Where I'm at with my explorer! Help :)

[Palmer7]

The names Matt I have a 1993 ford explorer limited edition that has been passed down from my grandpa. I have had the explorer for almost a year and then had the crazy idea to buy a 2003 mustang not even a month ago and was willing to sell my explorer... What was I thinking??? . SO! after driving this low to the ground rice grinder for about 3 weeks I realize I am in love with my explorer . So now to the point here I am back to my pretty much stock ford explorer and I want some advise on getting this thing lifted to do some off roading/crawling with some friends and still have it be somewhat of a daily driver. I have been researching non-stop for about 3 days now on different types of lifts and all kinds of things that I am able to do to this car and also have been scowering this forum and taking ideas and piecing them together and really trying to come up with a ultimate lift kit for my person. I have in the range about $3000 to spend which I found is not a ton for lifting my car how I want it. But the thing that has really stopped my in my tracks is WHERE TO BEGIN...:roll:
SOOOOOOO. I was wondering if anyone can lend some advise in where I need to be I can send pictures of my vehicle and even give you a little bit of info of where I am with the knowledge I have gained from my 3 day extravaganza.
ANY help would be better than no help at all and also I have very little mechanical history but I have learned a lot from you guys already so I will try and understand anything you point out to me.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

 

[Albino 94LTD]

I have in the range about $3000 to spend which I found is not a ton for lifting my car how I want it.

So, you already have an idea of what you want,,,do tell and we'll try to help you get there

 

[Baddecision93]

Post exactly what you're aiming to do. It doesn't seem like a lot when you start looking at high dollar parts but it's definitely doable!

I'm at $2800 and that included $575 in body panels and a few minor repairs. That got me lifted 4" in the front as well as 5.5" in the rear.

 

[1Aauto]

welcome to the site.

 

[Sams01XplrSprt]

welcome

 

[Palmer7]

Thank you all for the posts! well to start out I have always had a certain height set in mind I would love to hit at least 6" lift right off and I can see that is pretty spendy for that suspension kit and trying to maybe hit 34'-35' tires trying to keep my 15' wheels. If I have no idea what I am talking about atm please tell me any information just helps me in the future.

Here it is..

 

[Baddecision93]

Pretty clean. I like all the little touches on the limited

Bear in mind that 6" of lift brings a lot more expensive problems than say, 4" of lift.
I may seem to have a bias but I did a lot of research before deciding on a lift amount to go with. Not only is 6" a lot more expensive but at that point you have to get your driveshaft lengthened ($200) and if you ever plan on flexing it you have to order their special extended brake lines (at about $150). With 4" of lift you can get away getting Superduty brakeline for the front and it gives you the extra couple inches you need to flex a little.

If you price out tires too they get to be a lot more expensive at 35". My advice? Get a 4" lift and some 33" tires. There may be a little bit of fender trimming needed but maybe not. But that's plenty tall and you'll save a lot of money that you can throw into other mods.

If you're ok with paying for quality you can get a really top notch 4" kit for still quite a bit less than an ok 6" kit.

That's my two cents at least.

 

[corkey]

5 1/2 & 6” 4WD Stage 3 Suspension Systems for Bronco II, Ranger & Explorer

 

[corkey]

oh yeah, link

http://www.jamesduff.com/newproducts/new_bronco2.asp

 

[Albino 94LTD]

5 1/2 & 6” 4WD Stage 3 Suspension Systems for Bronco II, Ranger & Explorer

There you go!

Top shelf stuff right there!

 

[Turdle]

Going against the "lift " idea and more toward actual wheeling-

32" tires, trimming, winch and gears. This should fit your budget.

 

[JDraper]

As soon as you go to larger tires, you're going to have to re-gear the axles as well as lifting the vehicle. Add that into the cost of whatever you want to do. Also a 5.5" lift can fit 33's with no trimming. I had that setup on my '94, but I did re-gear to 4.56's. Without the re gear, the truck will be a complete dog and you'll burn up your transmission quickly.

 

[Palmer7]

Baddecision93: I see what your saying here and I have looked at some 4" kits because I was thinking of getting one just so start off small then add from there. I will send a link to the kit later when I get off work and I would like you to look at it. I found it on roughcountry.com so you might be able to find it also.

Corkey: this kit looks sickkkkkk but I have no idea how to install myself and I'm guessing that would be a lot of cash too throw down for someone to install it. And to add from baddecision and what jdraper said it sounds like along with 35' tires also I would need new gears and to lengthen my driveshaft. If I'm wrong please correct me but I'm taking little bits off all these posts and seeing where I come out. Awesome kit tho I would like too shoot for something like that if not now maybe in the near future.

