[hunterbob]

This might not be the best place to put this thread, but I didn't know where else to put it.

We need to buy some sort of 4WD vehicle that can get up a muddy dirt road on a mountain and haul things like a trailer. What would be our best choice of vehicle for a reasonable amount of cash? What do you own?

Also, what are your options if you get stuck in a place like that with a broken vehicle. Is it possible to get a tow truck to a remote location on a dirt road?

I got a Dodge 3500 4x4 6.7 diesel with a 4x4 ATV in the back.... Works for me on the prairie and open range.... The ATV is the recovery vehicle for hogs and yotes. hee hee hee

 

[NHP1127]

If you want a simple inexpensive 4x4 that can also tow... look at the real thing, an early Willys Jeep. Put a hardtop on it or soft top. Can tow a lot off road.

 

[HKGuitarfingers]

How about a 1986 M1009
Paid less than $4K for mine in 2011, delivered to me with only 36K miles on it
Basically it's a 3/4 ton Blazer
A great/simple diesel vehicle
Mileage is around 20 MPG
No Electronics and 90% of the parts are common off-the-shelf GM truck

 

[MontanaMEL]

My 2-cents worth...

So, you need to haul a trailer up and down some Mtn?.. And, it's muddy or otherwise slick? AND, this trailer may be HEAVY or LARGE???

Do you want something you can work on, or not?

My choice, to also fill the need when SHTF...

DUCE'n"A HALF with one of the gas engines (or, Diesel if that is all you can get right now)...

Outfit down in Eastern Idaho has 3 for sale..I think 2 were under 50k miles, prices were $5,995 and $6,995 I think...as of a month ago.

Convert the pintle hitch to a very "deep" drop 2-5/16" ball mount.
IF you need creature comforts while traveling, build your own "crew cab" ..

And, just think...in a pinch you can move your own 105mm tube and pallets of rounds, eh?..

BTW: Cummin's engines need their valves adjusted or they loose power and dump their mileage..- Ford/IH/GM diesels don't need that service.. Just keep your fuel clean and de-watered...if up north, run a proper anti gel and a cetane number increaser (NOT an "index number one"..).. YMMV.
For true off-road use, LOCKER's are a real boost in slippery conditions!
A high-lift (4ft) jack and some blocks, with a come-along will handle most slip-offs.

Good Luck.

 

[17Oaks]

This might not be the best place to put this thread, but I didn't know where else to put it.

We need to buy some sort of 4WD vehicle that can get up a muddy dirt road on a mountain and haul things like a trailer. What would be our best choice of vehicle for a reasonable amount of cash? What do you own?

Also, what are your options if you get stuck in a place like that with a broken vehicle. Is it possible to get a tow truck to a remote location on a dirt road?

I started off roading back in the early 60's. Driven a lot of rigs over the years, led trail runs out in Moab for a few years, wheeled across the US to include Alaska and Hawaii, Europe and some parts of Asia and Latin America. Owned a offroad shop for a few years then sold it, I drive'um, I build'um and I have tackled some of the most difficult trails there are out there.

Jeep SWB (short wheelbase), hands down, heads up against anything out there.

You best buy right now is a used Jeep Rubicon TJ, try to find one stock it will out perform just about anything out there and most built rigs to boot...

 

[JLA]

I would recommend a full size pickup with straight axles front & rear. Pre-1988 Chevy & GMC pickups are good choices. Dodge pickups, especially those with Cummins diesel engines, are also good choices as are Ford Superduty pickups. (Be aware that the 6.0L Powerstroke diesel is unreliable, and that it takes $4k-$6k to fix the problems with it.) Any post 1994 Ford F-350 or Superduty with the 7.3L Powerstroke is an awesome truck with an awesome engine, but unfortunately they usually command a premium because everyone knows how awesome that engine is!

While I personally prefer diesel engines (good power & good fuel mileage), don't discount a truck with a gas engine. They're less expensive than diesel and a lot easier to work on too.

 

[tom42]

I would get an older Chevy Suburban myself.
The main problem with them is rust, so don't buy one from a snowbelt state.
You could even ive in it, there's so much space.
Second choice would be an older Ford E150 van converted to 4x4. They are around,and parts are plentiful. 75 to 91 all look the same.

