Project Pale Rider 2.0 98 XLT Budget trail rig

I just wanted to post a journal of my upgrades to my new 98 Explorer XLT 4x4 OHV as I upgraded it to be a cheap but functional trail rig on the weekends.

It was bone stock when I got it and had just over 160k miles.

Ive purchased Rancho RS5000 front shocks, Monroe Sensa Trac rear adjuactable struts, Warrior 153 Shackles, Torsion Twist, 31x10.50xR15 Achilles Desert Hawk XMT's, 15x8 American Racing Black Steel Wheels, and a roof rack. Painted the Grill, Removed the running boards and mudflaps, and Ive also done the plugs and wires and most fluids.

 

[WormsExplorer]

I got my OBD2 Bluetooth interface and tablet today. I cant way to see how much of this Torque Pro app actually is compatible with the 2nd gen explorers. I wonder what gauges will actually work. I like the fact that you can save your gauge overlay and sync it with a camera for live feed for my youtube videos

View attachment 167438

Just wondering how much this was. Also will you be able to read your codes and clear them as needed?

 

[JungleSkunk]

Just wondering how much this was. Also will you be able to read your codes and clear them as needed?

I have a handheld scanner for codes and only got this for monitoring torque pro. It does show the codes but I have not messed with the app much yet. I paid less than $10 for two of them o n eBay.




Also the gimble I use was about $300. I can't remember the brand. It's more about having a quality camera with a built in image stabilizer. I use a Sony a6000.

 

[JungleSkunk]

Lots of snow is going to make for a great summer here in the Rockies. Harvey gap reservoir is full!

 

[JungleSkunk]

I've finally had time to play with the shots from Moab. Here's one near arches.

 

[WormsExplorer]

Lots of snow is going to make for a great summer here in the Rockies. Harvey gap reservoir is full!View attachment 169046

I like how you kept the Door guards white. Still like your build a lot.

 

[JungleSkunk]

My transmission went out and after many attempts to repair it myself I think its road worthy... for now.

I really hope to have it ready for the Moab trip coming up.

 

[karlos2]

Nice rig, though it deserves a better front-end protection.

 

[JungleSkunk]

After battling with transmission issues and countless self fixes... She is still on the road and getting me to work every day. I head to Alaska at the end of the month and am finally getting it put in the shop for a new transmission.

In the meantime heres a few pics from "Four Mile Park" here on Sunlight Mountain in Colorado. My home for the summer in the background.

 

[EvanCani1997]

Hey! made an account just to say that wow I am impressed by your build! I have the same model but mine is 1997. Few questions, first) What is the length of your light bar up top and where did you get the brackets to mount it? Second) What are some common problems that you have run into? My rig is 21 years old now and it has a lot of stock parts in it still. any recommendations on what to change first? 3) what kind of paint did you use to paint your grille?

 

[JungleSkunk]

Hey! made an account just to say that wow I am impressed by your build! I have the same model but mine is 1997. Few questions, first) What is the length of your light bar up top and where did you get the brackets to mount it? Second) What are some common problems that you have run into? My rig is 21 years old now and it has a lot of stock parts in it still. any recommendations on what to change first? 3) what kind of paint did you use to paint your grille?

Thanks for checking out my build and the kind words. I have had some transmission issues when crawling in low gear specifically overheating. I will be putting in a new trans this week.

Also the torsion twist lift in the front come recommend by a lot of users here but really threw my highway driving and alignment out of whack. It lifted it for sure but I never got it feeling right in the highway after messing with it even after multiple dealership alignments.

I used a normal krylon flat black paint on the grill but have plans to spray the entire vehicle with raptor liner this summer.

The light bar was either 50" or 52" and got cheap on Amazon. I used Chevy truck brackets modified a little with a hammer to mount the light.

I would recommend a good set of tires and the Monroe senstrac rear struts to fix any rear sag for your first modifications.

Good luck!

 

[EvanCani1997]

Thanks for checking out my build and the kind words. I have had some transmission issues when crawling in low gear specifically overheating. I will be putting in a new trans this week.

