Family 4x4

[utahluge]

First post. =)
A little history...
10-8 years ago did a lot of offroading in a '86 Toyota Pickup
7-5 years ago did a lot of offroading in a '8x Jeep Cherokee 'Woody'

I havn't had a 4x4 for about 5 years and now that I have a small family (2 little ones), I need a 4x4 that will fit everyone nicely.

I would prefer to put some 35's under whatever I drive as I want to get back into the trails and have my daughters grow up remembering our offroad trips (the 2 year old already LOVES the ATV's).

I have looked at the WJ Grand Cherokee but it doesn't quite seem extremely trail capable... am I wrong on that? I have looked at the Xterra but it kind-of seems the same way. I know the wife wouldn't go for a 4Runner.

I need a little direction. Anyone have a small family they take on the trails? What do you suggest I check out?

Thanks!

 

[ID Bronco]

There are lots of threads about this in the archives. It was easy with 2 kidlets, now with 4...........well, its tougher. lol

 

[Bear T]

Welcome,

I have a WJ Grand Cherokee, and I love it. The biggest draw back for me, is it gets pretty expensive to lift it right, plus fitting 35's under it, it would be very tall. If you do end up with one, I would recommend about a 4" lift with some 32"-33" tires. Makes the WJ more than capable.

The Xterra's are good vehicles to. You don't have to have 35's on something to make it a capable trail rig.

You can always look into an XJ Cherokee, great vehicles, easy to work on, and lots of aftermarket parts available.
Or any Toyota, Tacoma, 80 Series landcruiser, They make great family rigs too.

Good Luck with whatever you choose.
Bear

 

[KrazyKarl]

why not an 80's 4runner? if you put longfields in the front you can run 35's pretty comfortably, they are super cheap to build up and I can wheel mine with 5 people in it seat belted in

 

[Twisted]

JK Unlimited Rubicon. Good room, very capable & alot of fun. Drove ours all over Moab last year, didn't have a problem. My wife drove it on a few obstacles and had a blast. The kids like it too! Even the new dog seems to like it! Think i'll train him to be a spotter.
Tows ok too. We towed our 11 R/T Pop - Up from Evanston Wy. out to South Dakota last year, did ok. Not like pulling with a diesel by any means, but not too bad.

 

[mbryson]

JK Unlimited Rubicon. Good room, very capable & alot of fun. Drove ours all over Moab last year, didn't have a problem. My wife drove it on a few obstacles and had a blast. The kids like it too! Even the new dog seems to like it! Think i'll train him to be a spotter.
Tows ok too. We towed our 11 R/T Pop - Up from Evanston Wy. out to South Dakota last year, did ok. Not like pulling with a diesel by any means, but not too bad.

I LOVE the Unlimited other than the motor. (and you tow something with it?)

 

[Jared]

I LOVE the Unlimited other than the motor. (and you tow something with it?)

Agreed. The power is anemic and the economy sucks. However, ours did tow an extra cab 4x4 ranger to and from Moab on a fairly heavy car hauler with zero trouble. I even got 12MPG with the 35" BFG MT KM2's on that trip.

My solution to the very same vehicle problem was to get a seven leather seats 5.9L V8 Dodge Durango. If all goes well, it will soon have coils, links, and 1-ton axles running 35-37" tires without too much lift.

Best of luck!
Jared

 

[GOAT]

First post. =)

I have looked at the WJ Grand Cherokee but it doesn't quite seem extremely trail capable... am I wrong on that? I have looked at the Xterra but it kind-of seems the same way. I know the wife wouldn't go for a 4Runner.

Anything equipped with IFS cannot begin to compare to a ZJ or WJ. I loved wheeling my V8 ZJ on 35s. Daily drove it for two years, one of which had a lincoln locked rear 44 axle.

WJs are getting affordable and are a great choice as well. Unless you like pulling the dash out every year or two, avoid the limiteds.

Not a big fan of the H4, uh I mean wrangler unlimited. I don't carry passengers, so it's different for me.


Check out www.nagca.com or www.mallcrawlin.com for informative grand tech.

Go straight to this guy for GC suspension parts: http://www.claytonoffroad.com/

HTH -M

 

[utahluge]

I have a WJ Grand Cherokee, and I love it. ..... Makes the WJ more than capable.

... You don't have to have 35's on something to make it a capable trail rig.

Just curious, what trail ratings have you taken yours on?

I know I don't need the 35's, but I really really enjoy the technical side. In all practicality, I should probably get a Wrangler for wheelin' and a Dodge for the family (hauling the Wrangler); ha.

I took a look at the link above and I like a lot of the pics of the guys in their WJ's. I think I may try and hit up an event soon to check out some rigs. Is there any 'hard feelings' about having an ATV on a local trail ride?

 

[Bear T]

Just curious, what trail ratings have you taken yours on?

I know I don't need the 35's, but I really really enjoy the technical side. In all practicality, I should probably get a Wrangler for wheelin' and a Dodge for the family (hauling the Wrangler); ha.

I took a look at the link above and I like a lot of the pics of the guys in their WJ's. I think I may try and hit up an event soon to check out some rigs. Is there any 'hard feelings' about having an ATV on a local trail ride?

Depends on who you wheel with about having ATV's. Most guys don't care.

I've had my WJ on Mineral Basin, Mary Ellens, Forest Lake, Rattlesnake, and it only has a 2" budget boost. We took my moms on Fins'N Things stock.

I would say you can do up to a 4 maybe 5 on the 10 scale with a stock-2" lifted WJ, If you put on a 4" long arm kit you would be able to do most any trail a wrangler will do with 4" lift. I like the WJ better than wranglers, except the top doesn't come off.

 

[Houndoc]

All depends on your budget. The JK Unilimted would be ideal, I know I dream of them often, but they take cash to buy, lift etc.
I would not recommend an XJ Cherokee. As the kids grow, room gets tight fast (one of the main reasons I sold mine a few years back.) That is of course unless it will be a trail only rig, then with the kids would have a space advantage over a non-2 door wrangler.

80-series Land Cruiser would also work well for what you want.

There can be lots of other 'less common' options, depending on exactly how built of a rig you really need.

 

[Twisted]

I LOVE the Unlimited other than the motor. (and you tow something with it?)

Yeah, the towing capabilities are not fantastic due to the lack of power. And the fuel eco. was not great, but tolerable. A little more power would be nice. Next thing I think I'll try is a Unichip programmer to see if I can increase both. If that doesn't work, guess I'll have to talk the Master into a HEMI!
Overall we really enjoy it!!

 

[O'neal]

I'll have to throw a vote for a yoat also.A mildly built runner could take a family everywhere you needed,maybe alittle slow though,Or how about a dual cab taco?I liked my old 03 DC taco and looking back I should have kept it and did an SAS.
Right now I have a sidekick for a family wheeler but lack's in the power department and am thinking heavily on doing an SAS on my current tundra for a family hauler/wheeler and get away from the trailer hauling crap,it's getting old.