Ok, I have a replacement on its way for the exploder (To be revealed later), but since I have invested a grand in the explorer in the last few weeks, and it is paid for. Not to mention running and driving great for a change. I feel like keeping it. I want to turn it into a rig for dog trialing and hunting. Me and my hunting buddy have been brainstorming, but I want you input.

Firt off, I want bigger tires and new rims, I am thinking 32's and Black nascar type wheels (The fake plastic chrome covered 15" wheels are beyond ever looking good again).

Then I thinking about taking the plastic off the whole car and fixing any rust issues and painting it OD green, just for S&G (I pulled off the rocker moldings this weekend to check for rust and it is surprisingly clean)

After that, new front and rear bumpers, The Front will be a HD bumper with receiver weldment and a place to clean birds, the rear will be a 1997 mountaineer bumper with reverse facing lights mounted in the reflector holes for backing up in the dark. same bumper as this:



Then I am thinking of a ammo and hunting drawer mounted on grant slides on the floor of the rear cargo area (12" high maximum) then I can put two dog crates above this.

A roof mounted gun rack (Mounted inside of course)

A roof rack for a full size spare that is out of the way.

Mount the KC daylighters that I've had in my tool box for the last 6 years on the front bumper, not for anything more than the cool factor since I hunt in daylight. But hey my buddies a duck hunter maybe he'll borrow it sometime and need light for his decoys.

C.B. With Weather Radio, not necessarily for safety or necessity, but because I like that stuff an that seems right.

That is about all we've come up with so far. I am welcome to ideas.

Here is the truck in question:




Now it has 4.10's with open diffs and that is going to have to stay, as I just don't feel like digging deep into it. that is going to be the weak point, but I'll live.

~HJ

 

That would be cool!

 

i think its a good idea, the expo will look good

 

Get you a HD roof rack. They look awesome on there. I would love to have a built explorer in that body style.

 

yeah, the HD roof rack will look awesome. Post pics as you go along! It'll look better than my dad's explorer XLT, and the explorer XLTs are pretty good...

 

I am not too much of a rack guy, but I would like a full size spare and I can’t think of a better way to stow it out of the way. My hunting buddy is a Fabricator here at Terex so he will help me with the front bumper and possibly the rack.

~HJ

 

If you do 32"s hope you do small lift or have stiff suspension. If your going through trails ya may want to think of doing a small lift anyway with a TorsionTwist and warrior shackles or add-a-leaf, that'd give ya 1 1/2-2inch.

 

Huh! Thats why I picked 32's. Figured I could do that without a lift, like a ranger. I guess I'll stick with 31's then.


~HJ

 

You could but your risking the rubbing.

 

wrap it in camo like Christian's super duty.... it would look bad ***

 

WAAAAAYYYYYY too much money for a $1500 explorer. Plus I am a upland game bird hunter, not a duck hunter so camo would be pointless. I just think OD Green would look badass and I can paint it myself, but it probably will stay white for a while.

~HJ

 

If you really want to run 32's just throw a BL on it. It's not expensive.

 

yeah i figured the camo would be pointless... i pictured it camo'ed with the white/grey camo pattern

 

Not much of a bodylift fan. If I wanted it lifted I’d go superlift, but I don’t care to spend that much money on a $1500 explorer. At most I would crank the torsion bars and maybe do a shackle lift (If that’s possible with an explorer, can't remember how the shackles are mounted).

~HJ