3-link Cantilever

[Josh_Bethmann]

Does anyone know how to properly set up a 3-link under the cargo area of a 4 door explorer and maintain the seating and cargo areas? Is it possible or is a sacrafice needed?

[jeff]

The first answer would be yes, there are professionals that do this sort of stuff for a living. Asking them to tell you or show you how to do it takes $$$ out of their pockets. Second answer is yes, anything is possible. The third question gets more tricky... do you mean like giving up a virgin to the 3-link God kind of sacrifice? Or something along the lines of tubes and shocks getting in the way of a comfy back seat?

Aloha

[zjohnson]

I'm not sure about being able to find any good sources on three link under bed/body setups, but the cantilever design was shown in offroad magazine a couple of months back . .
Done with leaf springs, but the shocks are cantilevered.
under bed cantilever (http://www.off-roadweb.com/features/0310or_94fordranger/)

[CRAIGHALL]

I've seen this done on an explorer with stock tank.The upper link (one piece) had one bar inline with the drive shaft the other went diagonally to the inside of the frame. The explorer was owned by a mexican bike or quad racer I believe,I saw it in san felipe 2-3 years ago.

[Chris_Wilson]

Sounds like you are describing Perry McNeils Explorer 4-link that uses two conventional
lower links with coilovers but only one upper link on the drivers side. The fourth link is
a panhard rod. Neat idea, since it allows the stock fuel tank to be retained. The side
motion from the panhard would be most noticable at full droop and with limited travel
ought to not be too bad. Lots of these Explorers running around Baja now.

[steveG]

You'd be surprised at how well a good leaf set-up with a properly designed 2-link will work. On the rear of Explorers, the biggest issue is getting enough bump travel. If you want to run 33's on an Explorer & use all of the available bump travel, you're going to have to cut the sheet metal. A 33" tire will hit the inner fender (or fender lip depending on wheel offset) long before the axle contacts the bump stop or frame rail.

[Josh_Bethmann]

Well... It already has a set of 35's on it and the front end is pretty dialed. I just wanted something that would compliment the front end. Anyone know how well a fuel cell will fit in the stock spare tire location?

[SpareChangeRacng]

I believe a Fuel Safe 32 gal. cell, or one of the cells Prep by Jake would fit between the frame rails in the back. You would have to redo the shock locations, but it seems you would be doing that anyways.