The Ford Explorer Sport Trac Was Too Ahead Of Its Time!

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[@jamesmancuso3666]

Fords greatest feature ever is that keypad on the drivers door. Wish other manufacturers would do it also.

[@drowntone4986]

Use it all the time.

[@LuwiigiMaster]

I sometimes lock my keys in the car, and I wish I had that feature. There are aftermarket kits you can buy and install, but they could be of dubious quality.

[@jaypioh]

Yep I have two Explorers and use both religiously. Best thing ever

[@Cincy32]

I'm relatively certain that Ford has patents on the keypad system which is why it's so rare to see it on any non-Ford.

[@whatsthat9408]

I never used the one on my Flex and it broke before I saw the usefulness. At least I have it in my truck!

[@shitloveaduck]

The second Gen Sport Trac with the 4.6 V8 was the nicest set up. As just a daily driver, the Adrenaline was a very good looking truck!

[@tunerrestorations]

Yes they are. I got one with the v8 and it’s at 500k miles so far on original motor

[@shitloveaduck]

@@tunerrestorations - The 4.6 is one of the best (reliability wise) motors Ford made. The 5.4 is actually really good as well, but if you get a bad one, or run too heavy of oil in it,, you will pay!! Haha. So far so good for me! My buddy has a dealership & they are following one guy with the 5.4 and well over 800,000 km on it already (over 510,000 miles). The front timing chain & camp phasers, the whole assembly, was redone at 750,000 kms because it was starting to make noises. That’s more than acceptable to me. They have several 4.6s now that have gone over 1.2 million kms!! (800,000 miles) with no major failures, but some needed minor work on the front ends.

[@richardr5888]

Those Adrenalin V8's still look great today. Not cheap because they are rare. I wish I could have found one near me in good shape 8 months ago when I was looking for a second car. No midsized 4 door truck today can match the space in the back seat. For those like me that need that space more than a longer/wider bed, it made perfect sense. The proportions were visually perfect. I wish they would bring something like this back and make it so most of us can afford it (sorry, the FWD based AWD unibody Maverick does not count). Give me a utilitarian interior with the option to upgrade with accessories later and take away all the electronic nannies I don't need. I'm old-school, meaning not only do I like to drive, I also know HOW to drive. I don't need automatic braking, because I know you shouldn't be distracted to need it in the 1st place.

[@corinnelaking569]

The Adrenaline trim was a looker! Especially in bright red.😎

[@Mohammadkwt]

Isn't the 4.6 and 5.4 with 3 valves will have the famous cam phaser issue?

[@BigRuskie]

My 07 still is running strong with 242K miles. Very useful and practical trucks.

[@lastgengamers1137]

Lucky, mine was just 10k shy of 200k. Timing chain and transmission were failing on it.

[@RM-lu4hy]

My 2001 has 190,000.

[@enz6312]

That Cologne engine is bulletproof. I've pushed 3 of them (from new) to well over 250K miles without opening up the engine. 1 went to 375K and is still running for the 2nd owner.

[@danelhouseofel7634]

Well, if the engine smells good and sounds good. Then is all good. I wonder if that's how they came up with the name of that engine! Lol 😆 🤣

[@thechosen1617]

I had one of these and it kept getting vacuum leaks lol

[@rjayzonfeet]

Did they fix the timing chain issues for that year?

[@garysarratt1]

Try a .50 BMG with AP rounds?🤔

[@dawsonfradin9071]

@@thechosen1617 Yeah, mine has always had vacuum issues

[@TheBrooklynfoo]

Wish more trucks had this giant back window that went all the way down.

[@UBObfuscated]

I currently have a 2004 Sport Trac 2wd with 55k miles. I bought six years ago with 14k miles. I wanted a vehicle that could tow a small trailer and haul people comfortably. This truck popped up on market. It fit the bill and has proven to be an excellent vehicle that is comfortable and reliable. At 16 mpg it is a bit of a gas hog. Not my dream vehicle, but beats the hell out of spending $70k on a new truck.

[@nickherrera577]

With a trans cooler on my 5r55 ST, i tow my 128i behind it leisurely! Sure im getting like 10mpg but it does the job! Ive had a fridge bsck there too

[@enz6312]

The "trucky SUV" wasn't that popular 20 years ago but is now based upon the recent popularity of the small 4 4 door pickups today.

[@Cincy32]

I would say it's becoming popular again because current midsize trucks are as big as fullsize trucks from 20 years ago whereas crossover trucks have kept a profile that's smaller than today's "midsize" trucks.

