DC Area Cop

[bluecollarjock]

Hello,
I am a local police officer near DC in Northern VA. Used to be an avid off roader with a K5 Blazer growing up in NE Ohio and Western PA...spent any time I wasnt playing sports hitting the woods with the old man and shooting groundhogs. Since living in cities for 8+ years, Ive always missed and have been itching to get back into wheeling and hunting. Money has been tight on a public servants salary and paying back my masters, but I finally think I found a 4x4 I can afford to wheel. Might by it next week, a 91 Explorer with 6" lift and 33 mudders. It has rust, 180k miles, and has been beat on, but I drove it and it seemed to run strong. The kid needs money for a DWI lawyer so I think thats way its so cheap. Just praying if I get it that it doesnt break down because I live in a city and have no place to store or work on it, and no mechanical skills really. Plus this is a Jeep heavy area, do not see any lifted Explorers or know of anyone who could guide me on doing things right with it. You can check out my posting "Help should I buy it?" in the 91 modified Explorer section to comment, or email me bushitotnt@aol.com, Id be interested in networking with off roaders in the area.

Thats about it. Just a cop looking to get back to his roots! On SWAT, patrol but soon might be full time academy physical training and defensive tactics instructor, but still get to do SWAT a few days a week. Right now recovering from surgery, and have to get another one next month so making less money on light duty. Cant work out and that was my life, so probably why Im itching to just splurge on the Explorer!! On weekends hopefully I will be wheeling again soon!!!!

God Bless
Matt

This is what I might buy, rusty and beat on, but seemed strong:
"I am selling a 1991 ford explorer with a 6inch superlift and almost new 33" mud tires. This truck has a current VA inspection. New transmition 5 speed manual. The motor was rebuilt at 150 thousand, and now has 180 thousand. It has 456 gears front and rear with a detroit locker in the rear. Cloth seats, blue interior. Runs very strong, i dont want to sell her but i need money for a lawyer. This is a steal for 2500 because the lift and tires alone are worth more than that. Consistant oil changes every 3,000 miles, never skipped. Perfect for daily driver or weekend warior. "

 

[bluecollarjock]

PS-found this site through 4 Wheel and Off Road subscription...which gave me the idea to look at used Explorers since Jeeps and Toyotas are so expensive around here!

 

[unclemeat]

Welcome to the site. I hope you become one of us. Explorers have become fairly economical to wheel. Down south we do a few trips a year into the national forest.

 

[cgriffin_5139]

Hey welcome to the site. There is a lot or good people here, these guys and gals know there Explorers. Before you buy this X ask questions on the site, take pics of the X your thinking of buying and post them here. The guys here can tell you if its a good deal or not! Make sure you check the oil because this kid says he changes it all the time, just see if its black as hell that will tell you something about the kid and the X. Thats just my 2 cents

 

[Blee1099]

Welcome to the site, you'll probably see me around Arlington county/city. Just remember if you see a black 1997 Ford Explorer exceeding the speed limit by 15 just let it go

 

['97 V8]

Welcome to the site, you'll probably see me around Arlington county/city. Just remember if you see a black 1997 Ford Explorer exceeding the speed limit by 15 just let it go

hahaha. We all hope to see you as part of the community here on the forum.

 

[ma96782]

Welcome and.........

Aloha, Mark

 

[rookieshooter]

Welcome.
Hey is Fred's bar still on 12 st. NE? I think that's the address.
Used to be my old stomping grounds and about any other street that had a bar in DC. But gave it all up.

Hope you get bact to working out sooon. Your not a strict vegatarin are you?

 

[IZwack]

Plus this is a Jeep heavy area, do not see any lifted Explorers or know of anyone who could guide me on doing things right with it.

There are a few of use in the area that have lifted Explorers -- not many tho

I work in Arlington at the Navy Annex (Federal Office Bldg 2 ... aka FOB2) which is on the opposite side of 395 from the Pentagon. Where in Arlington are you?

