Can you get an FX4 with the shifter on the column? What are the other differences between the FX4 and XLT?

 

The mechanical differences are shocks and skid plates. That is all. Perhaps the standard tires.
There are a lot of cosmetic differences such as the dash, trims, and badging.
There might be some options that are available for the fx4 and not the xlt.

I don't know for absolute sure. However, I believe that the column shifter is not available on an FX4. I know it wasn't available on the Lariat. I'd have one if it were.

 

The column shifter is available for either Lariats or FX4s. King Ranches and Harley trucks come standard with the floor shifter.

 

My old 05 FX4 had a column shift in it, the flow thru console with floor shift is optional, even tho 95% of all FX4's had the floor shift. Reg. cab FX4's get column shift only (floor shift not available)

An FX4 is basically a loaded XLT 4x4 with a few exceptions. They are......
FX4 specific gauge cluster
off-road tuned shocks
available flow-thru console with shifter (scab and screw only)
FX4 specific 18" wheels
available leather interior (scab and screw only)
available 20" wheels (06-up)

 

Can you buy and install the skid plates on an XLT? Or does it mount differently on the FX4's?

 

Yes you can get the skid plates on an XLT, also the ESOF and LS

 

My FX4 came with the skid plates for the front cross-member and transfer case and offroad shocks, the interior for mine is black with a carbon fiber looking set of panels, the 18" fx4 wheels and goodyear wrangler ats tires LT275/65/18, leather wrap'd steering wheel, colum shifter (wish it were the flow through console type) fx4 decals, color cordinated front and rear bumbers, fender flares, pwr heated side view mirrors and the H bar style grille.
My next truck will be a Lariat or an FX4 that is loaded to the gills like a lariat
I drove both and to me the FX4 had a little more of a truck ride to it than the XLT... IMOP. The XLT had a smoother softer ride, nice but just not for me.

 

I have always thought of the FX4 as the sporty model and to have a column shifter would be really odd, it would be kinda like having a column shifter on a Cobra, and or Corvette just isnt natural.

 

I have a column shifter in my FX4...



Wouldn't the FX2 be the sporty truck? The FX4 is kind of the opposite...IMO...

 

i came across an 05 lariat supercrew with a column shifter and a flip up center seat. very rare find...but it was a lariat....gauge cluster, black leather, etc.