So our family has been doing trips in a '94 ZJ which suffered an electrical fire and is pretty much totaled. With this experience I have definitely built up some preferences, but wanted advice on specific vehicle platforms. These are my basic criteria that I am looking for.
1. Total budget (base platform +build) no more than $40K
2. Body type. I'd prefer a short bed 4-door truck, but I'd consider a medium sized SUV. I'm actually undecided on how big of a truck I am willing to deal with. I am located in the South East US, so small can be better.
3. Reliability. This is a top priority because I have had some very close calls, and don't want to be stuck in the middle of the woods with a deadlined vehicle, and also don't want to have a constant freak parade of broken things on my truck that I have to fix. I also regularly challenge the approach and departure angles of my rig, as well as going through water, flexing over largish rocks, logs, and through washout, and engine-braking down steep hills with good size rocks on them. I want something that is engineered for this type of use from the factory, as opposed to something engineered for pavement from the factory, and then heavily retrofitted. This goes back to the issue of longevity and not breaking stuff.
4. Capability. I want the ground clearance, angles, 4-wheel drive system/difs, and protection, to go over stuff. I will also need a winch, which I have (so not a budget problem) will need a bumper system to support. I also want rock sliders and skid plates.
5. Engine. More fuel economy is more better, but torque rules. I was very happy with the 5.2 under the hood of my ZJ, I wouldn't want much less in terms of engine performance.
6. Size. I am undecided on this. For instance, high mileage 1st gen F-150 Raptors can be had in the low 30K range, meets my criteria, but this is a big truck with a wide foot print. Do I really want to wheel this thing in the woods of NC/SC/VA? Also, width is a double edge sword. Sometimes width reduces your roll risk and allows you to straddle things and keep from getting off-camber. On the other hand, sometimes it means it's hard to make tight turns and get through tight spaces. As far as storage space, I really can't accept anything less than the ZJ, and that was pushing it. I also need enough back seat room for when my two kids get to be teenagers. Being squished in the back of a 1st-gen Tacoma, for instance, is maybe not a great idea.
Thoughts I have had so far are Tacoma larger V6 option, Colorado ZR2 with V6 or Deisel, Wrangler unlimited (some concern with cargo room), 2011-13 ish raptor with 100K on it. What are your thoughts. BTW I'm not messing with RTTs, fridgeds, trailors/campers, or other high level creature comforts. The vehicle will get some kind of basic storage system (probably Decked if it's a truck) to make camp setup and break-down faster, so I need some money in the budget for that, but I am not paying big money for something like that. $1500 absolute max, and maybe a lot less. The vehicle is 1st priority. Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
1. Total budget (base platform +build) no more than $40K
2. Body type. I'd prefer a short bed 4-door truck, but I'd consider a medium sized SUV. I'm actually undecided on how big of a truck I am willing to deal with. I am located in the South East US, so small can be better.
3. Reliability. This is a top priority because I have had some very close calls, and don't want to be stuck in the middle of the woods with a deadlined vehicle, and also don't want to have a constant freak parade of broken things on my truck that I have to fix. I also regularly challenge the approach and departure angles of my rig, as well as going through water, flexing over largish rocks, logs, and through washout, and engine-braking down steep hills with good size rocks on them. I want something that is engineered for this type of use from the factory, as opposed to something engineered for pavement from the factory, and then heavily retrofitted. This goes back to the issue of longevity and not breaking stuff.
4. Capability. I want the ground clearance, angles, 4-wheel drive system/difs, and protection, to go over stuff. I will also need a winch, which I have (so not a budget problem) will need a bumper system to support. I also want rock sliders and skid plates.
5. Engine. More fuel economy is more better, but torque rules. I was very happy with the 5.2 under the hood of my ZJ, I wouldn't want much less in terms of engine performance.
6. Size. I am undecided on this. For instance, high mileage 1st gen F-150 Raptors can be had in the low 30K range, meets my criteria, but this is a big truck with a wide foot print. Do I really want to wheel this thing in the woods of NC/SC/VA? Also, width is a double edge sword. Sometimes width reduces your roll risk and allows you to straddle things and keep from getting off-camber. On the other hand, sometimes it means it's hard to make tight turns and get through tight spaces. As far as storage space, I really can't accept anything less than the ZJ, and that was pushing it. I also need enough back seat room for when my two kids get to be teenagers. Being squished in the back of a 1st-gen Tacoma, for instance, is maybe not a great idea.
Thoughts I have had so far are Tacoma larger V6 option, Colorado ZR2 with V6 or Deisel, Wrangler unlimited (some concern with cargo room), 2011-13 ish raptor with 100K on it. What are your thoughts. BTW I'm not messing with RTTs, fridgeds, trailors/campers, or other high level creature comforts. The vehicle will get some kind of basic storage system (probably Decked if it's a truck) to make camp setup and break-down faster, so I need some money in the budget for that, but I am not paying big money for something like that. $1500 absolute max, and maybe a lot less. The vehicle is 1st priority. Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
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