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wetzel
11-03-2011, 05:06 PM
My old vehicle is on its last legs and was wondering if you guys had any suggestions on an all purpose vehicle to replace it. I only wanted to spend a few thousand on it, and wanted a smaller 4 wheel drive vehicle. Here are its uses. I live in a small town and drive it everyday, but work is only a mile or two away. It would be the vehicle I would use for things like camping, hunting, shooting, town errands, and towing a small trailer for truck type chores like getting firewood or lumber. We take my wife's van when traveling longer distances so it wouldn't need to do that. Of course I have always wanted an old Toyota FJ40 but not sure how practical that would be. I have also looked at Suzuki Samurai's, Toyota pickups, Newer body style landcruiser, Ford f150's, Jeeps, and 4runners. I was hoping to get something that is dependable and fairly low maintenance though I know an older vehicle will need to be kept up with at times. Once again, if this is a waste of your time or something you guys don't find interesting just ignore it or let me know. I just thought many of you guys might have some great thoughts that could help guide my decision. Thanks.

crashdive123
11-03-2011, 05:20 PM
All good choices on your list. Find what you can afford - have a mechanic check it over (money well spent) - and go for it. I've owned some impractical vehicles in my life, but the pick-up trucks I have owned have served me well.

Rick
11-03-2011, 05:20 PM
Go to the local library and check their April issue of Consumer Reports. It will have the used car section and will list the best and worst vehicles to purchase based on owner surveys for reliability that Consumer Reports conducts. It also lists a price range and the best vehicles within that price range. You'll be able to see all the pro's and all the cons for any particular vehicle. That will let you know if body integrity is a problem for example or if the electrical system is the very best. And so on. Since you'll know the price range you'll have a better idea of whether you are getting a decent deal if you happen to find that vehicle.

I hope that helps. Good luck. Car shopping can be a real pain. Like you and Crash I can't be without a pickup and I prefer 4X4.

hunter63
11-03-2011, 08:19 PM
My vote would be pick up as well, especially if you are planning on doing all the activities you listed.

Last three have been Fords extended cab's 4X4's, mostly as that was the dealer that gave me the best deal.

southard
11-03-2011, 08:36 PM
'85- '05 dodge dakotas are real good (v8 then v6), late '80s thru '90 f150s, '90s chevy silverados. all good choices

Rick
11-03-2011, 09:40 PM
No they are not. I have a 96 Dakota and it has been a genuine pain in the arse. Just my luck to get one the year after the good ones. The gas mileage sucks salt water and I've replaced stuff on it that I've never ever had to replace on a vehicle before. But once you replace everything then it's not too bad.

The upper and lower ball joints on those model years all had to be replaced. The good news is Dodge picked up the tab. But not on the '96. No, they decided I should pay for those.

Dear Mr. Walsh,

You can kiss my proverbial @#$ you @#$@$ 2435@ @##$@# @#$# #$@#$~!!!!!!!!

Strong letter to follow.

Sincerely,

Your pal Rick

lucznik
11-03-2011, 09:51 PM
If you need a pickup to haul stuff: Nissan Frontier
If you need space for people instead: Nissan Xterra
If you need a big truck: Nissan Titan (though getting one for "a few thousand" would be a tough task)

crashdive123
11-03-2011, 10:28 PM
Let me guess.....Nissan fan?

full disclosure - I owned one years ago and it was great.

JPGreco
11-03-2011, 10:36 PM
I've actually been considering grabbing a late 90's cherokee, though with what Rick said, I'm gonna have to go do that before I purchase anything.

doug1980
11-03-2011, 10:54 PM
I own a Jeep Cherokee and used to own a Jeep Wrangler. Very good all around vehicles. The Wrangler with a 4.0 L is a very reliable motor, only problem with a Wrangler is very little room and towing/payload is very limited. An older Cherokee with the 4.0 L would be a perfect mid sized SUV for just about any situation.

jake abraham
11-03-2011, 11:06 PM
pickup's is my choice to but niassian's are good to

aflineman
11-03-2011, 11:11 PM
I like my '84 Tercel 4WD. Good gas mileage, and goes most places that I need/want to go.

