want a trail rig, need advice

jeepcj3a

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 13, 2006
Location
winston salem
Ive got about $3000 to spend to get a trail rig and would like some advice on what would be the best bang for the buck. I have done a little wheeling in our cj which has the stock 6 cly. and 31's and had alot of fun, just need something new. Im mainly looking at 1st gen. toyota trucks but cant decide whether to buy one already somewhat built and spend almost all 3000(theres one for sale w/4.3/th400/203 and 37's for 3 grand), or get a stock truck, and have $1500 or so to spend in upgrades.

I was building up a 1 ton yj but just lost interest and realized that it would be better to get more experience behind the wheel offroad first and find out what i really wanted before i started a frame off build.

So I guess I'm asking if it would be better for a fairly newb wheeler to get a stock truck, wheel it and upgrade as i go, or start with something thats already had some upgrades?

thanks
 
Im a huge fan of upgrading as you go.
Break and replace build ups.

However. If you take a stock yota, you will prolly drop well more than $1500 getting a 4.3/400/203 in it running right.

I really liked the direction you were heading and wish I could have dropped the coin n those sick axles.

:beer:
 
You'll always end up better $$ wise if you let someone else do the work.

Downside is, you may not always like the work they've done.
 
so you're not interested in making your CJ a dedicated trail rig?? Seems it is easiest if you start with something you already own. Put $3k into your CJ, and you'll have a pretty decent trail rig. Other than that, I agree with the previous statement about not getting much for $3k. Especially if you are buying a rig with that.
 
lol, that money already burning a hole in your pocket?:lol:
 
Macdaddy4738 said:
im thinkin 3000 bucks wont really get you a very great dedicated trail rig...
5-7, maybe.
Click to expand...

not true.

i bought my clean good running 82 yota for $900 with no rust and in overall very good shape. after i sold the axles, workbed, wheels and tires, and a spare set of tires i had i have about $25 in the truck. i already had a set of built tons. got 39 inch iroks that were almost new for $575, running dual trannies and making my adapter and i should have less than $3000 in the whole thing when done. shop around, the key to building something when you are broke like me is patients. i looked for about 4 months before this truck feel into my lap! and the majority of it is built of junkyard parts. still not bad for something that will be on tons, 39s, 115" wheelbase with dual trannies at about 220.1
 
I'd say start from scratch, just get a good truck, a lil lift and some tires with the money you have now. Then upgrade as you break/get more money.
 
Rich said:
You'll always end up better $$ wise if you let someone else do the work.
Downside is, you may not always like the work they've done.
Click to expand...

x2

I vote Yota pickup, or Samurai for a budget wheeler.
 
wheel something to small to get some good seat time. figure out your style and what kind of trails you enjoy, then sell you a kidney and jump in with both feet.
 
I vote for the yota p/u too. Buy a 79-85 Solid axle (85 w/22re being the best of the bunch and build it from there. I've wheeled a stock vehicle my whole life. and gone a lot of places. It helps to wheel a stocker first and then decide what you need to get over the obsticles you can't and upgrade from there. It will also help your experience level to wheel a stocker. A heavily modified rig can get an inexperienced driver into trouble. But with a yota you're starting off with a very capable rig.
 
I agree a Solid axle yote or a yj could be had on the cheap and both are excellent starts. with a lincoln locker and persistence you will be able to go where you want.
 
sammys are cheap...ive got a rolling chassis for sale too
 
greg slade said:
I agree a Solid axle yote or a yj could be had on the cheap and both are excellent starts. with a lincoln locker and persistence you will be able to go where you want.
Click to expand...


I agree but on this budget I would get an XJ before I got a YJ because you can save a grand or so and have the same drivetrain. Granted no removable top and you get to deal with unibody but stock YJs with the 4.0 in decent shape till seem to pull 4 or 5K pretty easy.
 
thanks for all the advice. Im going to continue looking for a first gen toyota truck and hopefully be out on the trail for less than 3000$
 
cburgin said:
not true.
i already had a set of built tons. the key to building something when you are broke like me is patients.
Click to expand...

Sounds like the key to building a truck like yours also includes having a set of build 1 ton axles laying around.:confused:
 
Ok being someone who just got past your said senario here's my two cents:

Don't try and build your own rig from scratch, at least to a certain extent. The amount of crappy small stuff that you end up spending is absolutly ridiculous, adds up really fast and ends up literally doubling you origional cost, and sucks big time to fix/put together. I can't stress that part enough.

I mean if it were up to me I would never touch my rigs till i got in it to drive, but in real world senario of course you have to do you own stuff.

If you buy a rig thats already setup and close to being wheelable i think thats your best bet, cause those are the ones that you can usually find good deals on since they arnt quite driveable and the owner is usually pissed off at it and wanting to get rid of it, but you only need to do a few mods to it to get it done.

I went throu 7, yes 7 "project" rigs, close to 10 grand, and several years trying to "build me a rig from scratch"

Finnaly I got my act together, sold off all the random stuff I had bought over the years, found a rig like I described above that didnt need much to be done. This was in January, and have already wheeled three times including running in the DPG Rock Race (granted I did SUPER awsome in the race :shaking: ) but they key thing here is I'm out there wheelin instead of tryin to put something together.

Best decision I ever made, no question about it.

Now If I can just figure out how to keep the damn mud outta my axles . . . .
 
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