OT- How good are your 4x4s offroad?

[Wobblin' Goblin]

I have an '87 Nissan Hardbody pickup. It has an extracab, V-6, and SE trim.

I have not witnessed any other registered vehicle get around better offroad. In the snow, with a little weight in the bed, I can drive almost exclusively in 2 wheel drive, except in the most extreme conditions. During the rest of the year it hauls me and my wife around virtually anywhere we go sans pavement.

Anybody else got a good one?

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The Wobblin' Goblin has spoken.

 

[armedalaskan]

I got a 1978 Ford Bronco that will take me anywhere I want to go. Only got it stuck a few times and that was in mu over the bumper, so I think many others would have come to the same fate. But it is a pain to keep up. There is always something that is not working right and needs fixing.

But it looks bad ass with ST-58 hanging in the side window. I get some stares while driving down the road.

armedalaskan

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FEAR THE GOVERNMENT WHO FEARS YOUR GUNS
A Philosophical Mind

 

[Dan at VOW]

I like my 4x4's, got to have them, of course I like the odd ball stuff. I have owned a bunch, but would like to end up with a Unimog. Most recent was just to play with, 79 Jeep Golden Eagle, 360, auto, with quadra-trac, running condition for 400.00 Here are links to a couple more.

Dan
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=449755&a=3311236&p=33329633
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=449755&a=3311236&p=33329635
PS, the panel really does good, snow, mud, whatever. Weighs almost 7,000 lbs empty. 12,000 lb PTO winch up front.

 

[Gaspipe]

The best one I ever had was a '72 IH Scout II with the 345 gas motor. It was a tank. I sold it when it had 172k on it.

I have '97 F350 4x4 Crewcab diesel now and it is like driving a schoolbus with 4wd. Not good in the sticks or offroad like the Scout, but it would probably pull a house down. I feel like Austin Powers trying to turn the behemoth around.



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Gaspipe.....
User of an auto-loading, gas operated battle rifle.

 

[Bruce Allen]

I use a '88 Chevy K1500 4X4. I have taken that truck every where. I really like it. I ran through a rut one time I thought was about 3 feet deep with water. WRONG! It washed up over the hood in two places. Scared the fool out of me, well almost ;-)).

I have been stuck 1 one time and that was early on when I was real inexperienced. The mud was hip deep. Washed crud from it for days after that.

 

[jon coppenbarger]

had quite a few differant 4x4. a couple of ranger pickups with the v6 took those a lot of places. took a few jeeps up the rubicon. have a cherokee right now and like it a lot but don't try to take it to many bad places when I hunt anymore. the only time I really got stuck was in a 78 toyota land cruiser. was on a dirt road to my cabin in northern ca. was on that road a thousand times. it was hunting season and raining cats and dogs, going in on a friday night and did not know they had just put in a new culvert. sank that thing down to the cab. took four hours to get it out with a wench. just noplace to hook up to. had to drive stakes. man what a mess.

 

[vegas]

I bought a 2000 land rover discovery series II last august and I love it!

About the only thing that can out perform it off-road is a hummer.

I had an 79 cj-5 with a 304 years ago and beleive me the disco would put it to shame.

 

[SrBenelli]

76 CJ-5 with an AMC 304.....damn thing's a mountain goat! Though it has limited cargo capacity, UNLIKE the 'Rover Discovery, scratches and dents add character!!!

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If we could just get everyone to close their eyes for 15 minutes and visualise world peace, imagine how quiet...how serene it would be....till the looting started!

 

[vegas]

You've got a good point about the scratches and dings......but if I could put a gun mount on the hood with a cutout in the windshield.

damn that may just add some character

 

[BUFF]

I had a '74 Ford Bronco with the 302 for a long time, from '75 until '89. 160,000 miles. It had the limited slip rear, but not front, axle. I went an amazing number of places with it. It had the shortest turning radius of any commercially available 4wd you could buy, turned around in a lot smaller circle than my '68 VW Beetle had. I would buy a new one if they made them now. Rust eats them up , though.

I replaced it with a new '87 Ford F-250 with the 460 engine. Limited slip rear end. I have gone everywhere I pointed it at, but truthfully have never tried to take it places I used to take the Bronco becaseue I don't want to bang it up! I've only got 41,000 miles on it now, been to Alaska once, to Glacier and Waterton N.P.'s another time, all over the state of Idaho and western Wyoming, but truthfully don't use the 4wd very much. It sure is nice in the snow, though! Good truck.