JPGreco
11-03-2011, 11:25 PM
I own a Jeep Cherokee and used to own a Jeep Wrangler. Very good all around vehicles. The Wrangler with a 4.0 L is a very reliable motor, only problem with a Wrangler is very little room and towing/payload is very limited. An older Cherokee with the 4.0 L would be a perfect mid sized SUV for just about any situation.

I need a new vehicle for work, I'm a carpenter, but I don't have to carry around the heavy stuff, just my personal tools and some small material. Also, I want to use it for camping and going on the beach. Not much offroading, but I do need a 4x4 cherokee.

Beans
11-04-2011, 03:19 AM
No they are not. I have a 96 Dakota and it has been a genuine pain in the arse. Just my luck to get one the year after the good ones. The gas mileage sucks salt water and I've replaced stuff on it that I've never ever had to replace on a vehicle before. But once you replace everything then it's not too bad.

The upper and lower ball joints on those model years all had to be replaced. The good news is Dodge picked up the tab. But not on the '96. No, they decided I should pay for those.

Dear Mr. Walsh,

You can kiss my proverbial @#$ you @#$@$ 2435@ @##$@# @#$# #$@#$~!!!!!!!!

Strong letter to follow.

Sincerely,

Your pal Rick

Sorry you had a bad experience with your Dakota's I had two a 1985 V6 5 spd and a 1998 sport, 318 Auto ( 5.2 L ). both were 4 wheel drives. The 1985 was good for 110,000 miles before I gave it to my then 16 years old son. He put another 50,000 miles on it and he used it for a desert truck. No problems no repairs.

The 1998 went 115,000 miles before we traded it off on a 2004 Grand Cherokee. No problems with that one either. We put a cat back on the 1998 and would get good gas milage traveling from Las Vegas to San Deigo. The Cat back really helped. Before CAT Back 17 MPG after Cat Back 23 MPG. All highway driving 75+- MPH

Rick
11-04-2011, 07:38 AM
I've owned quite a few Chrysler products over the years but I won't own any more.

mouse111111
11-04-2011, 09:06 AM
Toyota pickups are great. I have a 92' and it has almost 500,000 miles on it. Someone even tried to burn it for insurance money and it still runs.

If it works for the Taliban, it's good enough for me.

Aurelius95
11-04-2011, 09:28 AM
I've got a 2003 Nissan Frontier crew cab, 6ft bed pick up. The back row is very small for adults, and my 11 year old is complaining about the lack of leg room. However, it's a great truck for my purposes. I wish I had the 4x4, but I don't really need it where I live. I like the longer bed because you can actually use it to haul stuff. It can handle sheetrock, but not as much as full size pick up bed.

SemperFi
11-04-2011, 10:21 AM
If you where it snows and snows alot , I would get a Hummer H2 , I bought one for that reason , where I live its all hills and last year we had 2 blizzards with snow more than 4 feet high , you couldnt see the road , who cares about roads when driving a Hummer , I went where I wanted to go period (I was sold completely) , My Hummer H2 is a 2006 got it for $22k all the bells and whistles (sold new for $75k) only had 50,000 miles on it! I wouldnt get anything else , my friends Jeep is a 2010 wrangler , that POS breaks down all the time !

wetzel
11-04-2011, 10:33 AM
Toyota pickups are great. I have a 92' and it has almost 500,000 miles on it. Someone even tried to burn it for insurance money and it still runs.

If it works for the Taliban, it's good enough for me.

