is a classic early ‘90s adventure vehicle. Because it’s so easy to modify, lots of folks upgraded the ‘92 Ford Explorer's off-road rating by increasing its ground clearance.

With an original ground clearance of only 6.3 inches, however, an unmodified 1992 Ford Explorer may not be the best choice for trail-riding. Instead, the ‘92 Explorer excels as the ultimate family camping machine, perfect for getting in and out of parks—but not necessarily suited for driving through them.

If you’re dreaming of crushing trails in a classic Explorer,

Jerry

is here to break down the 1992 Ford Explorer’s off-road rating. Learn everything you need to know, including how to find big savings on your SUV’s

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Can the 1992 Ford Explorer go off road?

Yes! But it’s not something you’d want to make a consistent habit without first raising the suspension to increase its ground clearance.

But if you decide to have a mechanic raise the suspension on a 1992 Ford Explorer, you’ll exponentially increase its off-road capability. That’s because the standard 4.0-liter V6 engine generates a ridiculous amount of low-end torque—exactly what you need to climb rocks.

If you can find one in good condition—or if you’ve kept yours that way—

Kelley Blue Book

values ‘92 Explorers at around $2,000, which is an incredible deal for such a powerful engine.

So, what makes the Ford Explorer good at tackling off-road situations? Allow us to break it down for you.

Ground clearance

While the 1992 Ford Explorer didn’t come standard with a ground clearance as high as a proper off-roader, its 6.3 inches of ground clearance is enough to tackle most gravel roads and plenty of well-kept dirt ones.

The minimum ground clearance of a vehicle is measured as the distance from the bottom of the chassis to the ground. Driving experts recommend having a vehicle with a ground clearance between 8.8 and 10.8 inches for off-road driving.

To compare, a classic off-road master, the

Jeep Wrangler

, has 9.7 inches of ground clearance.

Torque

Unmodified, the 1992 Ford Explorer may not be able to drive over boulders, but it sure can get you out of muddy situations. That’s because its engine generates an amount of low-end torque unrivaled by many SUVs—even those manufactured today.

A ‘92 Explorer’s 4.0-liter V6 engine can achieve 225 pound-feet of torque as soon as you hit 2,400 rpm, providing you with a ton of valuable getup.

Tires

The 1992 Ford Explorer is equipped with P225/70R15 tires, providing grippy traction on dirt and gravel.

Drivetrain

The Ford Explorer came standard with four-wheel drive, perfect for muddy or slippery conditions. This allows you to have more control from four points on the road instead of two. In fact, four-wheel drive is usually a must-have for all-terrain driving.

Angles

Some vehicles are able to climb or descend at sharper angles without losing control, so higher approach and departure angles are better for off-road driving. Here’s a further explanation of each:

Approach angle: The maximum angle at which a vehicle can climb without interference

Departure angle: The maximum angle at which a vehicle can descend without interference

The ‘92 Explorer has an approach angle of 32.6 degrees and a departure angle of 22.3 degrees. These are good for light to moderate off-road conditions.

Off-road rating: Rough and Ready

The results are in, and by using

Jerry’s

super-technical DIRT rating system, we’ve decided on a final evaluation for your ‘92 Ford Explorer’s off-road rating:

Rating	Meaning	Description
D	Don’t Try It	Vehicles better suited to highway conditions
I	In a Pinch	Vehicles that can handle off-road conditions in certain circumstances
R	Rough and Ready	Vehicles designed for casual off-roading
T	Trail Boss	True off-road vehicles capable of tackling a range of terrain

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The 1992 Ford Explorer gets a solid R rating for being “Rough and Ready” for casual off-roading.

Plenty of cargo space and fantastic towing capacity amount to making the Explorer the ultimate camping vehicle. You’ll never have to worry about getting in and out of tough campsites with torque like this!

But for traversing off-road trails with more intense terrain, you’ll want to

modify your Explorer

by raising its suspension to around 9 inches or higher.

MORE:

The best old-school off-road vehicles

The best off-road alternatives to the ‘92 Ford Explorer

Should you take the 1992 Ford Explorer off road? Probably not without modifying it.

So, if you’d rather purchase a truck that’s ready to go, there are other options available. Here’s how other great off-roaders compare to the Ford Explorer:

Alternative	Model	Price	Description
Best affordable alternative	1992 Ford Explorer	$2,000	You aren’t likely to find a better value than this!
Best eco-friendly alternative	2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 4WD with 3.0L diesel engine	$53,623	Much better all-round if money is no object.
Best alternative for serious off-roading	2022 Ram 1500 Rebel	$47,850	The ultimate new off-roading machine on the market.

MORE: Cheap off-road trucks

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How to find affordable car insurance for off-road vehicles

If you plan on sport-driving your vehicle—like taking it on off-road trails—you’re going to want to be aware of what sorts of situations would or wouldn’t be covered by your car insurance. You’ll likely need to buy more expensive insurance to make sure that you’re covered while you’re in the outback.

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