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

I can understand that especially if your daily driver yours. I see solid axles though and drool when I see pics

 

I use to drive one of those. Agreed on the 4.0. I liked it, and kinda reminds me of the way mine drives now.

I've yet to see one pop up on the used market, but I have seen them on the trails.

those are frickin sweet but $$$$.

 

Toyota Pickups and 4runners from 1986 on up were all IFS...personally I would not want an older IFS rig for a dedicated crawler. 1st gen Tacoma is as old as I'd go with IFS

1985 and older Pickups and 4runners are solid axle

Don't forget about Landcruisers, too

 

How big of a vehicle are you looking for?

The mid-late 90's Geo Tracker/Suzuki Sidekick (4 door versions, 2 door versions are getting pricey) are robustly built and don't have the ridiculous prices of a Samurai.

Regarding Bronco II: Get a 1990 model and it will have the D35 front axle. The '90 model is also an easy swap for the 4.0 V6. If it's a 5 speed manual it will have the M5OD trans that is also used in the F150 of the era (plenty strong for the light BII).

Also ALL Bronco II's are sort-of 4x4. The 2wd versions have a dummy t-case so you can add a front axle, t-case, and shifters and have a 4x4.

Converting Your 2wd Bronco II to 4wd

Getting rare but if you can find a 2 door 4x4 Explorer from '91 through '94, it already has all the strong driveline parts and also has a good aftermarket. It's basically a pre-built Bronco II but with the 4.0 stock instead of the 2.9.

The Jeep LJ is nice but $$$ and also comes with a choice of a bad transmission (the 6 speed manual) or a terrible transmission (42RE automatic which is a front wheel drive minivan trans "adapted" to work in the Jeep).

The Cherokees and Grand Cherokees are overall a pretty solid choice with the XJ being a bit more reliable (not as many electrical doo-dads as the GC) and the Grand Cherokees being more sturdy, powerful (a 2002-2004 WJ with the 4.7 HO V8 is a hoot!), and easier to find in soccer-mom condition. On all the Jeeps with the inline 4.0, be wary of the 0331 casting cylinder head which is VERY prone to cracking, usually found from mid-'99 through late '01 manufacture. MASSIVE aftermarket for the Jeeps.

One more to consider is the Isuzu Rodeo. Strong components (D44 rear axle), good aftermarket, plentiful and cheap. Look for one that does NOT have the POS GM 3.1 V6. The 3.2 V6 in them is pretty good and the more powerful 3.5 V6 from the Trooper is a direct bolt-in/plug-in swap. Ideally find one that is a 5 speed manual as the GM automatic in them can be sucky (notice a GM trend here?)

 

g wagon

 

None of the above.

https://www.shoppok.com/orangecount...eed&utm_campaign=global&trmsource=clazoutfeed

 

Bronco II because it has the shortest wheel base and if I had to abandon it in a water crossing I would.

 

I was seeing an Isuzu Amigo with an ARB front bumper and some other mods in my area not long ago. Looks pretty cool.

Edit: Amigo 2dr, not a Rodeo.

 

I would find an older CJ5 (1975 or older) and build it up like my old 1968 M38A1Jeep

Which would include ....

Sbc conversion

SM465 granny box 4spd w/6.54 first gear

Dana 18 t/case or aftermarket Atlas T/case 3.50 or 4.00 low range and 2wd front or 2wd rear capable

Warn 15% overdrive

Dana 44 axles with 5.38 gearing and Detroit lockers , the rear axle converted to full floater with Warn locking hubs or drive flanges

35" TSL Super Swamper tires mounted on steel wheels

3" to 4" suspension lift with heavy duty shackles

Steering box brace

GM Power steering conversion

Hand throttle mounted on shifter

Warn 9500lbs winch


This set up was ultra reliable safe and bulletproof and also being my daily driver easily handled some of California's hardest trails

 

Amigo 2dr and Rodeo Sport are the same vehicle after around 1998. They are also a pseudo convertible as the rear hardtop can be easily removed.

The 2 doors are getting pricey but if you can find a 4x4 with the V6 and 5 speed manual, it is a keeper!

The 4 doors are everywhere and very inexpensive. Once again, find one with the V6 and 5 speed and you have a solid truck.

Put them up on a rack first if you suspect it has lived in an area where they salt the roads as the fuel lines will rust through quickly in that environment.

 

Throw some coilovers on an older IFS rig, and you basically have a tacoma IFS.

 

Different IFS I thought, torsion bar setup and all

 

Yeah, theyre torsion bars. That's why I said throw some coilovers on it.

I don't remember the design for their lower balljoints, but can't be worse than the tacoma BJs, lol

 

That is some good info @CJREX. Thank you. That was one thing I noticed after looking up the Bronco II specs is the motor options and wondered if it would be a downfall later if I ran larger tires or needed more oomph, thus the consideration of exactly what you said with the Grand Chereokee's and the V8's. But good to know that the explorer in 91 -94 is similar, but with the 4.0. I see alot of RWD explores for cheap cheap, can they be converted in the same way you mentioned as the Bronco II?

 

Lol. Why stop there? 6x6??

one day... one day I will create a beast like this.

 

No, the 2wd Explorers didn't come with the dummy t-case. You need to find one that is already 4x4 as the transmission output shaft is different in the 2wd versions.

On the BII, you unbolt the dummy case and bolt in the junkyard case, bolt in the front axle and hook up the t-case shifters. There are a few connections for the 4x4 indicator lights but it's well documented.

 

pics??? that sounds disgusting.
disgusting in a good way.

what would you say is $$ better spent first, after some basic upgrades.
transfer case ? or locker?

 

What about the Suzuki X-90?

 

I would recommend front / rear lockers , you'll not believe how much more trail capable it'll become


Only pics I've got of my old Jeep ...

 

^this right here is my next trail rig ^

My advice is go to where you'll be wheeling, see what people are driving, and talk to the owners. Here's my trail rig before I sold it If the requirement is for a street legal rig, I'd buy another TJ in a New York second. The aftermarket support is second to none, parts are cheap and available in little podunk towns, everyone knows how to fix them, and they'll go most anywhere.



The XJ's, Broncos, Land Cruisers have been adopted by the Bro Landers and finding one good is an expensive proposition.