If you're going to keep bumping the back end of the ZJ off the ground, I'd recommend going to the dealer and having your recall trailer hitch installed. Free of charge because it's a recall. It'll save you from crushing your gas tank.
I don't think the Explorer struggled more on those rocks at all, he just didn't give it constant throttle like Tommy did. The twin traction beam is meant to simulate the durability of a solid axle but improve ride quality on road. The pivot points are past the vehicle centerline which provides a lot more articulation and travel compared to a standard control arms setup.
Yeah, it's difficult to judge the capability of different vehicles with different drivers. Tommy clearly has more off road experience and it would have been interesting to see him drive both for a more even comparison.
@@HoosierDaddy_ - Brendan has to learn. He has admitted he doesn’t have a lot of experience. With Tommy teaching him, he will learn how to do things right. Tommy was pretty bad off-road at one time as well, he had some big throttle issues himself. A few comments, and his will to get better and he did so. A few trips with Nathan helped a bit I think as well. Nathan is a funny guy, but actually may be the best off-road, if not a little too assertive with the loaner vehicles. He and Tommy specifically did a trip for the TrailHawk versions of the Cherokee and the Renegade and there was a noticeable difference in Tommy’s skills after that trip. Tommy may have been working on it otherwise, only he knows, but his throttle control really started improving then. It took time behind the wheel to get better. The same as Brendan needs now. Fortunately for Brendan, he is learning from Tommy vs the initial period where Tommy learned from Roman and Andrey. Both of them have annoying habits, especially Andrey of over modulating the the throttle. Roman has improved though. It all takes experience and that gained behind the wheel and not watching someone else. Good on Brendan for trying!!
@@TFLclassics - Thank you!! It’s surprising how much video time these two cheap vehicles have gotten vs some very expensive and interesting brand new models!! The ZR2 Silverado for example, you did get rid of it at the right time for the channel, but it showed up at a bad time when you had the TRX and the Bronco, which almost overshadowed the ZR2. People are really disappointed it wasn’t supercharged though and that trickled down to even yourselves. At the same time they complained about the price, just like the Raptor R now. Fully loaded very capable, to extremely capable STOCK off-road pickups have to be expensive merely for the drivetrains alone,,,,,. Sorry, tangent, has nothing to do with the original comment!! 😂😂😂 I am definitely liking the current trend on classics. For next show and shine season, it would be nice to see some of the trucks that show up at the different events!! There are open events, C10 events, Dent side events, Mopar events (the Mopar pickups are pretty rare, for a reason, but rare nonetheless), not sure if mini-trucks are popular there or not. Then feature a viewer’s ride at each event. I’m a truck guy, but it can be cars or vans. If the subject wants to explain the work, trials and errors during the builds, that would be fascinating. Of course if it doesn’t fit your format or get views, it couldn’t stay, but it might be worth it as a filler like your doing now! Stay safe fellas!!
Just bought a 94 Explorer XLT to use as an everyday and to put some money into. Absolutely love driving and being in this thing! The nostalgia is real! Great to see a channel still having fun in them.
I love the 90’s SUVs. I guess that’s why I have a 1995 ZJ Grand Cherokee V8 and a 1995 Nissan Pathfinder 4WD with a manual transmission. Both are driven every day
Literally two of the COOLEST SUV's ever made, lucky!!!!! miss riding in a two-door Pathfinder as a kid. Love the theatre seating and those little triangular windows that pop out.
On the 42RE in the grand cherokee, if you are losing 2nd gear, go under the transmission and do a intermediate band adjustment. It's what give you second gear, it's a brake band that stops the direct, or 3rd gear clutch from rotating, that stops the sun gear from rotating and it gives you second gear,
and it's easy to do. Plenty of vids on it. That said, the 42RE transmission is a light/moderate duty unit that is maintenance sensitive. Clean fluid, clean filter, no "technical" offroad stuff, and it'll last 250+ miles. Beat it, neglect it, it'll break.
My first 2 loves, Jeep Cherokee & the OG Explorer. In case you can't tell (hint hint, profile pic), the XJ was/is my favorite vehicle of all time! Nice vid!
I had a 96 Cherokee with the inline 6. Also one of my favorite engines. After 8 years of ownership that engine gave me zero issues. The body was falling apart, but the engine started up every time.
Same! I had mine for 12 years, and it never let me down once. It always started, always got me where I wanted to go. 165k on it when got rid of it, and the only reason I got rid of it was because the body was falling apart. Motor and tranny were perfect.
I have a 93 Ford ranger with that 5 sp that has 499,000 miles on it. Original engine transmission and rear differential! Preventative maintenance goes along way....... It's 2wd with the 2.3l
Bought a brand new 1998 Grand Cherokee Limited TSI with the 5.9, Quada -Trac, Black with tan leather interior, that Jeep was a Rocket on the streets, No problems, Ice colds air in the summer had it til Feb 2005, some lady yacking on a cell phone, blew thru a stop sign and T-boned me and totaled my baby ,78K miles, miss my GC !!
@@Dankcatvacs - had a few 318's (5.2) 1970 Coronet with over 400,000 miles on it. 1971 Satellite Sebring Plus with a 318 and drove it from CO through IA doing triple digits, no problem. I could've done a cannonball run with that car. Also had a 318 in a '74 Duster. And a 318 in a 1974 Dodge factory custom van. and a 1999 Dodge Durango
My high school car back in the late 00's was a 1993 Ford Explorer Sport with the manual. Loved the heck out of that rig. Now to scour Facebook marketplace for another 1st gen!
