[gr8fl4porsche]

If you go the explorer route, get a V8. The 6's suck in the mountains and barely have enough torque to plow thru the snow.

I've had Ford SUV's since '92. Never any engine trouble and most of them for over 200,000 miles. Had to replace 1 tranny, 1 transfer case, wheel bearings, lots of brakes and couple of 02 sensors - thats about it for parts that failed prematurely over the course of 4 vehicles.

If you park the truck alot, I would be tempted to use a battery disconnect in lieu of a smart charger. Keep a good charger close by. I've not had much luck with batteries lately. Replaced 3 Interstates in the last 3-4 months.

Would modern electronics have a problem with disconnecting the battery frequently?
Will the computer have to acclimate every time?