what would you choose for an off-road rig?

Jeep TJ or YJ

Edit: Nice choice on the XJ

 

International Harvester: the brand for people who think Jeeps are too darn reliable.


Dad's 68 Travelall towing on I70 up to the Eisenhower Tunnel on the way to Lake Dillon.

 

Lol truth, I wouldn't want to deal with one but they look cool an weigh more then a uss destroyer

 

I love my Tacoma but if I were building a dedicated trail rig I think I'd go with either a 3rd or maybe a 4th gen 4runner.

 

FJ80 with front and rear e-locker on 35in Pitbulls. Armored all the way around with Warn winch in the front.

or... 82 Pickup with flatbed/tube rear. 3link rear and leafs up front. Locked and armored. 4.7's in the case and 5.29s in diff

 

imma say for a toy and nothin else an 80 suzuki samurai with toyota axles for a wider stance then use your imagination from there

 

'Nuff said

 

bad assssss

 

x2

 

Nuff said....don't worry Chris4x4, I'll go pick you up........maybe

 

http://www.dodgepowerwagon.com/classifieds/classifieds.html
some potential fun rides

 

Anyone have any info on that? I want.

 

Land rover defender pickup on portal axles

 

They're freaking expensive. I would love to have one though. It's like a mini H1.

 

This:

 

My choices would be in this order. I've owned each of these and if I had to do it over again I'd have one of these.

1: FJ40
2: '89-95 SAS Toyota Pickup
3: '84-'88 SAS Toyota Pickup/4Runner
4: '93-'97 FZJ80 Land Cruiser
5: '96-'04 Tacoma

For a hardcore wheeler the FJ40 is my first choice and both of the early pickups with solid front axles and crawlers are incredible. The FZJ80 with factory lockers is an awesome all around wheeler if you need the space to take family along. And the Tacoma is very versatile too.

Each of the pictures are my current or past rigs and all fit your budget with the exception of the Tacoma.

My FJ40. I paid $4K for it in 1996 and it was mostly stock and rusty. Spent all kinds of money building/wheeling the snot out of it for almost a decade before I sold it. This is hands down the best wheeling rig I've owned, and would be my first choice if I were doing it again.
Here it is when I bought it.


and after a little money, LOTS of work and lots of wheeling around the time I sold it.




I picked the 3rd Gen pickup ahead of the 2nd gen just because they are nicer inside and less prone to rust but both are great trail rigs. This is my 1993 with SAS, glass fenders, 35's, dual Marlins (225:1 crawl ratio), custom armor, dual ARBs.
Here it is when I bought it for $4k


After some mods and about the time I sold it.









The earlier pickups are great too. I had a 1985 with a carbed 22R and I paid $2500 for it with a small lift and 33's and a very rusty bed. I ditched the bed, built a flatbed, added glass fenders, 5" Alcan/Bilstien suspension, 35's and had a blast with it.
Here it is when I bought it.


and after I modded it.






The FZJ80 is awesome, that's why I still own one. They are super comfy, lots of room and if I were selling mine right now you could probably get it for around $5k. Find one with factory lockers, put a lift on for less than $1k and some 35's and you'd be almost unstoppable. They are great in the rocks and as an expedition rig. I love mine.









Last would be the Tacoma, mainly because it might not fit your budget. I love my current Tacoma and my only gripe is the IFS for hardcore wheeling. I love it for highspeed desert stuff but miss having a solid axle when I get in the rocks.
my Taco when I bought it.


how it sits today

 

Definitely do NOT have an "endless wallet". These projects started over 15 years ago. And there's always a little money coming back when you sell one.

The original front fenders on the '85 were sold and replaced with fiberglass Hanneman Fenders.

 

Unimog