Mouse, what engine does that pickup have? Is it a 4 or 6 cylinder? I sure appreciate all of the replies, this is what I was hoping for. I of course have my personal opinions (based upon limited experience), but am looking for all of your collected experience. If you guys have more to say, keep it up, I am drinking it in. And you have added to my search!! So again, thanks for taking the time. I was unaware of the Dakotas being good, I am going to look into them. I have the same opinion of Chrysler products as Rick seems to have, but since you guys have had great experiences with the Dakota and the Jeep cherokee will look into them.

birdman6660
11-04-2011, 10:40 AM
Suzuki Samurais are unkillable !

mouse111111
11-04-2011, 10:58 AM
It's a 4 cylinder, with 4x4. I cant tell you what engine it has right now. It's really easy to work on and it's great for hauling wood.

Oh here it is... 2.4L I4 SOHC 8V FI Engine
Maximum towing capacity: 3500 lbs.
Maximum payload: 1640.0 lbs.
Gross weight: 4400 lbs.
Curb weight: 2730 lbs.
Fuel tank capacity: 13.7 gal.
I picked this up off the internet

wetzel
11-04-2011, 11:55 AM
Suzuki Samurais are unkillable !

Birdman, here is a serious question for you. I've heard mixed reviews from people about the Samurai. I know they are incredible rock crawlers, but how dependable for every day use are they? And when something breaks how available are parts? I have seriously considered the Samurai, so am looking for some good honesty here.

wetzel
11-04-2011, 12:13 PM
Thanks Mouse

southard
11-04-2011, 02:47 PM
Sorry for hitting a sore spot there Rick, just my opinion and experience. As for older Toyotas the 22r engines are unbeatable 4 cyl engines used in dirt track racing and alot of rock crawlers/ trail rigs in the Pacific NW

Rick
11-04-2011, 04:06 PM
That's okay. I took a little poetic liberties with it,too. Gotta have a little fun with a rant or what good is it?

SemperFi
11-04-2011, 05:54 PM
samarais are nice but really small and the clutch will go out frequently

mouse111111
11-04-2011, 06:03 PM
you could probably get a toyota pickup for under 2k if you get lucky enough to find one.

bobzilla
11-04-2011, 06:06 PM
I bought an '86 bronco from the Forest Service and I will never get rid of it,302 w/170,000 miles and driven whenever i need it!

wetzel
11-04-2011, 08:39 PM
My buddy has a 1986 Nissan extended cab 4X4. It has been sitting for about six years not registered. He had sold it to his son in law but never got any money. The truck is only used for putting trash in the back and hauling it to the dumpster once a week or so. It has 80,000 miles on it and looks immaculate. Up to the point of him selling it six years ago it was one of those trucks that is taken extremely good care of. Does anybody have any experience with these trucks, he offered to sell it to me for a 1,000.

Winter
11-04-2011, 09:17 PM
Look for government auctions. The USFS, for example, sells off all their ugly green trucks every 3-4 yrs. You can get a low milage truck of suburban for $2-3k.

Rick
11-04-2011, 11:23 PM
Do they do those through DRMO auctions or do they hold their own?

m1k3dasa1nt
11-05-2011, 12:23 AM
Unsure what your emission/inspection laws are there. I would go with an old Chevy or Ford in the configuration that suits you. Toyota and Nissan make a great vehicle. But from reading your post it seems you're looking for a knock around truck. The simpler the better. CAN systems used in these newer vehicles are wonderful until the warranty runs out. GM uses twice as many control units as their asian counterparts but the same part on an asian vehicle will often cost 3x. Fuel injection is my preferance but a small part can leave you stranded where a carburator may allow you to limp home. I would go fuel injection with little/no knowledge of fuel systems. Fuel injection is much more reliable. Octane required to run this rig is important. find one that will run 87. Don't think 86 is sold anymore. Sold a '93 Silverado long bed last week. Everything working except the driver's window. 168K miles. Transmission rebuilt days before motor rebuilt at 120. $2500. That's what you need to be looking for.

m1k3dasa1nt
11-05-2011, 12:48 AM
Ummm...why'd I sell it? Had $400 in it...do the math.