 

[RKW]

What ever you get, be sure to have posi-track in both front and rear.

 

[beachgrad]

Best 4wd

You mentioned affordable and able to tow a trailer but not much more. Here goes. Mid size pickup- Toyota with a 4 banger. Mid size SUV- Jeep Cherokee (not a Grand) with the 4.0 or a Toyota 4Runner. Full size pickup, 3/4 or 1 ton Ford or Dodge. The V-10 Ford is great if you keep coolant in it (I have 2, a 99 and a 2000). Either truck with a turbo-diesel is even better EXCEPT the Ford 6.0 (yes, I know they can be modified but that is spendy). Full size SUV- get a crew cab pickup. Each of these vehicles is common, easy to get parts for, and relatively affordable for what you get.

What do I have? I own a small business so I have four pickups, a 99 Dodge Dakota, the aforementioned '99 and '00 F-250's, and a '13 F-350. Why am I not recommending a Dakota? I have replaced the engine (a 318), trans, and rear end in its just over 100,000 mile life. It is fun to drive. The 99 F-250 has broken down on me once, when its fuel pump failed at 130,000 miles. The 2000 has never broken down on me (knock on wood). The 2013 F-350 is absolutely amazing, tows my backhoe like it's not even there, but would only be considered affordable if I had just won the lottery.

 

[bitterwinds]

BEST 4x4

In my opinion and I've owned blazers, broncos, dodges, Nissans, Toyotas, willys and contemporary jeeps, I always find myself going to my old IH Scout when the going f=gets rough the road is S**t or the snow is to deep she never lets me down amnd has pulled my sons dirty crack diesel out on more occasions than I care to remember. They are easy to work on have a solid drive train and are equipped with a motor that was literally built for a dump truck and I have pulled some huge loads with mine, I still have a 79 Bronco and 79 1 ton 4X4 but the scout seems always be the go to rig here. We literally see all extremes weather wise here and she has never failed to get me and my trailer in or out.

Just my opinion the one draw back is 12-13 mpg that's the only area the wifes fj cruiser beats it. If you have basic mechanical abilities they are easy to keep running and cheap parts are out there.

 

[GBI Defence]

This might not be the best place to put this thread, but I didn't know where else to put it.

We need to buy some sort of 4WD vehicle that can get up a muddy dirt road on a mountain and haul things like a trailer. What would be our best choice of vehicle for a reasonable amount of cash? What do you own?

Also, what are your options if you get stuck in a place like that with a broken vehicle. Is it possible to get a tow truck to a remote location on a dirt road?

I have a 1984 Land Rover Defender 90 200 tdi diesel for sale left hand drive just pro painted in USMC Dessert Sand with Black roof and checker plate on fenders & hood to walk on - Military tires rock sliders hiback seats front disc's Coil springs 2inch lift full time 4wd with centre diff lock Class 2 hitch things a goat seats 7 or a large wet dog in back lol - photos available pm me - no complex electrics easy as a shovel to maintain.

 

[Fox mulder383]

There are a bunch of great 4x4s out there, but realistically none are the best at everything. Everything Depends on the intended use and budget you have. If it was a smaller trailer I would get a rubicon, xj or Tacoma. If you require something larger I would get a power wagon, cummins or a pre-87 fullsize chevy/GMC. Just remember, diesels are usually the way to go if they match your budget and criteria.
There's no right or wrong answer. Personal preference plays a huge factor too, something maybe dead nuts reliable, but you absolutely hate the way it drives and feels; I think Tacomas are great trucks, but I'm 6'4 and fit in them like I would a clown car. Just make sure you make a good informed decision.
Just my .02

 

[spud]

Many good rigs out there.

To me it revolves around what you plan to use your rig for most all the time. Anymore for my life after retiring from being a professional life long mechanic and shop owner I settled on a 94 Jeep YJ. I had 9 FJ40s and one from new in 75 for 25 years. I have had Doge, Ford and GMC.

My YJ has been stripped by me of all computer related systems and retro fitted to a water heated intake dual 3" dump headers with free flow no cat 3" exhaust. Non electronic control single wire HEI dist, weber carb and a along the the frame easy to change fuel pump. I added new custom 2" lift springs with new hardware, great shocks and tires. It is a sleeper to watch drive by but is solar flare proof, emp proof and I can carry and and do all replacement parts for the dist, fuel system, voltage regulator and so forth with me in a small bag.

