So my friend (who owns a 02 explorer) is pretty adamant that an explorer could out wheel the xj in any situation.... HAHA

What do you guys think? Let me hear your opinion on this.

 

No way in hell is an explorer gonna out wheel and xj haha there extremely rough to drive or ride in on trails, most can't even come close to flexing as well and not to mention the fact that they weigh alot more and tend to be way more sluggish on anything other than pavement. I'm not just making this stuff up either haha 4 of my friend own explorers and they all hate them, 2 of them have tried to follow me on trail when my jeep was stock and ended up having to pull both out from a small little mud puddle and on top of that I've even seem a built up one wheeling at some trails with the jeeps and it was slipping and struggling to get up hills the jeeps were doing without so much as spinning a tire. Final verdict.......... Not gonna happen lol

 

yeah there is no way they could ever to do unless there is a really bad driver in it and it still wouldnt happen.

 

Hahah there called exploders for a reason. Except they have a near bullet proof rear end that is bad ***. I need that rear end too! XJs will out preform them no matter what!

 

the only thing they have on our xjs is nicer interior and better rear axles.

 

I've owned two explorers and loved them!! One was 2wd the other was 4x4. Both preformed very well and both were bone stock. Yes they are heavy but like mentioned about they have the ford 8.8 rear end and either come with the 4.0 v6 or the 302 v8. I had the 4.0 in both and those engines were built extremely well. When I had to get rid of the last one it had over 127k miles and purred like it was brand new.

Though I'd never get rid of my xj id still love to have another explorer (2nd gen 95-01 4dr) they are a bit wider and longer than the xj.

 

You must be joking...

Edit: read that wrong lol never mind

 

Are they both stock? If the explorer has some kind of traction control/LSD, then you could get into trouble if your XJ is totally open. Apple to apple, and XJ would destroy.

 

02 explorers have independent suspension all around. They wouldn't be able to out wheel a 2wd xj. Though the 1st and 2nd gen explorers would give xjs a good run for their money ( comparing stock to stock or modified to modified)

 

I am in no way saying that explorers are better, but in previous years prior to '01 they were very well made suvs. Now the explorer is just a downsized expedition with all it's luxury amenities. Makes me sick to see what ford has done to such a fine machine.

 

Exploders do suck but sad to say it did beat out the xj for petersons 4x4 of the year in 1991.

 

Why..... I do not know

 

I like my brother's '98 Ford Explorer Sport. It's got the 4.0 V6. It has over 160,000 miles. Doesn't leak or burn any oil, and runs like it's brand new. My interior is nicer than his, though.

I have no idea how it would do off-road, he would murder me if I ever took it off the pavement.

 

my friend got a dui and court made him have a breathalizer in his explorer .haha

 

I agree that my friends explorer has a way better interior and ride quality, but that's pointless on the trails. and that's pretty much it, besides the rear end. But there are reasons why xj owners do an axle swap instead of just buying an explorer in the first place.... and I heard their transmissions are lucky to make it passed 100k. I'll just wait until his explorer gets out of the shop for a blown motor and show him up on the trails.