[@ZephyrTravels]

So cool to see you guys highlighting a Sport Trac. I had a second generation Sport Trac with the V8. I loved that truck. It was awesome road trip vehicle, we took it on many vacations. Withe the folding cover over the bed, we were able to store everything we needed safely and securely. We towed two small sail boats on a trailer with the V8 had no problem getting down the highway. The best thing was the folding rear seats, it allowed our dogs to ride in the back and look out the rear windows. Thanks guys for bring back some fun memories.

[@ejouie]

Ford learned from this when making the Maverick. They found out the 4ft bed was just a bit too short for what their customers wanted to use it for. A tad over 4.5ft was the sweet spot. They did not make it a mid gate due to requiring the cab to bed support to offset the lack of structure. This made the bed look even shorter which was something that the avalanche struggled with. Ford also waited until they had a powertrain that mostly matched the towing utility that these customers wanted while getting crossover fuel economy. The Sport Trac was very thirsty by comparison.

[@garysarratt1]

Seems like the pass-thru would require a unibody, or at least fuse the bed and cab.

[@MikeHancho47]

6 inches

[@garysarratt1]

@@MikeHancho47 Ummm… congratulations?

[@crazycat4128]

say what you want not against Ford or anything IMO the mavrick is a piece of overpriced junk

[@prestonstephens7719]

In 2005, purchased the last year 1st GEN. Mid-level and paid right at $21,000. Traded it for the last year second GEN 2010. Paid $27,000 for that although listed for $34,000 (great recession pricing). They ran on gasoline or this new E-85 ethanol. She was named Ethel and Ethel II. Both trucks fit into a garage. And in 2015 when I traded in the last one in I cried at the loss. FYI, my 2022 Maverick is just like the Sport Trac… only instead of mileage in the teens they’re now in the 40s 50s (hybrid, of course). So yes, it was 20 years ahead of its time. Thanks for the video.!!!!!

[@brenney6]

I owned a 2002. Had almost 300k on it. It was a great little truck u v. Loved the back window! And fold flat back seat. It also had the flip style hard top tonneau cover. That would flip both ways. Depending on which way you wanted it open.

[@Lothlorian142]

On the Maverick today, if you put the bed down halfway as designed to carry drywall and such, your rear camera just looks down at asphalt so not that much has changed. There's also the same amount of lettering on the sides for 4x4

[@Youtuber-uz5hc]

This is my daily driver. I never liked the look of them but we happened to get one at a good price and I can not believe how reliable it has been. 270k miles and still going strong. Unfortunately it seems like manufacturers don’t build vehicles to last anymore

[@danmeade2950]

Loved my '01 4x4. They were part of the Firestone debacle...got a brand new set of tires after about 10k miles on the original Firestones. Sold it to my neighbor's kid with 80k miles and he still has it with 185k miles on it.

[@doug6191]

9:36 - The US was just getting accustomed to crew cab pickups in the early 2000s, especially compact crew cabs. Frontier, Tacoma, and S-10 all had a crew cab that initially sold in small numbers. The Dakota did, too, but it was larger. It wasn't a new configuration - other countries had them for years before the US, and the US had them mainly for fleet buyers. When the compacts grew to mid-sized in the mid-2000s, the crew cab was the new norm. We now struggle to find regular cabs.

[@garysarratt1]

I turned down the Nissan crew cab version in 2001 for the bed length, got a regular king cab or whatever it was called. I thought they were mostly meant for recreation, and that’s cool. Idk which maker was first with this style, probably Ford.

[@AHungryHunky]

Those S10 Crew Cabs are difficult to find. There is one in my town, and I have seen a Zr5 variant occasionally, but compared to standard and extended cab? Darn near unicorn status.

[@doug6191]

@garysarratt1 If I remember correctly, Frontier was first among the compact crew cabs in the US. I don't think Ford's Ranger was ever available as a crew cab, not even in Mexico. 🤔 For the US, the Sport Trac was their only mid-size crew cab truck-like vehicle in the US until the Ranger was reintroduced from overseas markets.

[@richardkusimenkah]

It's actually very ridiculous that America now seems to be fighting compact trucks so hard. Sport tracks, s10, Mazda B series were all such brilliant trucks. The demand shifted for bigger and better but ttey forgot the critical thing many Americans don't necessarily want or need bigger!