@@angelgjr1999 That's a good return on Investment! I think $2000 gets you a pretty decent 1st gen. Mint examples in my area (when you can find them) top out at $5k
People need to stop saying the the transmission is weak in the zj. 25y and over 200k miles proves you wrong. How many 90s Toyota trucks are on their original trannies? Or gm? Ford?
I had a 92 Ranger XLT, 4L V6, 5spd and swapped the auto hubs to manual ones. Man that little truck was a mountain goat compared to my buddies and their S10's😎
@@jakey20022 Good tires and wheel spacers would help a lot. Used to have a RWD 99 Exploder, loved to drift it around the school parking lot. I Miss it.
i like both vehicles. i had a 97 explorer, 4l , 5 speed and put over 250k miles on it before i sold it. Great truck and the Mazda trans is bulletproof unlike the jeeps. Have a 2000 ranger with the same set up with over 365k miles it now.
Ill always enjoy the explorer, I remember my dad had a 93 and had borla exhaust on it, sounded awesome. Unfortunate here i Chicago it rusted out eventually. This is great content guys, thanks!
My first vehicle that I actually put some miles on was a 1993 explorer Eddie Bauer manual (pristine). It was such a good vehicle, mine had terrible gears so it had no power at all lol, but only 60k original miles (bought it in 2017-18)
I don't know when sucking gear went out on my 4.0 jeep it was very noticeable.. but agreed very good motors pretty easy to work on .let's not talk about the crank positioning sensor
Those early Explorers also came in a two-door version (the Explorer Sport with the red stripe down the side). I had a 92 Explorer Sport w/manual transmission that got me all through college with zero trouble and it was not treated kindly. Same interior as your 4-door too! That said, I LOVE those first gen Grand Cherokees!
I remember our 1999 jgc limited with the 4.7l v8 with Quadra-Drive had a 4 speed trans but it had two different seconds gears when downshifting or something
@@tdub25 That's right, I remember those. It was a 5 speed auto, but operated as a 4 speed under normal operation. Had a second 2nd gear ratio just for highway passing that it would kick down to when you punched it.
Excellent video, thanks for the nostalgia, I saw alot of these growing up in the mid 90's. I never saw a Cherokee with the 4.0 I6, I never knew they came with it, all I remember seeing were the 5.9 V8s
4.0 is great in a TJ but the Grands are just to heavy plus once you start modifying them the V8 is so much better. I’m a big ZJ fan, currently own three 5.9ers all set up different.
I used to off road with friends who had those exact vehicles. The explorers suffered because the electronic transfer case motors got soaked and died. The grand Cherokee's transfer case broke open like an egg for no reason just driving down the highway. I was driving a '90 Bronco whose 5.0 engine eventually died due to prior owner neglect. I replaced the bronco with a Scout that beat everything, but succumbed to rust.
We had a 92 white xlt 2wd from 96 till 2000 when I was little and I couldn't believe how small it is compared to my moms 2010 buick enclave. I would love to have a first gen in white with a coyote or godzilla swap
I really want a P38a Rover but I was on BaT and the Explorer and ZJ seem more affordable long term and just as capable but not where near as posh. I’m glad you have this comparison because I was looking at Gen 1 explorer and Gen 1 ZJ. My dad had a ZJ and it was cool.
The Explorer is significantly more rugged than the Jeep. The Jeep has a unibody vs the Explorer body on frame. Front axles are a little more subjective, some people don't like the Ford's twin traction beam because it is more complicated to work with vs a solid axle such as the one in the Jeep, however the TTB itself is a strong axle that will hold up. The rear axle is no contest, the grand Cherokee has the much maligned dana 35 vs the Ford's venerable 8.8 inch. It is actually very common for Jeep owners to swap their rear axle for the Explorer's unit. Explorers got overlooked because they were only marketed as a suburban family vehicle where as the Grand Cherokee has the Jeep badge.
Ultra common V8 Grand Cherokee addresses the lame D35 and you get good power too. The TTB needs to be cut out and a solid axle installed to actually compete with the Jeep once lifted. I run a Jeep but did look into newer explorer/mountaineers as a possible alternative. The big holdup was piecing one together. Had to be a 5.0 to avoid the 4 liter issues (timing chain on the back of the head, anyone?) Had to swap out the lame AWD transfer case and driveshafts that come with the V8 for a true 4wd unit. This can be done with all stock Ford parts but it's a bit of a treasure hunt. And lastly, the IFS has to go. Sourcing an axle, suspension, and steering solutions are significant issues before actually doing the conversion. Also have to lift it after all of that too. The Jeep was way easier.
@@turbolq4 You absolutely do not have to take out the TTB to do a lift. There are kits out there that lower the mounting points for the TTB components to fit up to a 35 inch tire and you can do this in a weekend. Also buying a v8 Grand Cherokee costs more than an Explorer and they get about 25% worse fuel economy. I agree that the 2nd Gen+ explorers are no good but the 1st gens are totally viable.
@@MegaHarryBalzonya Nobody said you can’t lift a explorer it’s just cheaper and easier to buy a Zj instead. i bought my 5.2 Zj for 400$ and Nobody cares about gas mileage on a off road rig with 35s. The motor and transmission is the week point on a explorer. The Zj can easily handle what you throw at it for a cheaper price and less of a headache. You can’t even find these fords in my area. They all got scraped because of rust.
That particular Jeep transmission is also great because it has a neutral position which allows for towing behind a motorhome. However, not every Grand cherokee had that transmission.
