tri650
Active Member
The vehicle: 2017 Ford Expedition Limited 4WD. Purchased 1 year ago. 80K miles.
Background: I am retired (age 70). I am bored. I need a project. I just retired from motorcycles after 35 years of riding due to failing eye sight. Off-road, on road, racing, cross country, etc. Basically everything you can do on 2 wheels. I am using my "motorcycle" money to finance improvements on my Expedition. Some may suggest just buying a cheap jeep and make it into an off-road dedicated vehicle would be a better option but I have ruled that out. Don't want a third car - limited space, expense, etc. So, the Expedition is the vehicle. I live in St. Louis, MO. Here is the plan:
Phase 1 - The Basics:
I want to focus on the suspension (which I don't like) and brakes (tend to shutter when applied) and lighting (stock headlights are horrible). This will take care of the basics and then I will determine if I want to go to Phase 2 - The Off-Road Build. I will still use this for my everyday car and it will still be used for highway/distance trips.
Suspension: Planning on replacing the struts with Bilstein 5100, front and rear. I want the ability to add height for off-road. Keep stock springs. Read many posts on this option and it will set me up for Phase 2. Either way this stock suspension is scary. The back end wants to travel when going over washboard or bumps in road. A few high speed, butt puckering situations have made this a necessity. I plan on doing the work myself. Plenty of video's out there. I also plan on adding a front sway bar (Hellwig). I have a Hellwig on the back and that has helped some with the rear end sway.
Stopping power (brakes): The brakes tend to shudder when applied hard and I don't like this either. I want to replace the front and rear with Powerstop drilled rotors, calipers and pads. I am thinking the sport version over the towing version but will do more research. Opinions are appreciated. Keeping current brake lines.
Basic Lighting: Nothing new here. Stock headlights are weak and barely know they are on. Looked at Fuzed options and will go with LED's. Off-Road lighting will happen in Phase 2
Other Considerations: Regardless of which way I go, I wanted to get the basics done. Phase 2 - Off-Road Build, will look at dedicated off road tires and rims, bull bars, skid plates, extra lighting, recovery tools, etc. Plus, anything else that I come across that will make this off-road worthy. My off road riding would be primarily rock and gravel. Plenty of that around Missouri. Plus planning a trip to Buena Vista, CO in early September and would like to do some of the trails and passes. If I get into this then maybe the Continental Divide trail. Guessing this build will take a few months. Plan on doing the suspension and brakes at the same time and will do the work myself. Once I get Phase 1 complete I plan on doing some light off-roading to see how if feels. Then make decision on moving to Phase 2.
Any and all help, suggestions, opinions, etc., are welcome. I will share all of my experiences as I move along. This site has a ton of info and has been very helpful in setting up this plan.
Wally
Background: I am retired (age 70). I am bored. I need a project. I just retired from motorcycles after 35 years of riding due to failing eye sight. Off-road, on road, racing, cross country, etc. Basically everything you can do on 2 wheels. I am using my "motorcycle" money to finance improvements on my Expedition. Some may suggest just buying a cheap jeep and make it into an off-road dedicated vehicle would be a better option but I have ruled that out. Don't want a third car - limited space, expense, etc. So, the Expedition is the vehicle. I live in St. Louis, MO. Here is the plan:
Phase 1 - The Basics:
I want to focus on the suspension (which I don't like) and brakes (tend to shutter when applied) and lighting (stock headlights are horrible). This will take care of the basics and then I will determine if I want to go to Phase 2 - The Off-Road Build. I will still use this for my everyday car and it will still be used for highway/distance trips.
Suspension: Planning on replacing the struts with Bilstein 5100, front and rear. I want the ability to add height for off-road. Keep stock springs. Read many posts on this option and it will set me up for Phase 2. Either way this stock suspension is scary. The back end wants to travel when going over washboard or bumps in road. A few high speed, butt puckering situations have made this a necessity. I plan on doing the work myself. Plenty of video's out there. I also plan on adding a front sway bar (Hellwig). I have a Hellwig on the back and that has helped some with the rear end sway.
Stopping power (brakes): The brakes tend to shudder when applied hard and I don't like this either. I want to replace the front and rear with Powerstop drilled rotors, calipers and pads. I am thinking the sport version over the towing version but will do more research. Opinions are appreciated. Keeping current brake lines.
Basic Lighting: Nothing new here. Stock headlights are weak and barely know they are on. Looked at Fuzed options and will go with LED's. Off-Road lighting will happen in Phase 2
Other Considerations: Regardless of which way I go, I wanted to get the basics done. Phase 2 - Off-Road Build, will look at dedicated off road tires and rims, bull bars, skid plates, extra lighting, recovery tools, etc. Plus, anything else that I come across that will make this off-road worthy. My off road riding would be primarily rock and gravel. Plenty of that around Missouri. Plus planning a trip to Buena Vista, CO in early September and would like to do some of the trails and passes. If I get into this then maybe the Continental Divide trail. Guessing this build will take a few months. Plan on doing the suspension and brakes at the same time and will do the work myself. Once I get Phase 1 complete I plan on doing some light off-roading to see how if feels. Then make decision on moving to Phase 2.
Any and all help, suggestions, opinions, etc., are welcome. I will share all of my experiences as I move along. This site has a ton of info and has been very helpful in setting up this plan.
Wally