[@doug6191]

@@richardkusimenkah When you say America is fighting small trucks, do you mean the consumer? 🤔

[@adrenalinowner7992]

I had 2 of the Gen 2 Sport Trac’s at one time, by far the most reliable Vehicles I’ve ever owned and that’s with both the 4.0v6 and 3v4.6 .. my V8 is the Adrenalin version.. Member of the Sport Trac owners Group 🇨🇦

[@jswandog]

Funniest and most accurate thing ever said by anyone at TFL: 'Storage for teeth polish and hair extensions for Roman'

[@stephenfitzgerald9740]

My daughter and her husband had one of these and they loved it.

[@lucasstuart-chilcote7069]

My great aunt and uncle have one of these in forest green. They bought it new 20 years ago. They go on long road trips in it and normal repairs as rubber components age. They got a matching camper shell that is very attractive and decorated it with cool bumper stickers along the years to different events, cities, and State Parks.

[@havardbergsvik8969]

Me and six friends spountainously bought a 2001 version together for our exchange semester in Hawaii. It had some oil-leaking and brake issues but worked just fine. The bed comfortably fits 4 poor students, and we absolutely loved every mile of it (until it overheated and almost caught fire in the middle of Waikiki). Definitely the most lovable car ive had!

[@landiahillfarm6590]

Had a 2001 2WD.Absolutely loved it. Gave it to my son when he went to college and sadly he managed to seize the motor up. Wish I had one today, especially the 4WD models.

[@logo8976]

My dad had a 2007 version of this. It was a beauty and I was in love with it! Thanks for the video 😀

[@travisa470]

Speaking from experience, some Uhaul locations won't rent a trailer to you due to it being an "Explorer". I loved my Sport Trac but sadly it wasn't 4wd, so it was sold at 230k miles right after I replaced body mounts haha!

[@AHungryHunky]

Man I loved the era of "SUVs with beds" Maybe its because I was a kid at the time, but the idea of the Avalanche, Sport Trac, and Subie Baja all just had this massive appeal to me. They still do, which is why i am really interested in the Santa Cruz and Maverick.

[@thegeneralbenjamin9518]

When I was a kid, my parents had a dodge caravan and a nissan xterra. When my neighbor bought his new 2003 avalanche (in red), I fell in love with it immediately. I was always begging for him to take me for rides in it all the time. I'm now old enough to buy a car, I got a 2022 santa cruz sel and love it. The ride quality is my favorite feature of the santa cruz, but the body style gave me that flashback.

[@MiamiZombie2012]

We still have SUVs with beds. Modern day pickups are 4 doors with a small useless bed. They don't get used as trucks, just as SUVs.

[@AHungryHunky]

@thegeneralbenjamin9518 Yeah, between the Mav and the Cruz, I'm kinda torn. The Mav is by far the more affordable and practical option (plus I like its more stylized interior). But the Cruz just looks better. It also has the small trunk in the bed and roof rails so I could put a basket, box or racks for extra storage on it, heck I could put fly rod vaults up there and my waiters ans boots in the bed. It just doesn't have a good "offroad" trim like the Tremor Mav or a decent "mpg" offering like the Hybrid Mav.

[@AHungryHunky]

@MiamiZombie2012 While I often make the same joke, in a serious discussion, it's not quite the same. 4 door pickups still have a longer wheelbase, which hurts maneuverability and makes them impractical for normal daily tasks and even turning them around on some narrower backroads, which is an actual consideration for me. A midsized 4 door would probably be a decent middle ground, but I think both the Mav and Cruz offer more comfortable interior space at a lower price thanks to their unibody designs

[@jeedwards1981]

@@AHungryHunky thats very subjective, I think the Cruz looks horrible. The maverick is less refined even in Lariat trim its still the same $20k truck underneath. If you want niceties get the Cruz.

[@Sauga24_]

I had a 4wd 5speed that was an absolute gem. Loved that little truck so versatile

[@craigtiano3455]

In my area, $5k would buy you the most rusty crusty example with 200k+ on the odometer. My father-in-law has had one since new, which he uses to put his boat in and out of the lake and to ferry his dog around (back seats folded flat, with a blanket covering them). He's put about 35k miles on it, and constantly has people walking up to him wanting to buy it.

[@TonyBasuro]

Where is this? I'm going to Arbitrage old V8 Ford Explorers with no rust your way.

[@Farmstead92]

Ive had my 07 sport trac since Nov of '23 ( appx 5 mo.) and I love it. It's a comfortable ride, decent mpg on the highway and has hauled its fair share of lumber and other materials in the bed. I added a ladder rack to increase the storage and hauling space and it meets all my needs

[@91_C4_FL]

I’ve been thinking about Sport Tracs recently. While they were weird in their day, a body on frame truck with SUV amounts of room up front and a small bed in back would sell like hotcakes today. For sure ahead of their time.

