How Capable?

[theoutlawtorn14]

How capable of offroading is the stock '97 OHV Explorer? on a scale from 1-10.. it seems to perform well at everything I do now, but it's not hardcore offroading.

 

[Alec]

Well, it's hard to rate on a scale. On a scale of stock vehicles, or all vehicles?

Anyway, look at the Moab 2001 trip writeup on this site for some info. I was very impressed with stock Explorers last year.

 

[theoutlawtorn14]

I just mean what are some of it's limitations or how good, in general is it off of the road..

BTW, Nice truck.. supercharged and nitrous, that thing must be a beast...

 

[Alec]

Much of offroading isn't how capable the truck is, it's how capable the driver is. The trick is to know the terrain, your vehicle, and your skills. On the latest Arizona trip, the stockers did stuff that is rated very difficult in the guidebooks. Up and over boulders, through a river, the stockers did great. A stock vehicle should never go on an unexplored trail alone though and you should always be prepared. That way if something does happen, you can get back to civilization.

Chances are your Explorer can out-drive you, especially at first when the driver is getting used to driving offroad.

 

[unabonked]

if your thinking about offroading, i'd spend an extra 2k and get a 98. the 95-97 models are hard to lift up frront. The 98-01 are able to be lifted, as well as the 91-94.