Ford Explorer??

[Green Machine]

What do you think.......Do you think a Ford Explorer would pull the green machine ok? Looking for a family type rig to pull the boat, as the truck gets a little small on long trips. I think the total weight is around 3500 pounds on a single axle trailer with brakes.

If so, anybody have one for sale. Must be 4X4 and preferred lower to mid 90's body style. Must be reliable. Thanks

Green Machine

[Silver Hilton]

I've got an explorer, V6. My boat is 19 ft, I believe about 2500 lbs loaded with trailer.

I think the exploder is a bit small for the task. I get around, but I'm poking up some hills. I also have to be careful about going down long steep hills - at least once the brakes have gotten glazed. My mechanic tells me that the transmission isn't really robust enough to handle a lot of gearing down for engine braking. I do so anyway, but expect shorter life as a result.

I can get up a 10% grade at 40 mph, but that's floored.

If your boat is much bigger, the explorer is probably a bit light. Maybe a suburban or an Expedition would be better.

[Hogmaster]

Hmmmm.

I wonder why Redbull calls his the "Exploder!"

:shocked: :shocked: :shocked:

3500 pounds = V8 with a heavy duty tranny...

[lost_sailor]

I can testify that it ('93, V-6) tows better than a Dodge Caravan with the 3.3 liter V6, and even better than the '77 Datsun pickup with the 2 liter 4-banger!

134,000 miles and going and going and going, well I have some 4WD issue right now, like a U-joint or something (CV joint? I don't know ... what's under there? )

[Green Machine]

Well, I guess I was hoping for the best of both worlds. It would be a daily driver for my wife, so the expedition would probably be over-kill for the mileage. We would probably only tow with it on the freeway, like to bouy 10, where we would take more gear and the dog. (Can't forget the dog!!) I guess we will keep thinking. Thanks.

Green Machine

[Redbull]

Very happy with my "Exploder." I have 1999 V-8 model with the full time AWD, 16 inch wheels, beefier brakes, tranny cooler etc.

Can't complain about the mileage either - probably 16mpg on average (not towing) per tank.

Lots of car for the $ and lots to choose from.

my .02

[1pump]

An Explorer is just a Ranger with a different body. Same chassis. And if you're going with one that old, it's gonna be hard to find a low miler.
The later ('95 and up) are a big improvement over the earlier models. And the E4OD trannies can't take much towing. The only way they'll live is if you use the OD lockout when you're towing.

[WaterDog]

Make sure it has the trailer tow package which included aux tranny cooler and 4.10 rear end. I think you would also want trailer brakes if you don’t already have them. Mid – 90’s explorer’s do not have HD brakes. We had a 93 and have an 01 with the V6. For short trips it would probably be OK. Long trips I don’t think you’d be happy. Otherwise get a HD truck and you never have to worry about how much you can tow.

[Silver Hilton]

1pump,

I have a '99 exploder, and use the OD lockout on hills, but turn it off on the flat, on the freeway, for example. Does the lockout make any difference when you're in lower gears anyway, due to traveling at lower speeds (30mph)? Is going at freeway speeds on the flat in OD killing it, if so, why?

I have the trailering package, if that makes any difference.

[1pump]

Hey SH,
All you're doing when you hit the lockout is turning your 4-speed trans into a 3-speed.
Your trans shouldn't go into OD until about 35 mph, depending on your gearing and the tranny's ECM (electronic control module). I lock out the OD on my Bronco anytime I'm not on the freeway because my version of the E4OD only has one clutch on the OD, and at 40mph it lugs along at about 1200 rpm with the torque converter locked up in OD and puts more stress on it. But my Bronco is also geared high- 3.55. And the 31" tires make it worse. The lockout will make it shift less frequently, saving a lot of wear and tear.
Freeway speeds on the flat are what the E4OD is designed for. The main purpose of the lockout is to prevent "hunt"- excessive downshifting and upshifting caused by towing a heavy load. My little boat doesn't cause my trans to hunt. So I never lock it out on the freeway. The biggest benefit (for me) is locking it out for speeds between 35-50 mph, preventing premature upshifts and excessive downshifts.

[Silver Hilton]

Thanks 1pump, that is a much clearer answer than I have been able to get before.

Maybe you can answer another tranny question. I have a hill that next to my house that I have to go down to get the freeway. 10% grade, about 3/4 mile long. If I gear down into 2nd when going down the hill to save my brakes, will that length of hill degrade the transmission? Will changing fluid more often, or will any other maintenance help?

[1pump]

SH,

If you do it every day, and especially while towing, you will shorten the life of the tranny. I wouldn't think once in a while is any big deal, but it sounds like a regular occurence if the hill is by your house. 3/4 of a mile might not be long enough for the trans to get hot, though.
Automatics aren't really that good for engine braking anyway, which is one of many reasons why you don't see them in big trucks. Not to mention modern brakes with semi-metallic pads last a long, long time. I usually get 70K miles out of a set of good front pads, and the only reason I replace them even then is because the rotors warp (a common Ford problem). A simple brake job runs maybe $150-200, while a toasted E4OD will run ten times that. Or more, if you get shafted by AAMCO. Oops, did I type that out loud? :shocked:
And if you have a problem with brakes getting hot under severe use, you might want to switch to a non-metallic pad. They don't last as long, but they don't heat up and cook your rotors and/or calipers.

[ 01-10-2003, 10:04 PM: Message edited by: 1pump ]

[Silver Hilton]

When I do it, it's for approximately a minute, before the engine and tranny are even really warm. I'm also riding the brakes a bit as well. The boat goes out in that direction about 15 times a year. I can't simply ride the brakes down the hill. Did it once, and could barely stop at the bottom of the hill, due the brakes being glazed up.

Oh, well, I'm resigned to the tranny giving out. Hope I have a good year, and can get a pickup.

If you have any other thoughts, I'm all ears.

[1pump]

Wow, that must be one helluva hill. If you could barely stop, it's because of brake fade (due to heat) not because of glazing. Glaze just makes unpleasant noise. It sounds like your Exploder doesn't have the 4-wheel disc brake option.
At 15 times a year I'd downshift and live with it. Or get trailer brakes. And maybe some heavy-duty boots so you can do a Flintstone stop. :tongue:

[Silver Hilton]

Yup, it's a big one. My poor little exploder huffs and puffs to get up it.

I shoulda got the trailer brakes. Would have been 450 bucks at time of purchase, got quoted 950 bucks since. Oh, well.

Thanks for the advice.

[verysweepy]

I have a 93 xlt explorer and love it, have had it for three years now with 110,000 and still running strong. One of the down falls of the earlier model explorers are the A4LD tranny, they are notorious for going out. Try this web site http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/index.php

Its a web community like IFISH but for explorer owners with a bunch of diffrent discussin boards, if you have any questions about any year or model explorer you'll find the answer there.

[bigshark]

GreenMachine

I'm not a car buff but have an opinion. I have had 5 explorers and 1 expedition since 1991. We still have a 1991 eddy bauer. The others were all leased by the company. You can make an explorer work if you go with a V8 and have the lower axle ratio that comes with a tow package. As an FYI the heads on pre 93 explorers have a engine-head problem. We had to have ours replaced and they usually go out at about 75K. The expedition actually gets about the same milage as the V8 explorer so I don't think its an overkill. Its how much room do you want IMHO. Good Luck