Bronco II vs Gen 3 Explorer in the snow

[ab_slack]

With so much snow this year in this area and getting my 87 BII up to scratch with its front driveline I have had good opportunity to experience the BII and my 02 Explorer within the same storm under roughly equal conditions rather than just having driven one of the other.

I'll admit some bias for the BII as the antilock brakes in my Explorer are annoying as heck in the snow and she just wont stop. I also have also driven one BII or another in the winter for more than 20 years while only about 7 with the explorer.

While braking was always a huge difference between the two I never really noticed what I thought was any really difficulty going anyplace I wanted in the snow in one verses the other.

I did notice some differences now. Just as simple as getting one moving in the driveway verses the other. While most conditions it made no difference, there were a few times the BII just went where the Explorer I had to rock to get it out of the ruts and moving.

I also felt I had a bit more control with the BII. That could be an experience thing or maybe it was just the size/inertia of the Explorer (plus knowing it wouldn't stop worth crap) made it feel a bit more tedious in turns.

While I knew handling of BII was good and I could make it do what I wanted even skidding, I kind of expected the heavier vehicle to feel a bit more sure footed. So that seemed a bit of a surprise.

Maybe the tires made a big diff. Both have road tires, but I do have a slightly more aggressive rubber on the BII

The defroster on the explorer was much nicer as the BII got a bit anemic in some of the really cold storms and couldn't keep ice from the upper portions of the windshield.

Both were able to go anywhere I wanted them so that wasn't a big problem.

The only thing I can really compare both two are the Jeep Cherokee we have and other than annoying antilock brakes again, it feels much more sure footed like the BII.

I kind of always thought larger/heavier would be better. Maybe it is just rubber, maybe there are other things.

Just my musings.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I haven't figured out how or why yet but my mostly stock F-150 will school my Ranger terribly in snow.

Dunno if it is because it carries over half a ton more on roughly the same sized tires or it is the tires or what the deal is... kinda disgusting for all the work I have put into the Ranger.

The one thing that the Ranger can really brag about is when I get it stuck it is FAR easier to get out, both because it won't get as far and it is much lighter (and easier to find a bigger heavier horse to tie on it)

 

[ab_slack]

I haven't figured out how or why yet but my mostly stock F-150 will school my Ranger terribly in snow.

Dunno if it is because it carries over half a ton more on roughly the same sized tires or it is the tires or what the deal is... kinda disgusting for all the work I have put into the Ranger.

The one thing that the Ranger can really brag about is when I get it stuck it is FAR easier to get out, both because it won't get as far and it is much lighter (and easier to find a bigger heavier horse to tie on it)

Haven't really done much in the way of off road.

Around here basic full size pickups seem to be the choice vehicles for snow plowing. Don't know how much that is due to them being the best choice or just that it is off season for those who use them in constructing/landscaping during the summer.

But yeah that is a good more general question in what characteristics make for a better off road or a better snow vehicle than another. I wouldn't expect snow and off-road to be the same..

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

The beef of the fullsize makes it hands down the winner for pushing a plow. Even then they usually get the losing end of the deal in the long run...

I am talking more about snow wheeling than driving on pavement.

I would say the comparison about equal comparing them on pavement as well as offroad, I know the '150 has better tires for that though.

I am trying to keep the Ranger from rusting so it isn't on the road much this time of year either.

Blowing through fresh drifts in my cornfield I wouldn't think more agressive tires would really hurt. Even if it did it has a tight limited slip in the rear vs the fully open '150...

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

My first year of college in the snow belt, I ran my 2wd Ranger. It sucked in the snow, or at least until I put chains on it, then it became virtually invincible. My second year I had bought a stock BII (89 Eddie Bauer automatic) and used that for my campus beater while I used my Ranger for weekend runs home. I absolutely loved the BII in the snow. Even in 2wd it would outperform my Ranger in the snow. And I got a major confidence boost in it's abilities when I took it to a gun raffle thing at a fire hall ($10 got me free food and beer for 6 hours, being a college kid, I didn't care so much about the chance to win, it was my ambition to consume $30+ in food and beer during that 6 hours, lol). I was there with one of my buddies and when things ended around midnight or so they opened the outside doors and we found that a blizzard was in full swing. I ended up making something like a 20-30 mile return trip to campus in 4-low at a hot 5mph busting through drifts higher than the hood of the truck. We got on the one road literally seconds before the police shut it down (if he hadn't had so much trouble getting his cruiser in place, we wouldn't have made it). Fun times.

