2WD Offroading???

[fordxplorer89]

hey everyone, i need some opinions and tips.... I have a 97 stock 2WD ford exlporer, would it be ok to take it offroading, on some light hilly muddy trails, nothing like rock crawling or trenches or anything, any tips on driving it or stuff to bring with me and what to put in the recovery kit... i gone offroadin plenty of times in other 4wd but ive been wantin to take the explorer for a spin, would appreciate any advice or tips on taking it out... thanx

 

[ezrider440]

there's is nothing to be afraid of my fellow 2wd explorer, in the hands of a capable driver you can get this rig in and out of everything and anything. however try to keep your rear wheels on solid ground, remember that your front axle can only steering and you rather reverse out of a mud hole and go around it a different way,than try to trek through it, also be careful on rapid drops of the front without a front axle your front tires are literally dropping when you come to a big hole, otherwise do it, i take my rig offroad constantly in the snow, mud whatever you can imagine a good driver can get this rig anywhere, good luck

 

[SkanlaxJMO]

if you want to spend money a rear locker is a great idea(selectable etc..) the best way to find out what it can do is to try it out

 

[Ray Lobato]

Welcome to the site.
Well, You want to wheel with a 2wd, and you want to play in the mud huh?
Have you concidered getting a locker for your rear end? That would get you alot further having both wheels driving, then just one wheel, especially in the mud.
If you want to wheel in the mud, you will get stuck, so don't wheel alone. You will need some one to pull you out.
Have tow hooks, front and rear, and invest in some good snatch straps, the ones without the hooks already attatched to them.
Buy some clevas rings to attatch the straps to your truck when you get stuck.
You can wheel in a 2wd truck, but you really need to have your rear end locked.
A good limited slip, like the auburn is great, but a locker is much better. The standard limited slip in your normal Explorer is not good enough.
Did I mention don't wheel alone?

 

[GJarrett]

Read Ray's post again, especially the part about not wheeling alone.

Here's our trail equipment article at http://www.explorer4x4.com/trail_equip.html be sure to have at least all of the required equipment with you.

Then read Ray's post again.

Make sure you call up someone who can also take their rig for you to team up with, then read Ray's post again.

Enjoy! Oh yeah, read Ray's post again before you leave.

 

[fordxplorer89]

thanx for all the info fellow offroaders it will come in handy....

 

[ezrider440]

there's no question that a locking differential will make a world of difference if you choice to go for one and throw on some chains on your rear tires you have a tractor, with chains on the rear wheels you literallly can get anywhere and locker would defiantely help , and it's not a big job to put one in

 

[fordxplorer89]

alright,,, wheres the best place to get them, and what chains are best, like company or place to get them...

 

[HardTech]

My dad did this in a old ford truck when he was a kid. The only advice besides upgrading the back end and having friends it to keep moving. Its when you stop it when you get stuck

I would love to take my explorer out. But I dont know of any places around the dallas area that are close. Oh well, good luck to you when you get on that trail

 

[Ray Lobato]

alright,,, wheres the best place to get them, and what chains are best, like company or place to get them...

Get a locker. Chains aren't going to help you that much, and you stand a good chance of the chains coming apart and ripping up the wheel wells if you have a heavy foot on the gas pedal. There is no cheap way to get the traction of both wheels working together.

 

[ezrider440]

as far as chains go you can make your own or get them like of ebay i saw several auctions recently, make sure they are for the radius of your tire, 15 or 16 , whatever you are running, when you are starping them in check each link carefully so you don't have any doubts, the best chains for traction are the net type which look like a fishnet, use extra rubber eleastics on the outside of your rim to ensure tight fit, also remember they are not very good for your tires,

another note to the other posts, the one said that chains are not good for traction, no offense but your probably never used them because they are illegal, remember it's not the vehicle it's the driver's skill, i am a proffesional driver with nearly 20 years experience and a rig like a 2wd drive explorer with traction chains can get you through hell and back, literaly, my 2wd will get me anywhere, again not offend 4wd guys, yes with a front axle spinning you havemuch more offraod capability specially in the mud, but don;t think of it as a get out of jail free card, soft foot on the gas, knowing your truck's abilty, feeling when your tires are slipping and preventing wheel spinn is what smart offroading is about, a it calls for a good driver, off roading is not who can spin 4 wheels the fastest to get through the trail- thats lack of skill and stupidty, thats my two cents

 

[Ray Lobato]

ezrider440,
You may have 20 years of driving experiance, but I would bet that this guy DOESN"T have the experience that you do, and probably doesn't have the expertese to use them properly. He is much better served by getting something that won't tear his truck up. Even using a locker can do this, if he is heavy footed and spins the wheels and suddenly catches traction. It doesn't sound to me like he has that much wheeling experience, since he's asking questions like this. Chains do have their place, but not in normal wheeling conditions.

 

[ezrider440]

couldn't agree more with the last post, however he must have something in his head to come and ask for advice, so it's already a positive, second i am not a fan of stupid lead foots, used to be one myself, we must learn from our mistakes, no matter how stupid they are............just do it safely

 

[AspenX]

A rear locker will get you alot farther than an open diff and stupid chains ever will.

 

[fordxplorer89]

-

 

[fordxplorer89]

hey thanx for all the help... nahh i can't stand lead footers, used to be one myself the 1st 2 years of my offroadin experience, it got me in more trouble than i would of ever thought, ive had over 10 years of off roading experience and 2 years racing offroad trucks and been racing atv ever since i was 10. but like i said earlier 4WD was all i ever used then... never really thought about takin a 2WD i had, offroadin, so before i took that puppy off road i thought would get some opinions as some reassurance before i screwed that car up, like the past of my beggining years, so thanx again for all the help...

 

[lostandconfused]

stay out of water and dont go alone

 

[ma96782]

You could always "trade her in."

Aloha, Mark

 

[kert0307]

2nd the locker, chains are only worth it in snow/ice, cause they dig till there's traction.