4x4 vehicle recommendation

[anaphylaxis]

Thanks for the information, this thread has been interesting to read for someone as ignorant on the subject as I.

It seems there are two primary suggestions here: Toyota because of reliability and resale value. Jeep because of lower acquisition cost plus ease and low cost of maintenance.

I haven't heard much about the Pathfinder as per my original post, other than one poster suggesting that I steer clear. Is there anything in particular that tends to be an issue with them?

[Irving]

Maybe it is just me, but when I was looking to buy a 4x4 two years ago, Jeeps were anything but cheap and affordable. Every Jeep started at $5,000 no matter the model, year, or condition. That was right after Cash for Clunkers though.

[<MADDOG>]

Personally. I think the OP should broaden his horizons a bit. IMO, there's nothing wrong with getting an old 70'-80's 4x4... Old V8's and Dana's are pretty much bulletproof, and you can build them how you want and for the cheap.

My $.02

[roberth]

Personally. I think the OP should broaden his horizons a bit. IMO, there's nothing wrong with getting an old 70'-80's 4x4... Old V8's and Dana's are pretty much bulletproof, and you can build them how you want and for the cheap.

My $.02

Yes, a 1976 (first year with disc brakes) Ford F250 4x4 would be a solid vehicle. Maybe stop at 1978 b/c 1979 is when the smog crap started being loaded on the engines. I've seen these for $5000 and under, don't get one the guy lifted or modified, get a clean stocker. You'll have to shop and wait and pounce when the right one comes along.

[streetglideok]

I recommended staying clear of Nissans, and I say that for several reasons. They tend to be much harder to work on than most other brands, especially the Xterra and older Pathfinders and Hardbody pickups, their engines leave much to be desired in quality, and they have had some quality control issues as of late. Removing the transmission and t-case on a Toyota is not a simple job, but not the worst either. On a jeep, its a simple task really. On a Nissan, you are literally tearing apart half the vehicle. Stupidest thing I have ever seen in my life.

Jeeps tend to hold their value on their own, especially in areas they are popular, such as Colorado. I laughingly call Jeep the unofficial state conservative vehicle, the counter to the Subaru. Their(jeeps) prices usually don't run as high as 'yotas, but tend to require a little more repair work than Toyotas, but as vehicles age, that gap closes up. 4wd vehicles as a rule take a lil more care. Take my jeep for example. I own a Jeep Liberty KJ series, which is the first generation Liberty. I bought it used with 44k on the odometer, and was in good shape. Ive replaced a idler pulley for the drive belt, did oil changes on it, and driven it. 78k on it now, and I do have some smaller leaks on it, the rear diff pinion seal is leaking, and the front axle shaft seal leaks. I can handle that work with ease, its just getting time for it. I also need to service the fluids on it as well. I've seen a lot of Toyotas with the same exact leaks in the same mileage range as well. They will also need similar maintenance as well. I don't thrash mine, but it hasn't been babied either. She's been down a few trails that bone stock it really didn't belong. Most of the major parts on it are not horrible to work on, or replace. Every vehicle has its pro's and cons, you just have to keep an open mind. When I was looking for mine, Toyotas were on the list as well as Jeeps. I wouldn't be afraid of a Toyota, basically. However, price wise I got a lot more vehicle for my money, as other than a 4runner being a little longer, and not having every Wrangler owner bashing what I drive, I would have the basically the same thing. Nissans, Mitsubishis, Fords(I used to be a ford guy) were not on the list. A dodge with a straight axle, or a GM pickup would be ok, but for the trails here, full sized rigs are tight on them. So they were scratched off.

[<MADDOG>]

Yes, a 1976 (first year with disc brakes) Ford F250 4x4 would be a solid vehicle. Maybe stop at 1978 b/c 1979 is when the smog crap started being loaded on the engines. I've seen these for $5000 and under, don't get one the guy lifted or modified, get a clean stocker. You'll have to shop and wait and pounce when the right one comes along.

Ditto. As long as you are not in a "smog" area, the sky is the limit, even with 80's trucks...