It is an old school running Jeep now and for me who totally understands old school and can master it it is a pleasure because to diagnosis a break down or failure is not hard now and to fix it even easier and cheaper. Most younger guys are terrified of carburetors, old style distributors, vacuum advance curves and total timing advance curves combining base timing, centrifugal and vacuum custom blended. They tout EFI but when if dies alongside the roadside they call a tow truck and hire someone to figure it out.

To each their own but I just prefer simple old school and am not ashamed because it keeps of trucking day in day out.

 

[bard]

Depends what you need

My 4X4 is a Toyota Hilux Diesel.

Why do I think that is a great car? Well it's the world most indestructible car as proven by top gear. It has hi and low gear range with center diff lock in low gear. You can load the car itself with 1500 pounds road legal, and it is road legal for towing 6500 pounds on top of that. It is not very wide, nor very long which makes it nimble and easy to drive in the terrain.

I have used mine up and down muddy hills and it just works great, love it and can recommend it to anyone.

 

[OK Farmer]

I'm surprised no one mentioned a Unimog. They can get you where you wanna be and they can double as a tractor for sustainable farm life years after SHTF. They are super simple and easy to maintain for life...They come in gas or diesel and used models are affordable. I prefer gas to diesel since I can make alcohol easier than oil to run the engine. (yes…conversion to alcohol does present its own set of problems…but, these are easier to address than producing oil for a diesel engine and all the problems associated with that. Just my 2 bits.

 

[burakikizler]

I have a Hyundai SantaFe 2.0 CRDI now where diesel oil consumption is low which brings a good km coverage for my PLAN A destination. Off road performance is limited for this one but offers good space to fullfill my family need in an escape situation.

 

[burakikizler]

I have a Hyundai SantaFe 2.0 CRDI now where diesel oil consumption is low which brings a good km coverage for my PLAN A destination. Off road performance is limited for this one but offers good space to fullfill my family need in an escape situation.

As well as that I shall Note that I had a Subaru Forrester which is extremly good also for mid-level off road conditions but the problem was the oil consumption therefore the coverage was limited. There always a trade off in each vechile you choose and also note that I believe the escape route and scenrio defines the best vechile to choose.

My priorities:
1. Km Coverage. My escape route is 400km and with SantaFE my coverage is aound 600-650km and with my jerrycan additional 200-250 km will be on top.
2. Engine and Running parts are easy to find and allows an experienced one to fix some breakdowns (Since I have a spare V belt and fuse set always at car)
3. Trunk space (good for a family for 4)
4. Delivers 150 hp which makes the vechile rather quicker than most of 4x4 in case needed.
5. Robust chasis and stable performance; high relaibility.
6. Hidden storage areas. So that I can keep most of my survival equipment always with me; like machette, knives and my axe.

Thanks.

 

[sonya1]

Good, now to get the rest of the transplants ruining this state to leave.:thumb:

Good luck with that, they are mostly NY and NJ liberal hypocrites that are here to not pay the taxes they voted for in NY and NJ.....

 

[Basic Human Unit]

There's definitely room for improvement, but I want to mention the Honda Element because it has a lot of design features that I was kind of hoping would catch on (or catch on again). For example, the suicide doors and the seats with multiple adjusting positions. I like them a lot. Of course, it could use better ground clearance and an engine with more torque.

 

[sonya1]

But finding a single vehicle to do it all? Not easy.

Read your entire comment, but that pretty much makes me think that I should just stick with the single vehicle that does do it all and I already own , and have owned in the past: Suburban, or Yukon XL ( GMC version of Suburban I have now). It's large enough to put almost everything in, including 4 people and 2 dogs, plus camping gear, it has a big enough engine to pull just about everything. Gas mileage isn't that bad ( I get 18 mpg average), I love driving it. I am not afraid to drive 90 mph on the interstate in it, which I would not do with a Jeep, or one of those little toy trucks. Only problem is that I need a 4x4 version of it with the 2500 engine , not the 1500 I have now
I think I am just going to trade in the one I have for a 4x4

The only other option would be a large pick up with crew cab , leaning towards Dodge Ram

Thanks everyone , I think this actually helped me figure out what I want to do