FX4 off road Vs. Z71 Off road.

[banshee350twincyl]

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.

[v10_viper]

Originally Posted by banshee350twincyl

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

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.

[skipr]

Originally Posted by v10_viper

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

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.

[Rbraczyk]

Chevy just makes em better, no questions asked.

[goinbig]

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

[chevytrucks92]

Originally Posted by goinbig

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.

[skipr]

Originally Posted by goinbig

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.

[sherman69]

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

Bob B

[goinbig]

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).

[chevytrucks92]

Originally Posted by goinbig

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.

[skipr]

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"

[Thunderbolt]

Originally Posted by skipr

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.

[Silverado Brethern]

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

[goinbig]

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.

[GMCMudBogger]

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!