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I have come to a point where I will be needing to cross fields and sometimes sand with the Ex (also a lot of wet grass situations with mild slopes).
My Ex is 2WD. I am contemplating buying a third vehicle, but it has to be a 7 passenger also, that is 4WD. Everything I find that fits the bill (Expeditions, Sequioas, etc) that is in decent condition with less than 100K miles start at around $10K... My Ex is paid off. I have done SOOO much to it over the years. Engine parts replacement, Custom driveshaft rated for 7000 lbs rotational torque, true trac and 4:30 gears... the list goes on.
I am having a real hard time spending that kind of money on another vehicle when I "think" I could put less than half that into what I already own, love and trust and add 6" of lift, true 33" all terrain tires and maybe even a tune.
So... what would YOU do? Is it worth trying to make my 2WD Ex into something it may or may not be able to become? Is what I have described that I need it to do possible? Or should I just bite it and buy a 4WD?
I can afford to buy one, but MAN I DON'T WANT TO!
Thanks for any thoughts on the matter.
Oh yeah... my wife is a part of this also... she would rather I put the money into something I already own and KNOW about. She is leery (as am I) of the whole used car game.
David... thank you for the tip on the other member here. I will try to PM him, but I'm quite certain I can't do what those guys did to build it for the SEMA show!
I'd probably buy a beater 4WD EX and call it good. Yours looks too pretty to beat up in the wilds. Of course you have the best resource available right here to help you get the 2nd EX in shape.
Or you could just put 4WD in it for less then 5k and have a good to go Excursion.
That is an interesting idea...converting a 2wd to a 4wd. Is that really feasible, and how would one find all the donor parts? Not hijacking the thread but share the same desire to have a 4wd.
There is a guy who did it with a F250 awhile ago and posted the whole conversion. Basically he got a front axle and transfer case with front axle, replaced it on his, and some other things. One of the limitations would be you have to have a floor 4x4 shifter, but I think it would be worth it if you did a bunch of work to your Ex. I bet it wouldn't be hard and would lift a lot of limitations that one would have.
You already have the gearing and the locker, and your going to get stuck, sand is you enemy. Wet grass, hills and mud holes you will get through but sand I live a mile from the beach and am always out there, I'm running lockers front and rear, 35" tires tons of PSD mods and I still get stuck, Have to air down the tires and fill them when i'm back on the pavement. We have air filling stations here, so you can air up before you hit the highway. Maybe a air compressor mounted on the truck, so you can air up if needed or the 4wd swap which is easy, just need the donor truck.
Thanks again guys!
I had a long-time Ford friend show me where the front leaf springs and everything needed for conversion just basically "bolt-up" under the 2WD Ex.. I was amazed that all the holes and stuff are mostly there already.
I am leaning toward just getting another vehicle and leaving the dedicated Tow Rig alone at this point. Probably won't be another Ex though. Looking at Expys and possibly even Sequoia's. Thought about the 7 passenger Explorer, but after researching the "sealed transmission" and other crap that Ford did to it, I don't think so.
This is what I would get...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-E-Series-Van-xlt-350-super-duty-2000-E-350-4x4-Ford-Van-/161391703639?forcerrptr=true&hash=item2593b1f657&item=161391703639&pt=US_Cars_Trucks
08-12-2014, 08:00 PM
