Apparently Expeditions suck offroad...

[Sierra Lima1470]

USA TODAY - http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2004-03-02-trucks_x.htm

Posted 3/2/2004 12:10 AM Updated 3/5/2004 1:47 PM

Careful if you take that SUV off-road
By James R. Healey, USA TODAY
The most popular sport-utility vehicles are the worst for true off-road driving, says a new ranking by Consumer Reports magazine.
The four-wheel-drive vehicles that handle tough off-roading best, not surprisingly, are those with specific equipment for off-roading, exceptional ground clearance, or both. The top-ranked Toyota Tacoma pickup, for instance, was equipped with a differential lock to prevent wheelspin as well as larger tires and special shock absorbers as part of Toyota's TRD off-road option.

Top off-roaders

Consumer Reports rates 14 four-wheel-drive vehicles, of 34 tested, true off-roaders. From the best down:
Toyota Tacoma TRD
Chevrolet Avalanche
Toyota Tundra
Toyota Land Cruiser
Land Rover Discovery
Toyota 4Runner
Lexus GX470
Dodge Ram
Land Rover Freelander
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Kia Sorento
Nissan Xterra
VW Touareg
Mitsubishi Montero

Worst

Weight, on-road design put Expedition at bottom:
Chevrolet TrailBlazer/GMC Envoy
Ford Explorer Sport Trac
Ford Explorer
Ford Expedition





The magazine tested 34 vehicles with four-wheel-drive (4x4) systems that included low-range gearing, which is intended for extreme off-road situations where a combination of high power and very low speed is necessary to avoid getting stuck.

The magazine's engineers picked the 4x4 vehicles they thought would truly handle off-road situations. That turned out to be 14 of the total. Those that scored poorly generally are known for their smooth on-road behavior. The suspension systems and chassis layouts that do so well on pavement hampered the vehicles on the magazine's challenging slope, strewn with boulders and smaller rocks embedded in concrete so the rocks are in the same place for each test.

Two of the worst, Ford Explorer and Chevrolet TrailBlazer, are the two best-selling SUVs in the USA. Ford Expedition, judged worst of any tested, is the second-best-selling full-size SUV, behind Chevy Tahoe. Ford spokesman Jon Harmon noted that Ford SUVs are top sellers "because they offer the best combination of all-around utility, both on- and off-road." Chevy spokesman Mike Stoller pointed to TrailBlazer's strong sales and said, "TrailBlazer performs well for what it was designed for — use in everyday life, including off-pavement needs."

Oh no!

 

[sngltrck1]

"Apparently Expeditions suck offroad..."

Then why is it so darn fun!

Seriously though ... wonder what year they were testing. (2004 posting)

1st gen's seem better suited than later years.

Also, most of us that offroad frequently are not running even close to stock.

 

[jacks3am]

how is an avalanche z71 better than a silverado z71?

 

[DR3W]

Exactally, these SUV's are basically the same in every way to the trucks. Just no bed. More or less haha

 

[Rockunlimited2]

Its realitive. I had a fullly modded Jeep Rubicon that was a moster off road, but was a pain to DD, a modded Expedition would do fine, heck the stock expedition gets the job done. If wheel that much, and you are getting your expedition stuck on a regular basis, you bought the wrong vehical. I don't regret trading in the Jeep for what I have now.

 

[Expeditionary]

put my expy up against ANY Discovery vehicle, or toyota ( i used to own a yota 4x4) and i bet you i make it through more... and then have to come back to pull em out!!!

 

[Rockunlimited2]

put my expy up against ANY Discovery vehicle, or toyota ( i used to own a yota 4x4) and i bet you i make it through more... and then have to come back to pull em out!!!

WWWOOOOOOHHHHHH there hoss, mabey in light/med mud, but lets not get nuts here. Does not matter what you do to an expy, it will not keep up with a jeep on tight trails and serious rocks. I ran my Rubicon on Hold Cross trail in CO and I promise you a fully modded expediton would not have made it up clevland rock. That being said I am not slamming the expedition, I just think you may have got a little wound up is all. Yotas are killer off road rigs when set up correctly (Spooled/atlas'ed/geared to heck). Again I am thinking of rocks/difficult trails.

 

[seeker]

The only off road i have done in my 2wd model is the Ga. forest service roads that are graveled and some dirt mountain roads in NC. Never had a problem and mine is stock as far as suspension. I cant see an expy doing rock crawling
but that isn't what i bought it for. Seems to me that the stock expy does what it was made for very well (move a lot of people and cargo). just my opinion.

