1:20 pm
Club Member
July 10, 2003
Offline
I've been thinking about what I would build as an all-around rig. A rig that is versitile enough to use for daily driving, off roading, family camping, fishing trips, and running to the grocery store. The best I've come up with so far is an older Toyota Tacoma 4-door (like Rob used to have). Live axles, lockers and 35" tires 8)
I used to wheel a lot. . .
2:08 pm
Those were great little trucks even out of the box. With an e-locker in the rear you could go a lot of places.
What about an LJ? Probably not as much space, but still a decent option. Or a Hummer. That seems to be working out well for Brad. 
2:31 pm
Club Member
July 10, 2003
Offline I was thinking pickup because you can throw things in the bed. That's pretty handy.
I used to wheel a lot. . .
3:07 pm
Club President
April 2, 2003
Offline I guess it depends on budget.
For the money, (remember that John said out of the box). I'd get a higher mileage LJ Rubicon. Next on the list would be a Tacoma like the one I have (but 4x4). The engine in the newer tacoma is WAY better than the old body style. It's 75HP more, and still gets better mileage, plus both the interior and bed on the newer body style is a lot roomier.
5:00 pm
May 4, 2004
Offline For a purely all-round rig, I'd probably go with the Toyota truck. If I was more interested in an all-round rig and still have the top-down, doors-off experience I'd lean toward the LJ Rubicon.
My goal in building my TJ was to build an all purpose rig. I went too far in some areas and would like to fix a couple things. 1) replace the rear Detroit locker with an ARB, 2) possibly lower it a little more.
5:16 pm
Club Member
July 10, 2003
Offline I didn't say anything about "out of the box"
I used to wheel a lot. . .
5:24 pm
If you are going to use the rig for camping and hunting I would go with the Toyota truck. My LJ fills up real quick with camping gear. In fact, have been thinking about a small trailer to haul all my Junk. just my 1 1/2 cents.
6:15 pm
Club President
April 2, 2003
Offline In fact, John said the exact opposite of "out of the box".
In looking for Tacomas, I was surprised that the 04 and 05 models (two different body styles) were the same price! I don't understand why people would pay the same for those two trucks.
7:26 pm
Club Member
July 10, 2003
Offline I just thought the old style would fit better on tight trails because it's a little smaller.
I used to wheel a lot. . .
8:28 pm
Club Member
January 20, 2009
Offline FJ?
11:27 pm
May 4, 2004
Offline Maybe a Jeep Scrambler! It would have the flexibility of being a truck or a top-off, doors-off Jeep.
11:39 pm
Club Member
July 10, 2003
Offline I like scramblers but the seating is limited.
I used to wheel a lot. . .
11:41 pm
July 15, 2005
Offline I can tell you first hand since my wife owns one. The FJ is the most worthless out of the box 4wheeling rig ever made by Toyota. John and I took it fishing one time and almost couldn't get up a hill to get home. The seats in it are extremely uncomfortable and it was built very cheap. It is a total chicks rig for going to the mall, but that is about all it is worth...
"kevheb" wrote: FJ?
__________________
'If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under."- Ronald Reagan
11:53 pm
Club President
April 2, 2003
Offline I know the FJ's have very limited articulation (as witnessed at Fordyce), but Rob, does your's have that e-locker? If so, how does it work?
12:22 am
Club Member
July 10, 2003
Offline That was a fun trip trying to make it up that hill. I'm just glad we kept at least two wheels on the ground at all times 
I used to wheel a lot. . .
1:15 am
I still miss my Isuzu Rodeo 4x4 - V6 with 22 mpg - plenty of room for people and stuff -
goes everywhere -was great in the snow. But dummy me had to trade it for a Mustang Cobra!!!
Oh well - Luv my Jeep now. 
2:39 am
December 18, 2002
Offline 1st Gen 4Runner or a Toyota Pickup - although my opinion may be a bit biased since I just bought both
1st Gen 4Runner
* Can seat 4 or 5 and gear
* Top is removable
* Can remove the rear seats and install a "blank" and you've got a truck bed
* Ton of aftermarket support
* Parts tend to be affordable
* Very affordable
Toyota Pickup (Pretty much any year that's either an extra cab or 4 door)
* Great running trucks that last forever
* bed to throw your junk in
* Seat four or five people (I sat two adults in the back seat of my '99 Toyota Tacoma extracab fairly comfortably) and gear
* Ton of aftermarket support
* Parts tend to be affordable
* Very affordable for the Pre-Tacoma models
Out in the garage collecting parts....
3:21 am
July 15, 2005
Offline We have every available option on her FJ. It does have the locker and their hyped up off-road traction control 🙄 The locker works good for a locker. But the rest of the rig sucks off road and personally, I think it was built very cheap with a lot of plastic and crap and the seats are probably the most uncomfortable things I have ever sat in in my life!! We are thinking of getting rid of it and putting her back in a BMW, Lexus, or Infinity. The FJ is a good soccer mom car of for a girl in her early twenties, but that is about it. (In my opinion )
I think that the 4 door Tacoma or the new Jeep 4 door would be a good family rig.
"BKGM Jeepers" wrote: I know the FJ's have very limited articulation (as witnessed at Fordyce), but Rob, does your's have that e-locker? If so, how does it work?
__________________
'If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under."- Ronald Reagan
2:00 pm
"troyman" wrote: 1st Gen 4Runner or a Toyota Pickup - although my opinion may be a bit biased since I just bought both
Listen to Troy. He know's what he's talking about. 😀 My only complaint about the 4Runner is that it is a bit top heavy and that can lead to some unusual ride characteristics. The cab is also a bit small and I'm not a big guy, but I do have the roll bar in there which makes it feel a bit more cramped. They also seem to be prone to body damage.
2:50 pm
Club President
April 2, 2003
Offline "RobD" wrote: We have every available option on her FJ. It does have the locker and their hyped up off-road traction control 🙄 The locker works good for a locker. But the rest of the rig sucks off road and personally, I think it was built very cheap with a lot of plastic and crap and the seats are probably the most uncomfortable things I have ever sat in in my life!! We are thinking of getting rid of it and putting her back in a BMW, Lexus, or Infinity. The FJ is a good soccer mom car of for a girl in her early twenties, but that is about it. (In my opinion
I think that the 4 door Tacoma or the new Jeep 4 door would be a good family rig.
[quote="BKGM Jeepers"]I know the FJ's have very limited articulation (as witnessed at Fordyce), but Rob, does your's have that e-locker? If so, how does it work?
I had forgotten about the off-road traction control.
3:52 pm
"Bender" wrote: [quote="troyman"]1st Gen 4Runner or a Toyota Pickup - although my opinion may be a bit biased since I just bought both
Listen to Troy. He know's what he's talking about. 😀 My only complaint about the 4Runner is that it is a bit top heavy and that can lead to some unusual ride characteristics. The cab is also a bit small and I'm not a big guy, but I do have the roll bar in there which makes it feel a bit more cramped. They also seem to be prone to body damage.
ya, i like my 4runner too. basically use it everyday driving back and forth to work and lunch runs....which reminds me we should probably all get together again at the Mongolian place soon. 🙂 the seats are comfy and there seems to be plenty of room for this "big" guy. and i guess one of these days i'll put a solid axle in the front so i can be as cool as bender and troy. but i guess that would mean i would have to go wheeling again. either that or turn it into a show truck,
rip howdys runner 🙁
12:02 am
Isuzu Rodeo? Thats an interesting idea. What year did you have and are lockers available?
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