Jdraper: how much would new gears run me when I get some new tires? And does it change what type of gears I need with different sizes like 33' and 35' or is there a range of tire sizes for a certain gear?

Here is that link too the 4" lift I found http://www.roughcountry.com/suspension/4wd-ford/ranger_83-97_4.html

Sorry if this is a messy post btw on my phone trying to do this at work haha.

Thank you all for this information! Keep it coming!

 

[Palmer7]

O yea also, I know there is skeptics on body lifts but what if I got a 4" suspension and a like 2" body? Comments?

 

[Baddecision93]

Well the 4" Rough Country is the kit I have on now.

It's pretty common knowledge that it doesn't stand up to hardcore wheeling. The brackets are just too thin and the passenger axle pivot bracket has a little knuckle that rests directly over the differential that has a tendency to punch holes in it when you wheel really hard.

That being said I bought it anyway. The price is really, really good and my truck is like 90% on-road.

If you're worried about installation though all the kits are going to be a little tough. When you get over about 2" of lift you start to getting into drop brackets and those are the hardest part of putting a lift on (mostly getting the old ones off).

 

[JDraper]

Baddecision93: I see what your saying here and I have looked at some 4" kits because I was thinking of getting one just so start off small then add from there. I will send a link to the kit later when I get off work and I would like you to look at it. I found it on roughcountry.com so you might be able to find it also.

Corkey: this kit looks sickkkkkk but I have no idea how to install myself and I'm guessing that would be a lot of cash too throw down for someone to install it. And to add from baddecision and what jdraper said it sounds like along with 35' tires also I would need new gears and to lengthen my driveshaft. If I'm wrong please correct me but I'm taking little bits off all these posts and seeing where I come out. Awesome kit tho I would like too shoot for something like that if not now maybe in the near future.

Jdraper: how much would new gears run me when I get some new tires? And does it change what type of gears I need with different sizes like 33' and 35' or is there a range of tire sizes for a certain gear?

Here is that link too the 4" lift I found http://www.roughcountry.com/suspension/4wd-ford/ranger_83-97_4.html

Sorry if this is a messy post btw on my phone trying to do this at work haha.

Thank you all for this information! Keep it coming!

I ran 33 x 12.5's on my '94 with a 5.5" lift, no driveshaft extension and stock rims. I had 4.56 gears and my rpms were comparable to a stock explorer's. If you go to 35's, I would recommend 4.88 or 5.12 gears.

Gears run about $200 per axle to buy, and installation could easily be another $250-$500 per axle, depending upon who does it.

 

[Albino 94LTD]

OK,I think you need to answer some questions. Not only for us but for yourself

Is this your only vehicle/Daily driver?

How many street miles do you drive per week?

Have you ever been offroading before?

If you go offroad, where do you think you'll go? Tillamook (tight, muddy and tree's) or open shrub steppe high desert?

Are you a camper (do you like to camp in campgrounds and or dispersed (deep woods)). I ask because we tend to have wheelin weekends up here in Washington


Now here are some other tidbits of information to consider.

You can't run 35" tires without trimming something. No matter how high you go, they WILL rub on your Limited air dam and fenders, you will need to trim something.

35" tires are really hard on TTB wheel bearings. The bearings are really close together and tires that big, put an exceptional amount of stress on them. If you do run 35's you should be checking your bearings every month or two of moderate use.

The widest tires you should safely put on your stock rims are 10.5" wide. 11.5's are pushing it and 12.5's would be considered unsafe because the tread will roll over the sidewall when cornering and your handling would feel like you have a flat tire, very loose and all over the road.

A lifted rig will get much worse fuel economy. You'll loose about .5mpg for every 2" of lift. So if you are adamant about 6" of lift, there goes 3mpg for both city and highway.

You can run 3.73 gears with 33" tires. Acceleration will be much slower, City MPG's will go down another 1-2mpg. Wheeling will be fine unless you need very precise control of your traction. To get that level of control, you will need to change the gear ratio in BOTH differentials, at least back to the stock final dive ratio. For 33's, that would be between 4.10 and 4.56 (closer to 4.56).

As Jeff said you're looking at $1000, $1500 to re-gear and I strongly recommend having a professional do it.

For serious rock crawling you'll hear about guys installing 'doublers' (2 transfer cases to get a double low gear), really big bucks there.

Driveshaft, probably fine stock length unless you are flexing a lot during your offroad adventures. You'll know if it falls out of the slip joint.

Lastly, since you have no idea how to install this stuff yourself, I suggest you do a LOT of reading here on the board. There are THOUSANDS of lifted X's and almost as many methods/solutions.

