Dead Link Removed Twenty one thumbs up!
I CANNOT BELIEVE what a basically stock 4x4 Explorer is capable of! Rob, I notice your nickname changed..... can you afford a "GoFast TransAm" AND a "NeedLift Explorer" and remain married?
Brian, are you going to get a locker or Auburn on that 2wd now?
Rob, I am kicking myself for not getting a picture of you climbing Moss Rock. I didn't think of it because I "knew" you wouldn't make it anyway and wasn't interested in getting a photo of someone dying. I actually had the camera IN MY POCKET but was so awestruck watching you actually make it I was braindead the whole time. You did great to have only lost one front license plate and have your side molding pop right back in place too with no visible damage.
After church yesterday morning I spent all day on the Explorer. No permanent damage and "EddieB" will look good as new by Friday. But it will take all week.
Damage report:
Tailpipe hacksawed one foot shorter and bent to the side behind the wheel after taking a core sample out of a creekbed after sliding backwards trying to get out. So THAT's why you guys say to get a side exit exhaust. Will make some sort of hanging attachment to keep the newly rerouted tailpipe in its new place.
Possible exhaust and tailpipe gasket damage from trying to run the engine while there is no escape for the exhaust.
Scratched up bottom front bumber. Touch up paint and grillguard in the near future plans.
I am dang lucky to have had the foresight to install a hidden hitch receiver on the back the night before, or my rear bumper would be level with my liftgate today. No bumper damage. Scars on my spare tire comfirm it also was used as a vehicle bottom bumper. I am sawing the receiver up a bit to fit the spare more easily under there. Four blades broken, I'm buying six more and should be finished tonite. And speaking of lucky, after surveying the bottom for damage, I occurred to me that it can only be by Divine itervention that I still have a catalytic convertor. How do you other guys protect that thing?
Mud up in crevices that I will never get out. My Explorer probably weighs another 50 pounds now.
My running boards.... oh boy. Eeuww. The bottom looks like Freddie Krueger sharpened his claws on them (new model Eddie Bauers are obviously NOT made for offroad). To their credit, they are much stronger than they look. They supported the entire weight of my vehicle on more than one occasion. They are also not quite level anymore, if you know what I mean. This week will be spent removing the attachment brackets and rebending them back to 90 degrees and reinstalling.
Funny clunking in front end at various times that I have not identified yet.
Made it out with only three of my original tires.
Loss of friends. I drove it to church as is Sunday. Nobody will park next to me or ride to lunch with me anymore. They look at me kinda funny now too.
I think I smudged my nice Zaino shine. If I can get beneath all this gunk later this week I'll see just how well Zaino REALLY protects.
Lastly, -sniff- my genuine Millineum Jack Antenna Ball was beheaded. Dead Link Removed
I have a feeling I came out lucky considering what could have happened. I don't know how many times a dude in a busted out J**p or '82 Toyota 4x4 with a handpainted Krylon camo paint job (body customized by several rollovers BEFORE putting the outside roll bars on) would come up to me and ask what in the !@?&%* I was doing out there in my nice vehicle (I couldn't think of an answer, so after awhile I started simply replying "Rick").
So, here's my immediate future mods wish-list as $$$ become available and before I try this again.
Front grillguard and winch.
winch Stuff. Clevis, D Rings, etc.
Towpoint so I never again have to crawl under it in an axle-deep mudhole in 43 degree weather to strap a winch hook under the SUV.
Another auto insurance agent.
CatchAll or HuskyLiners for the interior.
Fabricate plate steel "skis" to attach lengthwise to the running board underframe.
Aspirin and more water.
Some way to get more clearance and much bigger BFG AT ko's under there: possible hockey puck lift and front bumper spacers to move bumper up and an inch or two forward to provide the clearance needed. I am going to make it a mission to figure out how to install 285/75r16s under a new model Explorer. Probably impossible, but if I am successful I bet at lot of you are going to be glad I figured it out. It won't hurt to at least try before I settle for 265/75r16's.
Kitchen sink and a duck decoy.
Rick, this is all your fault.
Gerald
Dead Link Removed "What the !#@% is he doing out here in that thing?"
PS / when are we going again?
[This message has been edited by GJarrett (edited 02-07-2000).]
