WCSIB - Beater 4x4 edition

[stfu&gbtw]

Thinking about picking up a beater 4x4 so I can drive on some of our unmaintained roads during the winter while the truck has the plow and chains on. Thinking to spend less than $5k, and would like something as simple and reliable as possible.

Current leader is a '94 Suzuki Samurai with about 125k and a newly rebuilt engine that's currently owned by a close friend, who is also a pretty talented mechanic... It's a hard top, mechanically sound, solid on the outside, and pretty beat up on the inside. Great tires... Pretty fresh - might be 33's. It'd be a great deal (<$3k) on a simple little truck that my friend knows inside out. Seems hard to beat.

That being said, anyone got a better idea? Been digging around and there are lots of old 4runners, pathfinders, XJ's, etc... Saw a 60 around somewhere also - all for less than $5k. Those are all 200k+ miles (that 60 might have been over 300k), and of unknown origin and condition.

I don't want to spend more money than I have to, and the only features the truck needs are:

Smaller than a full size truck
Basically structurally/mechanically sound
Manual trans
Manual t-case
Low range
Decent ground clearance
Gas engine
Fully enclosed
Working heater/defroster/windows
Needs to be able to do 45-50 mph occasionally

The other things I want to avoid are any esoteric parts, or unusually hard to service configurations, or major known design faults... There's a unimog for sale nearby for not a ton of money. But despite being an insane truck that would be perfect the vast majority of the time when it was running, the process of trying to find parts and do repairs on it is more than I want to take on.

I realize that buying cheap/old offroad vehicles can be a real waste of time and money if you buy the wrong one, and I don't have a lot of experience with these vehicles. But I know a lot of you do... So, any recommendations?

[Viva]

1989-1994 Toyota pickup with the 3.0L engine, 4X4, extended cab, stick. Those fuckers are money! Throw a couple hundred lbs in the back during winter and you're good-to-go. Love mine more than any other truck I've owned, and I've had a couple of Tacomas.

[MagnificentUnicorn]

I be hesitant to run those 33s on a Samurai if the front axle is stock. It's gonna break. Otherwise that sounds like a great rig, especially since it's a tin top.

If it's just for exploring and bashing around you might also look for a Dodge Raider, a two door Mitsubishi Montero a little bigger than the Samurai. A Sidekick with aggressive tires and lsd or locking rear would be great too. How about a cj 5 with a hard top?

[wicked_sick]

1985-1995 Nissan pathfinder or 1996+ frontier Cheap, simple, reliable, and tough as nails.

Pre 1999 Mitsubishi Montero. Cheap, capable, built like a tank reliable if well maintained. Maybe a little big. The SR version has an engine that can be complicated to work on. Some come with a locking rear diff. Mitsu's answer to the landcruiser

Maybe an old F150 or Ford ranger. Depends on what's available to you.
Old Toyotas are always a good choice, but generally way over valued, at least where I live. Call it the Toyota tax.

[basinbeater]

Most of the 4runner, pathfinder, and land cruiser (my recommendation if you weren't set on manual, and if you see other car threads, you know I like my manuals, in cars...) are autos. Yes there are some sticks available, but what is the condition of the clutch? Not sure? Lose points on reliability and potentially cost some cash.
Sitting in my $5k cruiser right now.

[BmillsSkier]

If you can find a 91-96 Nissan Pathfinder just stop looking and go with that. (Unless it's the aforementioned Toyota Truck)

I had a brand new 1994 SE-V6 that was absolutely bomber no matter what I threw at it. (Until I exploded the engine going up the front range - but that was user error). You can't seem to find them anywhere for sale and I know they're still on the road because I'll see em every now and then. Usually some content asshole who knows he has the last "truck" construction Pathfinder made with an indestructible drivetrain. Can be found in 2 or 4 door versions. The 2 door came standard with stick. 4 door XE models had stick standard too. SE ironically it was an upgrade.

[Evil E]

http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/5893788336.html

[stfu&gbtw]

Thanks for the info guys. I did check on the wheels and the Suzuki is running 31's, which I gather is the preferred setup for the stock axles. I will do some more checking on the pathfinders... Of course the comment about seeing them on the road and none for sale is spot on. It's one of the things that makes me nervous looking at the used market. The idea of spending $5k+ for a 20 year old truck with 200k+ miles and body rust is hard to come to terms with... But of course it makes you wonder when a cheaper one comes up... Maybe I'll bite the bullet and just put up the $10k for a nicer one. I appreciate the info guys... Thanks.

[stfu&gbtw]

http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/5893788336.html

Toyota Land Cruiser, as photographed by Skidog...

[basinbeater]

Isuzu troopers are pretty tough as well.

[Ted Striker]

1989-1994 Toyota pickup with the 3.0L engine, 4X4, extended cab, stick. Those fuckers are money! Throw a couple hundred lbs in the back during winter and you're good-to-go. Love mine more than any other truck I've owned, and I've had a couple of Tacomas.