Winter
11-05-2011, 02:41 AM
Do they do those through DRMO auctions or do they hold their own?


Don't know. I always miss them.

jarhead
11-05-2011, 04:06 PM
my 2 cents, jeep cherokee, 4.0 L engine. most of these can be found reasonably priced and have been used by soccer moms, so not abused. i own a '99 with over a 100,000 and its not had major prolems. and the list of mods are endless. back seats fold flat down for more room inside storage, rack on top , etc etc

Camp10
11-05-2011, 07:13 PM
My buddy has a 1986 Nissan extended cab 4X4. It has been sitting for about six years not registered. He had sold it to his son in law but never got any money. The truck is only used for putting trash in the back and hauling it to the dumpster once a week or so. It has 80,000 miles on it and looks immaculate. Up to the point of him selling it six years ago it was one of those trucks that is taken extremely good care of. Does anybody have any experience with these trucks, he offered to sell it to me for a 1,000.

I owned an 86 1/2 quite a while ago. They changed body styles mid year and the "newer" 86's were the first of the style they ran until the late 90's. Mine was a 2wd and I got it with an unknown number of miles on it. It broke the odometer somewhere around 160K and they guy I got it from guessed it was a little under 200K when I got it. I changed the cluster to one that read 88K and ran it until it read 126. I got rid of it because I bent the frame very bad trying to pass an impassible bridge....We'll call that crossing a tie. Anyways, it was a very reliable, tough truck for many years and if this one is really that low mileage and solid (check the frame real good before you decide its solid), it sounds like a good choice.

Rick
11-05-2011, 07:52 PM
I bent the frame very bad trying to pass an impassible bridge

Signal, pull out, honk horn, and pass with caution. Bridges don't own the road.

hunter63
11-05-2011, 10:30 PM
I have owned a Toyota pick up, 1972, kinda small, went to a Dodge van, then to a ford 1/2 ton Fi5o, couple of those and now an F250...seems the stuff I like to do reqiure a truck and I seem to over load everything I drive.........

So depending on what you want to do....sounds like "truckie" stuff...don't go too small.

kyratshooter
11-08-2011, 10:23 PM
Being an old geezer I have had time enough to wear out several good rigs.

If you want a pickup every Ford I have owned did more than it should have done up to and including a '93 Ranger that clocked 500k.

I have also owned 5 Jeeps of various sorts and each of them gave me over 200k each.

My present stable includes a Honda CRV, which is my daily driver due to gas milage, and my second Jeep Cherokee.

The CRV is an amazing vehicle for on road use under severe circumstances. I have never been stopped by ice or snow in the CRV and have been down some rough cow tracks heading into fishing and hunting spots, no rock crawling though and do not intend too. I am expecting to see 300K minimum out of the Honda. One nice thing about it is that it has held it's value beyond belief and is worth $2k more than most any other rig it's age.

The Cherokee? It's a Cherokee, what more can one say. Rugged, reliable, climbs trees on demand. Combined with a utility trailer, cargo trailer and pop-up camper one can go anywhere and do anything. Mine is a '97 Model and Kelly blue books at $3,000. That is a very affordable price for good all around transportation in town or wilderness.

I would not fool with a 4-banger Cherokee. The 4L gets just as much milage and has twice the power. Mine cruses the highway at 70 pulling my small trailer, gets 20mpg with that load and has all the creature comforts, AC,PS,PB, very comfortable seats and room to sleep in the back if necessary.

Since the Cherokee is not being made any more, and Jeep has not come up with an acceptable replacement, I am anticipating an engine rebuild and whatever else is necessary to keep this one on the road so my grandkids can fight over it after the funeral.

wetzel
11-09-2011, 11:42 AM
I really appreciate all your comments. I am still mulling it over, searching, and waiting to find a find. I haven't got to check out my buddies truck yet.

Bushman
01-02-2012, 01:11 AM
My take on the deal is this ;

avoid any vehicle with 'computer ****' on them.....

in times of crisis you may not be able to get that brand new 'computerised-every-thing' serviced at all, let alone repaired/replaced..........

