The perfect vehicle situation for Utah...help me decide?!

johngottfredson

Threat Level Midnight
Location
Alpine
Hey all,
I've benefited from RME for a long time without doing much posting here. I was able to attend a RME BBQ in Moab some time back, and was the happy recipient of a sweet ARB tire pressure gauge and tire repair kit from the drawing. Being a Utah boy, I have enjoyed our great outdoors over the years with a variety of vehicles, but have been cursed with the grass-is-greener, vehicle envy syndrome, causing me to buy and sell way too many vehicles trying to find the "Perfect" rig situation.

So, I leave it to you to help me decide what I should do. My wife is getting fed up with me playing musical cars, so my goal is to leave my wild ways and settle down with my one (or two) true loves. The knowledge base on RME of Utah trails and 4x4 tech seems perfect to help me decide. First I will outline my off-road goals, and secondly my current vehicles.


The Goals

  • With 3 kids, I need to be able to do family camping. This will be less intense, but I wouldn't mind getting into some good multi-day exploration camp-outs. A la expeditionutah.com. I have a nice spring-bar tent, but the kids and wife would vote me father of the year if I bought a little camping trailer.
  • Love the fam, but I need to do some getting out in the back woods a little more often. Bro-camping. Again, multi-day expeditions. I'm planning on going up to Alaska for a few weeks next year, but most stuff would be closer to home.
  • Mountain climbing. I've done easter jeep safari, and enjoy straight up rock crawling on occasion, but typically I like to get up into mountain trails. Not really interested in desert racing, sand dunes, or obstacle courses.
  • Economy. I can't be buying no rubicons, here. $3-10k

Past Rigs (and why they are past...)

  • Suzuki Samurai - SUPER fun on the mountain trails. However, almost undrivable on roads/canyons with lift, tires, gears. Sold it because I had no tow-vehicle, thought the solution was buy something more roadworthy. This is a contender.
  • Cherokee - 1997 vintage. Enjoyed the size, power, aftermarket support. Sold because it was stock with 39k miles...thought I should buy one for less money that was already built. Wouldn't mind having another one.
  • FZJ80 - Sold a few, but keep coming back. Like the looks, room, ride and build quality; "drive a legend" koolaid seems to sell well to me...But, crazy expensive to drive, lift, etc. Big for the small trail stuff.

The Players



  • 1997 LX450, black, unlocked, 125k, rust free, great mechanical condition.
    • Picked this up recently in VA and drove it home. The plan was to sell the Monty and have this as the family car/family camping rig. Would add lockers, mild lift, 33's, armor...but needs to stay the Wife Rig, so nothing too crazy. However, I can get a lot more $$$ for this vehicle, making selling it an attractive choice.
  • 2003 Mitsubishi Montero XLS, 125k
    • Bought from original owner, have completed all preventative maintenance, runs great. In test runs against my stock LX it performs every bit as good as the cruiser, if not better. More importantly, it gets slightly better gas mileage, handles much more nimbly on the road, and is worth much less money on the resale....so keeping it, selling cruiser seems a good option.
  • 2002 F-350 Crew Cab, short bed, 7.3, lockers F/R, 35's, 4" lift, 4.10's, 138k
    • I do landscaping, so I traditionally have needed a truck. I have taken a day job in marketing, and now just do side projects, so the "need" of a full size diesel rig is debatable. As my need to really work the truck has gone down, I have started to make it the camping rig. Tall leer shell, sleeping platform and drawer system, aux battery, etc. Great for sleeping a couple of adults in the back, hauling trailers, going on wide open trails, but sucks for the tight stuff, obviously. I like the 7.3, have considered doing a veggie oil conversion...but wonder if having a smaller truck that also doubles as a trail rig is the right way to go (Tacoma?)

My Thoughts

Option 1: Sell the FZJ80, buy a built Samurai with a tow bar.
Montero is great for light family camping, Truck will do for overlanding/family camping with trailer, Sami will do for real for mountain trails.​
Option 2: Sell the Montero, build the cruiser for off-roading
Landcruiser will still be great for the family rig, most trails, and I can take my XR400 to get to the single track high-up peaks. Benefit: just two vehicles (Truck, 80) rather than 3​
Option 3: Sell the 80, buy a built Cherokee
Similar to option one, but will get more use because it doesn't have to be towed? Also, there are certain benefits of the XJ over the sami - cargo capacity, availability of rigs to choose from, etc.​
Option 4: Sell the Cruiser, and the Super Duty, and get a 01-04 4dr Tacoma
Anyone who hangs out on Expeditionportal knows how awesome the Taco can be....but what is up with their freaking resale value? I swear the appreciate rather than depreciate. I would hate to lose money on my Ford, then pay above book for a tacoma...

So there you have it. I have been going crazy trying to decide, and would appreciate any opinions on this! Thanks.

-John
 

rondo

rondo
Location
Boise Idaho
my thoughts are keep the crewcab and ditch the rest. a pickup is always useful especially when your friends want you to help them move. seriously though....you might put a camper on the back someday or use it for a tow rig for that little crawler you know you want.
 

johngottfredson

Threat Level Midnight
Location
Alpine
my thoughts are keep the crewcab and ditch the rest. a pickup is always useful especially when your friends want you to help them move. seriously though....you might put a camper on the back someday or use it for a tow rig for that little crawler you know you want.

