deweysmith
Full Access Members
Very. I’ve gushed about it before on different threads but I’ve gone into every 4x4 situation a little pessimistic, coming from a lifted Tacoma as my last 4x4, and every time I’ve been pleasantly surprised.
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To the original question of off road capability, I had a 2003 FX4. I now have a 2016 King Ranch. I have done hundreds (maybe a couple thousand) of miles in 4wd on Texas beaches and elsewhere. I have driven Jeeps, Ramchargers, Broncos, Suburbans, Blazers, International Scouts...
The Expedition does a great job as a 4wd compared to any of these, with one exception. If you start to dig in, you get high centered. You have to lift it. Spring spacer lifts are a few hundred bucks. Labor about the same. Get taller tires as well to get the control arms off the ground.
Get the 3.73 gears so it isn't a dog with taller tires. You will lose acceleration and towing ability, so start with better gears.
Love the 4-wheel independent suspension. Hate that the front end starts to rattle after you beat it up a little. I replaced parts in the front end of my 2003 over and over, and finally sold it because it rattled at the slightest bump. Same engineering in the 2016 as far as I can tell. Trying to be more gentle with this one.
What he said.Larger tires reduce towing and acceleration. Bigger gears regain that for you.
My 03 has been pretty good offroad. It has mainly been on forest roads in the mountains near big bear. I've had the dirt road disappear on me at 30mph and all it did was lose the front license plate. Left a pretty good gash in the road where the front tow hooks dug in. I've also taken it in the mud, up in azusa canyon. It did fairly well on getting stuck once. But over all it has been a capable offroader.