Agree with this, but if you aren't going to tow anything the 22R 4 cylinder is more reliable, and cheaper/easier to rebuild. The 3.0 is very reliable when it has good head gaskets, but the original head gaskets from the factory are time bombs. That said, I've put hundreds of thousands of miles on 3.0s

Love mine more than any other truck I've owned, and I've had a couple of Tacomas.

Also Tacomas rust and break in half.

Old Toyotas are always a good choice, but generally way over valued, at least where I live. Call it the Toyota tax.

So true.

1985-1995 Nissan pathfinder or 1996+ frontier Cheap, simple, reliable, and tough as nails

and

If you can find a 91-96 Nissan Pathfinder just stop looking and go with that.

Yes. Or the pickup version (nicknamed the Hard Body). Seriously underrated vehicles.

[basinbeater]

I had a 91 cruiser that was nicer than that, I paid $2500 and sold for $3900. But don't be too put off by the faded paint on early 90s Toyotas, they had a bad batch (like 3 or 4 years if bad batch ) of clear coat. You see it across all models.
IMHO Land Cruiser > 4runner > Toyota truck > Nissan.
This may be because I have never owned a Nissan.
Above is right about the 22r engine. More reliable than 3.slow engine. 3slow are OK with headgasket job done.

[basinbeater]

Any cheap truck or sub you get, you will want to change all fluids and make sure the water pump is healthy, might as well do belts and stuff, just to get baselined. For low cash, if you truly want it to be reliable, give it a solid tune up if you have the skills.
I pretty much buy nothing going but older cars, and unless I have proof, they all get new fluids, filters, belts, water pump, and hoses get inspected. Any known trouble sets for the model are inspected, and preemptively dealt with if I don't have proof someone else did it.
Example, pesky heater hose on fzj80. Fix it, or be sorry.

[iceman]

How about a decent ATV?

[doebedoe]

http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/5895089879.html

[iceman]

http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/5895089879.html

that thing looks sweet

[BmillsSkier]

http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/5895089879.html

Make that Pathfinder black and slap on the chrome trim package bumpers and mirrors and that's my baby. I'd give up something serious to have that girl back in cherry form.

That said, who the fuck puts those dumb as fuck filters on their listing photos. Fuck.

Also, "clean as hell interior" just don't ask for any pics!

That said, buy it or I will.

[basinbeater]

I always kind of liked these when we saw lots of them in South America.
http://www.ksl.com/auto/listing/3357306

[Cruiser]

Love my beater yj. Paid 5k for it a couple years ago and it has been worth every penny. Watch CL for a 4L 5spd with hard top and doors. They pop up at that price in pretty decent shape from time to time. Heck, you might even be able to find a tj for 5k if you hold out for the right seller.

[wicked_sick]

It's one of the things that makes me nervous looking at the used market. The idea of spending $5k+ for a 20 year old truck with 200k+ miles and body rust is hard to come to terms with...

After re-reading your post, I say go for the Samurai.

I've never owned anything less than 15yrs old, and have sought out and driven reliable used vehicles (especially 4x4s) my whole life. Worthwhile vehicles of that age are certainly out there, but trust me when I say it takes patience and perseverance to find one that ticks all the boxes including budget. Most will be pieces of shit or misrepresented. You'll soon develop a sixth or even seventh sense for detecting Craigslist bullshit. But wait long enough and every once in awhile that unicorn appears. If you're lucky, you'll be the first there with cash in hand.

Or you could skip all that bullshit and buy from someone trusted, especially if he's able to help you out if something goes wrong. Plus, the sami sounds perfect for your needs, not to mention you shouldn't have a problem with resale. In my area a tin-top like that would go for 5-6k at least, or the same as a toyota pickup of the same vintage.

[tacklebox]

for general bushwacking youd be hard pressed to find something better than that samurai.

id kill to find one for myself

[bodywhomper]

First gen geo tracker

85 4runnet

[MakersTeleMark]

Wax on, Wax off. You'd be a fool to pass up a maintained Samurai. One of the most capable nimble vehicles ever made.

[single]

fwiw, 5k isnt a beater. 5k is a car I sell to fund a beater and start another project.

https://billings.craigslist.org/cto/5873903902.html

your sami sounds like a solid deal, hard to pass up a known rig. And those tin tops are rad.

Only upside to a truck is that you can use it for truck stuff.

[grinch]

Those samis run forever and capable off-road . Not fun driving any kind of distance though. Ride like a go cart. Little suspension travel. Great if you're not going far. I had a 91 yota pick up with the 3point slow(had the head gaskets done on recall before I owned it). 13yrs and it cost my less than $1000canadian/yr including the $7900 purchase price. Engine turned over the same whether it was +40c or -40c. Great little truck