2011 Ford Explorer!

[FLOffroad]

I saw one online video that had the Explorer completing the same off road course as the 4Runner.

I too saw that video, but it was the other way around. Ford brought a 4Runner along and the tester guy said the 2011 had a more car like ride or something like that.
There are plenty of places a 2010/2011 4Runner (especially Trail Edition) can go that the 2011 Explorer simply cannot.

And no offense, but that second video is back to no really offroading.

 

[peterk9]

I think people give 4x4 capabilities too much credit- as evidenced by the vast assortment of 4x4 vehicles in the ditch when it snows here. Tires are really the equalizer.
Tires, tires, tires.

100% agreement from me. I've always put winter tires on all 3 Highlanders I've had. It isn't just on snow that they are better but on cold bare pavement as well. All season tires begin to lose their optimum grip at 43 degrees.

 

[willied]

I went for another test drive today in the Explorer. This time it was a burgundy XLT with the MyFord Touch package and I went with my mom and dad. We all agreed that the door sills are too high up, the rear windows are too small, etc. It just feels so backwards being inside. We also test drove a Highlander which was much more open feeling inside instead of feeling like you're inside an airplane ****pit. The Explorer is a better vehicle, but it's interior design takes so much away from it. The only explanation I can give for the design is for increased safety.

 

[peterk9]

I too saw that video, but it was the other way around. Ford brought a 4Runner along and the tester guy said the 2011 had a more car like ride or something like that.
There are plenty of places a 2010/2011 4Runner (especially Trail Edition) can go that the 2011 Explorer simply cannot.

And no offense, but that second video is back to no really offroading.

Non taken. I was just trying to show that it can go off road and probably do better than most people think. Also, I would be very surprised if the majority of the new Explorer owners are planning to do any more off road travelling than going to their cottage or similar uses. Since I do not have any first hand experience with its capabilities, I have to rely on those that have actually driven it, for now anyway. As for the 4Runner video, I'm aware that Ford isn't going to show a comparison between the two showing what the Ex can't do. The 'Runner' is a much more capable off road vehicle.

 

[NHarris]

Well today I got up close and personal with the new 2011 Ford Explorer. I thought I'd share some of my pics. It's a very impressive vehicle, but I don't think it ever should go off road.
One thing I wasn't impressed with was the "capability" they said it had. There was literally no angle of approach and ground clearance is no 8.3". No way.
To get under the car was difficult, thats why underside pics are minimal. And I got strange looks for doing that.
Here are 9 of the best pictures I took;

And these pics are from 3 different explorers

 

[BigRondo]

Well today I got up close and personal with the new 2011 Ford Explorer. I thought I'd share some of my pics. It's a very impressive vehicle, but I don't think it ever should go off road.
One thing I wasn't impressed with was the "capability" they said it had. There was literally no angle of approach and ground clearance is no 8.3". No way.
To get under the car was difficult, thats why underside pics are minimal. And I got strange looks for doing that.
Here are 9 of the best pictures I took;

And these pics are from 3 different explorers

Nate, thanks for taking the time to share this with us. Great pics BTW. :biggthump

 

[willied]

The exhaust is enough to make you not want to off road in it.

 

[unclemeat]

No transfer case, no mechanical advantage. Without a transfer case offroading puts additional stress on the drivetrain, meaning more maintenance, more chance for failure and limitations for things like tugging your buddy ou of a ditch. Using brakes to control wheel spin is a comprimise, and retards performance.

As noted above, poor angles of approach, departure and breakover. I have not seen any ford propaganda that states this vital information. The old explores featured this information. And did you see the crap hanging down, lots of potential for damage in offroad conditions.

Independent suspension with limited articulation means you will bang the underside on every rut. If you dont get stuck, your much more likely to casuse damage. (I own an 05 so I know its limitations).

Front wheel drive is poorly suited for offroading. We dont always lock up the drive line when offroading. We may be in 2-wheel drive. Basic physics says that when encountering a uphill grade, weight transfers to the rear axle. Front wheel drive concentrates weight over the front axle. not good for offroading.

17% would go offroad, that sounds like a typical stastic for almost any SUV. I am sure that the 11 X is a nice car. I recently bought a 10 Mustang and it is awesome, so I am not anti-ford. But this pretending that this new explorer is a capable offroad vehicle is wrong. If you stop defending this vehicle as a "capable" offroading I will shut up.

 

[2TimingTom]

If you stop defending this vehicle as a "capable" offroading I will shut up.

I don't think it's a matter of whether it's capable or not, but to the degree of what is considered "off-road". I think for most people (the general buying public), the type of off-roading featured in those road test review videos, is exactly what they think of when they think of off-roading.

And any vehicle with fairly large outer diameter tires will be somewhat capable off-road simply due to the nature of the large tires being able to roll over obstacles easier than small tires.

Furthermore, from my casual observations, most SUV owners remain on the pavement anyway so an SUV that's FWD with part-time AWD that delivers better fuel economy will be a hit in today's market. Living in Denver, I have the Rocky Mountains right out my backdoor. A fairly small percentage of the people here actually go into the mountains. And of those people that go, an even fewer percentage actually ever go off-road. Most people are just taking the highway to the ski resorts.

