PennSilverTaco's "Perfect 5-Lug Regular Cab" Build, Aspergers, and General BS MegaThread!

This website has PDFs of the 1991, 1992, 1993, and 1994 Explorer brochures; I personally think that 1993 is the best year because the engine got a bump in horsepower from 145hp to 160hp and 1993 was the first year for 4-wheel ABS. 1991 and 1992 only had rear-wheel ABS, and 1993 was also the last year for R-12 Freon; 1994, the last year, had CFC-free R134a refrigerant to comply with EPA regulations.

 

If I were ordering a brand new Ford Explorer in 1991-1993, I would get a 2-door with the XL trim, in silver clearcoat metallic with a ruby red cloth interior; I would opt for the standard 5-speed manual, and get the option limited-slip rear diff, which makes a lot of sense since I would probably not get 4WD on a first vehicle to save money. As far as luxury optiosn and creature comforts, I would get everything one could possibly get on a base XL; A/C, cruise control, tilt steering, premium AM/FM stereo cassette*, privacy glass, foglights, and roof rack. The towing capacity of a 5-speed Explorer is lower than that of identical Explorer with a slushbox, but I would still get the towing package...

*All Explorers, even loaded XLTs and the top Eddie Bauer, came standard with an AM/FM stereo (no cassette). At extra cost, you got the same basic radio with a cassette. For even more, you got the "premium" stereo cassette, which was optional as a standalone upgrade on the XL, and part of specific option packages for the XLT and Eddie Bauer. Only the Sport (2-door only), XLT, and Eddie Bauer were available with the JBL speaker system. The JBL system could be had with either a cassette or a CD player.

I don't think that power windows and locks were available on the XL, but pretty much every option except the top JBL stereo was; I believe that a "loaded" 1993 XL 2-door 2WD with every option you could get on that trim would probably be about $15K, and possibly higher than that, but still significantly lower than $20K. Just for comparison, my uncle ordered a brand new 1994 Ford Ranger regular cab short bed 2WD with the 3.0L V6, 5-speed manual, 3.42 posi rear, and literally every option you could get except a CD player. It had A/C, cruise, tilt, power windows, power locks, and a stereo cassette. My uncle says he paid about $12K for that truck.

A no-frills 1993 S-10 2WD with a 4-cylinder engine, 5-speed stick, no A/C, and no other options was about $8K when brand new, according to one of those old "Like a Rock" commercials that I saw on YouTube. I've seen window stickers for 2WD 1989-1993 S-10 regular cabs that are still fairly sparsely equipped by today's standards, but have a V6 engine, A/C, maybe a tape deck and cruise control; I've seen anywhere from $10K for a 1989-1993 S-10 with automatic and A/C, all the way up to $12K-$14K for a loaded (by early 1990s trucks standards) example with power everything. Therefore, I think that $15K for a base "loaded" Explorer in 1993 is about right.

My dad thinks he paid about $12K for a brand new 1990 Camry LE V6 with every option but leather seats and a CD player, but his dad knew the owner of the dealership and got my parents a deal. My parents' Camry was LOADED, and I believe that an MSRP of $15K to $16K is more accurate on that car.

 

Do you think running three or more plug-in Christmas light strands would nuke my alternator?

 

My dad has a Honda generator that powered a refrigerator, a TV and cable box, the internet router, and my laptop for two days after we lost power during Hurricane Irene back in 2011. This generator could easily run enough Christmas lights to decorate a mansion, and also easily be ratchet-strapped to the hitch-hauler on the back of my truck, but my dad would never let me use it for that purpose. We made the switch to white colored lights on the house this year, and I have a metric shit ton of colored lights are only a couple years old, including the net lights meant for mounting on bushes; I would love to put one of those on the hood of my truck!

 

I did that in 2011 and 2012, but I had to run the cord for the lights through the rear slider and I could shut the rear slider all the way. What I need is a power inverter that can be charged, lasts for several hours (or even days), and does not need to be plugged into the truck.

 

I'll be damned; I just did a search and this was the first thing that came up...

 

Gonna ask for it for Christmas...

 

I have driven past so many cops this year and not one of them has even given me a second look; I know that the Christmas lights are totally illegal under the PennDOT motor vehicle code, but last year I was in New Hope and a cop in a marked Explorer complimented me on the lights without mentioning they were illegal. I see lots of vehicles with lights on them, mostly Jeep Wranglers and various pickup trucks. I think police look the other way during the holiday season these days as long as the driver isn't blatantly disobeying actual traffic laws; I make it a point not to drive with the lights turned on immediately after even one beer, and go out of my way to obey all traffic laws. It is also worth noting that I haven't consumed any alcoholic beverages since the Saturday after Thanksgiving; I've got a decent amount of beer in my garage, but no desire to drink it right now...

 

Maybe there's a way to combine the "Zombie Truck" and the "Christmas Truck"...?!?!

 

I'm at work; I texted him a while ago, but he is the type of person who will not look at a text until days or even weeks after receiving it, so I think I'm going to have to call him...

 

Neighbor 2 houses up from me is a borough cop and I've spoken with him several times about stuff like this. He's pretty much told me he's not going to waste time or do paperwork over stuff like this such as decorating your vehicle for a holiday. Now if he had to pull you over for an actual offense and you get mouthy or disrespectful then "it's on" and he will write up every little thing he sees.

 

I've actually gotten out of tickets for two separate offenses and ended up with a warning (left turn on a red in September 2017 and rolling stop in October 2020) because I was respectful to the cop...

 

Does PA have red light cameras?

 

One of the stupidest creations ever. MD has them and they annoy the crap out of me.

 

Guy I know got pulled over for speeding in VA with a radar detector on his bike and was left go with a warning. He 'accidentally" dropped his military ID when he handed over his license. It was a Memorial Day Weekend and I'm quite sure Josh was WELL in excess of the posted speed. Cop handed everything back and told him he wouldn't feel right citing him on Memorial Day but made him pull his radar detector and stow it in his saddlebag.

 

More like the biggest racket ever! Fo nothing for driver safety and just generate revenue.

 

They might reduce safety, as the threat of a ticket in the mail causes more cautious driving. Drivers slamming on their brakes to stop at a light is dangerous.

Few weeks ago I was driving, light turns yellow. I decided to go for it. Car in front of me did not agree. I stopped, but PITA

 

I can’t imagine they pull that much current. Especially if they are LED.
If you still have the box, it should say the Amp/watt rating.

 

I am not going to gamble another $250 on it; I asked my parents for a huge charging block Christmas so I can really deck out the truck next year...