I've had three Explorers over the years, a 91, 96 and 2000. I probably miss the 91 the most. It was the 2 door Sport model. Manual transmission, transfer case, and locking hubs. 3.73 gears with factory rear LSD. I put a James Duff 3" suspension kit on it and completely rebuilt the front end. Personally, I hate the TTB axle design, but you could get great articulation out of it with some mods. I took that Explorer many places and it never let me down. I gave it to my MIL as a MT winter vehicle with a lot of miles on it - we weren't sure if it was up to 290k or 390k, but in either case, the 4.0 still ran and pulled strong. My MIL ended up getting a newer winter vehicle, sold it to a guy in town who was thrilled to find an already lifted 91 that was rust free, and she still sees him driving it around. I've made similar mods to the 96 and 2000 but they just aren't anywhere near as fun as the 91 was.
Yep, the Ford 4.0 ohv engines last forever....had one in a Ranger sold just shy of 250,000 miles and ran like a top when sold, even with my neglect, now have a 2nd gen Explore with one ...L.S. rear etc and it will probably outlive me.... great budget off roader that I can have fun with without worrying about the paint etc.
@barrya.6212 the nice thing about the 2nd gen is how cheap and easy they are to lift. Torsion twist in the front, AAL and shackles in the rear, you can have an easy 2-3" lift. The only problem is that's about all you can get before the front CVs are maxed out. They are still surprisingly capable within their limits
@@wysoft I have a set of 2" shackles still sitting in a box (collecting dust) being I keep procrastinating doing this lift, I have to get new bushings for leaf springs when I do it and have health problems and LIFE getting in the way of "getting it done" :)
Love the channel guys!! I’ve had explorer’s on and off through the years but the first generation has and will always be my favorite.keep up the great job with the video’s.
I use to drive my dad`s 91 4 dr Explorer, 91 Jeep Cherokee XJ and a 95 Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ...very nice cars here in Chile, enjoy them very much on Atacama desert trough Chile to Austral Road...Anyway, later on i met Toyota and Mitsubishi...so much reliable well thought and put together! But family time in a car makes you enjoy them so much more...even if it´s not the perfect car!
The first gen explorer has the ttb front axle borrowed from the ranger. Often don't get the off road respect they deserve. 90-94 with the 4.0 came with a Dana 35 center and Dana 44 1/2 shafts. The u joints are the same size as the 1/2 ton trucks/broncos. Pretty strong stock setup for an suv.
Amazing that these are selling for $2-3k now when they were both worth basically scrap value before everyone that wanted to buy a car completely lost their minds. They’re still worth scrap, but people are desperate to buy literally anything right now and willing to pay multiple times more than things are worth.
Agreed. Just because people are willing to buy it doesn't mean anything. Most of these late 80s to early 90s cars are CHEAP brittle metals and even back then didn't sell for much.
i own a 1993 ford explorer, and it seems like traction wise the explorers tend to lose traction quite a bit on both dirt and snow, not so bad in rain but the back definitely likes to kick out, and the door handles do tend to not like to work, luckily all of mine do but mines been taken very good care of since me and my cousin got our hands on it 😂
My Pops had an ol' grand cherokee he bought new in 1995 and it was white with gold lettering, and it was a limited trim with the 5.9l v8 in it. It was sweet
It was probably the 5.2L V8 as the 5.9L was only available in 1998. The 5.9 also only came in three colors (black, white, and grey) with chrome badging and silver wheels. I also had a white with gold '93 GC Limited, but it had the 4.0L...it was pretty sweet too.
Didnt show locking in the hubs on the explorer dont have too on cherokee my 94 explorer has 220 000 still on trucking lol i got an explorer because i gave $500 bucks put $200 in parts at 190000 miles ready roll does great in the trails
I torn about getting a 1999-2004 JGC WJ - hopefully getting a better transmission than the ZJ. They seem to be awsome, cheap off roaders. Unfortunately I have a 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer with 234k miles that almost serves the same purpose. It has been a great, reliable and powerful rig but the Chevy has 2" less ground clearance than I would like (and it is hard to lift) and open differentials. With the Jeeps, they are easy to lift and you can get Quadratrac or Quadradrive systems.
The WJ also had a Selec Trac transfer case option which had 2wd, 4wd part time, 4wd full time, and 4wd low range. Usually found in the 6 cylinder rigs but it was an option in v8s. The 4.0 got the not great trans, and the Dana 35 rear end that is not good either and 3.55 gears. V8s have 3.73 gears, a better transmission, and a strong but also failure prone Dana 44a/D44HD rear axle. I've owned three WJs and lifted two of them. I really like them but you have to realize their weaknesses and use them accordingly.
@@waterloo123100 I learned to never doubt Chrysler and their desire to change everything on a whim. It's probably an option, just one I haven't personally seen.
I had one of those ford , the room was amazing, every summer I had to moved to wildfire cabin at dispatch so I was able to put full size bed microwave dishes etc
As much as folks claim they want manuals this video shows why they actually buy automatics. The Explorer’s manual makes it harder to deliver power smoothly at low speeds like the rock crawling segment.
@@bldontmatter5319 the manual used to be more fun because a car with a manual was always faster than the automatic version. Not any more. Computer controls have allowed the automatic to shift faster than any human can and downshift and up shift at just the right time if programmed well. Most importantly your left leg never gets tired in traffic in everyday driving.
I am generally a ford guy, but I'll take the jeep any day of the week. The interiors of the time were way ahead of ford, and they are generally a much more reliable platform. You think the auto in the jeep is bad, try an auto explorer... Both are great rigs.
ive been looking for this video as I own a bronco ii (not running) and a 98 Grand cherokee, explorer has similar underpinnings as my bronco, so im excited to see how this goes
The issue wasnt because of the second gen explorer, it was the Firestone tire model they used for that year, and also there was some that say that the recommended tire pressure was wrong on the VIN tag. Other than that, the explorer no matter what year was a good rig
@Sidney Sanders it’s not that “some say”, and the tire pressure isn’t on the VIN tag. The door stickers absolutely said 26 psi. It’s not a rumor, it’s fact. This was 100% intentional by Ford, and not recommended by Firestone.
