What should I buy?

salsaboy

Member
Joined
Nov 3, 2010
Location
Middlesex, NC
I'm not ready to buy yet so that's why I didn't post in WTB. I'm looking to purchase a 4x4 sometime in the next year. Any of you pro's care to give some guidance?

I need seating for at least 6. Something that could be used as a daily driver. Something that I can tow 4 down (dingy tow) behind an RV. I don't need a trail rig so "stockish" but something with decent off road capabilities. A benchmark for me is something like this mountain pass in Colorado

asalsaboy.smugmug.com_Motorcycles_TransAm_Trail_2008_PICT2985_349011507_UfQuD_M.jpg

or a camping trip to the Outer Banks here or there.

I have a 2wd Dodge 2500 with a Cummins so towing capacity isn't an issue or having a truck for that matter.

So far is seems like there are some Tahoe and Suburban options with manual transfer cases that can be dingy towed. I found out that the Dodge Durango can be towed 4 down but I don't see much chatter about them on here. A crew cab truck could also be considered so it doesn't have to be an SUV.

What other options are out there that I just don't know about or haven't considered.
 
A 4 Runner or an XJ comes to mind for me. The 4 runner would net you more room IMO. The XJ would give you a solid front axle, but looking at that trail an IFS would do just fine.
 
Nothing to seat 6 that I can think of will be decent off road. 4 or 5 maybe, but 6 is big.

If you can seat 5 then an 85-89 4-runner would be my advise.
 
Seating for 6 narrows your trail vehicle down. I know the Jeep COmander has three rows of seating, but I don't know much about its offroad ability (plus they don't make them anymore). A tahoe also has three rows of seating, but front is IFS, and I think the newer ones also have IRS.

What is your budget? I ask because some Land Crusiers might also fit the bill.
 
I should have specified!

I'd be looking for used so something less than $12,000 or so. Cheaper the better. Of the 6 passenger seating 2 are kids. It will be rare that I would actually have 6 people in the vehicle but I need the option.
 
I don't think you'll actually be able to buy anything that would make you happy (at least I wouldn't be happy) in all the areas you require. I'd almost venture to say, buy a mini van or something in the 5-6k range AND an XJ or some other capable wheeler for 5-6k and now you have 2 rides for the same 12 grand...then you still have a family rig when you flop the XJ or blow the engine or burn up the tranny when out wheeling.
 
If you don't require child seats, then you should be able to fit 2 children and two adults in the back seat of a 4-runner. My vote is for the 4-runner.
 
2 vehicles aren't an option. I'm planning a cross country trip with the family and my parents in 2012. The pic I posted was from a cross country motorcycle trip I did in 2008 and I would like to explore some of the same "roads" in Colorado, Utah, and Nevada that I took then. The pic was form the worse terrain going across Hancock Pass in Colorado, my frame of reference. The rest would just be back roads, dirt roads, and some sandy desert roads. Minivans need not apply.

I don't plan on doing any rock crawling on the weekends so that's why I don't need a purpose built rig. I think the XJ would be to small. I used to have a 96 ZJ and liked the powertrain but it would really be good for 5 people. I forgot all about the Commander but haven't heard anything about their offroad capabilities. I thought about the Landcruiser. I know some of the Land Rovers have jump seats in the back which would work but I'm scared of the dependability issues that they have. I'm thinking that a crew cab truck with 3 sets of bench seats could also be a possibility.

Thanks for all of the input guys! Keep it coming.
 
salsaboy said:
I'm thinking that a crew cab truck with 3 sets of bench seats could also be a possibility.
Thanks for all of the input guys! Keep it coming.
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Never heard of three sets of bench seat trucks, did they make those?
 
Old School burban....2 solid axles.
Lift it up a tad and you have a rolling cool bus.
 
BigClay said:
Never heard of three sets of bench seat trucks, did they make those?
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Ford Centurion conversions, and a few special order Super Dutys had 3 rows, but they are pretty rare. There was a 6 door long bed f350 work truck rolling around NC State's campus during Centennial Campus construction.

Honestly I think you need something with 3 rows, sitting 4 wide in a backseat would not be fun at all for the distance it seems you would like to go. A Tahoe with 3 rows has almost 0 cargo room, unless you intend to pile stuff on top and on a hitch carrier, or on a trailer. A suburban would be more suitable, but even more cumbersome offroad, although either of those with a crank to level and some 285s would be able to do the trails you mention. The Toyota Sequoia's have optional 3rd rows as well, but again, very little cargo room behind that 3rd row.
 
True about the suburban. I like the 80s models personally. Plenty of room in those. Buddy of mine wheeled one through all of URE, minus Daniel. Did great.

It's a lot heavier though. Towing costs could rise slightly.
 
cltdba said:
True about the suburban. I like the 80s models personally. Plenty of room in those. Buddy of mine wheeled one through all of URE, minus Daniel. Did great.

It's a lot heavier though. Towing costs could rise slightly.
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This is true, but for the long ride he is talking about, the newer ones may be more comfortable and reliable. Although, being towed behind a RV most of the way, that really doesn't matter.

Also, they don't have to me the manual transfer cases to pull behind, the push button transfer cases can be shifted into neutral as well.
 
dodge durango.
 
I agree with the mid 90s model suburbans. Most of the 4runners cant be flat towed because the oil pump in the tcase is on the input side. The output shaft will still be turning and the bearing will not be getting lubed.
 
