Honestly if you were starting off with say $1500 cash, you would be much better off with a Toyota pickup.
If you "need" the suv room, then Jeep Cherokee is prob the best all around choice for that kind of cash. (Or yota 4Runner)
You CAN build an exploder, heck you can build anything, but when you haven't bought it yet I would recommend going in other directions if you want to wheel it / lift it, etc.
They come with a dana 35 ttb front and a 8.8 rear axle. I am building a ranger and am putting these axles in it but I am just building a cheep trail rig it all just depends what you want out of your rig.