Ford Escape e/x Build
- Thread starter OuterLimits
- Start date
OuterLimits
I control the horizontal and the vertical
James, Glad you are enjoying the build. I am pleased to have you join the ride.
My next installment will be about the fugitive at Oceano Dunes. The group leader drove a stock 2nd gen Explorer. Amongst all the beautifully built rigs in our group, I didn't expect much excitement from his "soccer mom" SUV.
i could't have been more wrong. This guy in his Ford mopped the floor with the dunes (If such a thing were possible). He made the rest of us look like little kids playing in a sand box.
I learned never to judge a driver, or his rig, by looks alone.
Cheers
P.S.- Completely diggin' your Crosstrek build. Sweet Ride! Looking forward to see where you go now with the Honda CRV.
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OuterLimits
I control the horizontal and the vertical
Nathan, Thank you for the compliment.
Tell your friend I picked it up from FTS in Taiwan. ;-)
http://www.fts4x4.com/en/products/?method=detail&aid=37
It was $220 for the skid and $190 shipping (4-5 days)
Payment is via PayPal.
They are a reputable company, but communications were sometimes an issue.
I have had the best luck using the two email addresses below.
I would suggest trying the gmail address first. If that doesn't work, try the other.
c/o: Windsor/Cindy
fts.sanhiu@gmail.com
fts.fts@msa.hinet.net
Because the email is returning to you from Taiwan, there is a really good chance your spam filters will kick it out.
Be sure to check your spam box.
I have ATT Uverse, which uses yahoo as their email provider. I was checking my email every day and not getting a reply from FTS.
Then I went online and logged directly onto the ATT/Yahoo account. Sure enough, there were all their emails sitting in the spam box.
I never even see the spam emails. Yahoo filters the spam then passes the rest on to ATT for downloading. Just a heads up.
Good luck
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OuterLimits
I control the horizontal and the vertical
The affordability of this little rig keeps the love alive. Stock parts are reasonably priced and prolifically available.
I loved my FJ60, but the mpg and parts cost was killing me. The Toyota dealers could get any OEM part, but did not stock them. Everything was an "order and wait".
I needed a new brake booster for the FJ60. A comparable part from Ford or Chevy would have been around $300. Toyota was asking $1200!!! Worse, as I was laying down some plastic to buy the booster, the parts guy was reading a memo saying the booster was going up to $1500!!!!!!! (this was 20 years ago).
OEM parts were available, but $$$. Aftermarket parts from the US were virtually non-existent at the time. Custom FJ40 parts were everywhere. FJ80s has lots of options. Want something different for the FJ60 and you had to look down under (And I do mean Australia this time). Early 80s FJ60s often came stock with tiny little side mirrors, better suited to a Corolla. Nice big Australian FJ60 mirrors were available from Specter at the nosebleed price of $1000 each!!!!
I loved my "Cruiser" dearly, but daily driver duties were not its forte. The Escape continues to earn its econo/expo moniker.
I loved my FJ60, but the mpg and parts cost was killing me. The Toyota dealers could get any OEM part, but did not stock them. Everything was an "order and wait".
I needed a new brake booster for the FJ60. A comparable part from Ford or Chevy would have been around $300. Toyota was asking $1200!!! Worse, as I was laying down some plastic to buy the booster, the parts guy was reading a memo saying the booster was going up to $1500!!!!!!! (this was 20 years ago).
OEM parts were available, but $$$. Aftermarket parts from the US were virtually non-existent at the time. Custom FJ40 parts were everywhere. FJ80s has lots of options. Want something different for the FJ60 and you had to look down under (And I do mean Australia this time). Early 80s FJ60s often came stock with tiny little side mirrors, better suited to a Corolla. Nice big Australian FJ60 mirrors were available from Specter at the nosebleed price of $1000 each!!!!
I loved my "Cruiser" dearly, but daily driver duties were not its forte. The Escape continues to earn its econo/expo moniker.
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The same reason we kept the patriot and got rid of the wrangler. The wrangler was going to be costing me a lot of money, it was paid off, etc, but started seeping oil between the engine and transmission, had 245,000 on the clock etc. Decided to trade it strait up for a new Nissan micra, that gets 6L/100km around town, and has a 100,000km warranty again. The jeep is still well within warranty, and with the stu coils, tires and some stock armor, it will go wherever we went in the wrangler....for much less money! can't argue with that!
Jsweezy
Explorer
Ha ha thanks. I learned a ton with the dog and really had a "camper" vision for it but my family needed more of a daily driver van at the moment so off it went. I got a new van that's been amazing in it's stock form but it needs 4wd still. As much as I loved the V10 the v8 gas mileage has me in love at the moment and honestly if I could fit my family and my crap in an escape you'd have me convinced to get one.
OuterLimits
I control the horizontal and the vertical
LOL! Family is the very reason I used to drive a Landcruiser. Right now I can see the "empty nester" light at the end of the tunnel.
Best of luck with the new van!
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ExplorerTom
Explorer
Awesome Escape. My wife has a 2012 Limited 3.0 AWD. And I used to have a 2006 Mariner "luxury".
I really liked the Mariner. I had it about 18 months. I drove it from CO to FL and back whiling sleeping in the back for the 4 nights I was on the road. Then I got a job for a year where I had to drive 67 miles each way. Racked up 42,000 miles that year. The Mariner never gave me a single issue. It was solid- no squeaks or rattles in the interior, suspension always felt composed, and had plenty of zip. I had the 3.0 with the AWD.
But I sold it in favor of my Expedition. If we were to go camping with the family, we'd have to also take my wife's Escape. The 2 kids PLUS the 2 medium sized dogs (or bigger) plus a tent and cooler just can't fit in one Escape sized vehicle. The Expedition isn't as fun to drive, but the increased size is nice.
Have you been over on escape-city? There's a couple offroad builds over there. I contemplated doing something to mine, but I also have my Explorer that is really more offroad worthy.
Love what you're doing here!
I really liked the Mariner. I had it about 18 months. I drove it from CO to FL and back whiling sleeping in the back for the 4 nights I was on the road. Then I got a job for a year where I had to drive 67 miles each way. Racked up 42,000 miles that year. The Mariner never gave me a single issue. It was solid- no squeaks or rattles in the interior, suspension always felt composed, and had plenty of zip. I had the 3.0 with the AWD.
But I sold it in favor of my Expedition. If we were to go camping with the family, we'd have to also take my wife's Escape. The 2 kids PLUS the 2 medium sized dogs (or bigger) plus a tent and cooler just can't fit in one Escape sized vehicle. The Expedition isn't as fun to drive, but the increased size is nice.
Have you been over on escape-city? There's a couple offroad builds over there. I contemplated doing something to mine, but I also have my Explorer that is really more offroad worthy.
Love what you're doing here!