I truthfully think driver skill means a lot more than what kind of 4wd vehicle you have. Just like guns.

BUFF

[This message has been edited by BUFF (edited January 28, 2001).]

 

[Mt_Guerrilla]

You guys need this web page!! Call it a hunch, but I'd bet anything some of you have photos already posted on this site.

***WARNING!!!! NOT FOR THE SQUEEMISH!!***
http://www.mulletsgalore.com/

 

[EMDII]

Get a Pinzgauer. That's Austrian for 'Mobile FN FAL rifle rack". They're available on the surplus vehicles market, for 16K to 20K in G to VG condition. FUN!

I don't have one, but have ridden one on a jaunt! YeeeeeeHaaa!

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1*.....Train Like You Fight: Second Place is NOT an Option.

E.M. (Ted) Dannemiller II

 

[paintballmagnet]

It's not street legal, but my Kawasaki mule has done a pretty good job of handling anything I've tried so far. (My bugout vehicle)

 

[Regal Beagal]

I have had a couple of 4x4s. My first was a 1987 Ford Bronco with the 302 v8 and a 5 speed. It was a great vehicle never had any problems with it. Of course, it only had 48000 miles on it when I traded it in for a Honda Accord for the wife. Can you say, STUPID, STUPID, STUPID...!!! To replace the Bronco I decided to go "truck" this time but smaller. I bought a used 1989 Toyota 4x4, v6 with the extended cab. It currently has 136000 miles on it and is still truckin'. I have taken that truck every where and pulled campers and trailers long distances, through mountains and hills. I've taken it hunting down in Alabama, Texas and NC in all kinds of conditions. I almost got stuck one time in a deep mud rut/wash out but that was because I tried to floor the truck through it instead of taking my time and easing it through it and letting the 4x4 do the work. I currently use it as a work truck hauling lawn equipment, constuction equip., ladders, etc... Its beat all to pieces and I keep telling myself I'm going to pull/pop all of the dents and have her repainted but heck it's a work/hunting truck. The only problem I've had out of her has been a bad starter, which was relatively easy to replace. She has just recently developed a hanging lifter, so I have a feeling I may be putting her in the shop for some engine work. Other things are starting to wear and will need to be replaced. Overall, I can't complain-I have really abused this truck and it has kept running like a top up until now. I've decided I'm going to spend the money and get her back in shape to strictly use as a hunting truck. The only thing I miss with this truck is a posi trac rearend. She tends to fish tail on wet pavement when you you have to make a sharp turn. I would like to have a bigger truck next just because of the business I'm in and I need the larger hauling capability. I've thought about a GMC truck but I may look at the Toyota just because this one has given me such good service. RB

 

[cvl engr]

Gaspipe- what kind of milage do you get? what tranny, gear ratio?
Don't sell yourself completely short.2WD diesel pickups SUCK,they are helpless on slick grass, too much torque, not enough weight distribution, but 4wd diesels can get around better than most would think. The abillity to have full torque at a low RPM has gotten me out of more than one situation my innattention, carelessness got me into.

 

[cvl engr]

Gas pipe- My first engine was a chevy diesel many years/miles/thousands in repairs later I parked it, my second was a gas chevy (gave that one away), swithched to international/ ford combo and never looked back. My 92 F250 xtned cab,4.10's, 7.3 IDI w/5 spd would get 16.8-18.5 depending on how hard I pushed her. Sold it a 305,000 miles, got tired of fixing everything but te engine!2000 F-350, powerstroke,3.73's extened cab, 6-sd, intercooled, very fun. Thought I would get better milage with more power/taller gears; get 16.8-18.5 WTF?

 

[KingSlug]

I have a 94 Land Rover Defender 90, new age un-paralleled offroad kick ass babe-magnet, puts all late model jeeps to shame and some early model jeeps (but at least early jeep have history) but now I am married so my wife drives it. Now to my Unimog, I challenge anyone to have a better stock vehicle with front and rear PTO (winch), Locking diffs, OEM gun rack, 12 foward gears 2 reverse gears (not including extra crawler gears OEM), an 88 Hp gas engine (compression of 2:1), an Articulating frame, Portal axels, with a 1 1/2 ton Payload that can out preform it except in acceleration.