I'm definitely leaning toward keeping my truck. Great for lots of reasons. Just trying to figure out what I keep for the fam and what I use for the trails.
 

Rock Taco

Well-Known Member
Location
Sandy
Sounds like you are needing to keep one of the 3 that you currently have for the wife to drive? It also sounds like you are leaning towards the Mitsu for that. If the 4 door Tacoma would work for your landscaping thats the route I would take, It seems to me that the majority of wheeling here in Utah can be done with a mildly built tacoma much like Sixstring Steve has done Carlos. But the LX450 or the Montero would both be perfectly capable as well.
 

johngottfredson

Threat Level Midnight
Location
Alpine
So, I'm definitely trying to make smart decisions about what I already have. I look at Sixstring Steve's taco and if I was starting with no vehicle I would probably go that route. However, I've put a ton of time and money into building up my super duty, so I'm trying to determine if it makes more sense to keep it for the truck uses, and get a dedicated trail rig.

One thing I found out with my KLR - it could go on the freeway and on the trails, but didn't do either extremely well. My ford will do truck stuff better than a taco, and a beater locked/lifted Cherokee or Sami might be more appropriate for tight 4-wheeler trails. And the fact that he truck is already built up, etc, makes it the default front runner.

That said, I would be interested to hear opinions on whether the Landcruiser will do what I want better than the Cherokee/Sami options. For example, does anyone have extensive experience with 80's up AF canyon? How limiting is the size? I just don't want to have a truck and a SUV and be limited to big trails only.
 

benjy

Rarely wrenches
Supporting Member
Location
Moab
I like option 4. I can't imagine a superduty would be much fun off road, but then again, I have never done it.
 

sixstringsteve

Well-Known Member
Location
UT
The good news is that any 4x4 will do. As cool as lifts and big tires are, they're not needed for what you want to do. I would recommend taking all 3 of them out on separate occasions and see what's falling short where. If it were me, I would struggle the most with the fullsize ford. It's just a big vehicle, and the trails I frequent often require a bit more agility than a fullsize can offer. Can it be done in a full size? Sure, it's just not the rig I'd choose.

I love tacomas, but that doesn't mean that you will. Lots of people try them and don't fall in love. They're a super expensive initial investment, but the good news is that they practically appreciate in value. I'm convinced that a 4x4 double cab will never be worth less than $7500, even with a salvage title. The demand is there, and it's only growing. You pay a lot up front, but you get it all back when it's time to sell it.

I'd recommend spending as much time getting out as possible, and less time modifying the rig. I'm convinced that I could do all the trails I want to with a stock small to medium size pickup with a rear locker and sliders. I'd probably even be fine without the locker or sliders, but they give me peace of mind.

If you're anything like me, you'll try 20 different 4x4s 'till you find one that suits your needs. My advice: don't modify anything; drive everything stock so when you sell it you're not at a huge financial loss. Most modified vehicles are worth less than if they were stock. Hope that helps.
 
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cruiseroutfit

Cruizah!
Moderator
Vendor
Location
Sandy, Ut
Tacoma vs. 80 (LX450). The Tacoma has the edge on the highway, top speed and fuel economy. The 80 has the edge off-road, particularly locked as well as longevity and imo reliability. I've put hundred of thousands of miles on Tacoma's now and owned 2 80's albeit for a short time... if it was a part-time wheeler, 80. DD/weekend wheeler, Tacoma.
 

johngottfredson

Threat Level Midnight
Location
Alpine
I like option 4. I can't imagine a superduty would be much fun off road, but then again, I have never done it.
A built Taco does sound sexy, for sure. I wouldn't consider a superduty an offroad machine, but for wide open desert or fire roads, or extended "over landing", it can be pretty nice to have. And if it can be a tow rig for a nimble trail vehicle...?
 

Tonkaman

Well-Known Member
Location
West Jordan
I think it's time to decide what trails you cannot live without going down and which ones your ok giving up. Then pick the vehicle that can accomplish the hardest one you cannot give up. I drive a crew cab silverado. It absolutely doesn't stop me from getting out but I'm picky about where I can go
 

LT.

Well-Known Member
I don't believe the perfect vehicle exists for your budget, likes, and requirements. I also believe that almost all of us have been in your shoes and as soon as you believe you have found the perfect vehicle your needs/desires change. My family is going through some growing pains right now as well. A Chevy Tahoe was mentioned earlier and would be a good choice but, I still don't think it is perfect. A vehicle that will excel in one area is going to fail in another. I would recomend taking some serious consideration to an older SUV. International Harvester Scout, Chevy Blazer, 78 and up Ford Bronco, solid axle Chevy Suburban, that kind of thing. I honestly think you are going to need two vehicles. One SUV to fit your family and some light camping/wheeling, and a full sized crew cab pick up truck. For your work, and hauling needs.

I don't mean to crush your desires. Just trying to give you my opinion. No disrespect intended.

LT.
 

skeptic

Registered User
Sell the Lexus buy a side by side? Your truck already does everything you need other than hard core wheeling, and a side by side would take care of that, although a somewhat different type of wheeling.

Another option would be to buy something like a v8 ZJ or WJ. Cheap, easy to lift, lock and otherwise make a good off road vehicle, not huge but should be big enough for your camping gear, and not terrible as a daily driver. Then buy a small trailer for your weekend landscaping work.
 
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