[@mr.2cents.846]

The Sport Trac started it all. SUV with a bed. And had independent suspension long before the Ridgeline.

[@jaypioh]

i truly miss the old body-on-frame, midsize SUV days

[@riverraisin1]

Body on frame is exactly why I'm holding on to my '07. Plus it's in really good shape with 180k miles.

[@StraightOtohGunga]

Crazy you guys did a video on these just as I was starting to look into them. Thank you so much!

[@witchdoktor69]

I think the bed extenders are a great idea. To say you can't use it because a new truck has a rear camera is ridiculous. People are getting too carried away with all this tech crap. We never had it before and managed just fine

[@gregkelly2145]

You're right and when not extending, it's a great place to 'contain' things so they didn't fall/roll all over the bed.

[@shawnhill4779]

Exactly ... seat belts, side mirrors, FM radios ... who needs any of that?!?

[@witchdoktor69]

@shawnhill4779 that stuff is totally different and ridiculous to even mention. He said he can't use the bed extender because the tailgate will be down making it so he can't use the camera. Big difference!

[@1guyin10]

Some of the new trucks have two cameras so you always have rear view whether the tailgate is up or down.

[@Domthedominator7]

Rear camera is mandated in US-market vehicles starting with the 2018 model year.

[@joeleber1328]

My dad owned the first and second gen both were 4x4 v6 and were fantastic for everything we used it for from camping to hauling our boat. They were great as a midsize truck thing lol

[@corinnelaking569]

They were sometimes equipped with the Wilderness AT's. I was an apprentice at Ford around this time, and I removed a few sets from these things when new. You forgot to mention (or maybe didn't know about) the center body mount recall. I did one or two of those and didn't much care for the job, LOL. I quite liked these and I wouldn't mind owning one.

[@Mr-Neven]

I had a 02 5Spd Manual RWD and 2010 Adrenalin AWD V8. They were both awesome. The Cheapest and Most expensive. I used that rear window to haul so much trim and lumber. My 02 did roll in an accident.

[@2H2521]

@Mr-Neven Those Adrenalin’s are fricking sweet, one of the coolest trucks Ford has ever built in my opinion.

[@shitloveaduck]

@@2H2521- Heck Yeah!!! The nicest for sure! They drove really well also. The seating was funny until you got used to the fact the steering wheel wasn’t exactly centred on your body. 😊

[@bldontmatter5319]

Sounds like you had an extremely rare setup, 2 times in a row

[@Mr-Neven]

Yeah, I loved both of them. I really wanted to get the Adrenalin fixed but I couldn't find a bed. 18 yr old ran a red. It is different from all the other Gen 2s. I only had 65K on it and just did the front wheel bearings. I replaced it with a 77 F150 and 2021 Lincoln Aviator. @matter5319

[@Mr-Neven]

Fully boxed frame, AWD, IRS, V8. I loved it and occasionally someone knew why it was awesome. It was to be a SVT@​

[@christophercornwall4575]

I had a 2001 ford explore sport trac and I really liked it. Never had any issues other than normal maintenance. Only reason I sold it was because I got to the point where I was towing a lot and really needed a full size truck. I miss it from time to time though.

[@jameswelch8358]

I did a prerunner setup on mine with long travel shocks n tubular arms with 2wd manual. Even regeared it was slow and got same MPG as Silverado. Built a rack for roof top tent. Bed extendor was a must have!

[@cartalks5226]

I have an 02 like that it’s got leather interior and it’s amazing I got it in 2021 for $3800 and it had 94k on it the person that had it before me was a little old lady. I didn’t drive very much and took really good care of it. It’s amazing

[@MegaAmazingc]

I still have my second generation ford Sports truc. I like that back window feature. I have so many great memories with my truck. I Love it .

Still see them driving around. Very well designed and had a lot of features that were useful.

[@damilolaakanni]

Correction. The Sport Trac was based on the third and fourth generation Explorer, not the second generation. The second generation Explorer was the one with the eggcrate grille and somewhat rounded headlights.

[@workingcountry1776]

This is very much a 90s-2001 explorer aka ranger. The sport trac and the explorer sport aka 2 door explorer were still based on 2nd gen explorer when the 2002 3rd gen explorer came out. The 4th gen explorer was also the 2nd gen sport trac.

[@realsamraudabaugh1332]

False, the interior, engine bay, drivetrain and much of the frame are almost identical to the 1995-2001 explorer and ranger. After that it got a lot more car like same as the explorer wagon did

[@CRAPO2011]

​@@realsamraudabaugh1332I never understood why they made this based on that dated chassis they just added white gauges .