Almost all Fords have bad front hubs. It's rare to have proper 4wd. Even my 2003 50k mile f150 didn't have 4wd because a hub failed to lock in. After replacing both hubs, 4wd was back in action.
The first gen Explorer did have the exploding tires. Firestone ATX. My first was a 92 and it came with those tire. I was on a ride trip and started to feel something weird in the front. Glad I pulled over because I’d worn through the steel belt on the inside passenger tire. I loved my Explorer and traded the 92 for a 00 Eddie Bauer which was my favorite. I tried a 20 and it’s just not the same anymore. The new Bronco reminds me a lot of the 92 from the drivers seat.
that ford explorer has the “auto” locking hubs… for the love of god please throw on some mile marker manual locking hubs i could tell one of those hubs is on its way out when the rear was starting to slide out on the rocks… takes a lot to break a mile marker as well 🤙🏽
I love the explorer, I had a 98 that was amazing. In high school in the late 90s the rich kids had those Jeep's fully loaded when they were brand new. I thought they were like luxury off roaders compared to the Explorer.
the difference between the 2 is the explorer is body on frame and the jeep is unibody. so with rust or a crash the ford will hold up better, cuz unibody cars the body is the frame. Its like having an old brickhouse vs a mobile home in a hurricane!
If you're going to keep bumping the back end of the ZJ off the ground, I'd recommend going to the dealer and having your recall trailer hitch installed. Free of charge because it's a recall. It'll save you from crushing your gas tank.
Unless, like Ford, they claim the recall is expired or the bolts for the recall are "obsolete". 🙄
Are they doing this for the WJ's too? I remember hearing about it but never took my 2004 in.
@@JasnoGT yea they did for our WJ 6 years ago
As a proud owner of a 1992 ford explorer they make damn great offroaders for the trails highly recommand the 1st gen explorers
I don't think the Explorer struggled more on those rocks at all, he just didn't give it constant throttle like Tommy did. The twin traction beam is meant to simulate the durability of a solid axle but improve ride quality on road. The pivot points are past the vehicle centerline which provides a lot more articulation and travel compared to a standard control arms setup.
Yeah, it's difficult to judge the capability of different vehicles with different drivers. Tommy clearly has more off road experience and it would have been interesting to see him drive both for a more even comparison.
It’s hard to crawl with a manual transmission without ridiculously low gearing.
Totally agree! Tommy needs to drive from now on!
@@HoosierDaddy_ - Brendan has to learn. He has admitted he doesn’t have a lot of experience. With Tommy teaching him, he will learn how to do things right. Tommy was pretty bad off-road at one time as well, he had some big throttle issues himself. A few comments, and his will to get better and he did so. A few trips with Nathan helped a bit I think as well. Nathan is a funny guy, but actually may be the best off-road, if not a little too assertive with the loaner vehicles. He and Tommy specifically did a trip for the TrailHawk versions of the Cherokee and the Renegade and there was a noticeable difference in Tommy’s skills after that trip. Tommy may have been working on it otherwise, only he knows, but his throttle control really started improving then. It took time behind the wheel to get better. The same as Brendan needs now. Fortunately for Brendan, he is learning from Tommy vs the initial period where Tommy learned from Roman and Andrey. Both of them have annoying habits, especially Andrey of over modulating the the throttle. Roman has improved though.
It all takes experience and that gained behind the wheel and not watching someone else. Good on Brendan for trying!!
@@kevindavis5966 both guys are sissy s and couldn't change a flat tire .terrible drivers also.
Keep pumping out these classics vids! This channel fills a much needed void in the car market! Great job as usual TFL!
Thanks! Will do!
@@TFLclassics - Thank you!! It’s surprising how much video time these two cheap vehicles have gotten vs some very expensive and interesting brand new models!! The ZR2 Silverado for example, you did get rid of it at the right time for the channel, but it showed up at a bad time when you had the TRX and the Bronco, which almost overshadowed the ZR2. People are really disappointed it wasn’t supercharged though and that trickled down to even yourselves. At the same time they complained about the price, just like the Raptor R now. Fully loaded very capable, to extremely capable STOCK off-road pickups have to be expensive merely for the drivetrains alone,,,,,.
Sorry, tangent, has nothing to do with the original comment!! 😂😂😂
I am definitely liking the current trend on classics.
For next show and shine season, it would be nice to see some of the trucks that show up at the different events!! There are open events, C10 events, Dent side events, Mopar events (the Mopar pickups are pretty rare, for a reason, but rare nonetheless), not sure if mini-trucks are popular there or not. Then feature a viewer’s ride at each event. I’m a truck guy, but it can be cars or vans. If the subject wants to explain the work, trials and errors during the builds, that would be fascinating. Of course if it doesn’t fit your format or get views, it couldn’t stay, but it might be worth it as a filler like your doing now!
Stay safe fellas!!
Ive had 2 first gen manual explores. One was a 2 door sport and the other a 4 door loaded eddie Bauer edition. Favorite trucks ive ever had
Just bought a 94 Explorer XLT to use as an everyday and to put some money into. Absolutely love driving and being in this thing! The nostalgia is real! Great to see a channel still having fun in them.
