'02-03 Exploder V8 IRS as tow/family vehicle?
Thread Starter
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,144
Likes: 3
From: Union, KY, USA
'02-03 Exploder V8 IRS as tow/family vehicle?
We are now hard on the trail of a new tow vehicle/SUV and I was wondering if anyone knew much about the latest 4x4 Ford Exploder with the IRS system and the modular 4.6L V8. After many months of shopping, this is where we have landed.
It is larger, rides and handles better, more refined and generally much better IMO than the earlier Exploders which I have a fair amount of experience with. We have test driven several and like them the best of everything we have checked out. The used Expeditions are too big, just didn't care for the Tahoe/Yukon that I thought we'd get. Didn't like the Durangos. We almost got a recent Grand Cherokee but they mechanically are too much of a Wild card although we liked them. Never before have I had more people (racers, freinds, racer/friend/car salesmen tell me not to buy something) than the Jeep. The prices are high vs. the lowish tow strength on the import SUVs compared to the domestics. Pickup trucks are simply not a workable option for the family right now.
They seem to be plentiful as short term lease returns but they sell from dealers pretty quickly. A friend of the family is a dealer who has offered to take us to the wholesale auction so we can pick one up there at about $3-4K under the retail price. This should give us a little extra insulation from the inevitable used car value depreciation when we are done with it.
Anyone got experience with this latest generation Exploder?
It is larger, rides and handles better, more refined and generally much better IMO than the earlier Exploders which I have a fair amount of experience with. We have test driven several and like them the best of everything we have checked out. The used Expeditions are too big, just didn't care for the Tahoe/Yukon that I thought we'd get. Didn't like the Durangos. We almost got a recent Grand Cherokee but they mechanically are too much of a Wild card although we liked them. Never before have I had more people (racers, freinds, racer/friend/car salesmen tell me not to buy something) than the Jeep. The prices are high vs. the lowish tow strength on the import SUVs compared to the domestics. Pickup trucks are simply not a workable option for the family right now.
They seem to be plentiful as short term lease returns but they sell from dealers pretty quickly. A friend of the family is a dealer who has offered to take us to the wholesale auction so we can pick one up there at about $3-4K under the retail price. This should give us a little extra insulation from the inevitable used car value depreciation when we are done with it.
Anyone got experience with this latest generation Exploder?
Trial User
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 435
Likes: 0
Re: '02-03 Exploder V8 IRS as tow/family vehicle? (vtecvoodoo)
Lee,
I have one and have done a couple of 600mile tows with it and I have been very happy. It was with my R on a very heavy open trailer, and I could cruise at 75-80 without any effort. I have the tow package and it handles very well. I think if you are going to pull an enclosed trailer and more often and longer, I would go for a bigger package.
Victor Penner
I have one and have done a couple of 600mile tows with it and I have been very happy. It was with my R on a very heavy open trailer, and I could cruise at 75-80 without any effort. I have the tow package and it handles very well. I think if you are going to pull an enclosed trailer and more often and longer, I would go for a bigger package.
Victor Penner
Thread Starter
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,144
Likes: 3
From: Union, KY, USA
Re: '02-03 Exploder V8 IRS as tow/family vehicle? (Victor Penner)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Victor Penner »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Lee,
I think if you are going to pull an enclosed trailer and more often and longer, I would go for a bigger package.
</TD></TR></TABLE>
It will just be a CRX on an open two axle trailer so fully loaded with a storage box on the front I don't expect more than about 4500 total lbs and nbo added aero drag like a box trailer would have. The tow rating is something like 7000 on the Exploder so I can't imagine that would be too much challenge for it.
I would think it is the same 4.6 as that F150, Ryan. It has about 240 hp and 280 ft/lbs of torque. I know the tow rating drops in half when the rear axle ratio goes from 3.73 to 3.55. If you've had tow troubles with an F150, I wonder if the rear axle number was lower.
I think if you are going to pull an enclosed trailer and more often and longer, I would go for a bigger package.
</TD></TR></TABLE>
It will just be a CRX on an open two axle trailer so fully loaded with a storage box on the front I don't expect more than about 4500 total lbs and nbo added aero drag like a box trailer would have. The tow rating is something like 7000 on the Exploder so I can't imagine that would be too much challenge for it.
I would think it is the same 4.6 as that F150, Ryan. It has about 240 hp and 280 ft/lbs of torque. I know the tow rating drops in half when the rear axle ratio goes from 3.73 to 3.55. If you've had tow troubles with an F150, I wonder if the rear axle number was lower.