Batboard

Ok, so I am finally looking to replace my 99 explorer with a new one.....I take a look at the pics of the new 06 explorer to find it has a floor mounted shifter...DAMN! Does anyone know if they are making any special ones with column mounted shifts? With 3 radios, and a smartsiren it's going to be hard to stay with Ford..... Any ideas??

thanks!

I'm not trying to be a smartass, but get an '04 or '05 with the column shifter.

Or an Expedition. Better truck, anyway.

I just did 3 05' units all with colum shift, the last one had a bit different grill and stuff, and was marked 8/05...not sure if it really a 06 model...but are they changing them that much ?

I'd buy the 05

Another vehicle with a floor mounted shifter..... What in the world are these people thinking.?????

We use a lot of ford and jeep and chevy vehicle across the country for security patrol vehicles and the floor mounted shifter gets majorly in the way.... this sux.

I do not understand why they have changed from the tried and true column shifters....

bummer

All in the effort to make SUV's more car-like.

TravelinMan wrote:All in the effort to make SUV's more car-like.

Isn't the point of having an SUV to NOT be car like?

[edit]

After looking at the truck on Ford's website, it doesn't look too bad. The floor shifter kinda sucks though, that really drains your options.

However, i do have to say - the fact that if you get one of the more expensive edditions - you can get captains chairs for the rear seats. That's pretty nice.

-Alex

Hello all,
I think it would be good to see some diversity in here, the reason I say that is, most of the people you see doing installs in here. All have the gear shifter on the column. Some of us don't have that luxury. I see some beautiful installs in here but again, most of the time all you have to do is blast out the center console and you have lots of room. I don't want to oversimplify any install but I would like to hear from some people who dont have it quite as easy.

Thank you

I would agree with one part of your statement, however I disagree with the comment about just tearing out the center console and installing everything there. If I had the ability to do so, I would post the pics of my jeep with the floor mounted shifter, and the lack of other dry space to install my equipment. I think if you really dug deep into this forum, you would find several installs that do more then just put a radio in the center console.

As i reread this repley, I must say that I do sound abite hateful, and thats not the case, thats just my 2 cents worth.

Of course if someone brougth in an SUV with floor mounted shifter, they would find a way to make a nice install, but I think the point here is that if you had the choice and knew already you wanted to have some equipment installed, then go with the shifter mounted up high.

hello,
thanks for replying...
I actually had a longer more to the point and in depth message typed-then i had a pwr dump at my house-lost original post.. so i tried to get to the meat of the post.
Yes. i know that there is much more to installing than what i said.... I was just over simplifying the post and for this I apoligize to all of the folk on here who do more than that(you know who you are).I was just venting i guess....
i look foward to more replies...
Carry on.....
Gig

There must be an option # to delete the center console and floor shifter for a column shift. its also a question of trim level. I'm sure the Eddie Bauer version has the floor shift while an XL or XLT could be ordered without.

Explorers are far too popular as fleet / special service vehicles for Ford to make such a blunder.

Our F-150 quad cab came with column shift instead of the high end trim package with the floor shifter.

I haven't checked the Ford specs, but any slighly intelligent dealer should be able to figure out what goes with what interior package or option code.

GAT A2 SKI wrote:Another vehicle with a floor mounted shifter..... What in the world are these people thinking.????

bummer

I doubt the designers of these vehicles are thinking, "Hmm, what kind of Jottodesk would look best here?". Doubt its on the top of their list.

only time that kind of thing is on any kind of list there, is when tag says "PI" at the end....otherwise, they're busy thinking about the 99% of the population that wants this or that, not the 1% that wants a big gauge fused battery lead or wigwag interconnects.

well on my job(cellsite guy for verizon in NY) we had ford exploders for the longest time, then we had a few chevy S 10'S THEN we moved back to fords. now we have 05's chevy snailblazers on the floor, if i wasnt so embarrased about my install i'd show pics of WHAT I HAD TO DO to get my 2 cdm heads in there along with 2 carkits for my 2 test phones... they just got us LAPTOP MOUNT S which i have not installed yet and a small light for late nightwork , it bolts to the passenger side front 2 bolts for the front seat ,pretty much leave the front seat unuseable for anyone(safety issue as far as i'm concerned) . we used to have a mini van that the field measurment guys used, why they just removed the entire front passenger seat and loaded it with equipment for testing the network.
Gig

What kinda laptop mounts are they? Im kinda lookin for that kind that goes to the 2 seat bolts..

gimme 5 minutes i'll run outside to the car and get the box
I wont be a minute

I dont see a part number but they were bought at L&E mobile computer mounts inc
800 330 5399/610 828 1492 conshohocken PA
I guess if you told them what kind of laptop and vehicle they would help you
hope that helps
Gig

I was thinkin of Puttin my Powerbook in the 2000 honda accord and running my Mp'3 and video player in the front of the car. And using my GPS for Navigation...I will do some hwk...lookn for something not to expensive

B

Again these are popular fleet vehicles, SOMEONE does think of these things.

I am willing to bet if you're not buying off the lot civie explorer you can order it without a floor shifter.

I dunno man, I wouldn't put it past ford or any company to change designs at will. If they are not targeting the public service market for the explorer, why would they care about a column shifter?


Seth

I checked Ford Fleet vehicles today, no data is out for the 06 special service or fleet package explorer, but the expedition and excursion both show console delete as an option.

Laptop mounting in the trailblazer is only possible if you no longer have someone sit in the front passenger seat.

exactly, they are targeting a different demographic on those vehicles.

jsikora wrote:...not sure if it really a 06 model...but are they changing them that much ?

I'd buy the 05

YES, they are.. check it out (i think it's ugly) but it's been revamped heavily.

http://www.fordvehicles.com/futurevehic ... 6explorer/

Its rather ugly in the styling department

Wow, that's fugly...I'm glad we got an '04.

I will take the 3v heads on the V8, though...hmm, I wonder if that's a bolt-on mod

Not to stretch this topic too thin, but what are these designers thinking. Countless cars are ugly blobs with odd angles and body lines these days.

Could be there's no console delete option 'cuz much of the vehicle's electronics are stashed in the bottom of it. I got that problem in my fleet '05 Explorer, so maybe ithe trait extends over to the '06.

True, but the 05 wasn't a floor shifter and several nice overlay consoles by JottoDesk and Havis-Shields fit the OEM console.


When I ordered my Suburban in 03, I selected the console delete option. What no one knew at the time was console delete was voided when I ordered the Bose stereo option.

Maybe Ford plans on removing the explorer from special service / police sales in an effort to shift everyone into the larger expedition and excusion?

Who knows what the car makers up to these days. Those of us who install and manufactur consoles will just work around it like we always do.

Their is no console delete option at this time. I have had no indication of a fleet, VSO, Special Service Unit, or any other way of getting anything but a floor shifter. I manage a Chevrolet-Ford/Mercury dealership. Yes a dealership that has Ford and Chevrolet side-by-side. We are also in the process of buying the Pontiac-Buick-GMC dealership and moving those lines over here as well.

So much for the explorer being installer friendly! What a waste.

get creative and put a pneumatic push button shifter in it that you can bury completely under the floor boards

Well received another bid from another agency that wants an Explorer with a column shifter or Chevrolet Trailblazer with a column shifter. Oh well.