I love the 90’s SUVs. I guess that’s why I have a 1995 ZJ Grand Cherokee V8 and a 1995 Nissan Pathfinder 4WD with a manual transmission. Both are driven every day
Literally two of the COOLEST SUV's ever made, lucky!!!!! miss riding in a two-door Pathfinder as a kid. Love the theatre seating and those little triangular windows that pop out.
Brendan is an excellent addition to the team! Loving TFL classic series- Great job guys!
On the 42RE in the grand cherokee, if you are losing 2nd gear, go under the transmission and do a intermediate band adjustment. It's what give you second gear, it's a brake band that stops the direct, or 3rd gear clutch from rotating, that stops the sun gear from rotating and it gives you second gear,
and it's easy to do. Plenty of vids on it. That said, the 42RE transmission is a light/moderate duty unit that is maintenance sensitive. Clean fluid, clean filter, no "technical" offroad stuff, and it'll last 250+ miles. Beat it, neglect it, it'll break.
My first 2 loves, Jeep Cherokee & the OG Explorer. In case you can't tell (hint hint, profile pic), the XJ was/is my favorite vehicle of all time! Nice vid!
I had both a 91 Explorer and 91 Ranger with the 4.0 and manual transmission. Loved them both and fun to drive!!!
I had a 96 Cherokee with the inline 6. Also one of my favorite engines. After 8 years of ownership that engine gave me zero issues. The body was falling apart, but the engine started up every time.
The 4.0 inline v6 is one of the most reliable engines of all time
Same! I had mine for 12 years, and it never let me down once. It always started, always got me where I wanted to go. 165k on it when got rid of it, and the only reason I got rid of it was because the body was falling apart. Motor and tranny were perfect.
I have a 93 Ford ranger with that 5 sp that has 499,000 miles on it. Original engine transmission and rear differential! Preventative maintenance goes along way....... It's 2wd with the 2.3l
TFLClassics is my most favorite aspect of TFL... So much fun and great content...
Had a 96 ZJ back in the day with the 5.2 V8. It was 220 hp, 300 torque. You could really feel that torque. Big numbers back then.
how many miles did you get out of it?
Bought a brand new 1998 Grand Cherokee Limited TSI with the 5.9, Quada -Trac, Black with tan leather interior, that Jeep was a Rocket on the streets, No problems, Ice colds air in the summer had it til Feb 2005, some lady yacking on a cell phone, blew thru a stop sign and T-boned me and totaled my baby ,78K miles, miss my GC !!
@@Dankcatvacs I think it was around 120-140k or so
@@Dankcatvacs - had a few 318's (5.2) 1970 Coronet with over 400,000 miles on it. 1971 Satellite Sebring Plus with a 318 and drove it from CO through IA doing triple digits, no problem. I could've done a cannonball run with that car. Also had a 318 in a '74 Duster. And a 318 in a 1974 Dodge factory custom van. and a 1999 Dodge Durango
@@d.s7741 I love the 318 (5.2), Amazing motor and unstoppable if fluids are maintained. I have a 97 Dakota with it.
My high school car back in the late 00's was a 1993 Ford Explorer Sport with the manual. Loved the heck out of that rig. Now to scour Facebook marketplace for another 1st gen!
How much do they go for nowadays? Bought a 99 Exploder for 800 bucks. Drove it for 2 years then sold it for 2k. 😅
@@angelgjr1999 That's a good return on Investment! I think $2000 gets you a pretty decent 1st gen. Mint examples in my area (when you can find them) top out at $5k
Love these vintage vehicle videos...So entertaining!! Keep up coming guys!
Vintage?! I'm old. 🤔
I have a 94 explorer that's built on a budget. It's very capable and reliable. Aftermarket parts are still available but few to choose from.
Love these classic off road videos. Keep them coming!
The manual Ford Explorer! It's a unicorn, a little busted up, but a unicorn none the less. Love it
Both those 4.0L engines are bombproof. Great video!
People need to stop saying the the transmission is weak in the zj. 25y and over 200k miles proves you wrong. How many 90s Toyota trucks are on their original trannies? Or gm? Ford?
I had a 92 Ranger XLT, 4L V6, 5spd and swapped the auto hubs to manual ones. Man that little truck was a mountain goat compared to my buddies and their S10's😎
Motivates me to finish wiring my 91 Explorer 5.0 V8 conversion with 4wheel drive. Love Jeep and Explorer.
What a great mash up of some iconic 1st gen 90s rigs. Great video!
The explorer is just such a good looking machine. Definitely would like to have one in the future.
Be Careful not to roll it over
@@jakey20022 Good tires and wheel spacers would help a lot. Used to have a RWD 99 Exploder, loved to drift it around the school parking lot. I Miss it.
i like both vehicles. i had a 97 explorer, 4l , 5 speed and put over 250k miles on it before i sold it. Great truck and the Mazda trans is bulletproof unlike the jeeps. Have a 2000 ranger with the same set up with over 365k miles it now.
What are you smoking the those 4r’s gave tons of problems it’s hard to even find some one who wants to rebuild them
Ill always enjoy the explorer, I remember my dad had a 93 and had borla exhaust on it, sounded awesome. Unfortunate here i Chicago it rusted out eventually. This is great content guys, thanks!
My first vehicle that I actually put some miles on was a 1993 explorer Eddie Bauer manual (pristine). It was such a good vehicle, mine had terrible gears so it had no power at all lol, but only 60k original miles (bought it in 2017-18)
There’s channels on UA-cam that supercharge the 4.0 and 5.0 explorers. Pretty neat stuff.
Looks like same 96' model Jeep I prep washed for a customer when new...I worked at Valley Jeep Eagle after high School.. great video!!
Recently got myself a 98 ZJ and I love it! Cool video guys!
