DetroitDarin
Scratching a 10 year Itch
...because it's a FORD Expedition. ***Scroll to bottom of post for current updates***
What better platform to use for an expedition vehicle.
I purchased the truck in August of 2013, as a winter-driver for Michigan weather. My daily is (was) a 2004 RX8.
Here's the truck - the day I bought it. 2006 Expy, Eddie Bauer, 4x4, Leather and stuff; 88k miles.
Pretty unspectacular, really. Each time the truck passed a soccer field it would instinctively turn towards it. Same with any place to get groceries.
Knowing I wanted at least a modicum of cool-factor, AND with my desire to always have more car than I need for any circumstance, I set-out looking for lifts and tires and what-not.
First up was tires and wheels. Unfortunately, the tire-size I wanted had few options. Same with wheels. I ended up adding a LOT of unsprung weight to the truck. I hate weight. But - here's the result - MB wheels with 295/70/17 Trail Grapplers. A supertuner re-adjusted the effective gearing, and gave me back a little power I "lost" through the added weight at the corners.
Ebay was the source for my 3.5"/2.5" spacer lift and leveling kit. I removed the running boards, and here's the new look of the truck.
Remember that bit about 'having more car than I need'? This winter I helped tug 6 or 8 cars from local ditches. One car, a disabled-person's Van, was too far down into the median for me to reach. I felt horrible leaving her and her driver stranded.
Couple that with being stuck in my back yard for two days as the truck was bottomed-out in wet, heavy snow, and I decided I no longer wished to be at the mercy of another car, OR have to leave somebody who really needed help.
I found Tactical Armor Group (TAG), based in Georgia, and placed my order for a wincher bumper.
That was half the battle. Next, I started looking at winches. After a few weeks of googling my brains out, I settled on a 10k Engo winch with synthetic line. Along with the winch, I ordered a snatch block and tree-saver. I think I'll pick up a couple more snatch blocks as time goes on. To compliment the truck I bought a cheap roof rack from Amazon, and a hi-lift. I'm going to ditch the rack for good - and have something made; something more substantial.
Can see the high-lift, sorta, here:
Winch goodies
TAG says my bumper should be started shortly. When I placed the order they asked for 2-3 months. Yikes! I'm trying to be patient...have no choice. When the bumper arrives I'll detail the installation.
In the mean time I'm figurin' on re-design of the interior. Here are my stumbling blocks:
I love having the 3rd row seats. When down, my pups have a great place to do whatever they do in the car. When Up I can separate my teenage daughter from my pre-teen son; helps eliminate petty squabbling.
Having said (written?) that - I really want to make the truck livable. I cannot afford a RTT, but I'd like organized storage options without hindering potential doggy space. I'm considering what amounts to a curtain-rod hanging along each rear side window. From that point, I could hang go-bags, essentially; containing gear, first aid, extra food, etc. These bags would block rear 1/4 view vision. I hesitate to use a lot on top of the truck because it's already high enough. May have no choice.
I have a large, and a diamond Camo net and poles - seen here during my son and my camping trip to our back yard last summer -
- I figure on using this for summer camping as a source of shade. I can, uh, get it up, (snicker) in about 15 minutes - but because it'll travel on top of the truck (When I was a Soldier, we ran with those up top of our HMMWV. When we pulled into our firing positions (Was a STINGER Team leader), we'd basically unroll the net over the truck, and come in from underneath with poles and spreaders to raise the net above the truck to the point we could drive out; After we fired, we had to un-*** the AO to our secondary position to avoid retaliation due to the missile's smoke trail) I do not want anything else up there in the way.
Another purchase I'm lining up is TrueTrac front and rear. If I can find switchable lockers I'll go that route.
When all THAT is done, I'm done with the truck. My goal is to pick up a FJ for serious wheeling and back-BACK country travels. Until then, my Grocery-getter will have to "getter" done.
Thoughts, opinions, criticisms welcome.
****Update 6 Jun 14****
TAG bumper installed - winch is not
Winch installed, as well as 315/70/17 Duratracs.
****Update Feb 2015****
Picked up Chinese 144w 23" LED light bar; best $90 in lighting I've spent!
Comparisons vs 85w Hella flood/fog pattern bulbs.
