What trail only rig would you chose? If you had to do it again-or for the first time...

I'm looking for your experience, stories, and advice on rigs you've used on the trails. This would be my first, trail only vehicle I've owned and plan on towing it to and from on a trailer. No more daily driver mishaps lol.
So far I'm leaning towards the ones that are most readily available on the cheap to begin. Sorry that excludes most Yota product but look to my fellow TW bros for some more inspiration and ideas.

I'm looking for untouched and "stock-ish" hopefully. From what I've seen, there are Jeeps galore (YJ, Cherokee, Grand Cherokee (little on the heavy side) ), and a few randoms which I would consider also like the Ford Ranger and Ford Bronco II (hopefully find one with the Dana 35 front axle). I like both Jeep and Fords for their availability of parts and aftermarket support.

Edit: Typo on the XJ, I meant YJ. How do I change the poll? lol

A couple of considerations:
aftermarket support (cheap or $$$?)
extra parts from the yard
cargo room (for gear and tools)
Towable, GVWR within Taco capability with the trailer.

 

What kind of trails?

Your skill at field fixes?

Is this to go from and to a base camp or have longer offroad runs?

 

Ranger. Because LT stuff for them is stupid cheap and plentiful compared to tacomas.

 

Good question @Gunshot-6A .

Trails: mountainous terrain, rocks, mud, tight trails, the odd shallow river crossing

Fixes: comfortable doing most things

Is this to go from and to a base camp or have longer offroad runs? Not sure yet....I have never ventured too far because I have always used my daily driver and been paranoid of breaking shit.

 

"LT stuff??"

 

You quoted the wrong guy. But I approve of your answers.

honestly, you could go on a longer run TO base camp, then short trips from there.

 

Long travel

 

Good answers.

Older Tacoma (pre 1st gen) or a Ford Ranger would be on my shopping list.

 

I'd probably still have my 1st gen 4Runner.

A good 80 series wouldn't suck, either.

My 1st gen Doublecab does pretty nicely as a dedicated trail truck, though. Modern enough to have some creature comforts like A/C, but old enough that I don't give a shit about the paint.

 

I wouldnt be opposed to that. No matter what I end up finding I'm going to start off simple but effective - my idea anyways . Minor lift with locker, good recovery gear. Good tires.

 

Did any of those have IFS?

 

There is a dirt cheap 400 buck bronco 2 for sale right now. Missing a rear drive shaft but otherwise good 2 go. I'm very tempted.
The solid axle rangers are a bit more rare also.

 

That's a good point. Much better trails also I'd imagine too further out

 

If I was doing a trail toy today, personally I’d look at 2005/6 Jeep LJs. Better wheelbase than the TJ, parts are plentiful, the 4.0 is damn near bombproof, easy to add a full cage if you like rocks, AOA/AOD/BO is all pretty good even stock.

Downside prices are still a bit high on them.

 

Tintop Sami or lb Sami.

 

Anything I could SAS (if not already solid axle).

 

Trail only and trailered everywhere? A side by side is the best choice.

 

Ever since seeing someone wheel the crap out of a crew cab long bed chevy (and do very well with it), I think I would have 2 requirements:

1) reliable
2) cheap to buy parts for

Other than that, its all in how you modify it and it would depend on where I was wheeling.

All that said, I think I'd pick up a CUCV.

 

Land Cruiser

 

All of the ones I've owned were IFS. My 4runner was an '86, so the 1st year of the IFS.

My trucks were always daily drivers, and even with my tacoma being a dedicated trail truck now, I still prefer IFS. I don't do dedicated rock crawling. The terrain I like is more varied. Maybe one day I'll SAS the taco, but for now I'm happy with a mid travel IFS setup.