These are the match ups we want! Hopefully you guys find an old Bronco to go against the Jeep. Or may a r50 pathfinder.
Those tires on the explorers look DANGEROUS!
I don't know when sucking gear went out on my 4.0 jeep it was very noticeable.. but agreed very good motors pretty easy to work on .let's not talk about the crank positioning sensor
Those early Explorers also came in a two-door version (the Explorer Sport with the red stripe down the side). I had a 92 Explorer Sport w/manual transmission that got me all through college with zero trouble and it was not treated kindly. Same interior as your 4-door too! That said, I LOVE those first gen Grand Cherokees!
Nice. Like the concept. Propose that a Sidekick/Geo would no doubt win the overall affordable 90’s off-road shootout championship bracket.
No doubt. TFL needs to acquire one and impress us all.
stock for stock a sidekick isn’t winning anything off-road. Toyota or a Nissan is king and their twice as expensive as a 90s Jeep
That would be cool!
@@TFLclassics yes, please! A wagon and a 2 door, please!
Jeep: 2nd Gear has left the chat
I remember our 1999 jgc limited with the 4.7l v8 with Quadra-Drive had a 4 speed trans but it had two different seconds gears when downshifting or something
@@tdub25 That's right, I remember those. It was a 5 speed auto, but operated as a 4 speed under normal operation. Had a second 2nd gear ratio just for highway passing that it would kick down to when you punched it.
@@tdub25
@@tdub25 thats what made them so quick
As someone who owns both Ford and Jeep I belieave I can confidently say they are both Awesome.
Excellent video, thanks for the nostalgia, I saw alot of these growing up in the mid 90's. I never saw a Cherokee with the 4.0 I6, I never knew they came with it, all I remember seeing were the 5.9 V8s
The 5.9 was only offered in 98 and not many were made
@@account4info That's what I remember, thanks for the confirmation.
i always loved the 90s grand cherokees the leather seats were so comfy
Still are
4.0 is great in a TJ but the Grands are just to heavy plus once you start modifying them the V8 is so much better. I’m a big ZJ fan, currently own three 5.9ers all set up different.
I used to off road with friends who had those exact vehicles. The explorers suffered because the electronic transfer case motors got soaked and died. The grand Cherokee's transfer case broke open like an egg for no reason just driving down the highway. I was driving a '90 Bronco whose 5.0 engine eventually died due to prior owner neglect. I replaced the bronco with a Scout that beat everything, but succumbed to rust.
Had a 1997 Grand Cherokee Limited 5.2L back in 2004 with super low miles when I got it. Had like 30k miles fully loaded
Took me back to my childhood with that explore. Funny how it seems so small now from when I was growing up. New SUV and even just cars are so big!
We had a 92 white xlt 2wd from 96 till 2000 when I was little and I couldn't believe how small it is compared to my moms 2010 buick enclave. I would love to have a first gen in white with a coyote or godzilla swap
The transmission in my ladys cherokee went out 225000 miles. I was told it had the mail Carrier package. Good vehicles
I really want a P38a Rover but I was on BaT and the Explorer and ZJ seem more affordable long term and just as capable but not where near as posh. I’m glad you have this comparison because I was looking at Gen 1 explorer and Gen 1 ZJ. My dad had a ZJ and it was cool.
My 1993 ford Aerostar had those seats with the 4.0 liter, loved those!
I Currently have a 91 ranger 4.0, manual with a manual transfer case from an explorer. Fun little truck.
The Explorer is significantly more rugged than the Jeep. The Jeep has a unibody vs the Explorer body on frame. Front axles are a little more subjective, some people don't like the Ford's twin traction beam because it is more complicated to work with vs a solid axle such as the one in the Jeep, however the TTB itself is a strong axle that will hold up. The rear axle is no contest, the grand Cherokee has the much maligned dana 35 vs the Ford's venerable 8.8 inch. It is actually very common for Jeep owners to swap their rear axle for the Explorer's unit. Explorers got overlooked because they were only marketed as a suburban family vehicle where as the Grand Cherokee has the Jeep badge.
The only good thing on a exploder is the rear axle. If you want to lift one of these A Zj with the 5.2 is a no brainer over the Ford.
@@waterloo123100 and what makes you think you can’t lift an explorer
Ultra common V8 Grand Cherokee addresses the lame D35 and you get good power too. The TTB needs to be cut out and a solid axle installed to actually compete with the Jeep once lifted.
I run a Jeep but did look into newer explorer/mountaineers as a possible alternative.
The big holdup was piecing one together. Had to be a 5.0 to avoid the 4 liter issues (timing chain on the back of the head, anyone?) Had to swap out the lame AWD transfer case and driveshafts that come with the V8 for a true 4wd unit. This can be done with all stock Ford parts but it's a bit of a treasure hunt. And lastly, the IFS has to go. Sourcing an axle, suspension, and steering solutions are significant issues before actually doing the conversion. Also have to lift it after all of that too. The Jeep was way easier.
@@turbolq4 You absolutely do not have to take out the TTB to do a lift. There are kits out there that lower the mounting points for the TTB components to fit up to a 35 inch tire and you can do this in a weekend. Also buying a v8 Grand Cherokee costs more than an Explorer and they get about 25% worse fuel economy. I agree that the 2nd Gen+ explorers are no good but the 1st gens are totally viable.
@@MegaHarryBalzonya Nobody said you can’t lift a explorer it’s just cheaper and easier to buy a Zj instead. i bought my 5.2 Zj for 400$ and Nobody cares about gas mileage on a off road rig with 35s. The motor and transmission is the week point on a explorer. The Zj can easily handle what you throw at it for a cheaper price and less of a headache. You can’t even find these fords in my area. They all got scraped because of rust.
