Go with the Toyota. The oil filter is a bitch to change, being behind the wheel and all, but the fords are much worse. The explorer switched from the manly truck suspension (which is why all of you complain about it's ride) to an independent setup that removes all of the ground clearance the ford was famous for (although it is MUCH more comfortable). The expedition is basically an F-150 with a top on it, so why not just buy an F-150? I would avoid new fords like the plague for the time being. In their smaller V8's, like the 281, they have gone to a 5w20 oil to save gas. If you put 5w20 in an engine designed for something else, it will explode. I can put 10w30 in a 5w30 engine, and I might lose 10 feet of it's mileage capability, so an oil that is totally incompatible with other engines makes me nervous. You *can* switch from 5w20 to 5w30, but they don't recommend it, in fact, on hondas that use 5w20, it can void your warranty to do so, even though it will increase the heat range you can run. Time will tell on 5w20, but I wouldn't want to be the first one to find out that it's no good.
The older style bronco is a pretty good choice, if it's big enough for you. You will be amazed at the availability of aftermarket parts and accessories, as well as replacement parts. Not just drivetrain parts, either, I mean body panels, suspension parts, even interior.
Ford has also had MAJOR transmission problems in some of their models. In the Explorer with the 4.0L V6, they have an absoutely horrid clutch setup that they can't seem to fix, and all of their 4x4 gearboxes seem to fall off the truck at the most inconvenient times. Their older transmissions, like for the 302 and 351 (which is the same for most 302/351 setups) are reliable and simple to maintain (buddy of mine has 120k on a tranny with no fulid change, no filter change, and no problems, not even a tiny leak), but then you face the question of wether or not you want a big honkin' V8 for a job that a V6 can do.
The Toyota is, in my opinion, not as nice as the ford as far as comfort (seats aren't as comfy, controls seem like they were added as an afterthought, etc.), and all japanese cars have parts mechanics refer to as "magical" (parts that seem to serve no purpose, but are vital to operation), but they seem to be reliable (I saw VERY few toyotas in the shop for anything more than maintenance), and their maintenance is relatively easy, since they use V6es with smaller components so they don't fill up the engine compartment like Ford's V8's and large V6es (try working on a 302 crammed into an explorer! yes, they actually built those at the factory).
A lot of people have mentioned Jeeps... Jeeps are some of the most reliable vehicles on the road. Why, you may ask, do so many people have horrible transmission problems? I have yet to meet a single person (who wasn't a mechanic of some sorts) who actually knows the maintenance schedule for any chrysler product. Jeeps all require frequent transmission service (in the 12,000 to 15,000 mile range). It's a bit expensive to have your differentials and gearbox flushed every year, but they really will last forever if you do it, and their inline 6 is... well, have you ever seen a BAD inline 6? The Liberty is a neat-looking SUV, but stay away from them for a couple of years. They've had 4 or 5 major recalls thus far, so I would wait until they get all the kinks worked out of it. Other than that, it looks like a good product.
Blazers are another option, but not if you're looking for a new vehicle. Newer GM cars and trucks come with this absolutely awful coolant called Dex-cool. It's GM's attempt to copy Toyota's non-silicated coolant (ever wonder why it's red?). I don't know what they were thinking, because it will turn into georgia clay well under the 100,000 mile maintenance interval that GM specifies (if you own one, ignore the 100,000 and change it every 30,000 like you would with any other car). Older blazers are a good idea, especially if you can get the old pickup-truck with a camper top style. They come with GM's 350 and... well... it's a 350, 'nuff said. Suburbans are also an option, but you said the expedition would just barely fit, so...
Well, hope this helps. Good luck
