new to offroading in a explorer

[2ndLifeExploder]

Sure you did..

if you would like i can list all the cars ive driven...ill even throw in a bonus and list the one i crashed and how it happened if you really want to know.

 

[Doug]

Woah Woah Woah, I don't remember anyone here saying thier vehicle was any more capable than another? Now you're putting words in our mouths..

 

[Blee1099]

Are you possibly related to AK_LTD? A former member of this forum.. Reason I ask is because you both could probably be proved as being complete morons.

 

[2ndLifeExploder]

ok i can see the arguement is over as now we are just resorting to name calling. sry for turning this thread into a flame war. you guys are entitled to your opinion and i am entitled to mine. if you feel because you are older then me you know everything and im a complete retard then more power to ya.

 

[2ndLifeExploder]

oh by the way. did any of you bother to look at the other link i posted.?

 

[CodePoet]

I dont' htink my expo is the greatest off road vehicle produced at all. It takes a hell of alot of work to make it really really good offroad. If I had my choice i'd have a custom tube buggy . One the vehicle rolls...time to pray especially if it's a high speed roll, i've seen expos that have rolled on trails though, damage yes...crushed roof and driver, no. Diver error is one cause...there are genuine rollovers from mechanical problems, be that tires or what. Anyway i'm not going to fight...no reason to


Later
cp

 

[JasonH]

Calm down you guys!! Whats all the fuss?? We all drive X's and I think that we are all in agreement that its a fine quality vehicle both on the road and off. Drivers are the main cause of nearly all road accidents, whether its a rollover, or any other type of accident. I chose an Explorer for my seven year old daughter and myself because the research that I did, clearly stated that (apart from being the #1 best selling SUV of all time) it is one of the safest. One of the only ways to rollover an X is by deliberatly fishtailing (one of the tests carried out in rollover surveys) But this is likely to happen with any kind of hi-ride.

Drive safely, and yes, even a 7 year old stocker can be fun offroad - check it out at http://www.slovakexplorer.50megs.com

Back to the orginal question, I agree with the more experienced X owners - try the suspension lift first, it'll get you the raise that you want and in budget. Yes, roll cages are great to have but not essential unless, you are going to drive outside your limits. Take it a step at a time, gain your off-road experience and get to know you vehicle. and You'll have a lot of safe fun.

Later dudes. . . .

 

[JDraper]

Man, I go to sleep for the evening and look what happens... Trolls........go figure

95offroadX, ignore everything posted by 2ndlifeExploder. He does not know what he is talking about in the slightest. Many of us on here have been modifying vehicles for YEARS before he was even born.

BTW, what Robb posted is a good list to start with. That will get you a fairly capable off roader. Having a rear locker is probably the single best thing you can add. I'd go with a lunchbox locker like a Powertrax No-Slip.

 

[95offroadx]

2ndlifeexplorer: not from someone with a bone stock 95 explorer who has hardly done any serious off roading.

i dont have a 95 i have a 91 and i wont plan on doing serious off roading i just want to have fun driving my explorer up in the mountains

 

[95offroadx]

2ndlifeexplorer-you have a serious problem im only 16 only been driving for a couple months but what your saying is the worst addivce i ever heard ok buying a welder and a tube bender will cost more money then just buyin a custom bumper or brush guard........thats pretty sad that you think you know everything...

 

[92xlt4x4]

hey good luck hooking up you rig. Hows the 40 series sounds by the way. Is there any way you could put a sound wave on here. Im trying to find a good exhaust, part of mine fell off. thanks

 

[95offroadx]

will a 2"skyjacker suspenison, 2" body lift and 32" mud terrian tires help me be a more capable off road explorer???.......not a serious offroad vechicle..

 

[95offroadx]

92xlt4x4: the exhaust made my explorer sound a lot more aggerive and probably gained me 8-10hp(esitmate) but i would like to get a intake and take off my cat so it might be a little bit louder.. but i say flowmaster is the way to go if you are thinkin about gettin a new exhaust...........oh yeah mine only cost me $215 (thats not bad)

 

[boominXplorer]

it sure will



2ndlife.... I bet your stuck driving your moms minivan everyday and your dad has a 92 explorer that you think is heavily modified because he has a K&N panel finer in it

 

[Joey P]

I had a 2" lift(poly spacers and aal/shackles) and I had a 1" body lift. Similiar to what your wanting to do but less body lift, and it made my 94 much more capable off road. Your right, it won't be too serious but you'll be surprised what you can do with that setup. I was when I had that setup.

 

[DB_1]

Most of us who have modified rigs agree that a lunchbox locker would be the best mod to start with if you arent going to do a gear change. If you go with a lunchbox locker, they are cheap and easy to install.

let me give you a scenario...a few yrs back I went wheelin' a place called los coyotes which has some terrain from mild to wild. We met up with some dudes
who were camping there and rode the trails with them for the day. Now heres
a comparison between my rig and one of the guys rig we were with. Mine being a Ranger with about an 8" SAS, 35" tires and no lockers...just a limited slip in the rear. The other guy had a bone stock IFS toyota truck with street tires that were probably not even 31's and no kind of lift. This guy was all over the place with his Toy that I wouldn't even think about going simply because he had lockers, plus with no lift he had a very low COG.

For 2k you could probably do a lunchbox locker, buy a used lift off the board and new tires. That would make your rig plenty capable for medium class trails. From there, you can build it up..engine/exhaust mods, wheels, rock sliders or whatever but at least you have a working foundation to build from.
Take it from me, i'm on my 3 lift and spent a lot of money I wish i had back in my pocket or at least to have to spend on other goodies for my rig. Take your time and read up on what others have done and make sure you are going to be happy with the lift and tire size you choose...believe me, you'll always want more.

 

[95offroadx]

where can i get a lunchbox locker and what do lockers do?

 

[yosh18981898]

Lockers "lock" both axle shafts together so that if one tire comes off the ground you will still have traction with the tire on the opposite side of the axle.

You can get them at most performance part web sites such as www.summitracing.com www.performancecenter.com www.4wheelparts.com etc...

And yes, lockers are one of the best mods you can do. I'd put lockers in mine but I have to get some higher ratio gears first. (I'm one of the unlucky ones who got lousy 3.27s from Ford.)

 

[JDraper]

where can i get a lunchbox locker and what do lockers do?

You can get a lunchbox locker (slang for an autolocking differential) from many places. I'd recommend a Powertrax No-Slip. What a locker does is lock both axles together so both wheels are powered instead of just one being powered. In a normal open differential, the power only goes to one wheel (usually the one that slips more). In a limited slip differential, power is applied partially to both wheels.

You can get a locker from Dead Link Removed or from Central 4x4. First you have to know if you have a limited slip or open rear axle. There should be a tag bolted to the cover that has a code on it. Do a search here on "axle codes" and you should find the info on how to decode the tag on the rear axle. Once you know that, you can order a locker. The other info you will need is that you have a 31 spline, 7/8" axle shaft diameter, 8.8" rear end.

 

[95offroadx]

ok thanks i have a 3.73 l/s