If you want a classic ride and keep it all Dodge you could get a Ramcharger solid axles, V8, manual tcase, 2buckets up front and a bench in the back seats 5 comfortably and 6 especially kids no problem since the backseat is so wide. You could get a benchseat from the front of a pickup and have 3 in the front and then 3 in the rear without loosing the cargo room. My ramcharger has 33's stock ride height and can handle the trails your talking about no problem. It's actually for sale but even if you don't want mine one would be a great classic ride that doesn't need a whole lot done to it to be trail worthy/daily driver. Definately be different from all the jeeps and yotas that you see all the time.
 
UTfball68 said:
I'd almost venture to say, buy a mini van or something in the 5-6k range QUOTE]


this reminds me of something i saw on the home page of nc4x4. a company takes vans and makes them 4x4. i dont know how much that will run ya. but i hope it wont me more than the $12,000 including an old van.
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Chevy astros came as 4WD. It was basically a van on an S-10 chasis if I recall correctly. Also I have seen many third row seats Aftermarket companies have them. The big downfall is leg room but when it is kids legroom is not as much of an issue.


BTW, I understand the need a 6 seat trail rig. I got three burbs, 1st, 1991 2WD stock (back-up family hauler/towrig/third vehicle if something breaks. 2nd 1997 K2500 w/a 454 3 inch body lift (wifes daily driver/kid hauler/main towrig/have a gas station on retainer). 3rd 1986 K2500, Offroad only (7 inches lift, 37 in Goodyear MTR's, converted to TBI). I consider it my off-road family truckster LOL. It does great for everyone but it is big and heavy. Good luck.

I will look for the link to the aftermarket 3rd row seats for you.

http://www.littlepassengerseats.com/jeep_grand_cherokee.htm

One in a cherokee
http://www.jatdesign.net/Welcome.html
http://www.jatdesign.net/index.html

http://www.discountvantruck.com/suv3rdrowseats/jeepcherokee3rdseats.htm
 
Ooooo, That opens up a whole new world of possibilities. Thanks for the link.



gmcjimmy88 said:
Chevy astros came as 4WD. It was basically a van on an S-10 chasis if I recall correctly. Also I have seen many third row seats Aftermarket companies have them. The big downfall is leg room but when it is kids legroom is not as much of an issue.
BTW, I understand the need a 6 seat trail rig. I got three burbs, 1st, 1991 2WD stock (back-up family hauler/towrig/third vehicle if something breaks. 2nd 1997 K2500 w/a 454 3 inch body lift (wifes daily driver/kid hauler/main towrig/have a gas station on retainer). 3rd 1986 K2500, Offroad only (7 inches lift, 37 in Goodyear MTR's, converted to TBI). I consider it my off-road family truckster LOL. It does great for everyone but it is big and heavy. Good luck.
I will look for the link to the aftermarket 3rd row seats for you.
http://www.littlepassengerseats.com/jeep_grand_cherokee.htm
One in a cherokee
http://www.jatdesign.net/Welcome.html
http://www.jatdesign.net/index.html
http://www.discountvantruck.com/suv3rdrowseats/jeepcherokee3rdseats.htm
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I'd go for an '80's brick suburban or a full size 4 door truck. With 2 bench seats you can easily put 3 across both front and rear. The Burb will be big for sure but will have tons of room for picnic basket and such in the rear, especially if you take out the third row seat and do the 3 across thing like the truck. You might also be able to find a full size (brick) blazer that you could possibly seat 3 across front and rear. The '80's ones had solid axles frt and rr and the 90's (rounder ones) were IFS. After typing this whole thing, I'd go for the 80's Blazer. And it won't cost NEAR $12k. You're gonna need some of that $$ to fix it up, cause it's surely gonna need some stuff, but still won't be 12k
 
rattlecanpaint said:
I'd go for an '80's brick suburban or a full size 4 door truck. With 2 bench seats you can easily put 3 across both front and rear. The Burb will be big for sure but will have tons of room for picnic basket and such in the rear, especially if you take out the third row seat and do the 3 across thing like the truck. You might also be able to find a full size (brick) blazer that you could possibly seat 3 across front and rear. The '80's ones had solid axles frt and rr and the 90's (rounder ones) were IFS. After typing this whole thing, I'd go for the 80's Blazer. And it won't cost NEAR $12k. You're gonna need some of that $$ to fix it up, cause it's surely gonna need some stuff, but still won't be 12k
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I have 3 different burbs and have had several different K5's. The back seat of the 80's blazer is the same as the 3rd row of same era burb. They fit between the wheelwells. You can get 3 kids in the seat but not if they are in car seats.
 
gmcjimmy88 said:
I have 3 different burbs and have had several different K5's. The back seat of the 80's blazer is the same as the 3rd row of same era burb. They fit between the wheelwells. You can get 3 kids in the seat but not if they are in car seats.
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Yea, but I was thinking you could probably get 2 adults and a kid per seat. Don't know, the rear might be tight with a car seat in the middle.
 
rattlecanpaint said:
Yea, but I was thinking you could probably get 2 adults and a kid per seat. Don't know, the rear might be tight with a car seat in the middle.
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Two small adults and a carseat maybe. Also the middle seat is lapbelts. The outer seats are lapbelts until roughly 1990 then they had shoulder belts.
 
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