For eighteen years or so I have been buying used Ford Expeditions to use for my hunting vehicle. Until the 2012 I purchased last Summer I always bought the short version. I have had and worn out a 1997, another 1997, a 2000, and a 2003. My criteria when buying are one owner, four wheel drive, leather upholstery, and less than 50,000 miles.
The 2003 and later models have four wheel independent suspension. They are big improvements over their predecessors which had live axle rear suspension. I can drive one of the rear independent suspension models at twice the speed as a live rear axle model over a washboard road.
Expeditions are capable vehicles. They can be set to low range 4x4, high range 4x4, all wheel drive, and two wheel drive. I have driven them on the highway in 8 or 10 inches of snow. In wet sand, in dry sand, in mud, on iced pavement and across muddy creeks. They have good ground clearance and I have not been stuck very many times.
The ABS system also acts as locking differentials in four wheel drive mode. That is, the computer works the brake on each of the four wheels so that all four wheels are turning at the same speed, as if there was a locking diff between the front wheels and the back wheels and another locking diff between the right front wheel and the left front wheel and a third locking differential between the right rear and left rear wheels.
I did the new-to-me 2012 differently than the others I owned. I removed the third row seats and their seat belts. Then I installed my Truck Vault drawer (its fifth Expedition). I built an enclosure that is anchored to the seat belt reel attachment point, the seat belt hanger attachment point, and the third row seat bolt down points. There is a 1/8" thick vinyl mat on top of the Truck Vault drawer that simply slips out underneath the rear of the enclosure. This lowers the misery of cleaning up after a dog craps or throws up in the truck. I have comfortably hauled three French Brittanys and two Labs along with four hunters, along with all the necessary gear, provisions, and water in my rig.
I really like the ride of the 2012 long wheelbase model I am driving now. It is a wonderful highway vehicle. It has heated leather seats, navigation, traction control, power seats, 32.5 gallon gas tank, 330 hp, 1500 pound useful load, and the towing package which includes the 3.51 rearend. With a full load I average about 13 mpg at 82mph on the highway. About 10mpg in town. I have a heavy foot. Someone with better driving habits would probably get better gas mileage.
Best,
Mike