[@realsamraudabaugh1332]

@@CRAPO2011 I actually prefer the “dated” chassis since it has the solid rear axle and is easier to work on and maintain. Still rides good enough for me lol

[@CRAPO2011]

@@realsamraudabaugh1332 My Honda minivan has independent rear suspension and it hasn't required any additional maintenance. Unless your going off road don't see why you'd want that truck ride

[@utvballman]

I had a 2001 purchased December 2000 with the 4.10 rear end. Loved it and still one of the best vehicles I have ever owned.

[@jtrex2249]

I had one of the as a K9 unit in the navy. Enjoyed it. Drove well and went forever. Far more reliable than the Chevy Impalas and Tahoes most base security had.

[@paulmcmullen914]

I had both the first and second generation. They remain among my favorite vehicles. Definitely a Swiss Army Knife of a vehicle. The storage bins in the bed of the ‘07+ were great. The Tonneau was strong enough to stand on. The tie down hooks on the side of the bed were fantastic.

[@sandycharlton8669]

I've had my 2010 sport track for 4 years. It's a pretty good truck. I didn't know the back window rolled down. Thanks for showing me that

[@midwestsneakerhead6511]

I had a 2001 Sport Trac with a 5.0 302 Windsor swap and a ton of modifications from Summit Racing. It had over $15,000 in modifications from summit racing. Had a built motor. Race line wheels, a 3 inch lift, and a booming sound system!

[@jerrywagner7346]

Put 280k on mine and it was still running well when I got rid of it. Outside of routine maintenance the only two things I replaced were the alternator at around 225k and the thermostat around 200k. One of the best and most practical vehicles I've owned.

[@gregorymaupin6388]

I have a friend who had taken his Sport Trac after his motor had some electrical problems he took a crate V-8 and changed his transmission and as far as I know he still has it. I haven’t seen him in a while since he’s moved out west to Nevada. He did change the tires and wheels just because he wanted to. He used it to haul parts and after the motor swap it got better gas mileage. I tried to buy it but he told me he was going to keep it till he died, they’re great trucks in my opinion.

[@jaypioh]

I LOVE SPORT TRACS I really wish i got my hands on one but my 2nd Gen XLTs will do! I've only ever seen these sell over $4000 because of how niche they are. the Gen 2 Explorer platform is wonderful. It's peak explorer. I miss when SUVs were truck-based platforms, and this one takes it to a new level of course.

[@cjrivera04]

I have an 03 that I absolutely love. Great little truck

[@toddreiter3270]

I am the third owner of a 2001 sport trac. It only has 135,000 miles on it and it is in very good shape. I have had it for 7 years and id say that it is the best vehicle that ive ever had.

[@harleyrobertson6746]

Love the Sport Trac, especially the Adrenaline

[@lonespartan31289]

I had a second gen with the v8 4x4, it was a super solid truck

[@jereddederer1687]

That was the 4.6 litre wasn't it? The little brother to the 5.4 if I'm not mistaken.

[@lonespartan31289]

@@jereddederer1687 yes, it was a great engine. I had one in my 98 f150, the 07 sport trac, and now my 10' mercury mountaineer.

[@TomMarvis]

I had a 2004 Sport Trac. Bought it used with 106k miles - sold it 6 years later with 186k. Incredible little baby-truck! Only major repair was front control arm replacement at 150k miles. Only sold it because I needed more interiour space.

[@danelhouseofel7634]

I would definitely buy one. Especially since it has the roll down rear glass, and that cage thing is a good added on feature since it is dual function. But I, too, love a lot of these early 2000 pre millennial cars/trucks. 👍

[@mr.2cents.846]

Can you imagine? Driving with the windows down and the rear window down?

[@danelhouseofel7634]

@mr.2cents.846 Ohhh yes, perfect for a long road trip or camping vehicle. (Minus the mpg lol)

[@user-py3ex2ym9f]

I had one of the first 2001 Sport Tracs built. It did have Firestones and I got a free set of Michelins due to the recall. Also had the fuel system completely replaced under warranty. It had many more issues and I got rid of it after warranty expired. Most of the issues were likely worked out after the first few months production. Still see them on the road.

