Ford's FX4 Option

Boardmember · June 11, 2017

Obviously they're selling to the turds who aren't going to use the truck to its fullest capacity (they have all the money to buy the off road trucks, giant stupid TVs and other trash lol), I don't take issue with that- I take issue with people who take issue with that (if that makes any sense lol). If someone wants to spend their money on something and not use it that's on them. I've never been pleased with the manners of a G80 and while a Detroit will be more durable, no OEM will ever offer one today. Sure an e-locker is more complex but they've proven to be plenty reliable. Toyota has offered them since like the 90s, Jeeps have had them for a good while on Rubicons and several other pickups run them without issue. They're the best traction solution as no manufacturer will touch a true mechanical locker.

I guess I'm one of the turds you describe. I only drive my wife to the florist and may one day slip on a stray petal. And I have a big TV too. Dang.

Tho when I asked, my dealer only had a couple 2WD trucks in the more equipped trim levels. Why? "Because we can't sell em."

Respect the power of the free market.

4x4Pete · August 6, 2017

The automatic g80 works- quirky or not. With the Ford trucks around here that I have seen and worked on electrical systems suffer from green death way before you could wear out a mechanical locker. Something else that won't work when needed. If you don't use it until you need it it probably won't work. The g80 on the other hand will function every time you slip around in rain or snow. I'll keep my g80 thanks.

Daly · August 6, 2017

The E locker is available with out the FX4 package, I had a 2016 F150 XLT 4x4 (probably still have it, if Ford's electrical systems weren't shit) that had the E locker.

MikeNH · August 9, 2017

The automatic g80 works- quirky or not. With the Ford trucks around here that I have seen and worked on electrical systems suffer from green death way before you could wear out a mechanical locker. Something else that won't work when needed. If you don't use it until you need it it probably won't work. The g80 on the other hand will function every time you slip around in rain or snow. I'll keep my g80 thanks.

My G80 never locked up reliably on either of my Silverados.

What is green death?

j-ten-ner · August 9, 2017

My G80 never locked up reliably on either of my Silverados.

What is green death?

My G80 works flawless. So far.

Maybe it's the green stuff what's building up on corroded connections.

so long

j-ten-ner

Imcrazy · August 9, 2017

My G80 kinda sucks, half the time I think I'd be sideways in the ditch going up hill by the time it locks up.... Thankfully the traction control gets the job done when the G80 doesn't lock. Dunno if I'd prefer the E Lock on the Ford, does it also automatically lock as needed?

4x4Pete · August 10, 2017

My G80 never locked up reliably on either of my Silverados.

What is green death?

It is the green corrosion that attacks all the terminals and connections anywhere it's damp. It gets so bad that the terminals and connections completely disappear. Especially in the wire chase channels under the sill plates, Ford had the worst design for capturing water there and the wiring and connections sit in it. All manufacturers have issues dealing with this but from what I have seen Fords are the worst. Almost could be like flood damage. We call it green death because usually the owner gives up on repairing the wiring and the vehicle is sent to the junk yard to die.

I have never had an issue with the g80 locking up when needed 5 trucks and they all worked as designed.

Silverado4x4 · August 26, 2017

Most people out there do not know how to use a G80 and bitch cause it doesnt work. People get stuck and the first thing they do is mash the gas, the G80 will not lock like that the thing to do is ease into the gas and let that slipping wheel spin slow then she will lock. Had a buddy once get stuck on a boat ramp g80 was not locking as I was standing there enjoying the show I then told him to ease into the gas and spin the wheel slow the rear locked a smile went on his face and up the ramp he went. He gets out of the truck and says " so thats how you get them to lock" I told him yup you cant smash the gas and expect it to lock.

I have owned G80s since 1987 and never had an issue with them not locking or ever blown one, you just need to know how to use them.

AgDoctor · August 26, 2017

I agree my G80s have performed pretty well. I also ease into the throttle and it locks. The only issues I have ever had with them is in high mileage poor maintenance situations where when it locks it doesn't want to unlock. Never broke one and I have had 15 trucks and SUVs with it since 1996.

My little brother is a Ford guy and he likes the E locker and I think it's cool. I would probably forget it is there.

If you guys really want to bitch about a limited slip then you should drive a new model Tundra. I do daily as my work truck and I thought it had an open diff even though it is a loaded TRD 4x4.

One of the guys who work with me was telling me that you have to pump the brakes a few times with your left foot to get it to engage...I called BS but tried it and it actually works. I know...Mine of you care about a Toyota but there are worse ones out there.

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SnakeEyeSS · October 1, 2017

I had a powertrax Lock right installed on kit old 90 SWB 2WD for those that remember it. I had it installed by a Driveline Specialists shop that work on everything up to big rigs. When I brought it in the scoffed and acted like it was snake oil, but when I picked it up they told me they wanted to become a distributor, and said a bunch of guys stopped their work for a while and took turns driving it in circles in the parking lot. It was ones of the coolest pieces of engineering they had seen. I think they cost a few hundred at the time and it got me out of a few feet of mud with sport truck tires.

SierraHD17 · October 2, 2017

Tundra's do have open rear ends..... always have. Unless you consider the rear brakes as a limited slip..... because it's not even if Toyota does. Yes the TACOMA offers an e locker..... Tundra's right down to the TRD Pro do not.

Ford has had the E locker since 09 or 10 and it's dirt simple..... I blew up an axle in my previous FX4 and pulled the carrier out to clean the metal out of it mostly. It's basically a magentized plate that locks the drivers side spider gear solid to the carrier..... voila.. locked. It does allow play from side to side because of play in the spider gears but it works. Mine didn't fail even if I shattered an axle shaft from wheel hop lol.

The Gov lock is a gov lock..... junk. Detroits do not handle poorly unless you put a standard trans in front of them... then it's not much fun. Still drivable but with an auto..... you don't even know it's there 90% of the time.

KARNUT · October 2, 2017

I used 4WD trucks for my 40 years working on pipelines and utilities transmission lines. I usually put my efforts on getting more power out of the engine all the brands seemed to work fine as far as locking up when needed. In the event I did get stuck I didn't matter what kind of 4WD set up I had. If I was in an area that was questionable I put it low range and go slow and hope there was a tree close enough to hook to if I messed up.

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kstruckcountry · October 2, 2017

I had a G80 in my 2006 and upgraded to the TrueTrac when the axle was rebuilt.

It does not require wheel slip to lock which is a big plus. Many times with the G80 the second tire would also break loose with the bang of the diff locking. With the TrueTrac, it's smooth and a lot of situations where I would lose traction before, it's rock solid now.

I would take either over an electric diff.

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Edited October 2, 2017 by kstruckcountry