 

[wildbill23c]

When I was in high school I had a 1984 Ford Ranger 4x2. it did just fine in the snow/ice, never had snow tires on it just standard all season tires. Now I have an 84 Bronco 2 4x4, and find myself hardly ever using the 4WD on it either, mainly just experience knowing how to drive without the luxury of 4WD, and without the traction control systems in new vehicles.

I also have a 2008 Toyota Tundra 4x4. Not a bad truck at all except the traction control and stability control systems I find extremely intrusive unless I turn them all off.

The Bronco 2 I find extremely easy to maneuver and control in ice and snow, mainly due to its short wheelbase and less weight to try and stop. This past winter has been great, as I started out with some crap tires that were on it when I bought it, slid all over the damn place, hit the brakes, pump the brake pedal etc. it would lock up all 4's everytime and just slide. New tires on it for a few months and you pump the brakes like usual on a non-antilock brake vehicle and it will stop a lot quicker than most ABS equipped vehicles will. The B2 is nice too because its so dang small you can turn it around in places you can't with many other vehicles.

10" of snow this last snow storm and never bothered locking in the hubs. With the new tires it just gets going with very little effort, I also think its a bit easier with the manual transmission.

I had a 1999 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 and it wouldn't move out of its own way in snow/ice until you put it in 4WD then it was unstoppable but I'd rather not have to use 4WD unless absolutely necessary and that's one truck I don't exactly miss due to that reason.

I had a 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee LTD 4x4 which I drove all over the place and never once spun a tire unless I was trying and with it being full time 4WD it was extremely hard to get it to spin a tire LOL. Greatest vehicle I've had next to the Bronco 2 for snow/ice operation. I'd take the Cherokee, Grand Cherokee or the Bronco 2 any day in snow and ice.

 

[Chris_North]

I dunno, my dad's '01 Exploder does pretty well in the snow for having crap tires, so long as the 4WD kicks in...

My ranger with its current (and admittedly new and fairly aggressive) tires doesn't do well without 4WD and an empty bed. I've got stuck in loose gravel going up a slight incline. 4WD it does pretty well, but the rear wants to slide out beside me. 4WD, a few hundred pounds in the bed, and a few hundred pounds of plow hanging off the front and it's unstoppable. Sometimes literally, I can not stop, haha. So long as all four wheels remain on the ground I have not been able to get stuck to the point of needing assistance. I have even been able to pull 6500 pounds of van sideways uphill through snow.


I really don't get the amount of crap they're cramming into vehicles nowadays. I get ABS is supposed to help when a driver panics and slams on the brakes on the highway doing 65MPH, but thus far all it's ever done for me is be a pain in the ass when I hit a bump while stopping or try to stop at slower speeds in slick conditions. Some of the other stuff like TCS or auto 4WD seems to be more of a failed idea and a hindrance. Don't even get me started on some of the things I see advertised like auto parallel parking and stop assist. Why can't people just learn to drive?

 

[ab_slack]

The 99 Ranger we have is 2WD and...well unfortunately...it just doesnt' do well in the snow and with all the snow it just sits. It is a nice truck, but in the snow...

The Ranger isn't mine so don't drive it much. It is my BFs ranger and he has the Jeep Cherokee as his winter beater and I have to admit it works great.

I understand what you are saying Bill...I did lots of snow in 2WD..once I got 4wd I figured...if it snowed, I would be so annoyed if I banged up my vehicle driving 2WD in snow so always tend to switch to 4WD.

I agree about the BII turning it around easily. When in the snow I just love that at will I can turn it sideways approaching a turn and then accel with a 4WD spin in the new direction.

 

[ab_slack]

I dunno, my dad's '01 Exploder does pretty well in the snow for having crap tires, so long as the 4WD kicks in...

My ranger with its current (and admittedly new and fairly aggressive) tires doesn't do well without 4WD and an empty bed. I've got stuck in loose gravel going up a slight incline. 4WD it does pretty well, but the rear wants to slide out beside me. 4WD, a few hundred pounds in the bed, and a few hundred pounds of plow hanging off the front and it's unstoppable. Sometimes literally, I can not stop, haha. So long as all four wheels remain on the ground I have not been able to get stuck to the point of needing assistance. I have even been able to pull 6500 pounds of van sideways uphill through snow.

