Used 4X4's with room to spare?

LC and Disco/Defender junkies can argue the off road/durability of their respective rigs forever. They both kick ass off road and are both easily modified to kick more ass. Safari companies/military/relief organizations and terrorists value both LCs and Land Rovers for their solidity (although it seems the terrorists just love them 'yota pick-ups). A lot of it depends on where you get your truck--overseas, both manufacturers offer options that make US bought rigs look pretty wimpy. For example, my rig has a full float rear and cable lockers, both from australia--these options are exceedingly rare here, but were quite common over there.
Also you can't compare the pansy luxo-ute that is now the LC with the 80s vintage ones--apples and oranges.
That said, I'll take toyota reliability over the rover's british mechanical gremlins anyday! ;)

Looks like your rig spent some time in SoCal, Natty...or perhaps I never noticed the palm trees growing in Hood River?

Heh, how's this for space? Holds 4 windsurf boards, 2 surfboards, kite gear etc. and still room to sleep comfortably. Chicks, however, do not dig it.

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Originally posted by tonghands
Heh, how's this for space? Holds 4 windsurf boards, 2 surfboards, kite gear etc. and still room to sleep comfortably. Chicks, however, do not dig it.

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Install a waterbed.;)

Natty- good lookin' rig. I was contemplating an arb for a while but I'd have to change my front springs (to stiffer ones for the added weight). I've never got around to it and prolly never will. I'd also like to do some frame sliders as well but prolly will never happen. I've thought about the snorkle but I figure if I get that deep I'm going to be replacing stereo equip and interior stuff so I prolly shouldn't even add the temptation.

You're right. Both are very competent rigs even in stock form. I hate what the american populace is doing to these rigs. We're such a large buying group that every mfr has changed design to cater to the god damned soccer moms. Once the disco II is dead I don't think there will be a sport ute w/ solid axles anymore (well, not a real one anyway). It pretty much sucks. If people want a suv that handles like a car, BUY A CAR!!! I want a suv that will take me where I want to go and back... pisses me right off.

1080rider -

I can see you've got a hella dark (no pun) set of ferrin car blinders on but Jeep will always make live axle vehicles and don't be blaming 'Murikan manufacturers for this trend either. If not for foreign "trucks" we'd still be using leafs at all four corners like god intended. Also, Ford offers an SUV that still comes with live axles and will continue to do so as long as the greenies don't get their way. Also, I've got it in my head for some reason that the new Bronco might be coming with live axles (dare to dream perhaps, it will for sure have a live rear).

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Originally posted by Ski to Be
You can get a really nice AWD Astro van 2002 or so that has tons of cargo space & can haul a 6000 pound trailer in the budget your talking about. I use them in my business and they are very reliable.
Only downside would be clearance issues if you are doing serious off roading.

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[cough] bullshit [cough]


the new Tundra is rated at 6800 lbs.


edit: Tong, how is your insurance on that boy? my fleets won't touch those with a 10' pole.

Crinkle, what you need is a van from Quigley. They are badass. There's a couple listed in the used vehicles that fit your price needs.

Insurance isn't bad at all, a little bit cheaper than I pay on a '97 Cherokee.

It's big though, real big. Only really comes in to play when parking it, which can be kind of a hassle. I'll see how it does this winter, may convert to 4x4 for skiing/baja trips.

I can't find their name, but there's a sick conversion place in cali. The Quigley's are nice, but they get a pretty nasty vibration post 40K in the front end. They use 97 Dana's which had/have numerous issues.

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Originally posted by lemon boy
1080rider -

I can see you've got a hella dark (no pun) set of ferrin car blinders on but Jeep will always make live axle vehicles and don't be blaming 'Murikan manufacturers for this trend either. If not for foreign "trucks" we'd still be using leafs at all four corners like god intended. Also, Ford offers an SUV that still comes with live axles and will continue to do so as long as the greenies don't get their way. Also, I've got it in my head for some reason that the new Bronco might be coming with live axles (dare to dream perhaps, it will for sure have a live rear).

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I was mostly talking about the disco/grand cherokee/land cruiser class. I thought I had read that the grand cherokee was going to go to indi susp but I also discount those because a buddy had one that almost killed him. The trani/diff blew on a hill leaving him in free-wheel. He rolled it and almost killed himself. I won't buy jeep products.

Though the excursion is a suv its prolly too big to be a real off-roader. I like the new bronco but I wish ford would bring the d-90 and d-110 back to the states. I was mostly just bitching that every good 4X4 company is going to to indi susp.

Natty-

Did you do the OME lift? Looks like the rest of the rig is pretty much ARBed out. And how/where did you get your hands on the stock cable locks? I was getting ready to put the air locker on mine but would definately prefer the stock (for canadens and aussies) cable locks.

early eightys Suburban,

you can get one for about 2k, add another 3k in motor rebuild suspension upgrades.

then you still have 7k to subsidize your gas.. that thing gets what 10-15mpg..

with gas at 2 dollars a gallon.. so you can have about 3.5k gallons of gas paid for and you will still be under 12grand..

so that will give you about.. 35-52 thousand miles.. of "free" gas

just a thought..

