I have seen quite a few lifted Ex's nicely done might I add, but havent seen any video's on youtube (and the like) with Ex's on a trail or something more then driving over a mound of dirt. One video in particular showed the owner failed to get rear lockers

Anyone here take the Ex offroad? If so anything I should be aware of or to look out for?

 

No way! The Excursion it too heavy, I am afraid it'll pull me off the road on a side hill or hump. I trust my F-350 more, just my 2 cents.

 

I don't expect mine to ever see anything more severe than a slightly muddy two-track. IMO there are a couple of things that really preclude the Ex from being a capable off-roader and that is it's weight and shear physical size. If you go some place where you have wide open spaces or fairly solid footing you'll be good to go. Try hitting tight twisty trails and you better have a chain saw or stock in a body shop somewhere.


I would imagine the flaming will start shortly...

 

Yea that is what I thought, I bought the Ex to replace my 2004 Grand Cherokee WJ. Its ironic the WJ did everything well but tow, the Ex does everything but offroad lol.

 

I dont see why you would worry about getting flamed, both statements you said are 100% true. FYI when I did hit the trails I did have the machete for small tree..etc or ended up using tow ropes or bumps for larger trees. The trails I am used to going on would have to be widened by about 13"..

 

Not me personally, just in general. Nothing raises the hackles on some folks like when you point out the shortcomings of their favorite ride. Find a Hummer forum and tell someone that their Hummer is relatively mediocre off road and you'll see what I mean.

 

I know what you mean.. speaking of which one of my favorite video's on youtube is titled hummers suck lol

 

C'mon. It is great off road. Just keep it in the areas that it was designed for. If you have it set up as a mudder with giant tires, and strong axles, go for it. You can do like me, and set it up for overland Expedition where you avoid the holes and mud to get where you are going.

Just stock it makes a great hunting truck to get you there.

I have towed my 31 ft trailer up to 5 miles off road with it. (no dirt road either.) But only when it is dry. I'm changing things now to make it better off road.

It can be anything you want. Just depends on the bucks you want to spend and if you are willing to find out the limits of the truck. Yes, you could get stuck finding out, but you will never know until you do it. You will be suprised what the Excursion stock or not can do off road.

 

Oh c'mon, that is what these soccer mom rigs where meant for. Ya never know when you have to go offroad to get the team to their next game.

Tight places, that is why me have fold in mirrors. Yes it is not as small as some of the rigs off road, but think of all the extra fun you have by taking 8 people with ya to go there.


Granted, I haven't had it into some serious stuff like some of my other vehicles, but that is more because of where I live now doesn't have much for getting off road.

 

For those that think these trucks are no good offroad, you'd be surprised at just how capable they are.

I have a slightly lifted (W code springs up front) rig with 35" Kumho MT's and have been in mud holes up to my bumper and on trails with 2 ft+ rocks strewn along the whole trail. Yes, it can get tight sometimes and there is the occasional scraping and banging or the diffs, running boards and hitch , but if your going out with a competent group that can spot you through and/or have a saw or two to clear your way. these trucks are a blast to wheel.

The members of our club 'BackCountry4x4' are always impressed with the stuff I can get through. Plus having the biggest winch of the group comes in handy for doing recovery....

When I get the 4" lift added and the front Lock Rite locker installed, it will even better.

 

I think it's less of a matter of WHAT it can do and more of a matter of what we want to PUT it through

My all wheel drive Jeep 5.9 limited was rubicon rated, and would handle just about ANYTHING....
but I didn't take it where it could be damaged because it was my 'nice ride'
however ! I beat up my cj-8 scrambler !!!!

Just like a tool,
you get the right one for the job at hand -
yes lock grips will take off a nut, but ......

 

The very things people mentioned that say it doesn't make a good off roader are the exact things that does make it a great off road vehicle

Long wheel base (will go up stuff thats impossible for a short wheelbase vehicle)
solid front and rear axles
super low RPM torque (diesel)
wide track can keep you out of the jeep ruts...
its a 3/4 ton chassis

As JD just said above, it all depends on what u want to do with it..

 

Thanks for the input, it is definite motivation to look at the Ex for the offroad duties. I do wish I made a better decision on the two tires I replaced in December, should have picked wider tires but oh well. Thanks again guys..

 

Told ya so.

 

= = = = = =

This and several other "posts" like it fascinate me - as examples of the "generation gap". The fellow who started this "thread" raised a simple question, which invited people who are technically competent to help him out.

But so many of the younger people feel a need to "mouth off"; they have no embarssment at their inability and/or unwillingness to supply info. in an adult matter.

As soon as I see someone typing "lol" at the end of their sentence, I know EXACTLY what they are. Ego-centric kids who want desparately to be noticed.

Now, for some info. to help the original poster out.

We bought a EX with 4wd precisely because of its "off-road" capabilities. Our ranch has about a mile and a half of what could laughably be called a "cow trail" before we get to county-maintained roads. That's when it isn't raining or snowing.

When the weather turns sour, its long wheel-base, weight, and wide stance are a great help in getting thru.

Because we do not, unfortunately, have "limited slip" differentials, when we do feel "wheel-spin" a touch of brake "loads" the differentials or "tricks" them into TRUE four-wheel drive. Thanks to the EX's great weight, it squashes the snow, ice, or mud down enough for the tires to get a "bite", and we get thru where smaller, lighter vehicles could not.

I do not believe in "lifting" vehicles for off-road use. Judging from the type of kid who "lifts" a vehicle, I am satisfied they do this because they think it is "cool", and will help them get "noticed" by others of their "ilk".

The typical SUV has a high "roll center" or "high center of gravity" bone stock. The last thing you want to do, if you are going into unimproved areas, is make that "high roll center" worse.

One of the reasons why "lifting" dosn't accomplish anything in terms of the ability of any particular vehicle to slog thru unimproved trails, is that no matter how high you "raise" a vehicle like ours, the axles and differentials are unaffected, and thus subject to getting "hung up" on rocks. Since "off-roading" to me, assumes not necessarily LEVEL surfaces, I sure as HELL do not want to make my EX less capable by making it more likely to over-turn.

Obviously, there are specialized conditions that require specialized vehicles. For example, if I am going into VERY rocky areas with tight turns I would not recommend a large SUV for that kind of condition, "raised" or not. For that kind of driving, there are a number of ATV's that will go where other passenger vehicles, again, no matter how high you "raise" them, will not.

Perhaps I should type a "LOL" at the end of my comments, to please the younger folks ?