Just parking lights and Fogs
Parking, Fogs, and LED bar
What better platform to use for an expedition vehicle.
I purchased the truck in August of 2013, as a winter-driver for Michigan weather. My daily is (was) a 2004 RX8.
Here's the truck - the day I bought it. 2006 Expy, Eddie Bauer, 4x4, Leather and stuff; 88k miles.
Pretty unspectacular, really. Each time the truck passed a soccer field it would instinctively turn towards it. Same with any place to get groceries.
Knowing I wanted at least a modicum of cool-factor, AND with my desire to always have more car than I need for any circumstance, I set-out looking for lifts and tires and what-not.
First up was tires and wheels. Unfortunately, the tire-size I wanted had few options. Same with wheels. I ended up adding a LOT of unsprung weight to the truck. I hate weight. But - here's the result - MB wheels with 295/70/17 Trail Grapplers. A supertuner re-adjusted the effective gearing, and gave me back a little power I "lost" through the added weight at the corners.
Ebay was the source for my 3.5"/2.5" spacer lift and leveling kit. I removed the running boards, and here's the new look of the truck.
Remember that bit about 'having more car than I need'? This winter I helped tug 6 or 8 cars from local ditches. One car, a disabled-person's Van, was too far down into the median for me to reach. I felt horrible leaving her and her driver stranded.
Couple that with being stuck in my back yard for two days as the truck was bottomed-out in wet, heavy snow, and I decided I no longer wished to be at the mercy of another car, OR have to leave somebody who really needed help.
I found Tactical Armor Group (TAG), based in Georgia, and placed my order for a wincher bumper.
That was half the battle. Next, I started looking at winches. After a few weeks of googling my brains out, I settled on a 10k Engo winch with synthetic line. Along with the winch, I ordered a snatch block and tree-saver. I think I'll pick up a couple more snatch blocks as time goes on. To compliment the truck I bought a cheap roof rack from Amazon, and a hi-lift. I'm going to ditch the rack for good - and have something made; something more substantial.
Can see the high-lift, sorta, here:
Winch goodies
TAG says my bumper should be started shortly. When I placed the order they asked for 2-3 months. Yikes! I'm trying to be patient...have no choice. When the bumper arrives I'll detail the installation.
In the mean time I'm figurin' on re-design of the interior. Here are my stumbling blocks:
I love having the 3rd row seats. When down, my pups have a great place to do whatever they do in the car. When Up I can separate my teenage daughter from my pre-teen son; helps eliminate petty squabbling.
Having said (written?) that - I really want to make the truck livable. I cannot afford a RTT, but I'd like organized storage options without hindering potential doggy space. I'm considering what amounts to a curtain-rod hanging along each rear side window. From that point, I could hang go-bags, essentially; containing gear, first aid, extra food, etc. These bags would block rear 1/4 view vision. I hesitate to use a lot on top of the truck because it's already high enough. May have no choice.
I have a large, and a diamond Camo net and poles - seen here during my son and my camping trip to our back yard last summer -
- I figure on using this for summer camping as a source of shade. I can, uh, get it up, (snicker) in about 15 minutes - but because it'll travel on top of the truck (When I was a Soldier, we ran with those up top of our HMMWV. When we pulled into our firing positions (Was a STINGER Team leader), we'd basically unroll the net over the truck, and come in from underneath with poles and spreaders to raise the net above the truck to the point we could drive out; After we fired, we had to un-*** the AO to our secondary position to avoid retaliation due to the missile's smoke trail) I do not want anything else up there in the way.
Another purchase I'm lining up is TrueTrac front and rear. If I can find switchable lockers I'll go that route.
When all THAT is done, I'm done with the truck. My goal is to pick up a FJ for serious wheeling and back-BACK country travels. Until then, my Grocery-getter will have to "getter" done.
Thoughts, opinions, criticisms welcome.
****Update 6 Jun 14****
TAG bumper installed - winch is not
Winch installed, as well as 315/70/17 Duratracs.
****Update Feb 2015****
Picked up Chinese 144w 23" LED light bar; best $90 in lighting I've spent!
Comparisons vs 85w Hella flood/fog pattern bulbs.
Just parking lights and Fogs
Parking, Fogs, and LED bar
Attachments
Last edited:
