Trucks Trucks Trucks!

**Darmstro** · 3-10-08, 16:11

I'm sick of driving a car. It's truck time. I've narrowed it down to a few choices, but I don't really have any first hand experience with anything other than Ford pick ups.

1. 2002+ Ford Explorer with the 4.6 V8- Would be Eddie Bauer edition with leather and all the goodies. No mods for this one.

2. Jeep TJ, 4.0L, 5 spd.- If I got something like this it would only be getting a body lift and some meatier tires, nothing crazy. Beach cruiser and some easy trails at most. I know, Jeeps empty wallets...blah blah blah.

3. 2000+ Toyota 4Runner- Not much to say about this, it's a Toyota, it'd be reliable, and it'd probably get a mild lift and some BFG AT's

4. Dodge Dakota RT- Insurance would kill me and it's probably the least practical choice, but it'd be fun...

5. Nissan X-Terra- I've always had a thing for these, but I don't know much about them. I know I can get it with a manual tranny, which is a plus.

Opinions, experiences, other options....

**4cylfun** · 3-10-08, 17:49

negatory on the Dakota R/T. Take it from one who unfortunately still drives one on occasion. Granted i have a 6cyl sport but it still blows hole.

The explorer i wouldn't do either just because they have hardly any room under the hood to do work. They are nice and comfortable but i wouldn't shoot for the stars on that. The 4 runners are beasts, i have nothing bad to say about them. Love em, and the 4 wheel in the winter is nasty. Probably one of the better 4 wheel drives i've driven.

Jeep, god, i love em. But they aren't nearly as good on gas as then 4runner is. My opinions.

**Darmstro** · 3-10-08, 18:13

I'm kinda leaning towards the 4Runner or the TJ. I'm not worried about gas at all. I only put 4000 kms on my car in the past year and I usually only have to put in $20 here and there. I don't go too far. I always liked the old 4Runners with the removeable top, but they don't make anything like that anymore.

**4cylfun** · 3-11-08, 10:03

i didn't know they did in the first place. maybe thats a euro thing. I know TJ's you can take off the door, flip the windsheild down, drop the top..... never owned one just riddin in a few. loved them all.

**Jordan** · 3-11-08, 14:14

We've got an 88 4runner here that still runs like its brand new. Has a bit of some rust issues, but thats probably just cause of where its at (rust belt). Is still very reliable for 19 years old or so. I've been in the new 4runners too and thought they were sweet machines.

I've got a buddy who has a '96 TJ i beleive, and lemme tell you those things are FUN. You might get a bit more carried away with the mods once you see what theyre capable of and how much fun offroading can be. Not too good on the gas mileage though. Make sure you get the inline 6 and not the 4 as those tend to bog down quite a bit going up hills and such with the larger tires. Still, very fun cars.

Don't know anything about Dakotas, but have you considered the Durangos at all? Very powerful and comfortable.

+1 for the 4 runner here overall though.

**SAdrmmr04** · 3-11-08, 14:28

the whole "jeeps empty wallets" saying is true for most of the people i know with jeeps. they're the sluts of the 4x4 world lol. personally i love the 4runners, and seeing as how my brother has owned nothing but Toyota and put them through [shizzle] and still had a running truck afterwards, i wouldn't go with anything else.

**Darmstro** · 3-11-08, 14:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4cylfun

i didn't know they did in the first place. maybe thats a euro thing.

I'm in Canada...

This is a 1G with the top off. Most people leave the top on cause it's a pain to take off. You've probably seen one and didn't know it came off.

And on...

**SAdrmmr04** · 3-11-08, 15:28

my bros old toyota (not a 4runner, but still nice):

**Jordan** · 3-11-08, 15:56

^Huge tires on there! haha

Our 4runner

**Darmstro** · 3-11-08, 17:12

^^^ That looks clean

SAdrmmr04, solid axles FTW!! The really early 4Runners had solid axles. I'd love one, but I'm done with old vehicles.

**SAdrmmr04** · 3-11-08, 17:59

yea, my brother loved that truck, but once he got into boosted cars he kinda put that truck off to the side and i haven't even seen it in a while. i wonder if he still hast it...yea id love to build an old one with solid axles, but its just more money than i could afford to just get rid of

**SinCity** · 3-11-08, 20:59

I'd probably go with the Jeep. Replacement parts should be easy to come by because the TJ has such a huge following. Plus that inline six is so nice with a good exhaust.

