New vehicle for playing. Looking for input about my possibilities.

[bjm206]

You can modify an Excursion with pretty much the same options you have on an F250/350. The performance can also be about the same after modifications. The turning circle tends to be a little better than most same model year F250/350s because the wheelbase is usually shorter. That said you will find your self doing a lot of 3 and 4 point turns on switch backs. They tend to pick a lot of pinstripes and dents because many trails are about the same width as the vehicle. The inside is big but not particularly tall for its size. The roof cannot take much weight (200 Lbs) without reinforcing. In stock form they are not very good off pavement (little articulation and axle wrap). I have been very happy with my Excursion and have driven it all over North America without any mechanical issues (2005 V10). The fuel economy is about 10 mpg on pavement and about 7 mpg off.

 

[BIGVAN]

Did you ever look at a Ford van 4x4 conversion? You don’t really need a full camper van interior, you could keep the stock removable seats. :smiley_drive:

 

[78Bronco]

I owned a '98 Exploder and it was junk compared to every other Ford I have ever owned. Gutless, weak transmission, Firestone Wilderness fiasco and I let the ex-wife take it with her.

 

[Mountainhound]

IMHO if you are to go with a 250/350 I would stay away from the 5.4l it's a fine motor but not in a real truck. I had one in an 01 150 and in 04 when I went 1 ton. There was no way I was going to get one with that motor. I went with the distrusted 6.0l diesel and quit frankly I had no problems with it and almost bought another this summer after my 350 burnt, but financing proved to be a problem. I again will be looking this spring and if I find the right truck and it has the 6.0l I would no be afraid to buy it. Now that being said I would be careful about the 6.0l but not afraid to buy the right one. Anyway if going with a 250/350 I would buy diesel 7.3l or 6.0l or with the v10 leave the 5.4l where it belongs in the 150. Oh should also mention stay away from the 6.4l diesel rep worse than the 6.0l. If you can afford new I have heard good things about the 6.7l.

 

[socal4x]

You can modify an Excursion with pretty much the same options you have on an F250/350. The performance can also be about the same after modifications. The turning circle tends to be a little better than most same model year F250/350s because the wheelbase is usually shorter. That said you will find your self doing a lot of 3 and 4 point turns on switch backs. They tend to pick a lot of pinstripes and dents because many trails are about the same width as the vehicle. The inside is big but not particularly tall for its size. The roof cannot take much weight (200 Lbs) without reinforcing. In stock form they are not very good off pavement (little articulation and axle wrap). I have been very happy with my Excursion and have driven it all over North America without any mechanical issues (2005 V10). The fuel economy is about 10 mpg on pavement and about 7 mpg off.

Nice Excursion, I am strongly considering the Excursion and will be taking a few out for test drives to see what I like.

Again, thanks to everyone with their input, still narrowing the selection down but this is really helping.

 

[socal4x]

I owned a '98 Exploder and it was junk compared to every other Ford I have ever owned. Gutless, weak transmission, Firestone Wilderness fiasco and I let the ex-wife take it with her.

********, you let the ex-wife keep the Exploder you hated, nice.

 

[socal4x]

More research notes

So I went and made a comparison chart of the main vehicles I am considering and compared them to the fabled Toyota Land Cruiser just to see how it landed against what many consider the one of the best expo vehicles. Another note, all of the F series trucks are short bed models.

The items in red are the best in that group and the items in green are the second best in the group.



I am going to work up another chart about the costs of the vehicles and the estimated costs of the upgrades I would like to do in the first year of ownership just to see what kind of costs I am up against by vehicle.

I don't have paralysis by analysis, I am an impulse buyer by nature. But after going through a few vehicles and not really having what I want. With money being tight in this wonderful economy I am going to do my homework for the first time before buying my next DD/Expo. I have been reading so many posts and build threads my head may explode.

Thanks again to everyone for their great input.

 

[4x4junkie]

I don't recall seeing if you had an age cutoff... I'm gonna say the '91-'94 Explorer also.

There's tons of upgrades out there due to it's Ford Ranger lineage (gears for bigger tires, almost any locker or L/S diff you'd want for either end, the suspensions are extremely modifiable too).

The only thing I'd say to avoid if possible is the automatic transmissions, they can be problematic if abused (though an external cooler and proper gearing for your tires will help them a lot). The stickshifts are rugged as hell however.

You might check out www.explorerforum.com and www.therangerstation.com for some ideas if you haven't already.

 

[brianjwilson]

Another vote for 91-94 explorer. Solid rigs aside from the auto trans. Keep it geared low and cooled and it should be alright though. Ive owned a bunch of explorers and rangers (5 now?) , and they have been great. Recently I bought a super clean 94 explorer, though its a work vehicle that I keep out of state.
There are a ton of mods whether you want to keep the TTB suspension or bolt on a solid front axle. They are short and narrow, carry 4-6 people, lots of gear, square bodies easy to add armour onto, parts are cheap and easy to find.
If you want to build it up a bit, swap in a 5.0l v8 with the stronger auto from a later explorer and a 4406 manual transfer case.

I bought this 94 to keep at work (14 on/14 off schedule), but I would love to have it at home to make a trail truck to be honest.

 

[brianjwilson]

On another note, I also had an 05 sport track recently. I added a 3" body lift, 15x8, 33x12.50s, 4.88 gears, front and rear aussie lockers and sway bar disconnects. It kicked *** on the trails and always blew the jeep guys away. I kept a full height spare in a roof basket and gear, tools and everything else in back under a cover. It was comfortable with four adults. And with the swag bars disconnected the suspension was very compliant.

PS - don't leave the late model full sized broncos off of the list! I would love one of those too!

 

[rxinhed]

I drove a 2006 F350 Supercab shortbed V10 4x4 as a work truck for about a year. I really liked that truck and did not want to give it back when told I'd be getting a brand new Dakota (this truck IS a p.o.s.). My work is on construction and earthwork grading sites, often carrying heavy loads. I put about 10K miles on the F350 with the 'poor' V10 fuel mileage, but the little V6 Dakota returns less, 10 in town, about 14 highway.

My $0.02.