Has anyone ever taken a stock 02-05 Explorer/Mountaineer off road?

[P. doggy]

Search the posts. It is possible with a modified Ranger kit from what I understand.

 

[SuRrEaLNJ]

PA 883 if im not mistaken will provide the spacers. your on your own for the bumper brackets however.

 

[hondacru27]

Seems like the winning combination would be to use Rancho's up and coming coilover kit to jump it up 2-3 inches in combination with a body lift. Then throw on a some meaties in the right porportion to give the added lift and better look.

After all, We dont have Jeeps here. Getting 3-4 inches in overall clearance would double the fun quite abit and be content.

I can live with that.

 

[P. doggy]

hondacru27, You have anymore info on that Coilover kit?
Jared G.

 

[FordLover]

Even so, those pics are all pretty cool. I do know the auto 4x4 can't be disengaged, but I was talking about the spinning tires. I have this neat button in the center console that turns my traction control off. At least I thought that's what it's for. Now I'm second guessing myself, maybe I'm wrong.

You are correct. The advance trac can be switched off by pressing the button once, this deactivates the throttle control part of the traction control, pressing it again and holding it for 5 seconds will turn the brake function of the T/C off, and you'll be full 'peg leg' 4x4. My 02 has the advance trac, which I understand is very rare, but mine was also a very late build 02, and it was a special order.

I'm loving all the pictures of the Gen 3's guys, that's awesome. I still have about 18 grand to pay on mine, so it's gonna be a while before mine get's that kinda muddy.

 

[A1C_Snowman]

meh I owe 17k on mine.

 

[hondacru27]

hondacru27, You have anymore info on that Coilover kit?
Jared G.

Just word of mouth from another guy here stating rancho is due out with a coilover in the 3rd quarter of this year.. not sure exactly the date but so far, it's a go from what I understand.

I took it out today to Prarie City outside Sactown, had some 3 wheel action and 4low fun up some steep grades.

pics will be up once my camera batteries recharge..

 

[CodePoet]

Rancho was going to make a kit, i beleive the Douglas racing explorer used a prototype. Unfortunatly last I heard they decided not to make it due to lack of interest...but i very well could be wrong. Unfortunatly the aftermarket companys see the new explorers as mini-vans i think.

I still think you could do an sas...wouldn't be too terrible, just twice the work , probalby three times the money and fabrication, but so so cool when done!

 

[FROADER]

It sucks, but it's not going to happen. There are plenty of threads about this.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=147114&highlight=lifted+3rd+gen

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=133704&highlight=lifted+3rd+gen

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=108938&highlight=35s+rancho+tires+3rd+gen

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=91963&highlight=lifted+3rd+gen

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=800422&postcount=5

 

[SuRrEaLNJ]

Yes, that kits suposed to be released in the 3rd 1/4 of this year... jusy has it has been slated for release of the 3rd 1/4 for the last 3-4 years or so

Douglas racing did have a prototype, called the "explorer waypoint" or "waypoint explorer" with the rancho kit, and was also runing a 3rd gen x in the BITD.

They seem to be the only ones who see any potential to making a kit, but they dont actually make kits so its a lost point.

Last i had talked to someone at rancho, they were blaming manufacturing problems wich held back the release indefinately, so inother words stop caling us every couple of weeks.

 

[foxy]

off road

Guys, A few years ago here in Australia they did a comparative test off road in pretty heavy terrain and I mean heavy Deep soft sand, high dunes etc etc They compared the Ford to pommie (english) and jappa's,the Ford was'nt in the race for off road on the black top she compared comparitively well .Three of the most obvious problems were fuel consimption ,ground clearance, wheel travel .So much were the problems Ford have withdawn the explorer from sale here in OZ, one other was the lack of ability to modify them whereas the earliermodel meaning my girl suffered from similar problems plus poor build quality.So the explorer'shere did'nt do too well yet I have no complaints with mine she's been great.At least with the older I mean pre 01you can with perserveranceyou can make them pretty capable. It's one of the reasons I use ebay and talk to you people There's very little out here of after market gear for ex's. If you want more info use this link .I've taken my girl in pretty heavy country I hav'nt modified as much as some but more than some others

 

[A1C_Snowman]

Seriously though how many people would be interested in a kit. If we had a list of people who wanted the kit we would be able to show them the interest, but were just a mere few here, I'm sure there are some people out there that aren't on the board that would want it also.

I'll start the list anyway's
1. A1C_Snowman
2. P. Doggy
3.

 

[P. doggy]

Count me in.
2.P.Doggy

 

[prerunner02]

Im in. maybe a new thread should be posted for this? Oh and Douglasmotorsports.com There are pics and their racing info. And they are still racing the 02 ex

 

[cetmanhd]

New Explorer owner, what is a BL and programming for taller tires

There was a comment about putting taller tires on an 02 Explorer. What is a BL the person referred to? Never mind, just edited and I relaize dBL meant body lift.
I still want to know if you go with taller tires, what needs to be reprogrammed the ABS, PCM, etc? My Ford dealer I just bought the truck from indicated not to change the tires, the usual commetns - affects the ABS, the speedo, the trans shifting pattern. I also tow behind a MH so I had the nuetral tow swithc installed and programmed, I expect that any other programming might override that?