[@jakobwhitsell4439]

I bought one (2004 4x4) and it’s been a wonderful little truck to me in a market where a comparable frontier or Tacoma is 2/3 times the price these are little underrated gems

[@rogerwilliams4428]

Just bought a 2004 Sports Trac and its not the top of the line version but still nice. First thing out of the hat was a bad engine with high miles. This engine is the upgraded pushrod 4.0 engine to an OHV version which required two chain drives front and rear to drive the valve train. This one had the rear chain guide bad and other issues. Being it was the rear one, that requires you to pull the engine also. So the first thing was to buy a used engine to replace this one. I did buy one with 100k less miles and had to replace the guide on this one also. It did turn out to be a good engine and runs great. The overall truck itself is very nice and has plenty of power. Its rated at 210 HP. Plenty of room in the rear seats also. I think I will like this truck for fun and usefulness. The short bed will do most anything most will need. Overall its a nice little truck.. It is built on a Ranger base, btw and has the same dash controls as a Ranger. I just had a 2000 Ranger before I got this one.

[@bradenconway9066]

My uncle had one of those with the 4.6, he was a big avid hunter and got this because he lived in the city. When he passed my aunt sold it and i was in my early 20’s but i wish i could have bought it now in my mid 30’s. im a truck guy i have an 86 chevy c20, 98 gmc 1500, 2009 duramax and ive also had many other gm trucks but I kinda loved that sport trac for some reason. Probably because i did love the old guy and he was always bragging about it haha.

[@lego4virgo]

Don't forget the SVT-inspired Ford Sport Trac Adrenalin! It didn't have the powerplant of the concept vehicle, but it did have the body kit, etc.

[@E_LPacked]

Loved both my sport Tracs. On to a maverick now. But miss my 02 sport trac

[@DisneyMusicVideos]

My dad had a green 2003 2WD Sport Trac. He bought it new & drove it for over 13 years & over 300k miles with no problems. It was the most reliable vehicle he ever owned as it still had the original engine & transmission which still shifted smoothly. He eventually replaced it with a new 2017 Honda Ridgeline that he's still driving today currently with 130k miles which has been reliable as well. My friend who buys & sells cars all the time, had a 2001 Manual Sport Trac a few years back which was the first & only time I ever saw one.

[@jeeaaenlourens1434]

Looks still very neat and solid all around with a mileage like that. Build quality from that era imo hard to beat, you see that in many manufacturers. 1500 to 2500 would be a steal for that one.

[@aaronbritt2025]

The Adrenaline is definitely the one to have. Body colored cladding (instead of two tone) and the 4.6L V8 and AWD. @6:25... Yes, it did. Ford just didn't admit it. The only admitted some vehicles did, but every Ford light truck with Firestones had the problem. Example, my Mazda B4000 (Ford Ranger) had Firestone FR480's. I was religious about my tire pressures being correct (inflated to the number on the door jamb). However, I still had one (LF) delaminate and put a giant dent in my driver's side rocker panel. Ford and Firestone both refused liability. My insurance paid out over $2k to fix it.

[@user-qb7qg2pp6w]

I had a 2007 and I loved it with the exception that it was a gas guzzler. 14 mpg avg.

[@Cire605]

My dad has a 2007 Limited Sport Trac with the 4.6L Modular V8 3 valve has over 310k kms. He's had it since 2006. Gets okay gas mileage. Its awd all the time rear wheel dominant with independent rear suspension. My cousin has a 2002 Sport Trac 2wd with the Manual trans. The engine did pop a timing chain at 330k kms typical for the 4.0L engine. They ended up putting a used engine in and still running today. Over 360k kms on the body

[@jg8263]

The bed extender had a great bonus feature. when the tailgate was up and it was folded in, the space between them was a great place to put gear so it didn't slide around. In fact, it was perfect for 5 gallon gas cans. I personally think the concept should be available for all trucks from the factory (I am aware that aftermarket ones are available for most trucks).

[@richardhill6125]

I have a 2005 XL version (base?) that I bought from the original owner a couple of years ago. It has about 180K miles on it. Some of the paint is started to flake off, but in pretty good shape otherwise. I haven't really done much off roading in it, but that 4wd sure gets thru our Colorado snow real well.

[@Stpete28bmb]

Wish you guys would give us a tour of the interior. Part of the fun is looking at the old designs and tech. Kind of a nostalgia thing

[@jimmclain3093]

Had one through highschool and college, it was an awesome pickup

[@debraharris5971]

I had a 2005 XLS with the manual 5 speed many years ago and loved that truck so much. That's probably why I'm in the market for another one now.

