Off Road Experience With 5th Gen Explorer !

[bruinsfan]

The low clearence is definitely a problem.... I even have a problem with the lower front scraping some parking curb stops.

I don't trust it in snow roads that haven't been completely plowed; I'd rather use my pickup.

The Ex is more like a large crossover than a true SUV.

 

[cwescapexlt4x4]

The sport will be a little less capable due to the tires and clearance.

 

[Halwg]

Do not take a Sport off road or you will be paying for some expensive pieces you tear off your car!

 

[peterk9]

Does anyone have any videos of the Explorer Sport's off road 4x4 capabilities in sand, mud, etc?

I would like to get an idea of what the explorer can handle.

Thanks,

I believe there are existing threads on this topic. Here is a link to one video;
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3415126&postcount=62

Using the Forum's 'Search' program I found and merged your thread with this existing one.

Peter

 

[cwescapexlt4x4]

The EX did well and after going on a long offroad/dirt travel to Crown King, AZ and concerns of a puncture (thankfully none had) had me thinking of more of an A/T tire if I plan to do this more often..... The good thing is the airdam is soft/flexible so IF that gets in the way it SHOULD move for you...

I had good A/T tires on my 2006 Ex and certainly better offroad and frewer traction and puncture concerns

2006 XLT EB V8 4WD (also on the Crown King trip back in 2007)

26+ miles from I-17 to Crown King, AZ

 

[scarpi]

In four or five years I will be looking to replace that Escape and if Ford stays in its present road vehicle mode and Jeep gets it quality control in order that Cherokee Trailhawk is looking really nice.

Let me tell you. I own a 2014 Jeep Cherokee. The model I have is called the Cherokee Latitude but I optioned it out with their Active Drive Two which includes the same off road suspension as the Trailhawk, and is just one step below the Trailhawk in terms of capability. But I'm not here to tell you about the features that made me want to buy that vehicle. I'm here to warn you about the unfortunate drive train that the Cherokee has. The nine speed transmission is a work in progress for Jeep and a number of owners are getting transmissions replaced on new vehicles. Some with only a couple hundred miles on them and some with 19,000 miles on them. There are constant TSB software updates for the transmission and I've had mine in for a number of them. The vehicle has harsh shifting and sometimes clunking. The nine speed does not drive like any vehicle I've ever had before and frankly it drives like the engine and transmission don't get along together. If you check out Jeep Cherokee KL (2014 - 2015 ) forums you will see numerous posts about transmission problems and even owners who have had total vehicle replacements. Some owners have had three transmissions put in their vehicles and are hoping the problems are solved. But the 2015 models are still having many of the same problems. I will be trading in my 2014 Cherokee with about 5700 miles on it in on a 2016 Explorer ASAP to get a more reliable vehicle with a six speed transmission. I won't get into more of the details of my numerous dealer visits and problems I've had with my Cherokee, but I'm just trying to perhaps prevent other people from making the same mistake I did.

 

[peterk9]

Let me tell you. I own a 2014 Jeep Cherokee. The model I have is called the Cherokee Latitude but I optioned it out with their Active Drive Two which includes the same off road suspension as the Trailhawk, and is just one step below the Trailhawk in terms of capability. But I'm not here to tell you about the features that made me want to buy that vehicle. I'm here to warn you about the unfortunate drive train that the Cherokee has. The nine speed transmission is a work in progress for Jeep and a number of owners are getting transmissions replaced on new vehicles. Some with only a couple hundred miles on them and some with 19,000 miles on them. There are constant TSB software updates for the transmission and I've had mine in for a number of them. The vehicle has harsh shifting and sometimes clunking. The nine speed does not drive like any vehicle I've ever had before and frankly it drives like the engine and transmission don't get along together. If you check out Jeep Cherokee KL (2014 - 2015 ) forums you will see numerous posts about transmission problems and even owners who have had total vehicle replacements. Some owners have had three transmissions put in their vehicles and are hoping the problems are solved. But the 2015 models are still having many of the same problems. I will be trading in my 2014 Cherokee with about 5700 miles on it in on a 2016 Explorer ASAP to get a more reliable vehicle with a six speed transmission. I won't get into more of the details of my numerous dealer visits and problems I've had with my Cherokee, but I'm just trying to perhaps prevent other people from making the same mistake I did.

Keep in mind that the 2016 Explorer is unlikely to have the new Sync 3 in it. Especially the early models. Sync 3 is slated for the 2017 models and maybe, just maybe, the late production of the 2016's.

