hey guys watsup. first of all i wanted to say *ahem. i dont drive a Xterra, i drive the "other X", the one made from ford. the explorer, well i really drive a mercury mountaineer, which is equivalent. anyways, we're having a meet on may 20th and would love for you xterra guys to come out and join us in the sand? we'll be camping and just the usual jumpin the trucks for a video we'll be trying to get footage for.
Xterra Vs. eXplorers?


when. may 20th
where. Pismo Dunes, CA
contact- Arvin
email- themobbsquad@hotmail.com
please contact me for any additonal info.

I'm on the other side of the country so I won't be there but just wanted to say....Thats a nice lookin setup you got there...Must admit I don't know much about explorers or mountaineers but I would imagine you guys get alot of the same crap we do, ie: people assuming that because its an explorer (or Xterra) that it only can go to the mall and back...

yeh, my other choice was a xterra back in 2000. i always thought the "everything you need, nothing you dont" factor was cool.

i second that!

I thought the other Ford X was the eXcape? at least with it, they tried to style it like an Xterra

Anyways, cool Merc! I can't say I've ever seen a Mountianeer with a prerunner on it before.... very cool

what does that mean?

Too bad I can't make it out that weekend. I'd give you a run for it.

What mods do you guys do (Or just you...) to the Explorers to make them work off road?

For X's, there are mild SL/BL lifts, air lockers, SAS, skids, sliders, bumpers, etc...but not a lot of each.

?

TJ, the Explorer's suspension mods range from mild with extended coils and shocks with turned TTB's to full on I-Beam conversions and coil overs.

A lot of the suspension is the same or smiliar enough to the Ranger's that they are very compatable with a few modifications and clearance issues. The same goes for axles , engines and transmissions. Most of it is compatable. And since it's a Ford, there are plenty of options available.

There are many many companies that specialize in TTB or I-beam suspensions for Fords. The difference is if you want to keep the 4wd and the TTB or dump the 4wd and go I-beam and get more suspension travel. They deal with allignment issues just like we do but have years more time developing the best options.

Just like anything else the 4wd guys often convert to SAS and you can imagine it is a lot easier since you are converting from a TTB.

I'd think these guys that run the dunes and are jumping are mostly TTB or I-beam since there is more travel there than the newer A-arm Rangers/Explorers.

Ford is a HUGE sponsor of the Best in the Desert Series and offers contingency $$ so you see many more Fords than anything else in the desert and many more companies making products because of it. Plus there are a billion fords out there anyways.

AutoFab

JamesDuff

Camburg

This page has some of the nicest custom TTB Explorer work that I've ever seen. Truly amazing. Check it out.

http://www.desertrides.com -Explorer

Here's some pics from a shop here that builds NICE Explorers!

Mild!




WILD!
NASCAR Bush Series 500HP+ V6

http://bakermotorsports.net/7_open_pics.htm

McNeil is big in Explorers also:

http://www.mcneiloff-road.com/





Fiberwerx Also has full front and rear fiberglass conversions.

So in a nutshell: There is a poopload more available for the Explorer than the XTerra.