[ben4372]

If you go pre 76 you can skip the Envirotest dummies. I had a 1999 Tahoe that was as good a SUV as I could have asked for. 19-20 mpg on highway. CHEAP and easy to find part. Nearly as easy to fix as a 70's truck, but much more usable.

[<MADDOG>]

If you go pre 76 you can skip the Envirotest dummies. I had a 1999 Tahoe that was as good a SUV as I could have asked for. 19-20 mpg on highway. CHEAP and easy to find part. Nearly as easy to fix as a 70's truck, but much more usable.

Granted.

However, I see anything without a computer as bonus!

[Hound]

This is interesting to see for me as well. I currently own both a JK and 89 Pathfinder. My neighbor has an 05 4Runner, which I have helped him build up. I have already talked about my JK but now for the Pathfinder. The engine is another one of those 'bulletproof' engines. They just keep going but are not going to be a power house. This truck takes some finesse to off road due to the lack of power but is much like a lite Scout (which I have also owned with 2 K5's back there too, been doing this for awhile). There is not a lot of weight compared to a scout but neither have high horsepower. The thing is, off roading is not about HP. It is about torque. You don't need to do 50 MPH down a trail. You do need a good weight to torque ratio with reliability and ease/low cost of repair. Things will break. Pathfinders are lite, can be picked up for around $1800-2500, maintenance is mixed. Somebody talked about taking the whole thing apart to work on it... Kinda. The IFS in the front means more to work on but it holds up well. Raising it is very easy, rear springs and some cranking on the torsion bars (which will wear out but are cheap and easy to replace). The engine is packed in there and some things are a PITA to get at. Feel free to remove stuff from the engine compartment to make this easier. The pathfinder is not going to be on the top list for most 4x4's but its not bad. This is what I am building up for my wife since it is an automatic and I already own it.

The 4Runner is a good looking truck and can be "out there with the big dogs". My buddy has been able to do a good job on his but it has some weird quirks. The computer controlled suspension has to go. Great while it works but if it goes in the trail you are screwed. This is pretty easy to do though. The drive train is computer controlled, which is ok but can be a lifesaver one minute and a bane the next. It does this brake thing that does not always work the way you thought it would. I have also seen my neighbor not be able to back up a simple set of ramps even though the engine has lots of power. This was again the crazy way the computer acts. The engine and everything have not had a problem. The only time I have seen a truck grande both front and rear diffs was last year when I was running with a 4Runner group out at Moody's. He ended up having to back down the mountain without power. It scared the hell out of him. That same trip nobody else would go up the quarry wall while the two Jeeps (including mine) tried it, only mine made it. The cost on 4Runners is not cheap but not too much higher than a Nissan.

My first "4x4" was actually not a 4x4. My buddies growing up in Missouri had the Broncos and K5's while all I had was an old beat up 63' Chevy short bed. It was not lifted, did not have the cool lights and did not have big cool bumpers they all had. What it did have was a 250 straight six (great torque), good old Wrangler tires (good traction) and finally a granny low gear. I was known for putting it into "1st", getting out while it was still moving and walking up to the door knocking and walking back to stop it. That thing in 1st did feet per hour but when my buddies got stuck, I was the one that was able to waddle out there, hook up and pull them out. 4x4ing is about the truck but more about the driver. Pick a line that is not beating you truck to death and ALWAYS have your recovery gear. Go with a friend or group if possible and most trucks can be made capable off roaders. The cost is going to be lower for American vs not. We got rid of the LandRover when the brakes started to go and we found out the master cylinder could cost as much as $4500 (ya, that much retail... Absolutely crazy). My wife still misses that truck though. If you are just going camping then most anything will work that will carry your gear. If you want to get a little tipsy look for good torque and ease/cost of repair. The initial cost of the truck will not be where your wallet feels the pinch.

The first pic is out at Moody's the second is how we camp.

[roberth]

Ditto. As long as you are not in a "smog" area, the sky is the limit, even with 80's trucks...

Good idea, I didn't think of location.

Granted.

However, I see anything without a computer as bonus!

Yup.