Our 4x4's stink!

[superfestiva]

This could not have happened to me...this weekend I got stuck on some stupid ass hill that I have always been to on my 99 xlt I used to own...I ain't no expert on off-roading but it was a terrible experience that everyone is laughing at you and yor truck...truck has new tires, 4x4 is OK, all supensions are ok, nothing is wrong with the truck...

It was a 5 hour trip that you go to a virgin beach here in the Dominican Republic and when headed back home I got freakin' stuck!!!:fire:

Here is a video I found of some drunk guys who actually recorded a couple of trucks going up that hill last year, I think...you tell me if I am the bad driver or what

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVFp4tKPsYo&feature=related

If you guys agree on this, I will change my truck asap....

 

[IZwack]

Expect to get stuck -- its part of being off the asphalt

 

[Four0Sport]

sometimes i think that explorers are the mitsubishi monteros of the United States. cause they are the dominate 4wd sport utility in almost every other part of the world.

but yeah that doesnt look like TOO horrible of a hill. sucks you got stuck buddy!

 

[Four0Sport]

oh wait, you have one of those 3rd gens.. lol

 

[1_v8_merc]

Hey bro, stuck happens!

I saw a Chevy silverado 1500 4x4 Almost get stuck in a little mud pit.

He tried to follow my 04 mountaineer v8 thru it! And i only got AWD!!!
(i have BFG mud terrains...they clawed thru it like nothing, and i know how to drive my SUV.)



Im telling you dude, you put a brand new full size 4x4 truck threw a Small mud pit, and if theres multiple pot holes in that pit, if you catch the tires wrong, you will get stuck EASILY. You put a smaller 4x4 threw it with a driver thats driven threw it before, he will make it easily.

4x4 is just like racing......it's 50% car and 50% DRIVER.


I've seen guys with much bigger trucks than mine get stuck or Nearly get stuck launching boats.....meanwhile I JUST launched a watercraft there 5 minutes before them...and had NO traction problems.


To be completely honest, i've owned and driven a few 4x4 trucks...chevy silverado,dodge dakota, s-10 ZR2 4x4 SS.......and NONE of them handled as well as my Mounty AWD, or my buddies 03 Explorer 4x4....
Those pickup trucks i USED to own had MUCH better 4x4 systems then the explorer and mounty....but they spun tires ALL the time and I got the s-10 and dodge stuck ALOT over some pretty small obstacles...although they both went thru some deep mud and water with no problems.
(they could take deep mud better, but on a dirt or snow course, i'd take an explorer ANY DAY of the week.)



I guess all im trying to say is Trucks have their GOOD days and their BAD....no matter WHAT you have.

 

[loaderopp]

LOL getting your ass stuck and getting back out of it is half the fun in off roading,

 

[shadowless127]

u should've been able to make that, but, stuck happens... get some nice A/T's or M/T's next time.

 

[ld50]

Got limited slip or anything like that or completely open diffs?

I mean with simple traction aids you can be "good" or "bad" off-road.
All 4x4s are essentially the same idea regardless of who makes them. Take any capable truck and swap open diffs in and it`s now pretty well the same as any other open diff truck.
Same goes for a truck with limited slip diffs, well throw some full carrier lockers in and boom, your better.
Some manufacturers offer off-road packages, I don't know what Ford offers for the Ex right now, but stock is stock, and SUVS these days seem built to behave well on the pavement first, off-road second. That mindset creates suspensions and powertrains that are not neccessarily ideal for wheeling.

PS. Gotta find a first Gen and leave the 2nd and 3rd for the ladies!

 

[1_v8_merc]

PS. Gotta find a first Gen and leave the 2nd and 3rd for the ladies!

Alright i'll remember that as I drive off in my INDEPENDANT SUSPENSION equipped vehicle enjoying the truly superior technology!

 

[ld50]

Independant suspension is bad for you.


