Expedition/overlanding/dd rig?

[93Expo4x4]

hey guys been thinking about building an overland/dd rig. i Already own a 93 explorer, but my question is would it be better to have A4LD trans? or go with the manual. I would convert mine, but i use it as my daily driver and cannot afford to have it down for the swap. so my choices are to buy a cheap 1st gen with the manual trans and build that, or build my 93 withe the A4LD. ive heard alot of bad coming from these transmissions. i live in the PNW and the terrain ill be traveling will be passes and snow and some mild offroading. any input would be great! also if i do decide to purchase a 2nd explorer should i go with the sport? or the 4 door.

 

[colintrax]

If you can afford it, buy a 2nd truck to DD. Build the other for trips. You do not want a 2 door if your goal is expedition style travel. My 4 door gets cramped quickly, granted I sleep in the truck... but still.

 

[93Expo4x4]

Are you using an auto trans? Any lift or anything on yours?

 

[colintrax]

Automatic, however my 97 is the 5r55e. And I'd prefer a stick, but I race MX so the possibility of needing an auto is real. My DD is a stick. I've also heard the automatic can slip a little more, allowing it to take more jolts (high speed whoops aka washboard) And of course an auto is great for towing.

No real lift, just a slight TT and AAL. 31" tires. Front and rear hitches with a winch. I'm trying to draw a thin line between fuel efficiency and highway manners, and offroad ability. I've been trying like hell to maintain 20mpg.

 

[mr cribb]

From what I know by reading this forum for the last 5 years is the A4LD CAN be built to handle stuff, but it thrives on the fluid being cool as possible with extra coolers, a trans temp gauge helps, and all the upgrades possible. I hear it costs $2k or there abouts to have one survive the beatings.

I do not own an A4LD, nor will I, and it is because I don't trust automatic transmissions in general.

I run an M5OD and have in all my explorers and rangers. The biggest issue with the manual transmission is the cheap parts store slave cylinders $65 that lasts 30k miles or so (buy a dealer part for about $150) and bleeding the air from the clutch master cylinder, I bought a pre bled assembly from rock auto for $90, but I haven't installed it yet.

The next minor issue, is the shift rail bushings (clink on my signature and go to the last pages to see what it looks like after years of leaking), it causes hard shifting. I also have picture of the cheap slave cylinder that I cut out. (Reason for the project)

 

[93Expo4x4]

When you picked up your sport for 800 did it have any major front end issues? There's a couple near me for about 800-1500. I'd really hate to go back over the front end as I am finishing doing it to mine right now. The worst are the Radius arm bushing being that the passenger side gets hot from the exhaust. might go check a couple out. And with parking at my place being as it is I don't have room for 2 vehicles. So I'd have to buy one and sell the other, or build my 93 with almost 200k on the clock.

 

[mr cribb]

Not bad. Alignment is reasonable, the shocks were trashed, and it needed better tires. I just rolled with what I had. The worst thing I can think of is my front axle needs u joints, but I don't use it very often (locked in 4wd).

 

[Jason94sport]

Autos suck! If decent cars these days came with a manual I'd take it any day.
For the X, I had 2 autos & 2 manuals...I MUCH preferred the manuals.

 

[Travisfab]

My A4LD lasted for almost 200K miles, probably would have gone more, I killed it doing a burn out

 

[Explorin'VA]

My a4ld ran like a champ for nearly 200k miles. I swapped it with the m5od only because I had the parts and prefer a manual truck.

 

[mr cribb]

This kind of seems to be the consensus here, and that is we prefer our manual transmissions in these.

I am sure in the PNW where you are living the front ends take more abuse. I don't know how the winters treat you all up there, but if it was too bad I would look into a southern truck if rust was a major issue.

My truck is an original Oklahoma truck aside from the 5 years it spent in Pennsylvania, and luckily I only have a drivers side rocker panel/ dogleg to contend with for repairs to the body.

After doing more thinking, my front end was fairly secure and road worthy. I don't have state inspections to deal with yearly like some other places. Now with that said, I do not know if my truck has had front end work in the past or not. My truck was last inspected in Pennsylvania in July 2007 (old sticker still on the windshield), but I do know PA inspections are fairly thorough.

 

[93Expo4x4]

Our rust isn't that bad, I don't have any rust issues with my rig, the problem I'm having with mine right now is the measly 3.27 gear ratio makes it so sluggish. Looking at picking up a 4.10 rear for now and just running 2wd until winter time. My body is fairly straight, no dents, couple of scratches. Nothing major. Might just toss in an aftermarket trans cooler and do 4.10s with a 2 inch lift and 31s. Should do most everything I ask of it. It won't see a lot of trails, mostly logging roads, it'll be my DD to and from work so it will see mostly road. But weekends I like to go ride up at some of our national forests.

 

[mr cribb]

Our rust isn't that bad, I don't have any rust issues with my rig, the problem I'm having with mine right now is the measly 3.27 gear ratio makes it so sluggish. Looking at picking up a 4.10 rear for now and just running 2wd until winter time. My body is fairly straight, no dents, couple of scratches. Nothing major. Might just toss in an aftermarket trans cooler and do 4.10s with a 2 inch lift and 31s. Should do most everything I ask of it. It won't see a lot of trails, mostly logging roads, it'll be my DD to and from work so it will see mostly road. But weekends I like to go ride up at some of our national forests.

I have found a set of 4.10 fronts brand new for a very reasonable price (hundred dollar savings) where I'm at. Let me know if/ when you might be interested.

 

[93Expo4x4]

Alright thanks, I'll let you know when I go to do the fronts

 

[malohnes]

Our rust isn't that bad, I don't have any rust issues with my rig, the problem I'm having with mine right now is the measly 3.27 gear ratio makes it so sluggish. Looking at picking up a 4.10 rear for now and just running 2wd until winter time. My body is fairly straight, no dents, couple of scratches. Nothing major. Might just toss in an aftermarket trans cooler and do 4.10s with a 2 inch lift and 31s. Should do most everything I ask of it. It won't see a lot of trails, mostly logging roads, it'll be my DD to and from work so it will see mostly road. But weekends I like to go ride up at some of our national forests.

Sounds like a very reasonable plan. Another manual lover here!!

 

[93Expo4x4]

I've got a chance to buy a lifted 1st gen 4 door, 5spd. Newer 33s, 186k on it for 1500. Not a bad looking rig, interior needs some attention

 

[93Expo4x4]

Going to go look at it in the AM. Will inform yall if the purchase is made

 

[malohnes]

I've got a chance to buy a lifted 1st gen 4 door, 5spd. Newer 33s, 186k on it for 1500. Not a bad looking rig, interior needs some attention

It's a major challenge to find an all around clean ploder any more. I hope it works out for you. I'd rather have a rough interior with a good mechanical/exterior than the reverse anyday. I think mine is just that....

 

[93Expo4x4]

Well I went ahead and picked it up, needs shocks super bad and some front end work, gonna toss it in my shop here at home and stick the boat outside and get it fixed up. Runs great, drives down the freeway pretty good, ended up getting it from a guy whose wife was tired of him having it lol. Rough. But picked it up for 1200. I'm excited. I'd post some pics but I'm not quite sure how to upload them? Anybody wanna help me out?

 

[mr cribb]

Use a hosting site such as photobucket