4wd DD - which one?

GubNi

GubNi

8 lug disc brakes?
Joined
Mar 20, 2005
Location
Jonesborough, TN
I want a 4wd daily driver that can do easy trails. I currently have a TJ which is ok, but horrible fuel economy. That's the reason I am posting on here. I know fuel economy and real 4wd don't go together, but is there a decent compromise? I need at least something in the 20+ mpg on the highway and not too bad to maintain. I'm ok to hunt for something rare. Tell me what to look for.
 
1994-1998 ram 2500 with the cummins
235-width tires
nicely tuned should net you ~20mpg.... but that would be like 16mpg from a gasser


old 4-banger yota???
 
Hurley said:
1994-1998 ram 2500 with the cummins
235-width tires
nicely tuned should net you ~20mpg.... but that would be like 16mpg from a gasser
old 4-banger yota???
Click to expand...

old toyotas don't get very impressive mpg numbers
 
Before I switched up to 33s I was getting 22-23mpg with 31x10.50s and 4.10s in my 93 yota with the 22re and 5spd. It got pretty bad with the 33s but once I stab some gears in it I expect to be back at 18-19mpg. I vote yota, older 3/4 ton oil burners do well too, but will cost more to maintain and to modify.
 
Late 90s Nissan Pathfinder? My wife has a 97 Infiniti QX4, same as the R50 Pathfinder. Little 3.3 is pretty torquey, got about 23 on the highway when we took it to the beach, gets 18-19 normally around home. 4wd works great, I took it out and played in the snow in it a bit. Has 4hi/low and Auto 4wd which works smoothly. It is easily/cheaply lifted 2" with new coils and shocks. You can run lockouts on the front to keep the front axle from spinning, and maybe squeeze another mpg out of it. It has 188k miles on it currently, we bought it with 150k and the only major thing I have had to fix is bushings in the suspension and an alternator. Trans has been rebuilt and had to do timing belts, but I feel it is pretty reliable.
 
my XJ got 21-22 on the highway when it was stock. Not bad being it was pretty torquey. That was also with 160k on the clock. Now I'm lucky to get 14MPG, but it needs a regear.
 
97-01 Jeep Cherokee or 99-04 Jeep Grand Cherokee both with the 4.0 I6

Both have solid front axles, easy to work on, and get 20mpg + on the highway if you drive like you have some sense.

Not to mention the life span of the motor is almost second to none in the 4wd realm
 
1stgenxxx said:
old toyotas don't get very impressive mpg numbers
Click to expand...

Sure they do if you have them tuned right and run stock size parts.
I know several folks that have gotten 20+ MPG on 5spd 22re trucks on street tires.
Hell the '89 4Runner I use for playing and racing has an A/T, 33s, 5.29s, and beat to hell and still gets 17 mpg.

Pathfinder would be another good one.
Rodeo?
What about a Ranger?
I had a buddy several years ago that had a little Mistubishi truck that got like 27 mpg. Sucker was incredible. It may have been 2wd though.
 
Older toyota

I was getting 20-21 highway with my 22re 5sp 4runner. driving like a grandma, with little weight in it.

my 90 22re auto gets 19.5 or so.

both had 31's if you had stock tires and drove smart i'd think you could easily put up numbers in the 22 range
 
GubNi said:
Had a 96 cherokee for awhile and it got about 15mpg stock.
Click to expand...

The '97+ body was supposed to squeeze a couple more mpg out of a more aerodynamic windshield and some other body tweaks IIRC. The best I ever got out of my '97 was 23 but that was on 215s and a long highway trip going 55 the whole way. Averaged about 17-19 in town.

Subarus are their own beast, can't argue with the fact that all the wheels drive all the time, they're fairly peppy and the mileage is head and shoulders better than pretty much any truck-based 4wd you're likely to find. But I think part of that is the driveline doesn't have the added slack or weight of a transfercase with low gears. I don't think I'd want to run trails in one, but I did beat the piss out of mine before the motor finally gave up.

Also subaru parts seem to be forged from platinum and baby farts, talk about some proud prices.
 
I currently dd a 79 yota on a 83 long bed chassis with a 5sp and a mildly built 20r (cam, weber, headers) on 33 bfg at and get around 20mpg with stock gears. Speedo is off so I have only checked the mileage a few times with a gps. At 70mph its below 2500rpms. Hills suck a tad when you have to grab 4th. Tight in the cab too. I've got open diffs and it wheels good with the wheelbase. Also very easy to maintain.

If you really want to get crazy a friend of mine put an older mercedes diesel into a first gen Nissan extra cab. They have divorced t case so he ran a short shaft from the benz auto tranny to the case. It gets more like 30mpg and runs on wvo.
 
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