what would you choose for an off-road rig?

I would buy a 91-96 XJ. They are extremely cheap, aftermarket is plentiful, come with solid axles, and the 4.0/Aisin trans are bomb proof. The downfalls are the unibody, and realatively weak rear axle. But when you only pay $900 for a driveable Jeep, what do you expect?
It really depends on how much you want to spend. Bang for the buck, XJ, no doubt.

Ever see the "Cheep Cherokee" on Xtreme 4x4?

 

I choose other, I think you should go with the '85 Toyota pick-up, reasons: 22re and straight axle(reminder not all '85s had the 22re). 1st gen 4runner would be a good choice too.

Reason why these are a no-go:
Cherokee: Yes a good build platform but weak unibodys tweak quite easily, tranny mounts quickly fail and often push the engine into the radiator (tranny mounts are personally experience with my friends his Cherokee ate 3 sets of mounts and 4 radiators in one year, but it was an heavely built, wheeled, and beat on rig)

1st gen taco: IFS

4runner: '86-present year models have IFS

 

here is my view on this subject. no i didnt read the 7 pages of who the hell knows what was said.

get an older yota, with EFI, a few 85 runners/trucks are floating around they have SFA already in them. if not that if you get a pre95 yota DO NOT get one with a stock v6 they had alot of issues. if you were going to get a jeep which is your choice, i would say get one that has a frame, unibody are ungood. thats my view.
i have an 86 pickup Xtra Cab EFI, all i had to do was put an 1" longer shackle on the rear, and turn up the torsion bars to get 33s on her

 

Munky do you have any pics of your 86. I love the toyota pickups.

 

Pictures?

 

84 pickup 22R.

 

or conert to fuel injection

 

I would say go with an old toy truck. Cheap to work with and will last forever! Just make sure you get the 22r. I plan on getting one when I get back to the states. Stuff is just expensive for me to do anything while I am in Alaska.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJhhTdgiqbM&feature=player_embedded

 

I say Pinzgauer...we had some in one of our units for a while, very nice.

 

This.

 

the LCE would be a dream, but I do have some tricks up my sleeves for later down the road. I work with an engine builder, so when my 22R does take a poop we are going to build the hell out of it.

 

i expect to see a build thread
or do you have one?

 

will probably do one when I get going a bit further. For now I have what i have done so far at the end of my other build thread.
click here I have a ton of parts to stock pile before I dig in to much further.

 

im about to get a samurai soon as soon as i sell my harley its smarter to wheel something thats only 3k than a 25k new truck while im in college right?

 

Even well after college...