Whats with the 1st Gen Explorers?

[Glamdring]

So, what's the deal? I've had my '92 XLT since '97. I didn't think much of it when I bought it, I bought it from the dealer that leased it to my dad, I figured I'm better off if I know the history.

Anyway, I let it lie after going back to school and not needing a high milegae car. Plus, I bought a Mercedes 300D turbo diesel. That's my mile eater. Now, I'm rehabbing the Ford. The thing is, these hard core off-roaders (which I'm not) seem to love this car. I've had people knock on my door and offer to buy it, pulling up in "lifted" Cherokees and so on. Then, after I got new tires, I'm driving down the street and some dude in a Cherokee is next to me giving me the "gangsta' 'nod". Also, at the dealer where I inquired about ball joints and part costs, the part guy was like, "you betta fix it and keep it" and so on.

I'm as serious a car enthusiast as I can afford to be. I love cars and love driving and exploring different designs and so on. I really can't figure out why people love these rigs. Here's my theory:

1.) Live rear axle and simple construction-easily modded.

2.) Pretty heavy duty construction, the whole "I-beam" USA SUV deal, engine over the beam, so on and so forth. I've crashed into two other cars and done some damage with no claims of my own, plus I've had my XLT in the air twice when I was screwing around. No major damage, so it is well built.

3.) Major cargo room. Fridges, washers and driers galore.

So-what am I missing. Please tell me why these cars are so the bomb. I love mine for my own idiosyncratric reasons-I want to know why off roaders love them.

Thanks,
-G.

 

[bipolarbob]

I don't know either...nothing exceptional about them, other than they are a nice truck and you don't see too many modded around.

 

[Crankcase]

Tidbits on the first Gen 91-94:

A. Easier to modify for offroading than 95+ explorers...

B. Has a great engine....tough as nails....The tranny on the other hand

C. It still looks like a TRUCK.....best styling still IMO....

D. Parts are getting cheaper for it as it gets older....

 

[jimbo74]

its tough.... lot beefier than the b2s and better options.... i htink they look better too.... much cleaner..... tried and trued suspension.... lots liek going to a d44, but the d35 is plenty strong... trust me.. ask rick how much i beat the crap out of my truck at thaven 02

 

[unclemeat]

Because people always ask why would you lift an Explorer? And I say because it gets me a little closer to heaven.

 

[GTO2050]

I own one of each....a 91 and a 96. The 91 is lighter and gets better fuel economy, the ride is rougher because of the live rear axle and IRS on the 96. The 91 turns 2200 RPM at 70MPH, the 96 turns close to 3000 at 70, hence the poorer fuel economy. If I had my druthers, I would trade them both for a clean 94 XLT with low miles.

 

[Carl D.]

Looks, styling , parts are reasonably priced, fairly reliable and easily modified. They also have more interior room than jeep cherokee and drive exceptionaly well off road when slightly-heavily modified.

 

[Robb]

Originally posted by GTO2050
I own one of each....a 91 and a 96. The 91 is lighter and gets better fuel economy, the ride is rougher because of the live rear axle and IRS on the 96.

Both of your Xs have solid rear axles. The only difference, in that regard, is your 96 has disc brakes back there.

 

[EBInterceptor]

I had a tow guy comment on how thick the front axle was on my '93. He was having trouble getting the chains around it when I was having it towed due to starter problems.

 

[dgibson]

I'd choke someone who put a chain around my axle. What was he thinking? I can't wait to put a solid axle under the front of mine. SAS, winch, and lockers and coming SOON, escpiecally after being stuck for 6 hours yesterday.

 

[GTO2050]

Originally posted by Robb
Both of your Xs have solid rear axles. The only difference, in that regard, is your 96 has disc brakes back there.

My bad..... the springs are different though, correct? Leaf versus coil? No I beam frame?

 

[EBInterceptor]

It was a chain with a big hook on the end to get it onto the flat bed. What's wrong with putting a chain on the axle? Snapping risk?

 

[Rhett]

Originally posted by GTO2050
My bad..... the springs are different though, correct? Leaf versus coil? No I beam frame?

The 96's have a frame just like the 1st gen trucks.
The 96's are the same in the rear as the 1st gen trucks;
simple leaf springs and solid axle.

The only difference is the front end...it's a lot different on your 96 and gives a much nicer ride than the 1st gen front end.

 

[Rhett]

Originally posted by Glamdring
So-what am I missing. Please tell me why these cars are so the bomb. I love mine for my own idiosyncratric reasons-I want to know why off roaders love them.

The 1st gens will be collectors items for all the reasons listed in this thread, and more.

 

[JETBLACK92XLT]

1st gen explorers helped kick off the SUV trend in the US, they look great and no aspect of styling or intutiveness is out of place on either the interior or exterior, its tough and can take a ton more than you think it can, its original, and with proper care can last a real long time...plus there are awesome sites like this you can join

 

[CodePoet]

I agree with everything everyone else has already said. I think the biggest/best part about the 1st gen is that it's still a truck at heart! The ranger (of similar suspension) and the explorer are very very similar. Also the TTB, is tried and true...I think I saw a F350 a year ago with the same style suspension...made me wonder if I could somehow swap them over. Real frame not that unibody crap, hella good engine, great torque curve...the manual tranny is pretty good (even though I just had to get a rebuilt put in...and now that rebuild <500 miles is leaking and at the garage, but I blame the people who worked on it not the tranny.), and it looks like a heller when lifted I also think that people more and more people in the offroad community have been seeing them , and their that their ablitites are really quite impressive even in their stock form. That's my opinion.

Later
CP

 

[Priest]

I agree with all that has been said above. Here is a good example. I was talking with a woman i met at a bar, we got to talking about cars and trucks, she knew her stuff (droool), and i said something about my truck. she asked what i had, i told her "an explorer" and she winced. she told me i had a glorified station wagon, not a truck. Then i told her it was a first gen and she changed her tune....wanted to go check it out. she was a jeeper, but even than can be forgiven sometimes.

-Matt

 

[jimbo74]

one of the members on here (Ryan is his real name) i think its aursol or something close has an X body on a f250 frame

 

[Ak LTD Xplorer]

i love my mom's 94..it's a good truck and i have ALOT of good memories in it!!..but the 95-up's are MUCH more refined..in some way's this is good..and in some it's bad..but first gen's are cool too!!

to me 91-01's are the true truck's..02-04's not so much

 

[jimbo74]

anything after 01 except the sports and sport tracs are cars with big tires