Also the torsion twist lift in the front come recommend by a lot of users here but really threw my highway driving and alignment out of whack. It lifted it for sure but I never got it feeling right in the highway after messing with it even after multiple dealership alignments.

I used a normal krylon flat black paint on the grill but have plans to spray the entire vehicle with raptor liner this summer.

The light bar was either 50" or 52" and got cheap on Amazon. I used Chevy truck brackets modified a little with a hammer to mount the light.

I would recommend a good set of tires and the Monroe senstrac rear struts to fix any rear sag for your first modifications.

Good luck!

Last question, sorry!

When you removed your running boards was there any noticeable marks or differences? if so how did you go about fixing them or covering them up? I want to remove mine but they seem to be molded to the body AND bolted to the undercarriage. If you bought a product to cover it up could you recommend it? Thanks!

 

[JungleSkunk]

Havnt been using this site too much lately so I thought I would stop in. The new trans has been working out great. Ive got about 5k miles on it so far with no issues. I replaced an old battery this week with the super cold winter we've been having here in colorado but otherwise shes still running great.

I took a few trips this summer in the rig locally here in colorado. Alta lakes in Telluride was awesome and found some super cool trails over that way. I also did some riding during hunting season up on Coulter Mesa and Buford areas here on the western slope. I ended up getting a deer during Archery season and did a lot of running in the old explorer. Overall a good summer!

No real mods were done to the truck but I finally did away with the mud terrains and slapped a set of BFG 30 x 10.5 x 15s on a set of old Jeep Renegade wheels for the winter. Hopefully I get some 33s on it in the springs.

View attachment 177077

 

[JungleSkunk]

Last question, sorry!

When you removed your running boards was there any noticeable marks or differences? if so how did you go about fixing them or covering them up? I want to remove mine but they seem to be molded to the body AND bolted to the undercarriage. If you bought a product to cover it up could you recommend it? Thanks!

The running boards left some mounting holes about every foot along the bottom of the body. I rolled on some raptor liner and it made it harder to see and sealed it up from the weather but there are still holes.

 

[BKennedy]

About 15 years ago I removed the plastics from the side of my Explorer. It left a lot of big holes down the side. I played around with plugs, but they looked like crap. I then got a roll of white step grip tape that I stuck down the side to cover up the holes. Its still there, and is still covering the holes. If you leave them open the rocker panels are going to rust out.

 

[awaympar]

What brand of tires are those?

 

[donalds]

Lots of snow is going to make for a great summer here in the Rockies. Harvey gap reservoir is full!View attachment 169046

Very nice truck ....this is what my 15 yo daughter wants to do to mine I'm so proud

 

[JungleSkunk]

What brand of tires are those?

The original set were Achilles Desert Hawk Xmts. Great trail tire and really aggressive in the mud but not great on the highway. I drove 90 miles a day for two summers on them for a total of 40k miles and had a stick the size of a broomstick go thru the sidewall during hunting season and decided it was time for some ATS and picked up a set of 5 brand new BFG Baja Champions ATs for $300 on a local swap group. The bfgs are great for everything except deep mud.

 

[JungleSkunk]

A little back road therapy today with some snow wheeling in Rifle Mountain Park. Hit the shooting range, Ice caves, and did a little snow wheeling this afternoon. I love Colorado.

 

[awaympar]

The original set were Achilles Desert Hawk Xmts. Great trail tire and really aggressive in the mud but not great on the highway. I drove 90 miles a day for two summers on them for a total of 40k miles and had a stick the size of a broomstick go thru the sidewall during hunting season and decided it was time for some ATS and picked up a set of 5 brand new BFG Baja Champions ATs for $300 on a local swap group. The bfgs are great for everything except deep mud.

What that's a good deal. Thinking of getting a set of Nitto Terra Grappler tires for my 2014 Ford Explorer XLT.

 

[JungleSkunk]

I picked up a set of the X-Bull Recovery tracks / boards off of ebay for $38 free shipping this week thought at that price I would try them out. I go solo wheeling a lot and its good insurance when you dont have a buddy to help push out of a mud hole.