 

[bluecollarjock]

Hi, thanks for the replies! Ha...First no I am not a vegatarian....if I could eat red meat for every single meal I would!

As for that X, the more I thought about it the more I have second thoughts...it was so sweet as far as being lifted, gears, locker, but its got me wondering...the kid bought it and never registered it, I emailed him asking about emissions test and if he had it done, but no response yet...thinking back it sounded as if the cat might have been removed, but I didnt bother to look. The owner before him supposedly used it mainly as a farm truck and off roading on their land...if it turns into a huge hassle just to register it and get plates, I really dont have that kind of time or money to be risking if something is needed to pass emissions. It has an inspection, but he said his friends did it, although he said they were strict...and, one of my daydreams is to go wheeling and from here I have at least an hour drive, and if I want to go home to PA or out to friends in WV, etc, I need something Im not crossing my fingers to make the road trip back after wheeling. Im going to touch base again with him, maybe look at it again if it is not sold by end of week. This week Im in a class all week and teaching PT drills to a brand new recruit class, so my time is pretty much shot as far as this week goes. It has been beat on, and when I went to look at it he had it covered with mud. I think the happy teenager in me was having flashbacks from my old wheeling days, and was grinning ear to ear getting to drive a manual again with mud tires humming on the pavement, and smelling the burnt mud on the exhaust, and I just wanted to play! A weekend away with a few long road trips gave me time to think and be realistic about having something potentially not passing emissions, and breaking down after wheeling and paying more in a tow than the truck cost!

Stinks, a few weeks ago I missed a 99 X, 5" lift, 33" mudders, loaded with roof rack, spare, steel pre-runner bumpers, tons of lights, looked really nice and under 100k miles...some guy out in a rich area said it was his second vehicle toy he never used, just wanted to get rid of it...the night I called to see it he gave it away for $4500 just to get it out of his driveway...so maybe I need to be patient and keep looking for a good deal.

 

[Blee1099]

Stinks, a few weeks ago I missed a 99 X, 5" lift, 33" mudders, loaded with roof rack, spare, steel pre-runner bumpers, tons of lights, looked really nice and under 100k miles...some guy out in a rich area said it was his second vehicle toy he never used, just wanted to get rid of it...the night I called to see it he gave it away for $4500 just to get it out of his driveway...so maybe I need to be patient and keep looking for a good deal.

I wonder if that was PAExplorer's old rig.. I know he sold it to someone in NoVA.

 

[IZwack]

hey bluecollarjock, just wanted to let you know that we are having a "Meet and Greet" dinner on the 20th of this month (thats a week from tomorrow). We'd be more than happy to have you there.

Here's the thread about the event:
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1546920

 

[bluecollarjock]

Cool, depending on my cop duties and coaching, Id love to try to make it! By the way, I live in Ballston, not far from where you work.

 

[Blee1099]

If you don't mind me asking, what agency do you work for? Trying to see if I've met your or your colleagues with my old boss who used to do alot of police week & 9/11 stuff in the DC metro area.

 

[bluecollarjock]

Fairfax PD, patrol, supplemental SWAT, and Peer Support...looks like Ill be at the police academy for a while though

 

[Blee1099]

Fairfax PD, patrol, supplemental SWAT, and Peer Support...looks like Ill be at the police academy for a while though

I'll be sure to slow down in Fairfax then, I don't want to face another set of flashing lights.

 

[bluecollarjock]

Haha...no worries now, Im on light duty and cant drive a marked cruiser...if Im lucky after I heal Ill be doing academy PT instruction full time and part time SWAT, so not much traffic type work!

 

[Blee1099]

I've got a feeling I've run into you or atleast your colleagues in Fairfax, my ex-boss does alot of 9/11 tribute & police week or dare related stuff in the NoVA area. He has a 9/11 tribute car that is used alot during police week & 9/11 tributes.