Peter

 

[cwescapexlt4x4]

scarpi, I have heard so many issues with the 9spd. Too bad really as it could have been a game changer for MPGs

 

[scarpi]

Yes the nine speed does get fantastic MPG. I have the V6 with the nine speed and even in a vehicle with the off road suspension I have seen over 30mpg on the highway. I would have given up a few mpg for a dependable drive train. Some owners have been stranded on vacations thousands of miles from home. I couldn't imagine taking this Cherokee on an off road trail in the middle of nowhere and getting stranded with no cell phone service. In my opinion the Explorer may not be as capable an off roader as certain versions of the Cherokee but at least you know the transmission is not going to go out on you in the middle of nowhere. And I'm sorry if I changed the subject of this thread from Explorers to Cherokees by mentioning the issues with my Cherokee and others. I just thought I'd chime in because the Cherokee was mentioned previously as a alternative to the Explorer for more serious off roading.

 

[ocracokeBound]

I think Ford will probably be more than happy to let Jeep take any market share of consumers wanting a real off-road crossover/SUV. Reason being, had that market share been significant in the first place, the Explorer would not have been changed from a legitimate off-road worthy truck to a crossover with light off-road capabilities.

Don't get me wrong; I think your idea would be cool, but that's just not the direction Ford seems to be moving in "by design". Luckily, we have Toyota FJ's, 4Runners and Jeeps (now if Jeep/Chrysler would **finally** do something about it's horrible, decades-long reliability issues) to fill that gap.

Tim

Not so much with the FJ's http://www.toyota.com/fjcruiser?src...al_E|FJ+Cruiser+Refresh+4/2015|FJ+Cruiser_MLP

 

[TimGinCentralNJ]

Not so much with the FJ's http://www.toyota.com/fjcruiser?src...al_E|FJ+Cruiser+Refresh+4/2015|FJ+Cruiser_MLP

Interesting....but I wouldn't be entirely surprised if this decision were due, in some small part, to see what kind of consumer response ensues this announcement. I have zero clue on how big of a devout following FJ's have in comparison to Jeeps and 4Runners, but I guess this is one way of finding out.

And if the "natives" (consumers) stage an uprising of any (financial) magnitude, I'm sure Toyota will start production again.

Thanks for passing this along....
Tim

 

[OffTrac]

Interesting....but I wouldn't be entirely surprised if this decision were due, in some small part, to see what kind of consumer response ensues this announcement. I have zero clue on how big of a devout following FJ's have in comparison to Jeeps and 4Runners, but I guess this is one way of finding out.

And if the "natives" (consumers) stage an uprising of any (financial) magnitude, I'm sure Toyota will start production again.

Thanks for passing this along....
Tim

Same could be said about the explorer. Don't think that has happened.

 

[OffTrac]

Duplicate

 

[tmg19103]

Thanks Scarpi, and that's what I meant that IF Jeep gets its quality control in order in 4-5 years, all other things being equal today, I'd replace my Escape with the Cherokee Trailhawk as my beach buggy. That's assuming the gearbox is in order. No doubt that is a problem for Jeep, but no doubt the Trailhawk is far superior offroad than the Escape.

Ford made the decision to go CUV for road handling. I like that in my Explorer as it handles great on pavement and is fine for light offroad and snow. Just saying unless Ford comes out with a true offroad compact SUV in the next few years (which I doubt), I'll be looking elsewhere to replace the Escape and I like the Trailhawk if the gearbox gets worked out.

 

[scarpi]

I think it would be great if the Explorer had an off road option that includes higher ground clearance (maybe two inches more), skid plates, off road suspension, and more rugged tires. Those items would make it much more capable. But I'll be happy with what I can get soon on my 2016.

 

[cabrego]

Depends what you're trying to do. You're not gonna go rock crawling with it but it can go through moderate trails, snow, and sand just fine.

Thanks for the info. The nastiest stuff I'd find myself in would be thick beach sand.

I suppose clearance and the factory tires would be my biggest problem, I would also like to tow a trailer through sand too.

In terms of driving through sand, is the deepest sand the truck can handle based on the ground clearance?

 

[cwescapexlt4x4]

Thanks for the info. The nastiest stuff I'd find myself in would be thick beach sand.

I suppose clearance and the factory tires would be my biggest problem, I would also like to tow a trailer through sand too.

In terms of driving through sand, is the deepest sand the truck can handle based on the ground clearance?

Absolutely - sand is a tough battle, and if you are dragging - you are done.

 

[13.]

There is a decent thread around here about beach driving with the current gen Explorer. I have been using mine on the beach without issue but it does drag its belly a fair amount. While I think my '13 does very well in soft sand, I would not attempt to pull more than a small pop up on the beach.

 

[ocracokeBound]

Thanks for the info. The nastiest stuff I'd find myself in would be thick beach sand.

I suppose clearance and the factory tires would be my biggest problem, I would also like to tow a trailer through sand too.

In terms of driving through sand, is the deepest sand the truck can handle based on the ground clearance?

The Ex does fine in the sand for me, but I would not even think of towing a trailer. That is just asking for a torched tranny and a $4k mechanics bill.

 

[cwescapexlt4x4]

Yeah, pulling a trailer in sand with an EX - probably less than ideal.
I know I wouldn't even consider it, YMMV