'Old school' is GOOD !!

No electronic NUTHIN !!

bear in mind that its highly like that the jihadis somewhere in the world have their hands already on nuclear devices...........
and that........... EMP (electro magnetic pulse) wil FRY all and any electronic device known to man......unless sheilded..........

therefore old school petrol engines with 'plugs and points' will still run...........
as will 'non-electronic' diesel engines...............

basically you want something akin to a steam engine !!

a motor that is 'going' will keep you alive and transport you to relative safety...........

one that has 'died' from lack of care/maintenance' or lack of a Dealers Service Center will serve no purpose at all.

Ideally , you want something that you can strip down and service/repair yourself with a minimum of 'specialist tools'.....

1950's....60's........70's and some 80's vehicles were built this way.............

here in Australia 100's of 1000's of Toyota Landcruisers lie rusting in the bush on farms and outback stations............ if you own one of these older fourbys and break down the odds are better than 'good' that you can hike to the next farm and find parts for your old FJ45 or whatever..........

best part is; downunder anyway, that these old trucks are STILL being driven/used and parts are plentiful...they may chew gas, but in my book, thats the least of your problems !!

'Reliability'.........'Useability'...............' Repair-ability'............ is the main criteria I'd suggest.

natertot
01-02-2012, 10:07 AM
My take on the deal is this ;

avoid any vehicle with 'computer ****' on them.....

in times of crisis you may not be able to get that brand new 'computerised-every-thing' serviced at all, let alone repaired/replaced..........

'Old school' is GOOD !!

No electronic NUTHIN !!

bear in mind that its highly like that the jihadis somewhere in the world have their hands already on nuclear devices...........
and that........... EMP (electro magnetic pulse) wil FRY all and any electronic device known to man......unless sheilded..........

therefore old school petrol engines with 'plugs and points' will still run...........
as will 'non-electronic' diesel engines...............

basically you want something akin to a steam engine !!

a motor that is 'going' will keep you alive and transport you to relative safety...........

one that has 'died' from lack of care/maintenance' or lack of a Dealers Service Center will serve no purpose at all.

Ideally , you want something that you can strip down and service/repair yourself with a minimum of 'specialist tools'.....

1950's....60's........70's and some 80's vehicles were built this way.............

here in Australia 100's of 1000's of Toyota Landcruisers lie rusting in the bush on farms and outback stations............ if you own one of these older fourbys and break down the odds are better than 'good' that you can hike to the next farm and find parts for your old FJ45 or whatever..........

best part is; downunder anyway, that these old trucks are STILL being driven/used and parts are plentiful...they may chew gas, but in my book, thats the least of your problems !!

'Reliability'.........'Useability'...............' Repair-ability'............ is the main criteria I'd suggest.

All good points, but I am afraid that you may have forgotten one little detail. Gas is underground and brought up by pumps. Pumps are now electronic, so if your "electronic attack does occur, you are still SOL once you run outta gas anyway. Just $.02 from my pocket.

hunter63
01-02-2012, 12:47 PM
I would think y'all would give some serious consideration to a hand crank fuel pump for just such occasions.....May need a check value as these are transfer pumps.
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/NTESearch?storeId=6970&N=0&No=24&Ntt=hand fuel pump&D=hand fuel pump&Ntk=All&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Dx=mode+matchallpartial

natertot
01-02-2012, 12:58 PM
I would think y'all would give some serious consideration to a hand crank fuel pump for just such occasions.....May need a check value as these are transfer pumps.
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/NTESearch?storeId=6970&N=0&No=24&Ntt=hand fuel pump&D=hand fuel pump&Ntk=All&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Dx=mode+matchallpartial

I have a siphon pump for such issues. With a fifty foot hose, it takes about 5 minutes to get things flowing pretty good. I just don't know how far underground the gas tanks are. Anybody have any idea there?