KingSlug

 

[AR308and223]

I have a 92 Isuzu Trooper, with over 250,000 miles on it

and on only 3 occasions did it break down! 1) Had to replace the starter 2) had to have a rear wheel bearing replaced 3) Gas pump needed to be replaced. Most people that see it can't believe it's a 92, still looks great. Granted, most of these have been highway miles, but it's seen it share of the back forty also

Wish I could afford another, these damn yuppies got there hands on them and they now only come furnished like a Lincoln Continental!

 

[CJ-7]

83 AMC CJ-7 360 ,Auto ,ARB air locking differentials.I don't get stuck often but believe me anything can get stuck or break.Thats when a winch,Hi-Lift jack and friends come in handy.Jeeps are #1

 

[Gaspipe]

Cvl Engr: - my 'schoolbus' has a 4.10 pumpkin f/r and gets on the road about 17-17.5 mpg, depending on speed. It has the autotrans/slushbox and the Powerstroke t/d.

It is the long w/b model - 4 door cab and long bed, but single rear wheels rather than the mailbox smasher dually.

I like it - it pulls like a locomotive (hey, I have nine locomotives, so I know), but is so long, it requires a harbor pilot and about 10 miles to do a k-turn.

It slogs through anything, as long as you don't have to negotiate any tight turns - that's where I really miss my old Scout.


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Gaspipe.....
User of an auto-loading, gas operated battle rifle.

 

[BMB]

This ones pretty good off road and its for sale if interested.

I have a Toyota 4x that has been very good to me. It has run in 12" of snow, done some power line trails that are more than just dirt roads and generally has done all that I have asked. Its pretty much stock, just a good set of aggressive tires, heavy duty shocks, and real locking hubs on the front. I know its limitations, so that really keeps me out of trouble.
My problem is four wheel drives are becoming like rifles, you really can't get by with just one. My collection, if I could afford it, would consist of a Jeep CJ7, Kaiser/Jeep M715, Dodge Power Wagon WM300, Steyer Pinzguar, Mercedes Unimog, and a M37.
That would hold me for a while.

BMB

 

[jon coppenbarger]

man had a neibor(god rest his soul)with a early 70's bronco, took out the 302 put in a 351 and a truck four speed with that granny first gear and put in a large gas tank in the back when we went far out. that thing would go anyplace and forever. fill up in sac. ca. and drive to colorado with out getting gas. all those landrovers and hummers,ect are very nice but don't see to many of them going up trails like the rubicon. like to see a new rover trapped on some rocks and have to be dragged threw the little or big sluce box. on the jeeps just change the body panels and when you brake something you just get out and weld it back on. for mud and ruff terrain get a rover or hummer. I see them going threw some deep ruts, cross those streams, great in sand and they run forever. but you can't beat a jeep for going every place you want to go. and if it won't get there by a honda 4x4 bike.

 

[tool]

My unmodified factory 1993 Grand Cherokee with a straight six and standard transmission does really well for what it was built for: bad road conditions, muddy roads, snow, ice, etc. Of course, it is not meant for the serious off-road stuff you guys are talking about, but it will hold its own as long as you don't bottom out the thing or drown it. I've had it so deep in mudd before that water was above the side-step (and water coming through the door and flooding the floorboard) and it still kept crawling. I've thought about getting a lift kit, but there are more FALs to built now...

[This message has been edited by tool (edited January 29, 2001).]

 

[jon coppenbarger]

yes tool its a funny feeling when that water is coming in. I have the same thing in a 95 and if my better half caught me with water running in it I don't think she would let me drive it anymore. had my brother and sister in the back of a landcruiser and was fording a flooded stream and they started screaming theres water coming in. and I wasn't even to the deep part yet. I think they still remember that.

 

[Enquiring Minds]

So Wobblin', how's that Nissan holding up?

I make do with a Ranger 4x4 Sport Supercab. It's not the mondo-beastmaster, but it gets me far from the RAV4/Escape/CRV crowd.

The engine is not quite what Toyota and Nissan offer, but for the HUGE diff in price (and dealer arrogance), I can buy a LOT more toys to tow and shoot. It's only a 3.0 V6, but a manual tranny stretches that a little.

OTOH, with the steel deck lid on, it gets 22mpg on the hwy. And it's got adjustable torsion bars so I keep stiffening it up over time as the shocks wear out...

I no longer have to get out to lock the hubs, but I still get out to walk-check the dicey spots, and a spike/shovel combo entrenching tool is always on board. It came with the "exploding Firestone recall" tires, so when I cash in on that little windfall, maybe I'll get the next size up so I don't sink quite as deep in sand.