Good luck and we are here to help but we want to see that you are researching things yourself.

When the time comes, call out. There are some very experienced guys just up the road from you. WhiteTrashFab (Ben, went SAS D44 now going D60) in Tenino, JRGaylor in Onalaska, AbeLincoln (Forest) near Mt Rainier and others I'm sure I forgot to mention.

Research, do it right the first time.

 

[Palmer7]

Albino 94LTD:

Yea this is my daily driver once I sell my mustang so I'm guessing I shouldn't get too crazy so it can still be a safe street driver.

I'm guessing I drive about 100 street miles a week right now but at times it can get too about 180-200 a week.

I have been offroading before nothing serious tho a little browns camp action and that's what made me want to do all this.

Yea tillamook would probably be a main zone for me.

I love camping been doing it all my life with my family. I would deff be interesting in some wheeling weekends.

I'm not incredibly concerned about gasmilage but that's good too know that it will affect my gas mileage.

On the lifting topic when I was originally looking for a quick lift and I didn't really care what I got I went to leschwab and they gave me a qoute on their lift kit they do and that's a 5"rear 4" front with tires and wheels I don't know the specs of the tires and wheels ( I can get those too you later) but they wanted too charge me like $2650 I'm pretty sure. I couldn't find any threads about people talking about their lift so I am pretty skeptical about it. But maybe it's the way I should go to start out and also some new gears? I'm no longer trying to shoot for a 6" to start because it seems out of my reach at the moment. I'm thinking more my speed is either a 4" kit or a 5.5" kit. With some 33'/10.5 tires my stock wheels and 4.56 gears. This is something I have been researching a little more and the options seem almost endless.

I apologize for the messy post once again, at work haha.

Thank you for the information you provided for me Albino and I assure you I'm doing all the research I can on this. It's almost my second job now haha.

 

[Albino 94LTD]

OK, now we're getting somewhere.

Less Schwab sells the Tough Country lift. They're not really hard core components and have been reported to be a little stiff, probably intended more for 'show' than 'go' but will certainly make room for larger tires and get you on the trails.

About $1000 of that price is wheels and tires. I think they spec 31's with that set up.

About $500-$600 is the actual lift and the rest is labor.

With patience, you can find a 4" lift kit on Craigs List or here/other forums in the $300-$400 range depending on how complete it is. Maybe even cheaper.

Here is the thread of a friend in Kirkland that is installing the above pictured James Duff lift. You can do it if you research enough and prepare well. He does have the benefit of time since this isn't his only vehicle.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=307401

That will be a very drivable rig when complete and he did a LOT of research here before deciding what kit to go with.

You are right, options are endless. That's kind of the fun part about it. How many different ways can we get our rigs to a similar capability.

Paul, here on the board from Tacoma, has about 5-6" of lift, all suspension, by Duff 5.5" in front and Spring Over Axle in back in a Sport.

I have about 3.5" Duff suspension lift in front, 4" lift leaf pack and Spring Under Axle in back with shackles and 2" body lift on my 4 door Limited.

We both run 33's and are locked on both ends. The biggest difference in capability between us is break over angle. Being a shorter wheel base and all suspension lift helps him a little.

There is a point where your rig's capability can get you into situations where mistakes are exponentially more costly. A 4"-6" lift and 33's is right at that point, especially if/when you're locked. Know it and don't push your luck unless you don't mind dragging your rig out of the woods and/or leaving it and walking home.

Traction adders can be more valuable than lift, consider lockers could be in your future if you get hooked on offroading. Again, there are a lot of options and associated price ranges.

Budget at least $500 for recovery gear and other associated trail equipment.

Start with good strong pull/tow points front and rear, right and left. Get some straps and shackles, maybe a high lift jack or a winch, CB or Ham radio etc.

Here is another link to a list of suggested trail equipment; http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=62451&postcount=21

Above all, DON'T WHEEL ALONE!

 

[Baddecision93]

I would have to say, the Tough Country isn't much better than a Rough Country, from the research I've done.

Seems like high quality kits are James Duff and Skyjacker, but you'll pay for the quality.

I would also say Albino's info is spot on regarding cost. That being said you would be paying $1,150 for labor. However if this is your daily driver and you can't afford for it to be down a long time while you're learning it might be worth it.
But then again with all the EXF guys up your way maybe they could lend a hand and you could get an education?

I think your idea of 4 - 5" of lift, 33x10.5, and 4.56 gears is perfect. You've already reached an excellent point in the process which is setting realistic expectations. Too many people come in hard-headed thinking that it's going to be 35's and 6" of lift and nothing else and not realizing what all goes along with that.

Keep it up and keep everyone updated!