That particular Jeep transmission is also great because it has a neutral position which allows for towing behind a motorhome.
However, not every Grand cherokee had that transmission.
Solid content as always
Love these guys so much
I've had three Explorers over the years, a 91, 96 and 2000.
I probably miss the 91 the most. It was the 2 door Sport model. Manual transmission, transfer case, and locking hubs. 3.73 gears with factory rear LSD.
I put a James Duff 3" suspension kit on it and completely rebuilt the front end. Personally, I hate the TTB axle design, but you could get great articulation out of it with some mods.
I took that Explorer many places and it never let me down. I gave it to my MIL as a MT winter vehicle with a lot of miles on it - we weren't sure if it was up to 290k or 390k, but in either case, the 4.0 still ran and pulled strong.
My MIL ended up getting a newer winter vehicle, sold it to a guy in town who was thrilled to find an already lifted 91 that was rust free, and she still sees him driving it around.
I've made similar mods to the 96 and 2000 but they just aren't anywhere near as fun as the 91 was.
Yep, the Ford 4.0 ohv engines last forever....had one in a Ranger sold just shy of 250,000 miles and ran like a top when sold, even with my neglect, now have a 2nd gen Explore with one ...L.S. rear etc and it will probably outlive me.... great budget off roader that I can have fun with without worrying about the paint etc.
@barrya.6212 the nice thing about the 2nd gen is how cheap and easy they are to lift. Torsion twist in the front, AAL and shackles in the rear, you can have an easy 2-3" lift. The only problem is that's about all you can get before the front CVs are maxed out. They are still surprisingly capable within their limits
@@wysoft I have a set of 2" shackles still sitting in a box (collecting dust) being I keep procrastinating doing this lift, I have to get new bushings for leaf springs when I do it and have health problems and LIFE getting in the way of "getting it done" :)
Really appreciate the 90’s soundtrack. Love it! I would love to see you test out those old Bronco 2.
My 2nd gen explorer 4.0 is a capable rig I’ve been through everything in it and always gets through
Love the channel guys!! I’ve had explorer’s on and off through the years but the first generation has and will always be my favorite.keep up the great job with the video’s.
I use to drive my dad`s 91 4 dr Explorer, 91 Jeep Cherokee XJ and a 95 Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ...very nice cars here in Chile, enjoy them very much on Atacama desert trough Chile to Austral Road...Anyway, later on i met Toyota and Mitsubishi...so much reliable well thought and put together! But family time in a car makes you enjoy them so much more...even if it´s not the perfect car!
Glad to see my comment on the last video made it to use!! See? Went into 4 low no prob 😉
I love this content with older cheaper vehicles
Love them explorer's but then again I love the Cherokee/Grand Cherokees also so I am just happy to be here...
Doesn't the Explorer also have a solid front axle? From the footage, it looks like it has a pumpkin up front also.
The first gen explorer has the ttb front axle borrowed from the ranger. Often don't get the off road respect they deserve. 90-94 with the 4.0 came with a Dana 35 center and Dana 44 1/2 shafts. The u joints are the same size as the 1/2 ton trucks/broncos. Pretty strong stock setup for an suv.
both are legends
Amazing that these are selling for $2-3k now when they were both worth basically scrap value before everyone that wanted to buy a car completely lost their minds. They’re still worth scrap, but people are desperate to buy literally anything right now and willing to pay multiple times more than things are worth.
Agreed. Just because people are willing to buy it doesn't mean anything. Most of these late 80s to early 90s cars are CHEAP brittle metals and even back then didn't sell for much.
i own a 1993 ford explorer, and it seems like traction wise the explorers tend to lose traction quite a bit on both dirt and snow, not so bad in rain but the back definitely likes to kick out, and the door handles do tend to not like to work, luckily all of mine do but mines been taken very good care of since me and my cousin got our hands on it 😂
Gotta see a build series of these two. Maybe do a "budget" overland vehicle.
Love my Jeep ZJ , prices have a gone up now for a running ZJ .
My Pops had an ol' grand cherokee he bought new in 1995 and it was white with gold lettering, and it was a limited trim with the 5.9l v8 in it. It was sweet
It was probably the 5.2L V8 as the 5.9L was only available in 1998. The 5.9 also only came in three colors (black, white, and grey) with chrome badging and silver wheels. I also had a white with gold '93 GC Limited, but it had the 4.0L...it was pretty sweet too.
@@aaronw8606 Ah, your right then it was the 5.2L. yea if it would have been my choice I would have gotten the 4 liter over the v8.
Very good comparations !!!!👍👍👍👏👏👏👏👏
Didnt show locking in the hubs on the explorer dont have too on cherokee my 94 explorer has 220 000 still on trucking lol i got an explorer because i gave $500 bucks put $200 in parts at 190000 miles ready roll does great in the trails
Now it is time to upgrade them and make a real series of it. Continue the budget theme and use used parts from marketplace, junkyard etc.
1:34 if I'm not mistaken I do believe that's false the Grand Cherokees were not full unibody it was just the Cherokees that were unibody.
My brother has the same type of Explorer same year and he loves it he uses it for towing
I have both down in my garage right now and I love them
I torn about getting a 1999-2004 JGC WJ - hopefully getting a better transmission than the ZJ. They seem to be awsome, cheap off roaders. Unfortunately I have a 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer with 234k miles that almost serves the same purpose. It has been a great, reliable and powerful rig but the Chevy has 2" less ground clearance than I would like (and it is hard to lift) and open differentials. With the Jeeps, they are easy to lift and you can get Quadratrac or Quadradrive systems.
