During my second deployment, my wife okayed me getting a project vehicle with the extra money I get while deployed. My original choice was a Cherokee.
And while deployed, I compiled a list of parts that I was going to put on; from shocks to lift kit, to lockers and tires, you name it, it was most likely on that list.
A month or so before I was to deploy back to the states I get a Red Cross message that said to call my wife. If you been in the military you know that the Red Cross is used for emergencies and command don't play when it comes to this. I had to go see my commanding officer and use a Sat phone to call my wife. Come to find out she was in a car wreck. No one was hurt thank God. But during the police investigation she was found at fault which only looked that way after the accident.
So during our conversation she told me she only had liability insurance. And since she was found at fault....all that money that was saved up was used to fix our car. Man was I pissed. Not at her for being in an accident but at the fact that it would be so hard to save up that kind of money again. But regardless how I felt, I just told her it was okay, at least we have the money to use.
Its been many years, 14 to be exact, and I still didnt have my project vehicle nor the money to get one. I got frustrated from time to time when something reminded me of that.
Last December we finally had some extra cash laying around. Granted it wasn't much, but hey, extra cash is always good to have. So my wife and I was sitting at the dinner table having coffee one day and she brought up this story. She asked if I remembered it.
"Of course remember it. It's one of the reasons we now have full coverage on our vehicles." I said.
She replied, "Not that, the money."
"What about it?" I answered gloomily.
"That extra money we have, it's yours to buy your project truck."
I can't say what followed after that. After all, it's a kid friendly forum.
Fast forward a few days and I'm searching local markets for a Cherokee. No luck. Either they are already modded (what's the fun in driving someone else's work) don't run (had to run/drive) or the asking price is beyond reason. I knew I still wanted a four door and four wheel drive vehicle. So I broadened my search to include other makers. First a Bow Tie peaked my interest. Come to find out it didnt run.
Next was a Xterra. It had major problems in the ABS department. It wasn't safe to drive. It went on like this for about a week.
As Christmas approached and seeing that lots of people would be celebrating it and the New Year, I knew it might be better to wait until the holidays where over before I continue my search. One day as I was thumbing through FB Marketplace, a 2000 Explorer XLT with 210K on the clock (just posted) popped up. I brushed it off at first. It was listed at the top end of my budget. But for some reason I kept coming back to it. I kept looking at the photos and description and noticed in the photos that is was located 3 miles from my house. So I took the chance and drove out to see it.
For an 18 year old SUV, it didn't look like it had 18 years of abuse. Yes the body had a few dings and nicks. And the roof top was faded (typically). And yes, the suspension was sagging. But other than that nothing screamed problem on the outside. The interior was basically the same. It showed very little wear, minus a few stains. It even still had the rear cargo cover and it works. So I took it for a test drive.
I thought I would never own another Ford after a POS F150 I had, but in my driveway now, sits a 2000 Ford Explorer that I really enjoy. I already did the typical fixes; shocks (Gabriel Load Shocks in the rear) all sway bar bushings and most of the fluids. I still need to do the control arm bushings, lead spring bushings and a few other things before I make my final decision on either turning it into a trail rig or off road beast.