"1901 A renowned British surgeon, who had been knighted by Queen Victoria, spoke glowingly of the health benefits provided by the rough ride of most automobile’s of the day. In a 1901 edition of the Journal of Medicine, Dr. William Thomas proclaimed:

"I have found my drives to improve my general health," Sir Thomas stated. "The jolting which occurs when a motor car is driven at fair speed conduces to healthy agitation that acts on the liver. This aids the peristaltic movements of the bowels and promotes the performance of their functions."

 

[Hitchhikingmike]

hahaha.

Although a fully independent suspension does not give you the same amount of articulation, its nice being able to plow through a pot hole ridden field at 30mph and still have the truck retain its composure.

Although 3 gens dont give you as much wheel travel, they have 300% stiffer frames and the independent suspension can really smooth out beating it takes.

Over all 3 gen I think can take a good beating (30+mph off roading) better than 1st or 2nd gens can.

 

[Castle]

I have a 3rd gen. My 4x4 currently isn't working because the module died. I did use it twice though and it performed as expected and I didn't get stuck.

 

[Thelt]

I have never had a traction problem with my 3rd gen. Ground Clearance has raised its nasty head a few times but a lift and bigger tires can cure that, just like any other vehicle. Check out Road Bully's rig if you want to see a 3rd Gen that can handle off roading well.

 

[ld50]

I have a 3rd gen. My 4x4 currently isn't working because the module died. I did use it twice though and it performed as expected and I didn't get stuck.

Dang, I always thought those 3rd gen modules only lasted for one trip, I guess they last twice as long, maybe they aren't so bad after all.

 

[superfestiva]

I guess you guys are correct...that day I saw this old Honda CR-V 4x2 (yeah, the ones with FWD! ) , old Suzuki jeep and others that just laughed at the damn hill...it was frustrating...the hill has approx. 20-25' inclination degree
But, on the other hand, I saw the following vehicles getting stuck which should not:
-Land Rover Discovery TDV6 '07ish
-Land Cruiser Prado 06'ish
-Hyundai Terracan CRDi 06'ish

I am getting back to that beach just to try that again and will make a video of this...this will not happen again...I promise...

If I don't pass it good...my "x" will be gone for good...

One more thing...limited slip sounds like a good idea with this tight economy...is it expensive?hard to install?

 

[superfestiva]

oh wait, you have one of those 3rd gens.. lol

My 2nd gen had better traction with the same type of tires...
I guess you are correct...

 

[superfestiva]

sometimes i think that explorers are the mitsubishi monteros of the United States. cause they are the dominate 4wd sport utility in almost every other part of the world.

but yeah that doesnt look like TOO horrible of a hill. sucks you got stuck buddy!

Theres lots of Explorers in DR but Monteros are one of the highest sellers here...
I am thinking of buying a used '03 Montero DI-D which is a bit bigger and it is turbo diesel...! I'll have to pay a bit more but it's better for off-roading...since I am planning on going there at least 4 times a year...

The hill is a bit horrible since you have two tires in the air in like three or four parts of the hill and if a tire does not make contact...ouch...you get freakin' stuck...
I once drove my 2nd gen to a worse road that passed with no problems...

 

[briwayjones]

Alright i'll remember that as I drive off in my INDEPENDANT SUSPENSION equipped vehicle enjoying the truly superior technology!

How is it superior? Because it cost more? Because it's more complicated? Because it rides better? Ride quality is a completely subjective subject. While the superior capability of a solid axle is not.

 

[Thelt]

How is it superior? Because it cost more? Because it's more complicated? Because it rides better? Ride quality is a completely subjective subject. While the superior capability of a solid axle is not.

I doubt many people would claim a solid axle rear rides better than an independent. It may be subjective but it is not really disputed.

 

[FROADER]

You don't get broken stock rear coils or a limit of 2.5" of suspension lift on a 1st or second gen either...

One more thing...limited slip sounds like a good idea with this tight economy...

A limited slip would help a ton.