In some parts of the U.S. truck and SUV are used interchangeably, although this isn’t correct in terms of an accurate description for cars. The Ford Explorer is an SUV that’s been one of the top sellers in the U.S. since its release in 1991.
However, in defense of your neighbors, the Ford Explorer was a truck for a 10-year run. Known as the Ford Explorer Sport Trac, this midsize pickup was available from 2001 to 2010 (minus 2006) and was a separate model from the Explorer, although it shared the same front end, many of the same features, and, of course, the same nameplate.
The only major difference between the Ford Explorer and the Ford Explorer Sport Trac was a 50-inch bed that also featured a tailgate taken from the Ford F-150 SuperCrew.