High-riding Ford Explorer digs through the deepest mud and flies through the air.
This week’s “Muddy Monday” video comes to us from the CarWarz YouTube channel and it features a purpose-built Ford Explorer named “My Side Chick.” The footage is actually a compilation of clips of this mud-slinging sports utility vehicle from the entire 2018 mudding season, so the video is chock full high-flying, mudding fun from beginning to end.
The Machine
Sadly, there are no details on this mega mud truck, but it is clearly based on a second generation Ford Explorer; or at least the body is based on the 1995 through 2003 era of the popular SUV. As for everything under the body, there is a good chance that almost nothing came from a Ford factory.
Sitting a good six-feet off of the ground, this Explorer has a substantial chassis and suspension setup that allows it to dig through the deepest mud and fly through the air. Helping to make that possible is a huge set of tractor tires that are taller than most trucks, but they fit perfectly on this jacked-up SUV.
Finally, while we can’t see inside of the Explorer or under the hood, we can see a roll cage through the rear window opening and based on the roar, there is no question that this monstrous Ford SUV is powered by a big, built V8.
Getting’ Down and Dirty
During the course of this video, we watch as this Ford Explorermega mud truck shows of its abilities at a few different mud bogs. Since the footage was captured at different locations, the video shows more action than we usually get from hardcore mudding videos like this one.
The high-riding Ford takes on large, open mud bogs and narrower trenches alike, making short work of all of them. In some cases, the Explorer skims across the top and in other cases, it has to slowly dig itself out of the slop, but in every situation, “My Side Chick” conquers the elements.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
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