New to the Explorer side of this forum but have been in the Superduty forum for many years.

Looking to make a few modifications and some searching didn't turn up anything useful (not saying it's not out there, search isn't always very intelligent in the forums). Seems that upgrades and mods may not be as readily available for the Explorer or it's just a different crowd but I don't like to leave anything stock.

Tomorrow we take delivery of a 2017 XLT V6 N/A w/sport appearance pkg. It had 99% of what we wanted. The one thing it doesn't include is a 115v outlet so right away I'm wondering if I found a used unit on Ebay will it plug right into the factory harness? What about the rear climate controls (that are likely to be included if I find that panel) - can those simply be plugged in and operate the rear heat/AC? What about the front 360-degree camera? Can I simply purchase a grille with the camera hole, install a camera and plug it in and go or is there a lot more to it? What about the "adaptive" cruise control? I think that needs sensors along the front bumper but can that be installed and plugged in?

Anyone use a programmer to help wake up the V6 a little?

Hoping a few guys have done these mods over the last few years and can point me to a thread or offer up some tips!

Thanks guys,
Randy

 

do you have the twin turbo ecoboost or the N/A engine ?

I looked into tuning the 13 sport, but it's quite quick enough and QUITE a handful on full power 1to2 and 2to3 shifts, so chose not to.

 

V-6 N/A, edited the post to reflect, thanks. I am not looking for speed demon,
it's just a V-6 but was looking for opinions if anyone did it.

 

Crammed a deer thru the radiator of ours, 4300$ modification.

 

 

OUCH ! and that's a great color too !

 

Ouch!! Yeah, I hope to not be making that mod! Hope everyone is ok!
On another note I have a friend who put a deer through the front of hers as well. Airbag deployed.

 

Thanks, its a police interceptor model

No air bag deployment, everybody ok.

 

I finally found a complaint about the 2017 Ex - the backup lights are grossly underwhelming, lol!!

I'm considering aftermarket LED bulbs and looking for feedback if anyone has done this?

We have done the typical add-on accessories already - mud flaps, weathertech floor mats for all three rows, Husky cargo area mats, weathertech window visors and I had a buddy tint the windows.

Now those underwhelming reverse lights are just about useless if I have to keep the windows up while backing! Yes, it has a reverse camera but even that is VERY grainy at night - much moreso than the 2009 T&C we just replaced!

 

I got these for my jeep and they WORK !!!!
Bet they have some for the Explorer too..

First, time I backed into the garage I slammed on the brakes they lit the side wall up so much I thought something new was there...

 

I also got some LED reverse lights and installed them since this post. They are definitely much more "white" I should have taken a pic when I had one in each light for comparison. While they are definitely brighter they are still not enough. Maybe it's my old age/vision, lol!

I installed the 2x3 LEDS in the rear bumper of my F350 and tied it into the upfitter switches and they work great but I'm not cutting the bumper on the EX. There are reflectors on the lower portion of the bumper that I wondered if I could find LED strips to replace those. I know they wouldn't be a match for the exact shape, I can 3D print something for that.

 

I will have to get some pictures when it's light out but I have made a few mods to my 13. I added a brushguard with a pair of 130w KC Dayligher spot beam and a 20" combo-beam LED bar, I custom cut the switches into the dash. I installed a Yakamia Load Warrior roof rack using OEM crossbars for our road trips. And I have purchased a Traxda lift kit but have not installed it yet. I am trying to find what size tires I can run after the lift and how hard it is to recalibrate the speedometer.

I haven't decided how to solve the backup light issue yet. I think mounting lights on the roof rack would be too bright/distracting in parking lots. I had a set that mounted to the hitch on my Bronco but I don't know if they could mount on the Explorers hitch.

 

Here are a couple of pictures