Will the 2022 or newer explorer hold up on the farm and dirt roads

[Mb3333]

Will a 2022 or newer explorer hold up on the farm and dirt roads

 

[2020FordRaptor]

Will a 2022 or newer explorer hold up on the farm and dirt roads

Yes. Wouldn’t be my first choice though.

 

[Chairborne Ranger]

I bought a new 2025 Explorer ST in January and reside on a rural Texas ranch so I think I can speak from experience in answer to your question. Our ranch is off of a dirt county road that is poorly maintained and can be a mess in rainy or winter weather. I have to negotiate a 2.3 mile stretch of this road to reach pavement and I've only seen worse roads in wartime Iraq. That being said since moving here in 2010 I've driven a 2010 Buick LaCrosse, 2013 Toyota Venza, and a 2019 Mazda CX-9 GT before getting the Explorer.

ALL of those previously mentioned FWD vehicles (with all season radials) navigated this terrain without difficulty and while I wish the ST had a higher profile tire on it, the 4WD paired with the Pirelli Scorpion tires is definitely more surefooted. Also, the Explorer has a significantly higher ground clearance than any of the other vehicles that I had.

My wife drives a pickup as do plenty of my neighbors but some of them have regular cars like a VW Golf or Nissan Sentra too and don't have any trouble. You might feel more confident driving some big tired 4-Runner or Bronco but unless your road is worse than mine you don't need that or AWD/4WD. Good luck with making your decision.

 

[Rick]

Our town is predominantly dirt roads including our own road. 50,000 miles on our 2020 ST and the only issue that could be releated to the roads would be rear shocks that leaked. Thing is that many people have had an issue with the leaky rear shocks even if they have never taken their Explorer offroad. In all honesty, I am very pleased with the ride quality and capability of the vehicle on dirt roads.

 

[Mb3333]

I bought a new 2025 Explorer ST in January and reside on a rural Texas ranch so I think I can speak from experience in answer to your question. Our ranch is off of a dirt county road that is poorly maintained and can be a mess in rainy or winter weather. I have to negotiate a 2.3 mile stretch of this road to reach pavement and I've only seen worse roads in wartime Iraq. That being said since moving here in 2010 I've driven a 2010 Buick LaCrosse, 2013 Toyota Venza, and a 2019 Mazda CX-9 GT before getting the Explorer.

ALL of those previously mentioned FWD vehicles (with all season radials) navigated this terrain without difficulty and while I wish the ST had a higher profile tire on it, the 4WD paired with the Pirelli Scorpion tires is definitely more surefooted. Also, the Explorer has a significantly higher ground clearance than any of the other vehicles that I had.

My wife drives a pickup as do plenty of my neighbors but some of them have regular cars like a VW Golf or Nissan Sentra too and don't have any trouble. You might feel more confident driving some big tired 4-Runner or Bronco but unless your road is worse than mine you don't need that or AWD/4WD. Good luck with making your decision.

Thank you, this helps tremendously!

 

[Mb3333]

Our town is predominantly dirt roads including our own road. 50,000 miles on our 2020 ST and the only issue that could be releated to the roads would be rear shocks that leaked. Thing is that many people have had an issue with the leaky rear shocks even if they have never taken their Explorer offroad. In all honesty, I am very pleased with the ride quality and capability of the vehicle on dirt roads.

Again, thank you! I really like the ride when I test drove it.

 

[Chairborne Ranger]

Again, thank you! I really like the ride when I test drove it.

I agree about the ride. I wanted to get a Platinum but they didn't have one with the 3.0 engine at the dealership but I did drive one and didn't think the ST ride was much different to be honest. The ST I bought had been special ordered then rejected by the original buyer and had sat on the lot since last August so they made me a good deal and I have not been disappointed so far.

 

[2020FordRaptor]

I don’t drive dirt roads or off road my ST (got a F150 Fx4 and Raptor if I want to do that), but I was very pleased with the way the ST handled some off road thrashing at the ST Experience.