Well, here I go showing that red neck again ( :: pulling up collar on my Oxford shirt :: ).
Background: I do a lot of hiking and camping. My truck, a Toyota Tacoma 4x2 with standard wheels and tires, takes me to most of the places I go for these activities. However, there have been a significant number of times where I’ve had to ride with friends in order to get to the trailhead or campsite we were going to. I can think of three occasions where I’ve taken my truck over terrain that was more suited for 4x4s or at least higher clearance trucks. I would like to be able to access these areas without having to worry about catching a ride with someone or tearing up my truck. However, I just finished paying my truck off (a year early–whoo-hoo!) and, while I could afford it, I don’t really want to put myself into the debt that would be required to purchase a brand new 4x4, V-6, extended cab pickup with DORRANCE #5 STAINLESS STEEL HOOKS. I am considering other options that would put me in much less debt, if any. I now humbly ask for the Teeming Millions’ opinions on each of these. Final decision to be made by a committee of one.
Option 1: Sell truck, buy a used 4x4 with V-6 and extended cab. Essentially I’d be looking for what I have already, except with 4WD. I would risk ending up with something less reliable than my truck (my truck has been pretty reliable so far) and I would have to be pretty choosy about my options. And yes, if I get another truck, it’s going to have 4WD.
Option 2: Buy a cheap “beater” 4x4 in addition to the truck I already have. The advantages here would be that I wouldn’t need to be as choosy about the options (e.g. it wouldn’t have to have extended cab) and I wouldn’t worry as much about scratching and denting it while driving offroad. It would probably end up being cheaper than the first option.
Option 3: Modify the truck I have now. This would involve adding a lift kit and larger wheels and tires (and mud flaps, etc.). I would do this within reason; I’m not going for a monster-truck look here. Essentially, I would be converting my truck to a PreRunner. This would give me higher clearance to negotiate 99% of the dirt/forest roads I drive or ride on. Although, 4WD can often provide better power distribution in these situations. I do have more research to do regarding costs and options on this, but this is the direction I’m leaning. My biggest fear with this option is that, once it’s all said and done, I’ll be wishing I’d just gotten a 4x4.
So, what do you offroad driving yahoos think? Eve, can you help me on this one?
A TRUE redneck would do both #2 & #3. A redneck who actually can adhere to a budget is a different story. I went with #2 but I lived in a place where I had to do lots of city and highway driving (as opposed to dirt roads) and didn’t want to make my primary vehicle any less comfortable than it already was. You can keep your nice primary vehicle and get a beat-up second and not feel bad about it.
If you’re thinking about jacking it up and adding big wheels and mud flaps, be advised that some women think that jacked up trucks with all the trimmings are driven by men who are, ah, compensating. (I of course would never think such a thing. My friends might, though. My friends might point and laugh and make question the endowments of the drivers of such behemoths.) So unless you’re also getting a bumpersticker that says “I DO A LOT OF STUFF OFF-ROAD! I NEED THE CLEARANCE! REALLY!” some shallow contemptible females might have a bit of mild fun at your expense. Plus aren’t you then required by law to wear a big ol’ belt buckle?
Ditto laughing at the Dorrance Stainless Steel hooks, though.
We’ll since you offered it as an option, I would go with option #2. Since it’s not a primary vehicle your insurance shouldn’t go up too much, unless you have bad history. And It’s always nice to have the extra car, unless parking is a big problem where you live(although a yard full of beat up trucks doesn’t seem to make the neighbors very happy). If trailering and the bed arn’t nessasary you can always get a beat up old cheap CJ-5 or CJ-7 for real offroad access(just don’t go tearing up unmarked wilderness )
Are you saying I have a small penis? How dare you. Just for that, I’m not letting you ride in my Ferrari.
I wouldn’t lift my truck too much. My goal is to have wheels and tires as shown here instead of the ones shown here. As far as I can tell by looking at the axle placement on my truck, I’m going to need a slight lift for it.
Heck no! I am making no comments about your penis whatsoever. (Mama didn’t raise no fool.) I’m just saying that some low-minded irreverent types might assume that you you suffer from ittibittidickitis, because of your big jacked-up truck.
But actually it doesn’t look like you’re jacking it up all that far. I still think I’d personally just buy a beater, though. I don’t know if I’d want to risk my just-paid-off truck out in the hinterlands. But how far “off-road” are we talking, anyway?
Well, You want this vehicle so that you can access areas that you would normally have to bum a ride for. What type of vehicle do the other guys use to access these trails? If the are 4x4, do they actually have to engage the 4x4? Or does having more space under their trucks make the difference?
As an newbie 4x4 offroader, I’d say to go get a beater 4x4 and use that. You’ll probably decide that you need/want the 4x4 option. Older CJ’s and Wranglers are cool (if a little rusty). You could also get an older Cherokee on the cheap. You’d be surprised what those things can do without mods.
Thanks, everyone, for your suggestions so far. I find the CJ suggestions appealing. My mind is full of smart-ass remarks (as always) however I don’t have time to share them at this time.
If you are thinking about the CJ, consider the CJ-7. It is a little longer than the CJ-5 so it’s a little more stable. The later year CJ-7’s had a wider wheel track. That made them a little more stable as well. (stablility is a good thing)
Make sure you check the jeep for the dreaded “frame rot”. Look for it at the rear of the frame and where the spring shackles are. Look for any cracks in the frame. Look for severe rot at the body mounts. You will almost always have body rust on these things, but that’s easy to fix/hide. You don’t want frame rot though.
That was just my two cents. Hope it was helpful.
