Need rig advice

StrobeNGH

no user title
Location
WB
There's more to it than just reliability after 100k. The price range of the vehicles you listed is huge

Yes, but if his budget is set for XXXX amount, why spend less and get something that may not fall within the desired characteristics?

Both true, but I'm not a Toyota diehard, nor a Jeep nut, so I need to make sure to take everything said by the respective camps with a grain of salt.
I am, after all, coming off a decade of International experience . . . so the distrust runs deep. :guilty:
 

Greg

I run a tight ship... wreck
Admin
Both true, but I'm not a Toyota diehard, nor a Jeep nut, so I need to make sure to take everything said by the respective camps with a grain of salt.
I am, after all, coming off a decade of International experience . . . so the distrust runs deep. :guilty:

:rofl: So... anything you get will be an improvement in terms of reliability and capability? :greg:
 

Stephen

Who Dares Wins
Moderator
What about the newer pathfinders?

Anything newer than a 2004 I'd avoid. The WD21's ('86-'95) are sweet rigs. I had a '95 for awhile and really liked it. Solid build quality, great handling, good suspension, comfortable interior and decent aftermarket support. The only real downside I found was that they are still a little cramped for long term overland travel.

The R50's ('96-'04) are about the same size as the WD21's, but they have a bigger motor, and beginning in '01 they got the VQ35DE, which is just a badass motor. These are unibody vehicle, which is neither here nor there.

The R51's and beyond are basically big cars with little off-road capability.
 

Houndoc

Registered User
Location
Grantsville
I have loved my 2003 Mitsubishi Montero Sport.

Comfortable family rig (was my daily driver for years before handing it over to my daughter).

Capable with minimal modifications (2" lift and 33s, has done Kane Creek, Poison Spider Mesa).

Exceptionally reliable. Has around 180K miles and total repairs over the 8-9 years I have had it is probably barely over $3,000. And half of that was a single repair back in December.
 

sixstringsteve

Well-Known Member
Location
UT
I would stay away from the Pilot as a weekend camping rig. They are AWD, but the trannies are underbuilt even for grocery-getting duties, and very underbuilt for any towing or slow crawling. They don't have a t-case, so no 4-low.
 
Last edited:

StrobeNGH

no user title
Location
WB
I would stay away from the Pilot as a weekend camping rig. They are AWD, but the trannies are underbuilt even for grocery-getting duties, and very underbuilt for any towing or slow crawling. They don't have a t-case, so no 4-low.

Thank you! I needed a good reason to give her to not buy one, that will do.

are 4 seats a requirement? There are a lot of pickups that would meet your criteria.

Yes. My old car, the current family car, is a 2007 F-150 crew cab. I love the crap out of that truck, but my wife wants a wagon or SUV so she can store things in the back w/o them getting wet/dusty/snowed on/stolen, etc . . .
And I drive too far to make keeping the truck make sense, so our heartbreaking reality is that it isn't practical to keep it (in 6 years, the only problem it has had is with the tires).

My work truck is an International... granted it's a 2010, but that you never know if that POS is going to start and stay running or not. So it was some friendly ribbing from someone that drives an International, albeit a little different than yours. ;)

No worries Greg. Have things calmed down that much around here the last few years? I can take the punches on my rig which currently isn't running either . . .
 

Greg

I run a tight ship... wreck
Admin
No worries Greg. Have things calmed down that much around here the last few years? I can take the punches on my rig which currently isn't running either . . .

It's pretty quiet and that's nice, just didn't want you to think I was serious.

BTW, my International broke down today.... :greg:
 
Most use will be camping on weekends.

You already have nearly the perfect truck for this, your supercrew. It's my rig of choice for most of my adventures (except that it's a work truck. There's a lot of trips where I'd rather take it than the X or the Jeep). Why the departure?

How far do you drive (for work, I assume)? Is your plan to get something to wheel and something different to commute in? Does the math work out? Maintenance, tires, insurance, repairs, etc.

I get 14-16mpg, depending on warp factor, and zero issues, just basic maintenance. 32's stock, 33's or bigger fit easily.

Buy your wife a wagon/minivan/SUV and enjoy your truck.

My $0.02.
 

StrobeNGH

no user title
Location
WB
You already have nearly the perfect truck for this, your supercrew. It's my rig of choice for most of my adventures (except that it's a work truck. There's a lot of trips where I'd rather take it than the X or the Jeep). Why the departure?

How far do you drive (for work, I assume)? Is your plan to get something to wheel and something different to commute in? Does the math work out? Maintenance, tires, insurance, repairs, etc.

I get 14-16mpg, depending on warp factor, and zero issues, just basic maintenance. 32's stock, 33's or bigger fit easily.

Buy your wife a wagon/minivan/SUV and enjoy your truck.

My $0.02.

I drive 15k/year (Sandy to SLC daily), my wife barely drives 9k/year.
Tonneau cover won't let my dog ride in the back. Shell?
Winter has reminded us how much it sucks to be cargo in the back of the truck, which is why the desire for an SUV. But we both love the truck . . .

The plan is to have my wife drive the bigger car and I drive a commuter. I'd love a 3rd car (Minivan, commuter, 4x4), but I can't justify the insurance costs.
 

Houndoc

Registered User
Location
Grantsville
Shell on the truck. Got a used one a few weeks ago of KSL for $600.

Love the space that gives us when camping/packing to trips. Still allows dog hauling (just be sure to be careful in hot weather.)
 
Top