Current style Explorers

[Fallguy]

Just a few ?'s for ya all.

I have alway's had Ford's and still own a 04 Escape 4x & An 03 Cobra convert. I buy a new truck/suv every 2-3 years. This last time I bought a Z71 Tahoe (04) because I did not want something so unsporty and the Ford SUV's (except for Excursion & and Sportrac) were just to low and family looking to me . The Tahoe has been a real good vehicle but would rather go back to Ford. I don't like the Expy at all , it's just to low and untruck like . IS there a new redesin coming up on Explorer's soon ??? I sure would like to see something with a little more agressive look / stance to it. Like an FX4 Explorer would be cool with atleast some 265 tire's on it.

Anyway with the current one's , do any of you do any off roading or anything like that ?? Can it handle it ?? I personally like the size of it but really want something a little more sporty truck like or truck looking. That is the only reason I bought my Z71 Tahoe because of how it looked and atleast had a solid rear axle and did'nt look like it was dragging on the ground.

The sportrac is cool but to small and I think the Excusion is wayyyy to big , and the Expy is wayyy to boaty looing for me.

My off road stuff is relatively light but does get winter fire lane abuse in deep snow off road , with hill's , rut's ect...

What are you thought's

Mj

 

[briwayjones]

The current Explorers aren't really trucks and just glorified mini-vans more or less with the independent rear suspension. There's not many accessories for them like suspension lifts or anything related to off-roading. They don't have very good ground clearance. The rear suspension hangs down pretty low at the wheels, and low ground clearance at the wheels is about the worst place to have it. They are going to be redesigned but in my opinion look even less truck like. And they won't go back to being anymore truck like.

 

[CaptainObvious]

Really? I thought the new Expo has more ground clearance then my old 00 Grand Cherokee.
The Expy is a large station wagon. Nice unit, but big and bulky. I seriously considered one before the expo, but the wife didn't like the Expo.
Go drive an Expy and a Expo. The new Burbans are ugly as sin. I didn't like the front end and the Expo to me won out.

 

[IAmTodd]

If you don't like the IRS of the Expy, you probably won't like the Expo either. Ours has seen some "light wheels"(IE- me putting it into a ditch). Its not a bad vehicle, there are probably better buys, the Explorer isn't built the best. I do believe there is facelift for '06 and a "new" 6 speed tranny and if I'm not mistaken the 3V 4.6. If you do get an Expo, and you want something "sporty" get the 4.6. I would also say get the true AWD transfercase. Especially if you don't need low. The Control Trac clunks around and in my opinion if rubbish.

Good Luck with whatever you get. I do believe the TrailBlazer has even less clearance

 

[briwayjones]

Really? I thought the new Expo has more ground clearance then my old 00 Grand Cherokee.

In the middle it may have but the low IRS suspension close to the wheels totally screw you. I saw a 2nd gen Expedition (independent rear suspension also) get stuck in some light mud because the IRS started dragging. Just about any other mid-sized SUV or larger with a solid rear axle wouldn't have gotten stuck.

I guess I'm not up with the current lingo. What's the difference between an Expo and a Expy? Does the Expo=1st and 2nd gen explorers and Expy=3rd gen.?

 

[White97Jimmy]

Expy = Expedition
Expo = Explorer

 

[CaptainObvious]

Learn something new everyday...

Anywho, I'd like to see the new Expo. I didn't realize they were coming out with a new unit in 06. Might of waited. Is it bigger then the 04? What about the engine sizes etc? I'm curious. Jeep screwed up with they redid the Grand Cherokee in 05, the WK. It got hit with the Ugly stick pretty hard, then while driving down the road, the ugly dear jumped out in the middle of the road. Damn that thing is ugly.

 

[ExplorerDMB]

Those Tahoes are one of my favorites. Tahoes, in my opinion, are so nice. I've worked on a few 05 Tahoes, and they just make me want one everytime I work on them. The z71 series are nice as well, but the Denali series have some nice headlights. I'm a Ford guy for sure, but those Tahoes give Expeditions a run for their money. The newer Tahoes have TPMS too -- which is kind of nice.

-Drew

 

[IAmTodd]

Learn something new everyday...

Anywho, I'd like to see the new Expo. I didn't realize they were coming out with a new unit in 06. Might of waited. Is it bigger then the 04? What about the engine sizes etc? I'm curious. Jeep screwed up with they redid the Grand Cherokee in 05, the WK. It got hit with the Ugly stick pretty hard, then while driving down the road, the ugly dear jumped out in the middle of the road. Damn that thing is ugly.

'06 is just getting a facelift and the mechanical upgrades listed in my previous post.

 

[CaptainObvious]

'06 is just getting a facelift and the mechanical upgrades listed in my previous post.

Still like to see pics.....

 

[IAmTodd]

Here's an entire thread on it.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=115872&highlight='06

Happy reading

 

[CaptainObvious]

Here's an entire thread on it.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=115872&highlight='06

Happy reading

10 Pages? Wow. I can't even count that high. That's gonna take several beers

 

[Bwana Bob]

As I understand it, the Explorer changes for 2006 are mostly cosmetic, except for the transmission. Will this tranny be in the V6 also?

They changed the grille and the rear hatch.

Explorer isn't due for a major rework until at least 2007. The 3rd generations can do some mild offroading. You can take them to the sand roads in the Jersey pine barrens and Louise-Canberra has taken hers into the Simpson desert in Australia, but a rock crawling mud bogger its not. The ground clearance is spec'd at 8 inches. Actually, an un-lifted first generation has only 6 inces of clearance. Yes, I can imagine that the rear suspension arms would get hung up in mud or deep snow, although the next generation of military vehicles will be independent suspension. How it handles obstacles might be OK, if you keep the rocks and logs passing down the center line of the truck.

Let's face it, when Ford redesigned the suspension they went for better on-road handling and ride, since the offroad market is only about 10% of sales. Now, however the Explorer will face competition from it little sibling, the Escape and the Freestyle AWD wagon, which looks like a lowered Explorer, but has lots of cargo volume. Ford needs to do something different with the Explorer of the future, or it will perish.

Bob

 

[SuRrEaLNJ]

3rd gen isnt a rock a rock crawler by far, but u can still have alot of fun in the pineys. It all depends on what you plan on doing with it, or have a use for. I still plan on lifting it if Rancho comes out with their kit and doin tires, but its still suitable for what i do. Gets me where i need to go, so for me it works. If you want to get into what most of the guys here do then your gonna find it comes up short.

~Jay