The transmissions are exactly the same as the Zj as they are in the WJ. Unless your getting a WJ 4.7
The WJ also had a Selec Trac transfer case option which had 2wd, 4wd part time, 4wd full time, and 4wd low range. Usually found in the 6 cylinder rigs but it was an option in v8s. The 4.0 got the not great trans, and the Dana 35 rear end that is not good either and 3.55 gears. V8s have 3.73 gears, a better transmission, and a strong but also failure prone Dana 44a/D44HD rear axle. I've owned three WJs and lifted two of them. I really like them but you have to realize their weaknesses and use them accordingly.
@@turbolq4 I’m not sure about the WJ But you can get 3.73s with the 4.0 if you got the tow package. My 93 Zj has 3.73’s from the factory.
@@waterloo123100 I learned to never doubt Chrysler and their desire to change everything on a whim. It's probably an option, just one I haven't personally seen.
My grandma bought a 1992 Ford Explorer. Hers had a third row seat. Only really OK for child-size passengers.
i have a 2nd gen explorer every has been good besides the engine the backfire blew a hole in the manifold and i got a loud rodknock
I had a zj for years and love it! I lost it to a drunk driver in a hit and run. I miss that car.
I had one of those ford , the room was amazing, every summer I had to moved to wildfire cabin at dispatch so I was able to put full size bed microwave dishes etc
As much as folks claim they want manuals this video shows why they actually buy automatics. The Explorer’s manual makes it harder to deliver power smoothly at low speeds like the rock crawling segment.
Off-road and racing applications, the auto is almost always better, but the manual provides more user input and enjoyment. Apples to oranges I say
@@bldontmatter5319 the manual used to be more fun because a car with a manual was always faster than the automatic version. Not any more. Computer controls have allowed the automatic to shift faster than any human can and downshift and up shift at just the right time if programmed well. Most importantly your left leg never gets tired in traffic in everyday driving.
I am generally a ford guy, but I'll take the jeep any day of the week. The interiors of the time were way ahead of ford, and they are generally a much more reliable platform. You think the auto in the jeep is bad, try an auto explorer... Both are great rigs.
Solid front axle wins over IFS for rock climbing every day of the week.
ive been looking for this video as I own a bronco ii (not running) and a 98 Grand cherokee, explorer has similar underpinnings as my bronco, so im excited to see how this goes
The issue wasnt because of the second gen explorer, it was the Firestone tire model they used for that year, and also there was some that say that the recommended tire pressure was wrong on the VIN tag. Other than that, the explorer no matter what year was a good rig
@Sidney Sanders it’s not that “some say”, and the tire pressure isn’t on the VIN tag. The door stickers absolutely said 26 psi. It’s not a rumor, it’s fact. This was 100% intentional by Ford, and not recommended by Firestone.
Also, there are many years of the Explorer that are trash.
Those early explorers were notorious for shattered front hubs. Watching the rock obstacle, I'm pretty sure you did that in 2WD.
you need some mile marker hubs to assume the dana 35 ttbs full potential off road LOL
Almost all Fords have bad front hubs. It's rare to have proper 4wd. Even my 2003 50k mile f150 didn't have 4wd because a hub failed to lock in. After replacing both hubs, 4wd was back in action.
Yeah I was watching it and it looked like he did the obstacles in 2wd. Still impressive tho
The first gen Explorer did have the exploding tires. Firestone ATX. My first was a 92 and it came with those tire. I was on a ride trip and started to feel something weird in the front. Glad I pulled over because I’d worn through the steel belt on the inside passenger tire. I loved my Explorer and traded the 92 for a 00 Eddie Bauer which was my favorite. I tried a 20 and it’s just not the same anymore. The new Bronco reminds me a lot of the 92 from the drivers seat.
I had one of those tires pop on going down dirt road 45mph. All you have to do is slow down a bit.
The V8 option on the GCs were beast. I have a 98 5.9 thats as virgin as they come....all thats fixing to change though.
My 5.2 Cherokee has 356k all original and still does great off-road
TFL classics rule. Great video. This is officially my favorite channel. Everyone subscribe to this channel so we can make it huge. Thanks guys
that ford explorer has the “auto” locking hubs… for the love of god please throw on some mile marker manual locking hubs i could tell one of those hubs is on its way out when the rear was starting to slide out on the rocks… takes a lot to break a mile marker as well 🤙🏽
Holy crap! Let the adults drive! I seem to have no problems driving the 1st gen explorer off road. I still like this stuff!
ZJ is the winner, as someone who has owned and offroaded hard in both.
I literally bought that same Jeep yesterday for $400. XD
I like the old Cherokee and Explorer than the newer Cherokee and Explorers
Awesome vídeo. Can we try this trail with a WK 3.7 grand cherokee??
Unfortunately, the Jeep has a lot more off-road potential due to aftermarket support.
Nah
Fortunately
The jeep may have more potential but it has nothing to do with aftermarket support.
I love the explorer, I had a 98 that was amazing. In high school in the late 90s the rich kids had those Jeep's fully loaded when they were brand new. I thought they were like luxury off roaders compared to the Explorer.
The grand Cherokee is still fairly luxury for American brand
Lol the Explorer still had the Manheim auction sticker lol
Those are still one of my favorite SUVs.
the difference between the 2 is the explorer is body on frame and the jeep is unibody. so with rust or a crash the ford will hold up better, cuz unibody cars the body is the frame. Its like having an old brickhouse vs a mobile home in a hurricane!
I'll go with the Explosive, you still get good off-road performance but on-road usability. The Jeep is better off-road although.