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
Past Rigs (and why they are past...)
The Players
My Thoughts
Option 1: Sell the FZJ80, buy a built Samurai with a tow bar.
-John
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-roadingLandcruiser 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 CherokeeSimilar 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 TacomaAnyone 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