imagehound
New Member
- Joined
- November 9, 2015
- Messages
- 5
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- New Jersey
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 1998 Explorer XL
Hey, I'm new to posting, but I've been soaking up all the information I could find here for the last couple years. I owe it to you folks that I have even the remotest clue what I'm doing with these trucks.
I'm in northern New Jersey and always liked little trucks; I've got a white '88 Fiero to run around in and a little truck to get work done (and carry my dog around!). I thoroughly babied my red '01 GMC Jimmy and still gave me all sorts of problems, so after I got rid of it I thought I'd give Ford a go after consistently hearing good things for a long time. I'm glad I did!
I've never owned an automatic transmission before, and intend to keep it that way given a choice. I bought a green '92 Explorer with 4dr / 5spd to move back from St. Louis a couple years ago and wow I beat the hell out of that thing. It's a funny story I'll tell later. Dragged ~3000lbs a thousand miles back here to NJ and it was smooth sailing... until the 5th gear synchro crapped a week later. At over 200,000 miles it was hard to complain. Guess I shouldn't have tried to use overdrive even on the plains.
I lost some money on that one, but earlier this year I found a gray '98 XL four-door with a five-speed -- I didn't even know they came in that configuration that late, so I was excited. No body rust at all and relatively very light undercarriage rust. I'm taking this thing to Zeibart within the week. It's got a few issues, but I feel like it's going to be a solid truck for me. Worst being that it makes me wait to select first gear... either clutch or a synchro.
Most of what spurred me to finally join up is that I have some questions about towing and relevant performance upgrades. I'm planning to go fulltiming in a travel trailer on my way West to LA, and I think the Explorer should be up to it... With the 5-speed, 3.73/LSD, OHV 4.0, and auto 4WD. The official rating is 2700lbs but I'm thinking that number is super conservative to save Ford replacing people's clutches on warranty. Everybody's telling me to dump it for a 7.3li but I'm hesitant. If you can comment on that situation, please see dedicated post here --> http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=436838
Anyway, outside of that... I own a business that does IT service and sales as well as video production in the tri-state area. I am very much a dog person, hence the title. I work creatively operating cameras, editing and producing, doing graphic and web design, and playing music or singing. I've always loved motorsport, even if I don't get to participate much. I'm active on social media and engage constantly in cultural and political dialogue. I think I'll spare you that here though.
The love of motoring almost entirely transcends political boundaries . . . and invents its own through fanboyism! 
Anyway that's quite enough about me for now -- hello, thank you, and good luck dealing with me!
I'm in northern New Jersey and always liked little trucks; I've got a white '88 Fiero to run around in and a little truck to get work done (and carry my dog around!). I thoroughly babied my red '01 GMC Jimmy and still gave me all sorts of problems, so after I got rid of it I thought I'd give Ford a go after consistently hearing good things for a long time. I'm glad I did!
I've never owned an automatic transmission before, and intend to keep it that way given a choice. I bought a green '92 Explorer with 4dr / 5spd to move back from St. Louis a couple years ago and wow I beat the hell out of that thing. It's a funny story I'll tell later. Dragged ~3000lbs a thousand miles back here to NJ and it was smooth sailing... until the 5th gear synchro crapped a week later. At over 200,000 miles it was hard to complain. Guess I shouldn't have tried to use overdrive even on the plains.
I lost some money on that one, but earlier this year I found a gray '98 XL four-door with a five-speed -- I didn't even know they came in that configuration that late, so I was excited. No body rust at all and relatively very light undercarriage rust. I'm taking this thing to Zeibart within the week. It's got a few issues, but I feel like it's going to be a solid truck for me. Worst being that it makes me wait to select first gear... either clutch or a synchro.
Most of what spurred me to finally join up is that I have some questions about towing and relevant performance upgrades. I'm planning to go fulltiming in a travel trailer on my way West to LA, and I think the Explorer should be up to it... With the 5-speed, 3.73/LSD, OHV 4.0, and auto 4WD. The official rating is 2700lbs but I'm thinking that number is super conservative to save Ford replacing people's clutches on warranty. Everybody's telling me to dump it for a 7.3li but I'm hesitant. If you can comment on that situation, please see dedicated post here --> http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=436838
Anyway, outside of that... I own a business that does IT service and sales as well as video production in the tri-state area. I am very much a dog person, hence the title. I work creatively operating cameras, editing and producing, doing graphic and web design, and playing music or singing. I've always loved motorsport, even if I don't get to participate much. I'm active on social media and engage constantly in cultural and political dialogue. I think I'll spare you that here though.
The love of motoring almost entirely transcends political boundaries . . . and invents its own through fanboyism! Anyway that's quite enough about me for now -- hello, thank you, and good luck dealing with me!