[@jamesovelmen3197]

I had a 2001, bought it brand new when I was 16. Loved it, kept it 22 years, just sold it last year to get a Honda Ridgeline which I think is actually the closest thing to it on the market. Santa Cruz and Maverick are both cool, but the cabs are smaller, the Sport Trac had a good sized cab and a just big enough bed with the extender. Also, those tie downs on the outside of the bed were awesome

[@louism8217]

A couple of things, my 2020 Ranger had a bed extender, and quite useful, even just for tossing groceries back there. My dad has a 2007 Adrenaline with less than 70,000 kms on it, that is a super cool truck.

[@kurtisdavis9526]

Not a Ford guy, but I've always liked these. My neighbor has one he uses for his mobile pressure washer company. It's rough, but very reliable

[@robertashley2714]

Cool video. There is one on my street that is obviously well loved. But generally, you don't see them anymore.

[@johnhart5102]

would love to see more vids of this. slip test, off road etc

[@katrhyme]

My 2002 ST XLS I bought in 2009 at @ 60K is still running strong in 2024 w 166K. I call it my transformer truck cause w the tonneau and bed extender plus hitch w accessories, I can move everything I need to like gravel, dirt, couches, mattress, people, a household 4 times and lumber. So great is it I just bought another but w more oomph - a 2003 XLT 4WD w 163K on it. Am sure they will both keep running great w all the TLC I can muster.

[@rjcolombe]

The regular Sport Trac wasn't much of a looker, but the Adrenalin package made it look pretty darn nice 👌

[@LeeHoweth]

I bought one new in 2001 that I still own. It definitely had the Firestones that Ford replaced after I bought it. I keep wanting to get a new truck but the dang thing keeps on running great!

[@armyguy5000]

i love my 2008 sport trac, engine (v6 4L) is amazing and its super useful

[@triot2127]

I really wanted a Sport Trac when i was in high school.

[@l.j.canady6218]

I have a 2004 Sport Trac with 160K bought new and kept clean. Daily driver despite having other vehicles. Every time I go to Ford dealership, someone ask if I want to sell it. No way buddy can't find anything like this anymore. Love it. It's not just a truck its family!

[@RegsChannel]

I had the 2 door explorer sport (not sport Trac) and it was a bulletproof machine. Dead simple to maintain and surprisingly capable! I feel like the ford Maverick is the "spirit animal" of the sport Trac... Everything you need, nothing you don't.

[@charlessimpkins8228]

I had a 03 explorer sport 3 door 340k I bought it in 2005 and when I sold it had original drivetrain only major issue I had to do to it was a fuel pump and water pump

[@richardnottelmann58]

The second generation Nissan Frontier short bed. Quad cab also had that bed extender.

[@stuntmanmike37]

My 2019 Tacoma has the exact same bed extender and my backup camera is on the tailgate. Whenever I use the bed extender I get a spectacular view of my rear bumper.

[@thatguythere996]

These were not available as a manual. The body was of an Explorer Sport (not explorer or ranger). Chassis was mostly Ranger. XLS, XLT & adrenaline trims were available. The "exploder" was due to Firestone tires exploding and people flipping them(95 to 99). It was the 2nd gen Explorer 4dr. This is based on the 2nd gen Explorer Sport 2dr (completely different body vs 4dr explorer) I Sold these new & used and my dad owned 1 for a long time too. Ford neglected advertising them and they weren't cheap new comparatively

[@cericj99]

Those trucks never got the recognition they deserved. They were driven into the ground in some parts of the region I live in.

[@RobertL78]

I have the 2010 V8 2wd Adrenalin. Tows 5000 lbs on a regular hitch or 7000 with weight distribution setup. The 8.8 IRS makes it drive and handle great. Fully boxed frame as well, so it’s pretty rigid.

[@jamescharles8663]

Great video gentleman!

[@danielrehberg2454]

I had a 2003 as my first car. It was a great little truck. The short bed never stopped me from hauling what I wanted to. I actually managed to drive a good 45 minutes with a large hot tub in the bed. The transmission died after 235k miles because I started getting ambitious with how much weight I towed

[@isaac24]

I absolutely love those. The 2nd gen is cool but the 1st is just awesome looking. They are very well built too. The only downside is the 4.0 SOHC V6 which uses a multiple timing chain design and is kind of a PITA to work on. But these things are still awesome. I feel like the new Maverick, in a way, is kind of like the unofficial replacement to these, albeit with a unibody design and a 4 cylinder.

