come with a towing package.

And whoever said the trans cooler is a pass through on the radiator tanks, mine is a seperate (smaller radiator) dedicated for the trans.

I never caught that, but you're right, ALL trans. coolers are a seperate smaller radiator. That pass through on the original radiator is where all transmission lines go for trucks without a trans. cooler.

When you buy one to put on a truck that doesn't have a cooler, you take those lines outof the radiator, and connect them to the cooler.

IF you go and buy any new radiator today, and say you want one for a truck with an auto tranny, You will get a radiator with the two fittings for the tranny cooler lines...one going in, one going out.

When the tranny fluid goes through those lines, they are not going through the coolant itself. They are going through there own little area, not greatly affected by the temp of the coolant that is in the radiator. If your engine over heats, it won't neccessarily cause your tranny to overheat.

Tranny's should never go above 160* (roughly), while engines usually run around 170*-220* (roughly)

Silverado Brethen, Did you ever get your truck weighed ?? I replied to your previous post and diddn't and still don't think your truck weighs 6,000 lbs, But I wasn't laughing at you for thinking it. I used to think mine weighed that much too, But when I had it weighed it was just under 5,300 lbs. From what you say is added it probably weighs a few hundred pounds more, But I don't think 700. I am seriously interested in what it weighs if you do decide to weigh it.

Skipr, I was in no way trying to argue and I apologize for sounding like it. After I re- read my post I kind of sounded like a know it all and that wasn't my intent. I was just stating what I believe to be accurate info.

Silverado Brethen, Did you ever get your truck weighed ?? I replied to your previous post and diddn't and still don't think your truck weighs 6,000 lbs, But I wasn't laughing at you for thinking it. I used to think mine weighed that much too, But when I had it weighed it was just under 5,300 lbs. From what you say is added it probably weighs a few hundred pounds more, But I don't think 700. I am seriously interested in what it weighs if you do decide to weigh it.

Skipr, I was in no way trying to argue and I apologize for sounding like it. After I re- read my post I kind of sounded like a know it all and that wasn't my intent. I was just stating what I believe to be accurate info.


No problem, it's hard to tell about someones additude when reading typed words, hav no face or voice to associate with. It did seem like you where pissed at me for posting that inaccurate info.

Skipr is right, The oil cooler and trans cooler, limited slip and towing pkg are not part of the z71 pkg. They are optional equipment or they might come std on all the 4x4's , i just know theyre not part of the z71 pkg. just shocks (bilstein), skid plates and stickers.

I have a 93 k1500 4x4 (not Z71) 5.7L
It came with a 3/8 aluminum skid plate for the front diff and transfer case. also has bilstein shocks on all 4, a tow package, 3.73 posi, no tranny cooler cause it has a heavy duty cast iron 5-speed. 3" body lift re-keyed torsion bars, cut off the bump stops, and re-aligned, also 3 inch lift blocks under rear leafs

also another difference between 4x4 and Z71 is the insurance

bottom line...ford sucks. no questions asked. really though, the z71 package has stronger torsion bars even better than a 1 ton. more sensitive and flexible rear leaf springs and yeah good shocks and skid plates. or just one over the front diff. the t-case plate is usually on all gm trucks. cant forget the stickers too! really if i was going to buy a new 1/2 ton chevy i would go for the z71. but really if i had the dough, the duramax would be the ticket.

okay what is the big deal about the Fx4 and Z71 both are good trucks, now what i do want to know is what the hell is the LS on the trucks and stuff, my s10 4x4 has everything a Zr2 has except finder flears and 3" left, so none of the Z71 thing makes a difference thats just a chevy signature thing they made to get rid of 4x4 stickers on ever 4wd truck, but yeah dont dis on the Fords iv seen them do better things than chevy and i also seen chevys do things, but yall are going to say chevy will bet ford every time because well most the time is because thats what u have or that you like chevy, but really it all depends on the driver, with tug of wars and mud bogging, i seen a F-250 diesel hooked up to a reg cab toyota 4x4 and the F-250 couldnt budge it, i am just making a point, if u dog on a truck long enough it will tear up no dought, but if u baby it it will do just fine