Anyone notice a correlation to the time of year and the increase in threads about "HELP! My 4x4 isn't working!"? Lots of new people joining the forum and that's their first post. Wonder why? Oh, that's because they only use their 4wd when it snows.

I liken this discussion on this forum about the new X to what might go on at other forums. Stick with me- imagine the new Corvette was rated for 10 mph less than the old Corvette. I'd imagine Corvette owners would be up in arms about this (similar to people on this forum). Let's say it's a difference between 180 mph vs 170 mph. But then you realize that most Corvettes spend their lives on public roads doing something that closely resembles the speed limit so the top speed reduction is irrelevant. Few owners do take their Corvettes to the track (probably a larger number than X owners who go off-roading) and of those that do, VERY few ever actually go to a track that's capable of letting their Corvette hit the top speed- kinda like how few X's ever even come close to using their full capabilities.

So basically- get over it. The new X isn't a hardcore off-roader. Shocker. Times are changing in the auto market.

 

[alfredfife]

Deal!! No more defending the 11 X as offroad. Please shutup! I'll even vote for Obama in 12, just shut up!!!

 

[Limited02]

Let's all agree to disagree. It's obvious some people have a completely different idea on what "capable" means. It's also obvious that NO previous Explorer was really that "capable" of an off-roader in stock form. Add some bigger meats, suspension lift and locker, you've got yourself a decent "capable off-roader."

If I used the calculator right, this is what I figured out:
http://4lo.com/calc/gearratio.htm

I figured the '11 to have a crawl ratio of 15.2:1

At 3000rpm in First gear it will go 16.7mph.
*If using the low-range from a '92 Explorer, it will go 6.8mph with a crawl ratio of 37.7:1

http://media.ford.com/images/10031/2011_Explorer_Specs.pdf

I figured the '92 to have a crawl ratio of 21.75:1

At 3000rpm in First gear it will go 11.9 mph.
In 4x4 high(similar to '11 Explorer) it will go 29.3 mph with a crawl ratio of 8.77:1

http://www.vibratesoftware.com/html_help/html/Ford/Ford_Transmissions_Main.htm#A4LD
http://www.explorerforum.com/ntrprize/spec1992.htm

The last Explorer('10) has a crawl ratio of 28.35:1

At 3000rpm in First it will go 9.3 mph.
In 4x4 high, it will go 23 mph with a crawl ratio of 11.43:1

http://autos.sympatico.ca/new-cars/trim/316574


What's my point? The '11 has a VERY low first gear that makes up for the lack of a low-range transfercase. It IS capable off-road for the AVERAGE buyer. NON-AVERAGE buyers will NOT leave their Explorers STOCK, THEY MODIFY. WHY? BECAUSE STOCK WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH!!!

Like I first said, let's agree to disagree

 

[willied]

I'll even vote for Obama in 12, just shut up!!!

Let's not get carried away now.

 

[unclemeat]

Deal or no deal?

 

[peterk9]

As noted above, poor angles of approach, departure and breakover. I have not seen any ford propaganda that states this vital information. The old explores featured this information. And did you see the crap hanging down, lots of potential for damage in offroad conditions.

Approach angle - 22 deg (28.2) Departure angle - 21 deg (23.8) Ground clearance (min) - 7.6" (8.2) Ramp breakover angle - 17 deg (18.4) Figures in brackets are from 2010 Explorer .
Like the majority of people buying this vehicle, I do not intend to take my almost $52,000 (Cdn) Explorer off road. I just want the assurance that it will get me where I'm going in most extreme on road conditions. Anything more would be a bonus.

 

[peterk9]

There was literally no angle of approach and ground clearance is no 8.3". No way.
And these pics are from 3 different explorers

Approach angle - 22 deg (28.2) Departure angle - 21 deg (23.8) Ground clearance (min) - 7.6" (8.2) Ramp breakover angle - 17 deg (18.4) Figures in brackets are from 2010 Explorer .
From what I've been reading on this forum, ground clearance seems to depend on what size tire/wheel combo is on the vehicle. It seems to range from 7.6" on the base to 8.3" on the Limited. The vehicle was built basically for on road safety and that is why it was lowered somewhat. It also has now been listed in the top 10 for mid size SUV's on the IHHS safety list for the first time.

 

[Limited02]

Deal or no deal?

If that's directed towards me, then it's a deal

 

[2TimingTom]

Haven't all Explorers come from the factory with passenger tires?

 

[FLOffroad]

I do not intend to take my almost $52,000 (Cdn) Explorer off road.

Some Rover guys take their $90+K Rangies offroad - just saying. And G-Wagens - like $120k USD! I know of a guy in Texas with a nicely outfitted like 08ish G-Wagen that does crazy stuff. If I had $150k around (extra money for maintenance/repairs) I'd definitely run out an buy me a G-Wagen.

And thanks for the underside pics NHarris - look at all those exposed pipes! Definitely a bad idea to take one anywhere near something larger than a pebble. I thought my ST was bad with that one low pipe behind the transmission area. Not to mention, I have plenty of scratches on my ST's LCAs,so I definitely would've messed up those pipes.

 

[thaywood]

And the "dual" exhaust isn't even real!ROFL!

 

[corkey]

thaywood, you're not even real,
rest it ,,