 

[sngltrck1]

Just did Bull Road (trail 202) in the Bradshaw Mt.'s this weekend.

Certain sections are easily a 3.5 to 4 on the ratings and required 4-low
the entire length of trail.

Only other vehicle at the end of this road was a pair of quads!

I just love the look of utter surprise when they see that front end come
up and over the ridges ... it's like ... whuuuuut?????

 

[panda24619]

my uncle does that in his jeep. and your thinking o its jeep and it goes anywhere. no. it was stock with street tires and he was deep into glamis. the only other vehicles were a quad he was with and a few bikes that were shocked to see him out that far. i cant wait to see how far my rig can go at truckhaven.

 

[joethefordguy]

First of all, I don't get my off road info from "journalists", especially those working at USA Today. When I do read a "journalist", i seek out those who are employed by specialty publications.
having said that, the article is an excellent example of their ignorance. this author has one definition of "off-roading"; it appears he thinks the only offroading is the extreme, any terrain, any time, type. many of us don't do that. those vehicles are toys, built for fun. they're great at what they do, but i don't want to do that. I did all of that I ever wanted to in my youth, when i got paid for it. Now, I prefer "expedition" class (pardon the pun) off roading, wherein the goal is the destination, not the trip. when i encounter difficult terrain, i go around. i have no interest in breaking my truck on tough terrain, i want to get somewhere not limited by built up roads. AND, i have ONE truck, the same one i use for daily driving. the Ford Expedition, and many others, do a good job of providing reasonable off road ability for an affordable cost, with reasonable reliability. etc.

 

[Robert williamson]

I run my 01 stock and I go where I want to go now I dont rockcrawl or do the 9 foot deep mud hole but for running up and down the sand bars on the Arkansas river and muddy af dirt roads here in Kansas it does a great job. Still happy with my ex and the power is amazing for such a fat wide ride(355's gears)

 

[cmiles97]

Having had 2 Wranglers, 2 Tacomas, 1 4runner and 1 sequoia. The sequoia and this expy would be the worst as the trail got more difficult. Simply from a ground clearance, break over and entry angle standpoint as well as width of the vehicle and weight plus "stock" setup, the large SUVs are not great at "difficult" off roading without modification. They aren't meant to be. It's an apple to oranges comparison.

Why not take the same vehicles and compare towing large trailers or boats? It would be the same kind of unfair comparison in reverse.

 

[Dorzak]

I recall a thread a while back had an image of an Expedition acting as the equipment vehicle following a line of jeeps off road. May have gone around some sections but still followed the trail. I do not recall the mods.

EDIT: one thread but didn’t see exactly the picture I remember. - https://www.expeditionforum.com/thr...you-consider-your-4x4-expedition.33065/page-2

 

[jeff kushner]

SNOW was apparently in short supply for their test....but SNOW is what most SUV drivers who don't need the size, buy suvs in the first place! Who gives a crap about bashing your crap to death on a hill....lets see how much snow THEY can navigate?

I have driven both my '99 and my '03 Expys in 24" of virgin snow with zero modifications....no lowered air pressure, nothing. They were both monsters in 4lo! MONSTERS!

In fact, a Suburban tried to use my tracks to leave the community, got dreadfully stuck and when leaving, I had to drive around him, again on virgin snow....while he sat stuck with a half dozen folks trying to get him out.

Do most of us need to take our expensive trucks on boulder strewn fire roads? Nope....but they do need to handle snow......period!

jeff

 

[Adieu]

Kia Sorento on the good offroader list?

I call bull, this is a hatchet job marketing piece. Or maybe they let their favored sponsors send over lifted vehicles with LT muck tires, and put baldie summer P's on the intended victims

 

[cmiles97]

I do have say the 4runners are fine off roaders stock but they are designed to be. they are quite good on road too. I think they are the last mid or small sized SUV that is body on frame. Even the Jeep Grand Cherokee is a uni-body construction.

 

[ExplorerTom]

They placed an Avalanche 2nd? Stopped reading right there.

 

[craig sargood]

Guess that’s why I’m building mine the way I am.

 

[Jb14]

Always interesting when they test these vehicle's on street rubber. With my stock continental tires not so good, then put on 33"Toyo A/T and wow almost went anywhere but issues with steep dirt inclines, then raised the vehicle and have 35" Toyo R/T and now those dirt inclines are no issue. This is a full-size SUV so we are not talking about Rock climbing.