Is This The Truck For Me?

[IWantARealTransferCase]

Hello All, a friend of mine is selling an 07 Explorer. He said its a 4x4, but the Advance Trac system looks more like All Wheel Drive to me and looking into it just leaves me more confused. I just want to know how well it works in loose sand, like on the beach. I had a couple of Broncos back in the day and I just feel more confident with that Old School Transfer Case shifter lever you pull back out of 2 High into 4 High and on to 4 Low if you need it. Even if you can find a 4 wheel drive everything has gone push button or dial these days. Well, thats progress I guess and who am I to argue if it works? I remember hearing that you needed 4 Low on the beach, even if you rarely if ever used it. I don't know, maybe things have changed? Maybe these systems work just fine and I'm just old? I remember seeing an old Subaru Brat on the beach and the guy had to dig out about every 15 feet lol I don't want to be That Guy

 

[tripplec]

In the sand like on a beach (you're not allowed to drive it anyway). Have tow ready and expect to get stuck on loose beach sand.

 

[IWantARealTransferCase]

What do you mean, "your not allowed to drive it"? There are beaches where this is permited, for a fee of course. If your saying the truck won't know how to respond because all four wheels spin, I get it...

 

[Machine090767]

I used to have an 07 Explorer. It is always in "Auto" 4x4 which mean's it's really in 2wd (rear) but if the wheels start to slip, it "Automatically" shifts into 4x4.
Now, the 4x4 High and Low buttons "Lock" the front diff so the vehicle is constantly in 4x4.

 

[ronwc]

I watch the Clearwater Bch police drive their Explorers out on the beach all the time, very soft sand, with no problems.

 

[tripplec]

They are configured for it and trained driving on that surface. You can't take just any 4x4 and make it across. Hard packed sand is easier to drive on so as always it depends!!

 

[IWantARealTransferCase]

I was asking specifically about the Advance Trac system. There are no buttons, at least on the truck that I looked at. Also there was no forward rear, it looks more like some flimsy AWD spindley system. In my book a true 4x4 has a front and rear rearend with a transfer case. Not a PTO/PTU When it's in 2H only the rear wheels are powered. In 4H/4L ALL 4 wheels are powered. Any true 4x4 should have no problem on the beach in soft sand, though I'd recommend airing down.

 

[michael loibl]

I'd love to see a pic of this no front "rear" spindley thing

 

[07EddyB]

Did it actually have an Explorer badge on it?
If the truck you are looking at does not have a transfer case, a front diff, and 4wd buttons inside then it is not a 4WD. I think all Explorers were Advance Trac - not the same as 4WD.
If it is actually a Mercury Mountaineer then I don't think they have the buttons inside.
Either way - transfer case, front diff. If they aren't there then it isn't a 4WD.

 

[D Hook]

I think the OP has answered his own original question.

 

[rewind1]

@IWantARealTransferCase

If it is a 4WD model it will have these buttons.

"4X4 AUTO" means it is in rear wheel drive until it senses slipping, then it will automatically go into 4 HI
"4X4 HIGH" is typical 4 HI, front and rear are locked
"4X4 LOW" is your typical 4 LO

AWD models will not have those buttons.

What is AdvanceTrac?
AdvanceTrac is a feature that was optional on 3rd gens (02-05, possibly std in 05) and became standard on all 4th Gens (06-10) and up.
AdvanceTrac (and its successor AdvanceTrac RSC) are simply Ford's Traction Control/Electronic Stabilty Control programs. They don't change the way the 4WD or AWD systems function but they do enhance it.
For instance if a wheel is slipping it will apply braking to that wheel in an attempt to send torque to the wheel that has traction. And a bunch of other goodies for better traction/safety.

Is 4WD or AWD Better?
The 4WD vs AWD debate is one that is long and unending.
Personally, I have found my 98 Mounty AWD system to be more stable in the wet/snow than the 4WD on my 3rd Gen Ex.
I do plenty of rocky/dirt road driving up some pretty steep hills and they seem to perform very similarly in that environment.
I have not done any rock crawling with either, but I have heard the 4WD excels in such scenarios.
Neither of my vehicles have AdvanceTrac (or AdvanceTracRSC) and do just fine but would undoubtedly perform better if they did.

Given the type of low friction environment you would be in on the sand, I would think it would be most similar to wet and give AWD the slight advantage. This is only a guess based upon opinion and personal observation so take it for what its worth.