[@megatonesilva6546]

I've owned so many of these.....the manual 5 speed WITH 4x4 is very rare (I have one of these rare ones). I've never seen another one with 4x4 & manual 5 speed. I also have one with the "adrenaline" options package. Very poor gas mileage. No aftermarket suspension lift kits available for this truck. Rear slider/receiver style trailer hitch is very expensive relative to other similar style hutches. If you plan to put the rear window down, you should first rinse out the bed because the composite material which the bed is made of generates static electricity and as a result it attracts dust......as soon as the back window goes down all that dust gets blown into the cab of the truck and swirls around (into your eyes). The body mount bushings are apparently soft as marshmallows and disappear. Replacing them is a tedious process. The timing chain design is very flawed......you LITERALLY have to remove the engine to replace ONE of the multiple timing chains. When I buy these trucks, I buy them in non running condition. And I only pay (up to) $1,000. They either need the motor replaced or the transmission replaced. Once I've repaired the vehicles, I'll sell them for anywhere between $3,500 - $5,000....with $5,000 being the hopeful sale price.

[@nicholasarceri6613]

Always liked these, shame they never did a 5.0/4x4 option on the 2nd gen explorer.

[@flynncolin1]

The biggest problem these had in Iowa (noticed the Okoboji cap) was that they didn't qualify as a "truck" and were taxed like a car, so total cost of ownership over 10 years was significantly higher than an F-150.

[@Mohammadkwt]

FINALLY !!! I was waiting for this to to be on the channel. We need more tests with it.

[@RonnN-gf8tm]

My Dad almost bought one...he liked the short bed with the flip cage..test drove one..never did buy it

[@NickTarterOKC]

I've always kind of liked these. I owned an Explorer from this generation and it was really cool. It was a 2000 with a 5.0. A truck version always appealed to me.

[@geoffreyreuther5260]

I had one for a while, a 2002 XLT auto. I thought it was pretty cool looking and a decent idea for packaging. Unfortunately it drove VERY poorly. There was nothing wrong with it mechanically, it was just clumsy and lumbering, and didn't offset that by having an even remotely decent ride. The back seat was also VERY upright and not adjustable, so long trips sucked for human rear seat passengers. The storage cubbies behind the seats were quite useful, at least. The 4th gen Explorer, which was the basis for the 2nd gen Sport Trac, drove much better than the first three generations of Explorer (and, of course, the 1G Sport Trac), so the 2G Sport Trac probably was just fine, but I never got the opportunity to drive one.

[@7xtc25]

Ya gotta e kidding me. I just saw one of these today-2002, 177k miles, too! Bought it on the spot for $3100. I feel I stole it. Looking for tips, I found you guys! Great video!

[@furmanmackey5479]

I'd trade my high mileage '05 4X4 Colorado LS for that truck or even a later model and never look back. As I've said before, a lot of folks in our rather rural area purchased Sport Tracs because they could not find a Ranger (NOT the current Ranger). Many of those Sport Tracs AND Rangers of the era are still on the road as daily drivers today. As for the tires, as a college student I had a set of first generation 500s mounted at the Firestone dealership in my hometown on a Saturday. Six days later the left rear literally exploded on I-85. I took the tire back to dealership where I WAS BLAMED for the failure! I then took my car to a "discount tire" dealership in Charlotte, NC and had the remaining three tires replaced with the brand (a Japanese brand) and the spare which was of the same Japanese brand since the Firestone dealership had, thankfully, refused to sell five 500s the previous weekend. Those Japanese tires NEVER failed, and the spare was still, unused, in the trunk when I foolishly traded the car six years later! I have not purchased a Firestone tire since 1974 and never will again. If I were to purchase a vehicle, new or used, today and it had Firestones on it I would drive, slowly and carefully, to the nearest Cooper dealership have them all replaced!

[@AndrewAMartin]

The modern Firestone is not the same company -- they got bought out by Bridgestone. Not sure if they even make tires in the US any more...

[@furmanmackey5479]

@@AndrewAMartinThanks for the reminder. I had forgotten about the buyout, but I would never feel uncomfortable riding on tires with the Firestone name on them. I was a LOT younger when that tire exploded on I-85 and I had to make myself very small to change the tire thanks to cars and trucks traveling at what seemed like warp 6. All that and the manager of the Firestone store where I purchased the tires blamed ME for the blowout/explosion.

[@TheWoodButcher86]

My Dad had a 2001 Sport trac for around 15 years altogether, it was used as a spare truck/work truck driver. Ultimately had around 580k miles when he sold it a couple years ago. He got it woth around 250k on it. Was on its 2nd engine, 2nd transmission, 2nd rear end as well I'm pretty sure. Awesome little truck and I got my license in that truck. Only got around 18mpg unfortunately though. Even as a 2wd Auto with shorty headers and cold air intake.