Hey Chris, cool on the 01 explorer. The 01 is, as I recall a gen 2.5lorer which is still RBV. While the few early explorers didn't impress me the I know they were closer to the range. The 02 is a gen 3 and...well to me...significantly bigger.

I totally agree with you about the crap they are cramming in vehicles these days...I have driven some more modern stuff as a rental...but while some was cool and had amazing amount of power compared to older vehicles the just didn't resonate with me. Like the Nissan 4runner that seemed more like a mini-van I rented last summer. The Kia Soul was kinda cool but I still love my BII totally

 

[Chris_North]

Apparently it's not an '01, it must be an '02. You are correct, 2001 is the last year of RBV explorer, but the one my dad has is completely different and closer in appearance to an Expedition.

That is the one thing that is amazing about modern cars. To be able to double the power and efficiency out of the same size engine today than 35 years ago is just awesome.

 

[ltbenji]

Admittedly Virginia doesn't get much snow, but I got through this last storm we got of about 12inches with no problem. I did had an engine with a thrown rod in the bed which I'm sure helped. I made it up an unplowed two lane road with minimal effort. Just kept my momentum up.

Sent from my SM-T217S using Tapatalk

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I really don't get the amount of crap they're cramming into vehicles nowadays. I get ABS is supposed to help when a driver panics and slams on the brakes on the highway doing 65MPH, but thus far all it's ever done for me is be a pain in the ass when I hit a bump while stopping or try to stop at slower speeds in slick conditions. Some of the other stuff like TCS or auto 4WD seems to be more of a failed idea and a hindrance. Don't even get me started on some of the things I see advertised like auto parallel parking and stop assist. Why can't people just learn to drive?

Because if they learned to drive they might have to set down their double mocha latte with half skim milk and an extra whip along with their morning paper and smart phone so they could actually do something behind the wheel. That and they'd have to pay attention to the road around them.

I still avoid using my phone when I'm behind the wheel. But it is possible to pay attention to the road and consume food behind the wheel, I did it all the time for about 8 years driving a small dump truck (manual trans). Hold my sandwich with my left and my drink with the thumb, index and middle fingers of the other leaving my ring and pinky to grab the shifter with. Steer with my knees when I wasn't shifting. It's an art form and I wouldn't recommend it to most.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Hey Chris, cool on the 01 explorer. The 01 is, as I recall a gen 2.5lorer which is still RBV. While the few early explorers didn't impress me the I know they were closer to the range. The 02 is a gen 3 and...well to me...significantly bigger.

They ran the Sports awhile beside the "new" 02+ Explorers, maybe 03 or 04? Then the Sport Tracs ran awhile until they switched to the newer platform too.

The parents have an '02, I like the size of it and it is a tank in the snow (granted they don't play with me in my cornfield) The rest of the car... I am far from impressed with its quality.

 

[ab_slack]

I do like the power of the 4.6L in the 02 Explorer for sure although I have found it to be unforgiving. It is on it's third engine at 192K miles which doesn't say great things. First engine went less than a week after I got it (used) at right around 90K miles. It was under dealer's warranty. Second time I partly blame myself for not catching the oil issue caused when shop over tightened the oil plug at an oil change and it ran 4 quarts before I caught it and it was too late.

In the three BIIs I have had, the 2.9Ls took lots of abuse but were pretty reliable and always gave me warning when it was unhappy before anything serious happened.

I certainly can imagine the bigger vehicles plowing thru snow drifts and such better than smaller which may be why that F150 does better off road in the snow than your ranger.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I certainly can imagine the bigger vehicles plowing thru snow drifts and such better than smaller which may be why that F150 does better off road in the snow than your ranger.

The Ranger has a lot more ground clearance though. The dozer blade front axle probably doesn't help but I haven't decided how much of a deal pushing 0-8"x4' of snow with the front axle would hurt vs dragging 20'+ of truckframe through the snow. The '150 does have the ORP/FX4 front skidplate which probably helps a little too.

I have filmed the Ranger with my gopro and snow hitting the front axle doesn't really seem to phase it, I need more snow so I can film the '150 doing the same.