I need a tough 4WD pickup. 1980’s; simple, reliable, suitable for transversing dirt roads in the mountains, sometimes in the mud and snow. I don’t want frills. No suburban vehicles need apply. What do dopers recommend.
Hummer.
Does it need to be a pickup? Or are you just looking for 4wheel drive? If you just need rugged mobility, you might want to look into getting an older jeep (CJ-7). If you really need the open bed or the cargo space, that wouldn’t work for you.
Yup, if you are just going off-roading, grab an old Jeep.
Does it have to be from the 80s? My friend has a '99 Durango Sport that has been fantastic in the time he’s owned it. No problems. We’ve gone offroading in it and it did pretty well. We’ve also used it to haul large amounts of heavy lumber when I was helping him build a deck and shed for his parents. It’s also been good for towing stuff, like a trailer full of rowing shells.
In short, I think it’s pretty darn good, and it’s really nice to drive.
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- Look for an all leaf-spring suspension Chevy truck, 350/auto trans only. Try to find one that has no frame trailer hitch on it, or at least, only has a ball on the bumper. Also, try to find one that doesn’t leak badly after you test drive it and then leave it parked in a clean paved spot for 5-10 minutes while you “look at it some more and think things over”. Avoid ones with lots of rust around the tailgate mechanism (unless you don’t need the tailgate attached), as this area is an expensive/difficult b*tch to fix.
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- Look for an all leaf-spring suspension Chevy truck, 350/auto trans only. Try to find one that has no frame trailer hitch on it, or at least, only has a ball on the bumper. Also, try to find one that doesn’t leak badly after you test drive it and then leave it parked in a clean paved spot for 5-10 minutes while you “look at it some more and think things over”. Avoid ones with lots of rust around the tailgate mechanism (unless you don’t need the tailgate attached), as this area is an expensive/difficult b*tch to fix.
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- Jeeps are good for hardcore off-roading, but they’ve got no interior space.
- Hummers are lame: H2==pretender yuppie junk, orig Hummer is waaayyyy too heavy, 7000 lbs+.
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I *think * he’s looking for something inexpensive hence the 80’ model. I agree with dougc , independent front suspension (4wd) doesn’t articulate as well off-road as a solid front axel, but it’ll handle better on the hwy…
- my .02
You’re not going to find too many 80s Hummer’s kicking around, WSLr 
IMHO, go for a late 80s/early 90s Cherokee (or if you can find it Comanche - it is a pickup).
Tough as nails and very good 4x4s.
Regardless, with any 4x4 inspect it very carefully. A 4x4 that has been abused or poorly maintaned can be a terrible money pit, worse than a regular 2wd vehicle.
You don’t need a truck. Everybody knows that trucks and SUV’s are wasteful and ruin our planet.
You should get an economy car, or better yet, ride public transportation in the mountains.
I’ve got an '88 full size Ford Bronco that I love. It’s done great both on highway (across the US 5 times in about 6 months) and off road (mostly Arizona and Utah). you can probably find something like that for about $3000.
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- And look for 3/4 tons, as opposed to 1/2’s- the 3/4’s got more bolts holding the wheels on (8 vs 5).
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I’ve got a 1979 Scout II that was cheap, is great off-road, can seat 4 with the back set down, has a pretty good size bed with the back seat up, and can be set up as a convertible or hard top. If you can find one in decent shape they’re great.
I meant “with the back seat down”
They are tough (used to have a 79 Travelall) but parts are getting really tough to find. Especially the sheet-metal. I’d go with something a little more common personally.
Ford F-250. I got a cherry one for sale, by the way. Great trucks, but being 3/4 ton, it rides pretty rough unless loaded with houses or iron girders and the like.
I know I’m gonna piss many folks off with this, but avoid Jeeps unless you like walkin’! I’m sure there are some good ones out there, but I have never heard of them. Mine is a piece of crap, major domo. Everyone I know that has owned them reports the same. For prospective, I live in the middle of nowhere, close to the foot of the Sierra Nevadas. Lots of dirt, rocks, water crossings, desert, trees, snow and mud. We actually use 4x4s the way they were designed to be used.
Granted, mine is a 73 and has an AMC in it (also had a 69 with a different but equally shitty AMC/Rambler engine). Find one with a 350 or Buick V6 and you may fare better, but the late 80’s and early 90’s junk has no excuse for there poor record. In fairness, when mine does run, it is pretty damn good off-road and will go just about anywhere. Once you are there, however, it stops and I walk out.
JEEP stands for Junk, Each and Every Part