Is the Ford F-150 Off-Road Package Worth It?
For $1,095, the F-150 FX4 Off-Road Package can make your everyday truck that much more capable on challenging terrain.
Written by Melanie Krieps Mergen
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
For $1,095, the Ford F-150 Off-Road Package gets you various features, like upgraded shock absorbers designed for the off-road, protective skid plates, and Hill Descent Control. While it might not be able to compete with the top-tier Raptor trim, it is a lot more affordable and still adds practical improvements for handling rugged terrain.
The Ford F-150 has been one of the country’s top-selling vehicles for the better part of the last forty years—and as such, it has plenty of different audiences to cater to. For the occasional off-roading crowd, the Ford’s FX4 Off-Road Package has been around for about two decades, and it still remains a popular add-on for off-road enthusiasts on a budget. But what exactly it offers will vary depending on the model year and the type of Ford vehicle you’re adding it to.
If you’re debating adding the FX4 Off-Road Package to a new 2023 Ford F-150, here’s what you can expect—and how it compares to other options.
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What is the Ford F-150 Off-Road Package?
The FX4 Off-Road Package is available as an add-on to select
trim levels
of the 2023 Ford F-150. It can leave you better equipped when you venture beyond the paved path.While this package isn’t available on every Ford F-150 configuration, it is available on a good share of them. It’s offered on the XL Standard (101A), XL High (102A), XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, and Platinum 4X4 trims. The FX4 Off-Road Package isn’t available on trucks with the 3.3L V6 PFDI engine option.
What’s included
Here’s mainly what you get with the 2023 Ford F-150 FX4 Off-Road Package:
- Front shock absorbers designed for the off-road
- Monotube rear shocks
- Hill descent control
- Rock/Crawl drive mode
- Fuel tank, transfer case, and front differential skid plates
- FX4 bodyside decal
- Choice between a 3.31 or 3.55 electronic-locking rear axle
When it comes to that last option, the 3.31 rear axle is available on the 5.0L V8 and 3.5L V6 EcoBoost engines, while the 3.55 is available with the 2.7L V6 EcoBoost engine.
What it does
In a nutshell, the FX4 Off-Road Package adds additional features to prepare it for the off-road, plus a package-specific decal that displays on your truck body if you’re interested in bragging rights. Let’s break down what these extra features allow.
The specialized front and rear shock absorbers can help your F-150 maintain a stable ride while experiencing less wear and tear under more rugged conditions.
Hill Descent Control is a cruise control feature that works in combination with traction control and anti-lock brakes to help you maintain a steady pace and reduce slippage while you’re traversing down steep inclines. On downhill descents, it can operate between 2 and 12 mph.
The Off-Road Package also adds a Rock/Crawl drive mode to help you more easily navigate rocky, uneven terrain at low speeds with maximum traction control.
The electronic-locking rear axle helps both rear wheels turn at the same speed, which can improve off-road traction, too. That said, be aware that’s precisely what it’s designed for: the off-road. It’s not intended for use on dry pavement.
Lastly, off-roading can be a thrill, but it can also do a number on your undercarriage and other vulnerable parts of your truck if you’re not careful. For this reason, the FX4 Off-Road Package also comes with skid plates to give the fuel tank, transfer case, and front differential some extra protection.
How much is a 2023 Ford F-150 FX4 Off-Road Package?
Pricing for the Ford F-150 FX4 Off-Road Package starts at $1,095. While the Ford F-Series trucks do have off-road-oriented trims, this package can make an everyday truck more capable of handling rugged conditions at a much lower cost than a trim upgrade.
2023 F-150 trim pricing
Trim | Starting price |
|---|---|
XL | $33,695 |
XLT | $41,800 |
Lariat | $57,480 |
King Ranch | $63,005 |
Platinum | $64,695 |
Limited | $84,910 |
Tremor | $60,970 |
$76,775 |
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Is the FX4 Off-Road Package worth it?
The FX4 Off-Road Package is generally ideal for someone who’s using their Ford F-150 as an everyday driver but wants to give it more capability on rough or challenging terrain. It’s also more affordable than some other F-150 trims that are designed as dedicated off-road vehicles.
If you’re mostly happy sticking with a lower trim, like the XL (or your budget demands it), spending an extra grand is a much smaller ask than the more than $40,000 jump it would take to reach the off-road Raptor trim.
But Ford has plenty of other options to mix and match if you’re looking to build a new off-road truck, so let’s see how the FX4 Off-Road Package stacks up against those choices.
MORE: Cheap off road trucks
Off-Road Package vs. the Rattler Package
In addition to its Off-Road Package, the Ford F-Series lineup offers a few other off-road options, with the Rattler being one of the most accessible at a cost of $1,810. The Rattler is essentially the base-level XL F-150 with FX4 features, and it also comes with:
- 18-inch wheels
- Dual exhaust system
- All-terrain tires
- Ford logos with a rattlesnake flare
MORE: How to get cheap truck insurance
Off-Road Package vs. the Tremor trim
The Ford F-150’s Tremor trim takes off-roading capabilities a step further—and as a default, it already comes equipped with the FX4 Off-Road Package, so you shouldn’t have to worry about adding the package price onto its starting MSRP.
As you might expect for a trim level with a starting price that hovers nearly $30,000 above the base model, the F-150 Tremor also includes some trim-specific cosmetic features, like a unique Tremor seat logo and black Ford logos. It also comes with all-terrain tires.
The Tremor also comes with standard drive modes that the Raptor does not, including Deep Snow/Sand, Mud/Rut, and Eco Mode.
Off-Road Package vs. the Raptor trim
There’s not much contest here: the Raptor trim is Ford’s ultimate off-roader. While the FX4 Package and Tremor trim can be more convenient as street vehicles (particularly when you’re looking for a parking spot), it’s hard for them to match the Raptor’s off-pavement capabilities.
As the top-tier option on the 2023 Ford F-150 lineup, the Ford Raptor comes standard with special features, like:
- A 3.5L V6 engine capable of 450 horsepower
- Five-link rear suspension with extended trailing arms
- Active valve exhaust system
If you have another $5,250 to spare, an optional performance package will add 37” all-terrain tires, aluminum bead-lock capable wheels, and sport-tuned shock absorbers. But if not, the FX4 Off-Road Package makes for a much more accessible option.
The bottom line
The Ford F-150’s FX4 Off-Road Package is worth considering if you want to make your everyday driver more capable on rough terrain without stretching your wallet too thinly.
But if you’re really looking for a dedicated off-road vehicle, and if you’re willing to pay the price, consider taking the Tremor or Raptor trims for a test drive.
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