Best full-size trail rig?

[Houndoc]

I sat here thinking about what I want in a trail rig (Should have been working so I could afford ot buy one but that another issue.). I realized that since it will also be used for hunting and my deer hunting also involves boating, I need ot be able to tow with the trail rig.

So, that pushes things much more towards the full size rigs. In the expeirence of y'all, what is the best full size off-road choice? Blazer/Jimmy? Bronco? Scout? Full-size Cherokee/Wagoneer? V-8 GC (not full size, but would tow well) Other?

 

[camicaztoy]

just remember biger is not always better. it cost alot more money to build a fullsize. if your going to do any rock crawliing you'll need to put a 60 in it to make it hold up. i would lean towards a grand or a big cherokee. or better yet get a tacoma and sas it or an older toy with a 4.3 or v-8 conversion.

 

[Jeremy]

here ya go.


ram charger

 

[Caleb]

not to get off topic but you go boating when you deer hunt (isn't it a littel cold )? IMO, I wouldn;t necesarrily consider any opf your selections "Full-Size"...large yes but Full-size to me is a full-size pick-up

what size of boat? will it be a DD too? what are your plans (size of tires, etc)?

 

[Mr.Chevy]

I have a full size blazer that i used for every thing. it is a 89 350 TBI it is the old boddy style so it has the full axel in the front not IFS. I drove the thing to the trail did the trail and drove it back home. I used it as my DD and towed a trailer every now and then. Just because it is a full size doesnt mean that it cost more. you can find lifts for the think every where and you can just swap out axels with out doing and mods to the axel that you are swaping in. I have 4 inch lift and 33 12.50 R 15 tires and it is able to do alot of stuff. so IMO the chevy full size blazer would be a good option for what you what to do

 

[Spork]

The full size blazers seem to be going cheap. My neighbor just bought one for $500. Of course MPG isn't that hot if you need it for a DD.

 

[dep]

Toyota FJ80. Factory lockers optional, solid axles, reliable, comfortable, can tow medium sized boats no problem. Not too big not too small. Perfect

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Toyota FJ80. Factory lockers optional, solid axles, reliable, comfortable, can tow medium sized boats no problem. Not too big not too small. Perfect

Make that an FZJ80 if you want the OEM lockers and Full-Flat rear axle... the FJ80 was still semi-float and no E-locker.

I would suggest any 80 series though. They are starting to pop up for sale ~$5k+ (my fiance's lil' brother just picked up a 96' with E-lockers, $8500)

Solid, reliable rigs!

 

[Johnny4X4]

full size bronco.... comes with a V-8,,, tought axles,, cheap to lift, and lots of parts out there room for 6 people and thier junk.. i have had mine for 10 years and love it--- i wheel it a jeep TJ now,, but my old work horse is there in the wings as a reliable back-up/savior rig.

i added a 4 inch tough country, 35's, Rear arb and made some rock sliders for it..


thats my .02

 

[tv_larsen]

what is the best full size off-road choice? Blazer/Jimmy? Bronco? Scout? Full-size Cherokee/Wagoneer? V-8 GC (not full size, but would tow well) Other?

Choose the brand and engine that you prefer and run with it. They all end up with basically the same drivetrain in the end. Pick a Blazer or a Ramcharger, and 1 ton axles are an easy upgrade.

 

[Houndoc]

Not looking for a daily driver. The long term idea is replace the mini-van with a Suburban for family trips, horse hauling etc (thus the other big rig thread I started a month or two back). Currently my DD and off-road is 03 Montero Sport. Once I have a good trail rig, then the Monty Sport can be replaced with something with better milage since I commute 85 mile/day round trip.

The boat we currently use is a 22'. (And yes boating in October can be cold, but it is a fun way to get into places most people don't bother to hunt. The worst part is having to "winterize" it when we pull out each night on a cold year. Wish it was an outboard).

With the Blazer/Bronco/Ram Charger crowd, the only issue I can really see that can limit them is the width. Wheel base and turn is still relatively small. When I can get a vehicle that does not have to be my daily driver, then getting it equiped for Constrictor and similar trails is the plan.

So, with a goal of towing about 6k pound, 35" tires, locker and relatively cheap......the winner is???

I have also thought Durango (old style) but don't know how easy they are made trail worthy. 5.7l and a perfect size.

 

[mbryson]

Not looking for a daily driver. The long term idea is replace the mini-van with a Suburban for family trips, horse hauling etc (thus the other big rig thread I started a month or two back). Currently my DD and off-road is 03 Montero Sport. Once I have a good trail rig, then the Monty Sport can be replaced with something with better milage since I commute 85 mile/day round trip.

The boat we currently use is a 22'. (And yes boating in October can be cold, but it is a fun way to get into places most people don't bother to hunt. The worst part is having to "winterize" it when we pull out each night on a cold year. Wish it was an outboard).

With the Blazer/Bronco/Ram Charger crowd, the only issue I can really see that can limit them is the width. Wheel base and turn is still relatively small. When I can get a vehicle that does not have to be my daily driver, then getting it equiped for Constrictor and similar trails is the plan.

So, with a goal of towing about 6k pound, 35" tires, locker and relatively cheap......the winner is???

I have also thought Durango (old style) but don't know how easy they are made trail worthy. 5.7l and a perfect size.

I think you'd be surprised at the capability of any of the full-size rigs mentioned. They're relatively cheap, reliable as a brick and easy to fix if they do give you trouble (usually with baling wire, zip-ties and/or duct tape until you can get a permanent repair). They can tow relatively well (6,000 lbs is about the limit I'd go with any of the mentioned due to the light half ton classification) for their size.

