AWD explorer and a locker in the rear?

[el ranger loco]

My room mate is looking to trade his big gay truck for a '97 exploder but the catch is the expolorer is all wheel drive.. I dont know jack about the awd system in these things but he wants to tow his toy truggy with it once in a while and be able to take it camping and not get stuck. Can you put a locker in the rear of this truck without and wierd binding or other fuckedupness? Sorry for the newb question but Ive never even seen one of these things so I dont know how they work.:confused:

[rocknbronco]

Yes you can add a locker to the rear it shouldnt foul out the AWD sytem to badly but cornering will suck. As far as a tow rig no way for camping it would be alright its just no Rubicon.

[EMG7895]

You can swap out the case for a regular 4x4 case pretty easily depending on the year.

[el ranger loco]

Yes you can add a locker to the rear it shouldnt foul out the AWD sytem to badly but cornering will suck. As far as a tow rig no way for camping it would be alright its just no Rubicon.

Hmm, can we define "too badly" please? Also, the truck has a 31spl 8.8, and a 5.0ho with 3.73s and is rated to tow 6600lbs. I think it will tow a 3500lb toyota with no problems.

[EMG7895]

It can tow the yota, but it wont be very happy with it especially if you keep the awd case. As long as its a once in a while thing, it will be ok. You can fit 31x10.5 tire on it stock and bigger with shackels and a torsion twist.

[MattyB4x4]

not saying it can't tow it, but just because a vehicle is rated to to xxx amount, doesn't mean it can do so easily. aka...lots of downshifting, major tranny heat issues etc.

...not bashing, just saying. shit, i say do it, but be wary

[el ranger loco]

Im not worried about the towing part, just the locker. We live 30 min from the local trails so its no biggie to drive the rigs out there. Trailering is just a thought at the time but I know it would be possible with this rig.

[sn0border88]

it will be like a locker on any other truck. its still fulltime rear wheel drive, just kicks in the front sometimes.

[rocknbronco]

Im not worried about the towing part, just the locker. We live 30 min from the local trails so its no biggie to drive the rigs out there. Trailering is just a thought at the time but I know it would be possible with this rig.

Your not worried now but wait till the trailer over runs the Explorer or you fry the tranny on a 30 minute trip. We have tow rigs for a reason I suggest the same to you.

[GMCTruxrule]

Yeah, I remember a couple of years back, I was online at Uhaul reserving a tow dolly for a cross country move, and it asked what the tow vehicle was, and Explorer was a vehicle that Uhaul DIDN'T recommend for towing.:D

I wonder why....

[Jrod-13]

Yeah, I remember a couple of years back, I was online at Uhaul reserving a tow dolly for a cross country move, and it asked what the tow vehicle was, and Explorer was a vehicle that Uhaul DIDN'T recommend for towing.:D

I wonder why....

because of stupid people that like to sue.. thats why..

U-joke won't rent anything to an explorer.. but yet, a mazda navajo, or a merc. mountanier are just fine..

[MattyB4x4]

because of stupid people that like to sue.. thats why..

U-joke won't rent anything to an explorer.. but yet, a mazda navajo, or a merc. mountanier are just fine..

they also said that my 3/4 ton suburban wasn't rated to tow an EB...

[Jrod-13]

they also said that my 3/4 ton suburban wasn't rated to tow an EB...

thats why you don't tell them what your pulling, or don't use them... I'm pretty sure the #1 car hauled on u-haul trailers is a geo metro

allthough, interestingly enough, acording to the uhaul website, a 3/4ton burb is fine for pulling a EB

[mynameisaric]

it will be like a locker on any other truck. its still fulltime rear wheel drive, just kicks in the front sometimes.

the 5.0 has a full time AWD... not that electromagnetic bullchit the 4.0's come with.

the explorer also has very soft springs, so towing will make its ass drag the ground.... and explorer are the dodge in the Ford family and are already notorious for bad trannies. that was mainly the a4ld on the 1st gen explorers though. the 5r55e seems to have a good rep. mine is still ticking at 150k. i have no idea what the 5.0 has for a tranny though. get some overloads or airbags and a second/aftermarket tranny cooler and i think towing would be fine for short trips occasionally as long as you arent in the mountains.

