4X4 use?
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 234
Likes: 0
From: Moriches USA
4X4 use?
I'm just wondering how many folks actually use their Explorers off road? Besides snow or slippery road conditions does anyone? I know it's not an offroad vehichle by any means but their 4wd system stinks! I bought a 97 with control trac to use on the beach just on weekends. It's not a true 4wd I know but no better than AWD in my opinion. I've been stuck for the first time in 34years driving the beach with 1 wheel in the air spinning and no others helping? What gives? All my F250s, jeeps etc never did this. I know buying this truck was a mistake already so don't tell me that with all the inherent problems and repairs I've been through just to drive it maybe 500 miles a year?
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,263
Likes: 92
From: BC Canada
We have a 97, with the Control Trac, which we use it as a first response dive rescue vehicle and have 348000km on it, a large proportion of that is off road and in the river.
Used with prudence they work well, dont blame the tool for operator error..
We have only once been stuck, high and dry in mud sitting on the frame.
If you expect the vehicle to crawl with wheels high in the air you need lockers in the diffs.
My 2 cents.
Used with prudence they work well, dont blame the tool for operator error..
We have only once been stuck, high and dry in mud sitting on the frame.
If you expect the vehicle to crawl with wheels high in the air you need lockers in the diffs.
My 2 cents.
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,742
Likes: 2
From: UT
Which '97 control trac did you get, the 5.0 V8 with AWD or the 4.0 with 4A, 4H, and 4L positions? I'm not familiar with the 5.0 AWD version, but from some of what I've heard, your "one wheel in the air and stuck with no others helping" scenario doesn't seem that out of the question. In that case, don't make a generalization to all Explorers, just because yours doesn't have a locking transfer case.
If you have the selectable 4.0 version with a locking transfer case, you should at least get one front and one rear spinning like any other part time 4wd vehicle (assuming you had it in 4H or 4L). In that case, I would suspect you have something mechanically wrong in your transfer case.
As for does anyone use their Explorers off-road, if FTE will allow me to suggest, search for Explorer4x4.com and see what Rick and others have done with their Explorers.
If you have the selectable 4.0 version with a locking transfer case, you should at least get one front and one rear spinning like any other part time 4wd vehicle (assuming you had it in 4H or 4L). In that case, I would suspect you have something mechanically wrong in your transfer case.
As for does anyone use their Explorers off-road, if FTE will allow me to suggest, search for Explorer4x4.com and see what Rick and others have done with their Explorers.