**Goatcrapp** · 3-11-08, 21:22

say no to the exploder. that modular "v8" is an anemic little [shizzle] that needs a ton of mods just to wake up... its not really a truck motor.. horrible low end.. the 4.0L inline of the jeep will make more usable torque below 2500.

I'd say your only choices, really are the jeep, the yota, or the xterra..

problem is, the xterra will nickel and dime you with little issues... most of which under the hood (i'd rather deal with being nickel and dimed with stuff that won't leave me stranded) - also the xterra has a lot more look than capability..

the jeep (i've had 3 TJ's, and now a GC) is great IMO... don't go body lift man... suspension lifts are almost as cheap, and won't sever your ankles during a crash.

that inline 6 is bulletproof, as is the tranny on it.

HOWEVER it will nickel and dime you with other stuff... the windows will leak every few years... so add in the cost of a quality besttop instead of the factory one... the dash electricals often need attention. the D35c is useless if you plan on anything larger than stock tires... so get one with a d44

they tend to be expensive, even for early in the series years with a ton of miles.

the yota is pretty much a great choice too, but serves a completely different purpose... probably more practical than the TJ (TJ won't tow much, won't haul much, and doesn't have a ton of room inside... but it'll be bar none the most fun of any of those choices, to actually drive)

**Darmstro** · 3-12-08, 0:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goatcrapp

say no to the exploder. that modular "v8" is an anemic little [shizzle] that needs a ton of mods just to wake up... its not really a truck motor.. horrible low end.. the 4.0L inline of the jeep will make more usable torque below 2500.

I'd say your only choices, really are the jeep, the yota, or the xterra..

problem is, the xterra will nickel and dime you with little issues... most of which under the hood (i'd rather deal with being nickel and dimed with stuff that won't leave me stranded) - also the xterra has a lot more look than capability..

the jeep (i've had 3 TJ's, and now a GC) is great IMO... don't go body lift man... suspension lifts are almost as cheap, and won't sever your ankles during a crash.

that inline 6 is bulletproof, as is the tranny on it.

HOWEVER it will nickel and dime you with other stuff... the windows will leak every few years... so add in the cost of a quality besttop instead of the factory one... the dash electricals often need attention. the D35c is useless if you plan on anything larger than stock tires... so get one with a d44

they tend to be expensive, even for early in the series years with a ton of miles.

the yota is pretty much a great choice too, but serves a completely different purpose... probably more practical than the TJ (TJ won't tow much, won't haul much, and doesn't have a ton of room inside... but it'll be bar none the most fun of any of those choices, to actually drive)

I was waiting for your response knowing that you've owned Jeeps and the Grand. I actually looked into the '98 5.9's, but I think I'd like to keep 2000+ as my goal. This will be my first newer vehicle and I don't want it to kill my wallet right away with little stuff. Christ, 2000 is even getting old at this point.

I love TJ's, always have. Best looking Jeeps IMO, but I know they're pretty impractical. The 4Runner is looking better and better at this point, but they tend to be like Jeeps as far as value goes. Most of the ones in my price range have higher kms than I'd like to start out with, and frankly, they 2000-ish ones are pretty outdated looking and kinda plain. Not a huge deal though.

I guess I'll have to start test driving to see what'll suit my taste and needs the best.

**Goatcrapp** · 3-12-08, 0:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darmstro

I was waiting for your response knowing that you've owned Jeeps and the Grand. I actually looked into the '98 5.9's, but I think I'd like to keep 2000+ as my goal. This will be my first newer vehicle and I don't want it to kill my wallet right away with little stuff. Christ, 2000 is even getting old at this point.

I love TJ's, always have. Best looking Jeeps IMO, but I know they're pretty impractical. The 4Runner is looking better and better at this point, but they tend to be like Jeeps as far as value goes. Most of the ones in my price range have higher kms than I'd like to start out with, and frankly, they 2000-ish ones are pretty outdated looking and kinda plain. Not a huge deal though.

I guess I'll have to start test driving to see what'll suit my taste and needs the best.

you won't find a TJ, or even a YJ for that matter, with a 2k budget, without having to fix/replace a LOT.

same for the xterra, 4 runner, etc...

for 2k, what i would look at is a 94-95 grand cherokee with the 4.0L or a WELL maintained 5.2L

the only thing really wrong with them is that the transfer case tends to crap out on the v8 models with full time 4wd. If you get a part time 4wd (NV242 or 231) then you'll be ok. All of the i6 ones were the part time IIRC.

You can also look into cherokee classics - mechanically identical to TJ's of the same years, except leaf springs in the rear. Not nearly the same fun though since you cant take the doors off and put the top down lol.