[KiGrind]

Yeah, I remember a couple of years back, I was online at Uhaul reserving a tow dolly for a cross country move, and it asked what the tow vehicle was, and Explorer was a vehicle that Uhaul DIDN'T recommend for towing.:D

I wonder why....

I work for Uhaul, and we are never allowed to rent equipment out thats being towed by an Explorer. Ever, and if they say they are changing vehicles, we made a note of it. If something fucks up, they dont' get covered even with insurrance for going againts the consent.

[45acp]

First off, the locker will be fine it will act like any other vehicle on the road with a rear locker.

Second, you will be fine towing your yota. You will NOT smoke the tranny in 30 minutes (4R70W in the 5 liter) of course make sure you stay out of OD.

Third, it will NOT squat the rear end down on the bumpstops unless you have the trailer loaded stupid. Load it just like towing with anything else.

Fourth, you will NOT flip, rollover, or catch on fire unless you're trying to do so. Ignore Uhaul, they simply did not want to get in the middle of the Firestone/Ford fiasco.


Ive towed a bajillion miles with a V8 Explorer and i promise it will tow your toy safely. Make sure your trailer brakes work and a weight distribution hitch will make things really nice.

[mynameisaric]

damn..... 45acp laid the smackdown:eek:

[94stepsideford]

the 5r55e seems to have a good rep. mine is still ticking at 150k.

No idea what a 5r has to do with a 5.0 expy but.......
You are So wrong. My truck has had 4 5r55e tranny's put in it and only has 120K on it. They have bad band/planet issues. Thats whats let go on mine all 3 times.

[94stepsideford]

damn..... 45acp laid the smackdown:eek:

X2:laughing:

[Totalled]

Big ass tranny cooler.... stay out of OD. That is all...

[mynameisaric]

No idea what a 5r has to do with a 5.0 expy but.......
You are So wrong. My truck has had 4 5r55e tranny's put in it and only has 120K on it. They have bad band/planet issues. Thats whats let go on mine all 3 times.

yeah it didnt have anything to do with it... i was rambling. I hope you don't keep going back to the same tranny place because 4 5r55e's in 120k is not normal. i am not easy on my tranny at all and it does fine. it has been slipping when cold for the past 10k miles (yes i checked the fluid) but other than that, mine has been good. i have not heard too many horror stories with the 5r55e. the 4r55e is only suppost to be a little better than the a4ld. are you sure you dont have a 4r55e? and maybe you need a better tranny builder. or maybe you just have bad luck.

[svt150j49]

or maybe hes a little harder on his shit? and your tranny "only slipping when cold" isnt right either. so dont be bashin man. a correctly built tranny shouldnt make a diffrence on heat unless its melting, and if it is - it then has a cooling problem.

and as for the towing, people often forget the trailer weight that u-hoe factors in... you have to think of the truck loaded, plus loaded trailer, and a full truck that is towing it. they do it for liability issues.

and as it was said before, go with it. it will do it, just take her easy...:homer:

[el ranger loco]

God you guys are some fawkin morons sometimes.. I SAID I WANNA KNOW ABOUT THE LOCKER. I know how to equip a vehicle for towing and I know what drivetrain is in the slpoder and Ive also swapped 4 A4LDs in my room mates old trail rig.. They suck. Yes. A 1st gen exploder. 45ACP thanks! I just wanted to make sure the locker wouldnt bind anything in the case or elsewhere because I just dont know how that AWD shit works. :flipoff2:

[svt150j49]

the rear acts the same as the factory non AWD trucks. its the front that changes. its going to corner poorly, other than that run it...