This particular RamCharger pictured usually towed an XJ to Moab, ran trails with us and then towed an XJ home. It wasn't optimal for towing, but it did fine.

I was SHOCKED at the capability of my '89 Sub at the Summer U4WDA event. I crawled through the bulk of the rock garden in Mineral Basin with BFG AT racing slicks (worn out AT/KOs) and open diffs. If I got serious with the Sub., I'd definitely want a D60 front, just for the sheer weight of the thing (6000 lbs according to Flying J's scale). A '87-91 Sub/Blazer is a GREAT value and comes with TBI fuel injection which makes them pretty driveable at any angle and is extremely reliable. The going price for a NICE specimen is on the order of $3000-5000. They just go down in price from there.

I'd be glad to sell you my V2500 Sub (I've got a pickup I need to buy) or there's another Blazer I noticed in the 'For Sale' section today. Just an FYI on mileage. On a trip to Toelle to play golf a month or so ago, I kept my RPM at 2500 and my speed at about 68-69 mph, got 14.4 mpg with 35" tires and 4.10 gears. How I normally drive, I get about 12 mpg, but IMHO that ain't too bad for a vehicle that can tow my junk OK, wheel a little and is reliable enough for daily driver status.
Blazer
http://www.rockymountainextreme.com/showthread.php?t=21180

towing b!tch Suburban (door is not nearly in as bad of shape, nowadays)--GM says it can tow up to 9,800 lbs (which seems a little high, but whatever). I towed a 7500 lb trailer from Woods Cross to 4th North area in Salt Lake and it did pretty decent once you got the thing moving.
http://www.rockymountainextreme.com/showthread.php?t=25580

 

[BBowski82]

Make that an FZJ80 if you want the OEM lockers and Full-Flat rear axle... the FJ80 was still semi-float and no E-locker.

I would suggest any 80 series though. They are starting to pop up for sale ~$5k+ (my fiance's lil' brother just picked up a 96' with E-lockers, $8500)

Solid, reliable rigs!

What's the low down on the 80 series?? (i.e. what model years had what/what to look for)? These seem like really nice rigs...

 

[ALF]

Go with a blazer , parts are cheap and easily found plus there are always guys selling their rigs for a fraction of what they are into them. I've had mine for almost three years now and I'mnot done but because I did all my own work I'm comfortable saying I could easily get out of it what I'm into it.

 

[Rick B]

just remember biger is not always better. it cost alot more money to build a fullsize. if your going to do any rock crawliing you'll need to put a 60 in it to make it hold up. i would lean towards a grand or a big cherokee. or better yet get a tacoma and sas it or an older toy with a 4.3 or v-8 conversion.

Smaller isn't always better either. It doesn't cost any more to build a fullsize, probably less, I've spent less than $10K on my Bronco in the 5 years I've owned it, including purchasing it. It's done every trail around Moab & still has the supposedly wimpy 1/2 ton running gear, never broken anything and presently 212 K miles on it. So I completely disagree with everything you've said here to steer him away from what he's decided he wants.

Houndoc,

The only thing I'd caution you about in getting a fullsized rig is that all of your friends with smaller rigs will want you along to drag their broke junk off the trail. Other than that decide what you like and go find it. What you consider best isn't necessarily what someone else will consider best.

 

[Houndoc]

Sounds like all comes down to brand preferance and price between Blazer/Bronco/RamCharger (and I can't say I have a real strong preference for any. Never owned a Ford, have had several newer Dodges and the last Chevy was a '48 pick-up). Seems like any of those can run 35" with a only 4" lift, which is nice.

Any thoughts on full-size Cherokee/Wagoneers?

 

[Greg]

Full-size Cherokees/Waggys are the s**t!! You can build one real cheap, like the one my bro & I bought years ago. It was an '80, I think. It had a freshly rebuilt 360 that had a Edelbrock carb & intake and that thing MOVED! It was seriously very quick, it was wierd. We never tried towing with it, but I'm sure this one could pull 6k no prob. It also had a T18 4 speed w/ granny gear. I can't remember which t-case it had... it did have Dana 44's F & R though.

My bro lost intrest in it and we sold it to a friend. He did a SOA on the front and a shackle flip in the rear (They're SUA front, SOA rear stock), then tossed on a set of 33" Swampers. That thing was a party wagon! It was quite capable too. I like them, it would be fun to build a Waggy on 35's.

 

[yellowbronco]

Sounds like all comes down to brand preferance and price between Blazer/Bronco/RamCharger (and I can't say I have a real strong preference for any. Never owned a Ford, have had several newer Dodges and the last Chevy was a '48 pick-up). Seems like any of those can run 35" with a only 4" lift, which is nice.

Any thoughts on full-size Cherokee/Wagoneers?

I like 78'-79' Broncos, they're big and bad

 

[Houndoc]

it would be fun to build a Waggy on 35's.

Agree. It is alwyas fun to do something capble but less common.

I was surprised to see the one listed in the RME classifieds to say 44 front, 20 rear. Would take more work.

I think the final decesion point when I am ready to buy will come down to the best deal I can find. Doesn't seem like I can go to wrong with any of the choices tossed about.

 

[berrett]

Agree. It is alwyas fun to do something capble but less common.

I was surprised to see the one listed in the RME classifieds to say 44 front, 20 rear. Would take more work.

I think the final decesion point when I am ready to buy will come down to the best deal I can find. Doesn't seem like I can go to wrong with any of the choices tossed about.

the 20 rears in the full size jeeps have one piece shafts so they arn't really an issue like the ones in the little guys. also chevy axles bolt straigt in to the front of wags/cheros, and the rear is easy so 1 ton swaps are simple.