 

[IWantARealTransferCase]

Thank You, rewind1 for your informative answer. So in 07 Advance Trac was standard. If 4 Wheel Drive(4x4) was an option that would explain the buttons I saw in an 08 Explorer. But I disagree with your hypothesis about AWD in sand. Unlike wet conditions, the sand I'm talking about is very soft and practically bottomless. I have driven 4x4's up and down the beach. It is best to air down your tires to between 10-20psi I've even been able to drive on the beach in 2H this way. I doubt Advance Trac would out perform 4x4 in this situation. So, yeah I guess I did answer my own question. lol

If I had taken a picture and I knew how to post it here I would love to show it to ya, michael. But in the mean time take a look at the front wheels of an AWD vehicle and those cheesy rods that power them. To me they just seem weak, but apparently they work... somehow

 

[rewind1]

Thank You, rewind1 for your informative answer. So in 07 Advance Trac was standard. If 4 Wheel Drive(4x4) was an option that would explain the buttons I saw in an 08 Explorer. But I disagree with your hypothesis about AWD in sand. Unlike wet conditions, the sand I'm talking about is very soft and practically bottomless. I have driven 4x4's up and down the beach. It is best to air down your tires to between 10-20psi I've even been able to drive on the beach in 2H this way. I doubt Advance Trac would out perform 4x4 in this situation. So, yeah I guess I did answer my own question. lol

If I had taken a picture and I knew how to post it here I would love to show it to ya, michael. But in the mean time take a look at the front wheels of an AWD vehicle and those cheesy rods that power them. To me they just seem weak, but apparently they work... somehow

I think you misunderstand advance trac. AdvanceTrac is not a driveline option (read it is not AWD). If you have an 07 explorer with AWD and an 07 explorer with 4WD, they will both have AdvanceTrac.

 

[michael loibl]

I'm beginning to think that what OP is looking for is an old school truck with solid axles front and rear, as opposed to our independent suspensions with constant velocity half shafts. We still have transfer cases, and front and rear pumpkins, just different style

 

[TechGuru]

If there is no 4X4 Low setting then it is not a 4x4.

 

[tripplec]

Having a Low Range is the only true advantage of a 4x4 with transfer case. Disengaging the drive to the front I suppose is another for some. I have had vehicles with both most true 4x4 with low range and rarely use it including an old 1991 Explorer. I had a AstroVan full size 8 seater with AWD and it pulled my loaded sled trailer out of a snow deep parked area where my Jeep Grand Cherokee would not, no matter what I tried to do. The Jeep had winter tires and the Astro quality M+S tires. The wheels never slipped on that AWD no matter how deep or slushy the snow was. It was a bad winter. It may have to do with weight distribution but knowone could say for sure.

 

[Explorer_PL]

Also, those Police Explorers on the beach could be the new gen, and they would be AWD, and a non-AWD version of those are actually just FWD cars with no rear differential.

 

[TechGuru]

Also, those Police Explorers on the beach could be the new gen, and they would be AWD, and a non-AWD version of those are actually just FWD cars with no rear differential.

Ya the new ones are no longer "trucks" and suck! lol If I want 2011+ I'm going to have to go Toyota 4Runner or just get a Expedition...

 

[TechGuru]

Having a Low Range is the only true advantage of a 4x4 with transfer case. Disengaging the drive to the front I suppose is another for some. I have had vehicles with both most true 4x4 with low range and rarely use it including an old 1991 Explorer. I had a AstroVan full size 8 seater with AWD and it pulled my loaded sled trailer out of a snow deep parked area where my Jeep Grand Cherokee would not, no matter what I tried to do. The Jeep had winter tires and the Astro quality M+S tires. The wheels never slipped on that AWD no matter how deep or slushy the snow was. It was a bad winter. It may have to do with weight distribution but knowone could say for sure.

I use 4X4 Low all the time for dragging crap, gives a nice slow fine control to the movement...

 

[IWantARealTransferCase]

1. Yeah, I thought Advance Trac was a term for AWD. When I didn't see any buttons/dial for 4L on the truck my friend is selling I became concerned, so I looked underneath and didn't like what I saw. I saw the Advance Trac RSC emblem on the back and ran with it. What I gather is, Ford came up with this system in response to roll-over issues back in the day. Lots of vehicles that used to be trucks have gone the crossover route these days...
2. I don't know why these numbers are popping up when I hit return
3. I'm not trying to list multiple points lol