[el ranger loco]

Schweet :smokin:

[Jrod-13]

the rear acts the same as the factory non AWD trucks. its the front that changes. its going to corner poorly, other than that run it...

no, it doesn't

Your confusing the BW 4404 with the 4405.

the 4404 is a plantery drive case, tranny input drives the carrier, front diff is hooked to the sun gear, and the rear output is hooked to the ring gear.

Think of it as a NP 203, that only has "hi" position.

[el ranger loco]

Fawk.. Jrod knows his shit too..

[svt150j49]

i didnt mean the front diff was the only diffrent part. what i meant was:think of it as a standard truck when looking at the rear axle - correct? obviously the transfercase is diffrent, but the rear of the truck would perform like any other truck with a locker, no?

but, ive never owned one. so if im wrong, slap me, call me a noob, and put me back in the corner...:homer:

[EMG7895]

It has the same differentials and axles as a regular 4x4 truck, just with a 302 and full time tcase, it wont hurt anything to add a locker, but I would recommend swapping for the expedition 4x4 tcase.

[f250rollinon37s]

AWD works the same as any 4WD vehicle at the axles - my SUBI is AWD and has a LS in the rear and in the front - it drives fine - only in a parking lot you can feel more resistance wheen turning - put a 205 in it :flipoff2: -

[redwolf3]

Don't really post on here much, but in trolling around, I found this thread. Thought I would add to what 45ACP said.

First, the issue with smoking trannies (in general) has to do with the v6 auto trannies, specifically the 4r55e and the newer 5r55e. In addition, the real killers are the '90-'94 Explorer's which seemed to have trannies go every 90k or so (with "normal" driving).

As 45acp said, the V8 AWD Explorer's come with a full-time mechanical AWD unit (BW 4404). The only electrics coming in or out of this thing are for the Speed Sensor (at least in '96 and '97). It uses a viscous fluid and clutch pack (similar to a limited slip differential) to control power to the front and rear.

From the factory, these units are designed to give 70% power to the rear and 30% to the front. If there is significant difference in speed between the front and the rear, it will heat up the fluid and lock the transfer case until it reaches a 50/50 split. This is very nice because it doesn't have to "Clunk" when going into gear. The downside is, there is NOT a solid shaft between the input and rear output. Some will tell you there is, this is FALSE. In addition, the 4404's viscous coupler is known to start showing fatigue later in life. This can be anywhere from 70k to 120k+ depending on driving style and regularity of tire rotations, balances, etc.

Also, from the factory, the V8 AWD Explorer has a tow capacity of 7700 lbs. Would I personally tow this much with mine? Never. But I have towed 3-5k in totally stock form with it, even in the San Francisco City hills (45+ degree angles on stoplights) without a single problem. The V8 trannies are the same as were used in the early F-150 and F-250 trucks (A4LD/4R70(w)). You will likely kill your T-Case and engine well before you kill the transmission. In addition, ford included an axillary tranny cooler from the factory on the V8's.

I personally would not run a locker in the AWD system because this would put additional strain on the AWD T-Case in my opinion, but would suggest a Limited Slip rear differential (many of the AWD's came with LS in the rear). I can also attest that 31" tires will fit stock. I'm running 31x10.5R15's BFG KO's on the stock 15" rims and I get NO rubbing whatsoever. I have no problem driving in rain/mud/sand etc... either with the AWD T-Case installed.

As for U-Haul, that all came about as was mentioned due to the rollovers and poor trannies. Basically, there were a series of lawsuits of guys with Explorer's who towed what Ford said they could and fried their trannies. These people then sued U-Haul so U-Haul said "no no" to Explorer's altogether. I regularly have towed my friends 12" lifted 4-Runner with my Explorer both on a toe dolly as well as a 2-axle transport trailer and have had no problems. I would definitely suggest trailer brakes if you will be hitting a lot of hills because it does tax the Explorer's stock brakes, but giving yourself 5 - 10 car lengths at freeway speeds has always been more than enough for me.

Good luck, and enjoy.

[rocknbronco]

If you want some 31X10.50's I got some for sale.

[svt150j49]

well i learned something new today. :D i was wrong about the tcase.