Sorry, this truck wasn't built for you. But it was built by guys who think like you. What you're looking at is a skunkworks vehicle built by a group of engineers within Ford Truck to prove the Blue Oval canoffer a take-no-prisoners off-road vehicle to compete with the Rubicon Wranglers, Hummer H2, and the Dodge Power Wagons of the world. We've seen it, driven it, jumped it, and have been entrusted with spreading the word about it. Will Ford build it? Our guess is it will if sales of the H2 and Power Wagon are strong. But we're more interested in the direction the truck, known as the FX4 Hoss Edition, could be taking Ford's off-road development.
To us the Hoss truck is a success, but it is only the tip of the iceberg. If you really want this truck today, all you have to do is order an '05 F-350 4x4 Super Cab from your local dealer and then deck it out with lockers, tires, a winch, and some bumpers. But if you want more-if you want a factory engineered off-road package with parts you can't get at the local off-road shop-you need to write us (david.kennedy@primedia.com). This truck represents Ford's willingness to give you a real off-road vehicle, something worthy of Ford's off-road heritage and not just some rebadged Escape. If you want solid axles with lockers, long-travel suspensions with progressive dampening, and traction control systems that really work, speak up. Ford is listening, and this is your chance to be heard.
| FORD F-350 FX4 HOSS VS. DODGE POWER WAGON |
| | '05 Ford F-350 Super Cab | '05 Dodge Ram |
| | FX4 Hoss Edition Concept | Power Wagon |
| Engine | 6.8L Triton V-10 | 5.7L Hemi V-8 |
| Output | 362 hp/457 lb-ft | 345 hp/375 lb-ft |
| Transmission | ZF S6-650 six-speed manual | 5-45RFE five-speed automatic, |
| | | or G56 six-speed manual |
| Transfer Case | NV271 (fixed yoke) | NV271 (slip yoke) |
| Front Axle | Dana 60, high-pinion, and 4.30 gears, | AAM 925 (911/44-inch), high-pinion, |
| | 35-spline shafts, and Electrac | 4.56 gears, 33-spline shafts, |
| | limited slip/locker | and Trac Rite selectable locker |
| Rear Axle | Visteon 1011/42-inch, 4.30 gears, 35-spline shafts, | AAM 1050 (1011/42-inch), 4.56 gears, |
| | Electrac limited slip/locker | 30-spline shafts, Trac Rite limited |
| | | slip/locker |
| Tires & Wheels | 35/12.50R17 Pro Comp Xterrains mounted | 285/70R17 (33x12.50R17) BFGoodrich |
| | on factory F-250 17x8 Alcoas | All-Terrains mounted on 17x8 Alcoas |
| Suspension | Stock F-350 radius-arm front suspension with | 211/42-inch-taller ride height than normal |
| | snowplow package coil springs, stock F-350 | Ram, electric disconnecting sway bar in |
| | rear leaf springs, Rancho shocks | front, softer rate leaf springs in rear, |
| | | Bilstein shocks |
| Crawl Ratio | 67.72:1 | 37.21 (automatic), 78.01 (manual) |