Used 4x4's, pintails, direct from Nobis dealership - cheap.

IIRC Ford won't bring them back b/c rover won't make them with the required highway saftey equipment.

A friend of mine in UT owns both a tricked out D90 and recently bought a Ruby. He put a small lift on the ruby, slightly bigger rubber and one or two other minor things I believe his exact words were "I was surprised to find out that the ruby will go anywhere the D90 will, all for $25K less" (He has a ton into the D90). I've driven plenty of miles in old style Cherokees and think they're pretty darn good for the bux (and for being a crysler product)

The other conversion company is Sportsmobile of course that's well outta Crinkle's price range...

why do you guys keep changing the subject? He obviously wants my Dodge Dakota. Leave him alone so he can get to paypal already.

Cool things about my truck:

it can fly, literally, I did this airplane conversion kit.
it is a babe magnet, babes will like come over and say "nice truck"
it is silver, real silver - worth a ton, and total bling
it is bulletproof
it has never been used as a portable toilet
very few bloodstains, considering.
it is like, cheap.

13K will get you a very nice down on my offering: 99 F350 V10 Lariat, 4 door, loaded. comes with a 28' fifth wheel converted for deep winter use. Ski racks, generator, dual batteries, extra insulation and heaters.

Go big or go home, right?

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Originally posted by mr_gyptian
I The Quigley's are nice, but they get a pretty nasty vibration post 40K in the front end. They use 97 Dana's which had/have numerous issues.

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Quigley uses a variety of front ends depending on the application. I guess I should tell my buddy with 250K+ that he bought a lemon.

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Originally posted by monster dump.
Natty-

Did you do the OME lift? Looks like the rest of the rig is pretty much ARBed out. And how/where did you get your hands on the stock cable locks? I was getting ready to put the air locker on mine but would definately prefer the stock (for canadens and aussies) cable locks.

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OME lift. OEM cable lockers are almost impossible to find, but they're out there if you look. You need a full floater rear for cable lockers as well which adds to the expense. One way would be to import a canadian LC that has them already. TLC out of van nuys (hence the palm trees Viva) got the cable lockers on my truck from an aussie source of theirs I think, but even they, man a fre, spectre and the rest rarely have them. I'd look for them for the coolness and reliability factor, but I've had the air lockers from ARB on a previous rig and they worked fine.

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Originally posted by mr_gyptian
I can't find their name, but there's a sick conversion place in cali. The Quigley's are nice, but they get a pretty nasty vibration post 40K in the front end. They use 97 Dana's which had/have numerous issues.

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You can get any frickin dana axle you want on a quigley conversion. And I too know at least 4 people in my town who have quigleys, bash the shit out of them in Baja, 100K++ miles with no issues.

Also you can buy quigley conversions through some ford dealerships, which are then covered by the Ford factory warranty.

Sportmobile also now does their own super burley conversion.

I'd recommend a Toyota LC (as said before) or Mid 80's 4runner. My dad has one, completely bomber and comfy for 5K.... After modifying the crap out of it. We bought it for 1200. If you can find an SR5 they have the comfiest cloth interior ever.

I've had good luck with pathfinders. Relatively cheap used, take a beating well, motor runs forever. I have a '95 that is my third vehicle (main uses: dump runs, dog transport, wood hauling, mt. bike/ski trips) it never costs me any $ for repairs. Oh, and it can tow a trailer, and you'd be staying in the Nissan family. At the other end of the price scale, or older vehicle, you can't beat the SUB URB AN, Which is my primary vehicle, and really kicks ass.

A pickup is the way to go. You get more vehicle for your money that way. You can get a newer truck or lower miles for the same price as an suv. The astros can be had pretty cheap though.

Get a small pickup (s-10, tacoma, dakota if you like them, nissan). Make sure you get the xcab and a topper. Personally I dont think I will buy another small pickup, but only because the 6' bed is a little tight for sleeping (the wife and I are both longer than that)

Here's how you sell it to the girl:

Dogs ride in back, no more dog hair on the car seats or nose prints on the windshield.

Can sleep in it, no more waking up in a soggy tent, or having to deal with putting it up after drinking around the fire all night.

Dont really need a roofrack, though they don't hurt.

I bet you can talk her into it if you try.

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Originally posted by frozenwater

very few bloodstains, considering.

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heh, mised that the first time through somehow.

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Originally posted by iceman
Quigley uses a variety of front ends depending on the application. I guess I should tell my buddy with 250K+ that he bought a lemon.

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good for him. I might have dealt with one or two more people that own them, though. Oh, Ice I ski with a guy that has never pre-released out of his Atomic bindings. should I...

really natty, I just talked to my rep and he confirms that the 1997 DANA is the front end they use.

maybe I'm wrong.

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Originally posted by iceman
Quigley uses a variety of front ends depending on the application. I guess I should tell my buddy with 250K+ that he bought a lemon.

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I categorically deny ever being bought or sold!

Rented, perhaps but never bought or sold!